This season’s first 1 vs. 2 matchup in the state’s highest classification produced a change at the top in the Class 5A rankings.
Two-time reigning Division I select champion Karr, ranked No. 2 throughout the start of the 2026 season, recaptured its position atop the state’s largest class with a 21-14 victory over previously No. 1 Ruston in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday in the Superdome.
The Cougars (3-0) extended their winning streak to a state’s best 31 games, received 10 of 11 first-place votes and 131 overall points for the No. 1 spot in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A poll.
No. 2 Ruston (2-1) had 115 points followed by No. 3 Alexandria (3-0) and No. 4 St. Augustine (3-0) which received a first-place vote.
Catholic High (1-2) dropped four spots to No. 9 following a last-second defeat to St. Thomas More, 43-42. Jesuit (3-0) moved into the poll for the first time at No. 10.
The Dunham School played its first game without senior All-America quarterback Elijah Haven and posted a comfortable 58-0 victory over Collegiate-Baton Rouge.
Haven missed the first game of his career with an injury he sustained in last week’s loss to Catholic High. Sophomore L.J. Salone quarterbacked the Tigers to the runaway victory, completing 6 of 8 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
Dunham (2-1) remained No. 2 in the Class 2A rankings and will host St. James (3-0), the No. 1 team in Class 3A. The Wildcats took over the top spot in 3A when St. Charles Catholic (2-1) was upset 10-7 in overtime by Holy Cross.
Westgate (4A), Calvary Baptist (2A) and Ouachita Christian (1A) all retained their respective No. 1 rankings.
John F. Kennedy (2-1) and Belle Chasse (3-0) moved into the 4A rankings at Nos. 8 and 9, respectively, after Plaquemine and Salmen dropped out. Cecilia (2-1) fell two spots to No. 10 after a 48-19 loss to Barbe.
Previous No. 2 Archbishop Shaw (2-1) dropped two spots to No. 4 with a 24-7 loss to Archbishop Rummel, the No. 6 team in Class 5A.
University High (1-2) went on the road to upset previously ninth-ranked Plaquemine of Class 4A, 31-21. That bumped the Cubs up a spot to No. 5 in the Class 3A poll, while Eunice (3-0) makes its debut at No. 10.
Lafayette Christian Academy and Oak Grove each dropped a spot to Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, in Class 2A and Newman (2-1) moved back into the rankings at No. 10 with a 48-19 win over East Jefferson.
The only movement in Class 1A was No. 10 Cedar Creek (3-0) moving into the rankings for the first time with a 44-12 win over Beekman Charter.
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Karr (10) 3-0 131 2
2. Ruston 2-1 115 1
3. Alexandria 3-0 109 3
4. St. Augustine (1) 3-0 104 4
5. John Curtis 2-1 82 6
6. Archbishop Rummel 3-0 80 7
7. Acadiana 3-0 63 8
8. Brother Martin 3-0 47 9
9. Catholic-Baton Rouge 1-2 45 5
10. Jesuit 3-0 22 NR
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 15, Central 13, West Monroe 8, Ouachita 7, Mandeville 5, Barbe 3, Thibodaux 3.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (9) 3-0 129 1
2. North DeSoto (1) 3-0 114 3
3. Neville (1) 2-1 111 4
4. Archbishop Shaw 2-1 99 2
5. Lake Charles Prep 3-0 91 5
6. Franklin Parish 2-1 76 7
7. Madison Prep 1-2 62 6
8. John F. Kennedy 2-1 46 NR
9. Belle Chasse 3-0 36 NR
10. Cecilia 2-1 29 8
Others receiving votes: Plaquemine 27, Salmen 19, Lafayette Renaissance 7, Franklinton 3, Opelousas 3, Carencro 2, Teurlings Catholic 2, E.D. White 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. James (9) 3-0 130 2
2. St. Charles (2) 2-1 118 1
3. Sterlington 2-1 104 4
4. Jena 2-1 96 3
5. University 1-2 83 6
6. Iowa 1-2 81 5
7. Jewel Sumner 2-1 64 7
8. Loyola Prep 2-1 55 8
9. Marksville 3-0 52 9
10. Eunice 3-0 30 NR
Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 23, Carroll 13, Iota 4, Northwest 3, De La Salle 2, West Feliciana 1.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Calvary Baptist (9) 3-0 130 1
2. Dunham (2) 2-1 120 2
3. Notre Dame 3-0 113 3
4. Mangham 2-1 96 4
5. Amite 3-0 67 7
6. Lafayette Christian Academy 2-1 55 5
7. Oak Grove 1-2 53 6
8. Catholic-New Iberia 2-1 51 9
9. Mansfield 3-0 48 10
10. Newman 2-1 27 NR
Others receiving votes: Kinder 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 7, Covenant Christian 7, Country Day 4, Lake Arthur 2.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (6) 3-0 127 1
2. Riverside Academy (4) 3-0 125 2
3. Ascension Catholic 3-0 110 3
4. Jeanerette 3-0 96 4
5. Haynesville 2-1 84 5
6. Logansport 3-0 72 6
7. Southern Lab 2-0 65 7
8. Kentwood 3-0 63 8
9. Westminster-Lafayette 3-0 40 9
10. Cedar Creek 3-0 35 NR
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 20, South Plaquemines 13, Lincoln Prep 11, Westminster-Opelousas 3, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 1, St. Edmund 1.
