The Dunham School opened its season in a showcase event that featured four of the state’s top programs.
Led by senior quarterback Elijah Haven, an Alabama commitment, the Tigers acquitted themselves quite well with a 55-15 victory over Class 5A Parkway in the first of two games in the Stars & Stripes Border Classic at Independence Stadium.
The 40-point victory by the reigning Division III select state champions was more than enough for voters to keep the Tigers (1-0) atop the Class 2A rankings in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s statewide rankings that were released Monday morning.
Dunham actually tightened its grip on the No. 1 spot in Class 2A and did so in unanimous fashion with all 11 first-place votes and 132 points to outdistance Calvary Baptist (1-0) which had 120 points.
Three of the state’s top-ranked preseason teams suffered defeats, opening the door for three new No. 1s this week.
In the state’s lone 1 vs. 2 matchup, second-ranked Ouachita Christian handed top-ranked and reigning Division IV non-select state champion Haynesville, a 42-6 defeat.
The Eagles (1-0) garnered nine first-place votes and 130 total points for the No. 1 spot ahead of No. 2 Riverside Academy, the reining Division IV select state champions, which defeated Class 4A’s John F. Kennedy, 40-32. Ascension Catholic (1-0) and Jeanerette (1-0) are Nos. 3 and 4, followed by Haynesville which dropped to No. 5.
Westgate (1-0) opened with a 54-8 win over Liberty Magnet, moving from No. 2 to No. 1 in Class 4A after top-ranked Neville (0-1) lost to Class 5A’s Ruston, 42-16.
Archbishop Shaw (1-0) moved to No. 2 and North DeSoto (1-0) and is No. 3 with Neville dropping to No. 4.
Reigning Division II select state champion St. Charles took over the No. 1 spot in Class 3A following a 34-28 overtime win over Legacy (Texas). The opening for the Comets was created when former top-ranked University High lost to Class 5A’s Archbishop Rummel, 34-28.
The Cubs fell into a tie for No. 3 with St. James (1-0).
A couple of top-ranked teams in Class 5A teams both faltered in matchups with talented out-of-state opponents.
Carrollton (Ga.) defeated Catholic High, 61-27, to drop the Bears two spots to No. 5, while John Curtis was edged by North Shore (Texas), 27-17 and dropped two spots to No. 6.
Acadiana (1-0) cracked this week’s Top 10 after its 47-35 upset win over previously eighth-ranked Central. The Rams, who were unranked in the preseason poll, jumped to No. 8, one spot ahead of Brother Martin (1-0), which upset No. 10 Southside, 38-19.
Madison Prep (0-1) and Franklin Parish (0-1) both dropped their respective openers and fell to No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in Class 4A.
Newman (1-0) debuts at No. 10 in Class 2A on the strength of its 33-32 road win over St. John’s (Texas).
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1.Ruston (10) 1-0 131 1
2. Karr (1) 1-0 123 2
3. Alexandria 1-0 100 5
4. St. Augustine 1-0 97 6
5. Catholic-Baton Rouge 0-1 80 3
6. John Curtis 0-1 75 4
7. Archbishop Rummel 1-0 72 9
8. Acadiana 1-0 50 NR
9. Brother Martin 1-0 23 NR
10. Zachary 0-1 21 7
Others receiving votes: Ouachita 18, St. Thomas More 18, West Monroe 12, Mandeville 10, Ouachita 10, Jesuit 8, Southside 5, Destrehan 3, Barbe 2, Thibodaux 2.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (7) 1-0 124 2
2. Archbishop Shaw (2) 1-0 118 3
3. North DeSoto (1) 1-0 108 4
4. Neville (1) 0-1 104 1
5. Plaquemine 1-0 94 6
6. Lake Charles Prep 1-0 76 8
7. Madison Prep 0-1 63 5
8. Franklin Parish 0-1 41 7
9. Cecilia 1-0 35 NR
10. E.D. White 0-1 33 9
Others receiving votes: Teurlings Catholic 18, Salmen 10, Lafayette Renaissance 8, John F. Kennedy 8, Leesville 8, Carencro 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Charles (8) 1-0 129 2
2. Sterlington (3) 1-0 118 3
3. St. James 1-0 104 4
(tie) University 0-1 104 1
5. Jena 1-0 83 6
6. Jewel Sumner 1-0 78 7
7. Vandebilt Catholic 1-0 65 8
8. Loyola Prep 1-0 55 9
9. Iowa 0-1 53 5
10. Iota 1-0 30 NR
Others receiving votes: Marksville 20, Northwest 13, Carroll 6, De La Salle 1, Erath 1.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Dunham (11) 1-0 132 1
2. Calvary Baptist 1-0 120 2
3. Oak Grove 1-0 106 4
4. Notre Dame 1-0 97 5
5. Kinder 1-0 85 6
6. Mangham 0-1 69 3
7. Catholic-New Iberia 1-0 58 7
8. Lafayette Christian Academy 1-0 53 8
9. Amite 1-0 51 9
10. Newman 1-0 26 NR
Others receiving votes: West St. Mary 23, Loreauville 10, Mansfield 10, Union Parish 4, Covenant Christian 3, Avoyelles 1.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (9) 1-0 130 2
2. Riverside Academy (2) 1-0 121 3
3. Ascension Catholic 1-0 105 4
4. Jeanerette 1-0 92 5
5. Haynesville 0-1 90 1
6. Logansport 1-0 71 7
7. Southern Lab 1-0 60 10
8. Kentwood 1-0 46 NR
9. Westminster-Lafayette 1-0 34 NR
10. Westminster-Opelousas 0-1 31 6
Others receiving votes: South Plaquemines 29, East Feliciana 13, Cedar Creek 15, Lincoln Prep 15, St. Edmund 1.
