The revered Catholic League in New Orleans is typically among the state’s top Class 5A districts.
Thus far, they’re leaving no doubt, with six of the top 10 teams in the state’s highest level of competition.
They matched up twice in two memorable District 8-5A games over the weekend with a total of five points separating the winners and losers.
Top-ranked Karr (5-0) edged fifth-ranked Brother Martin, 25-21, and fourth-ranked Archbishop Rumel held off John Curtis, 10-9. Third-ranked St. Augustine (5-0) and ninth-ranked Jesuit (4-1) posted the most lopsided scores with the Purple Knights defeating Chalmette, 51-13, and the Blue Jays taking a 33-6 win over Holy Cross.
Karr, back-to-back Division I select state champions, extended its winning streak to 33 games and received nine of 11 first-place votes to outdistance second-ranked Ruston (4-1) in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s statewide rankings.
St. Thomas More (4-1) continued to move up this week to No. 7, after its 27-20 upset of Acadiana which dropped to No. 8. Jesuit regained a spot in this week’s top 10 with their 27-point victory.
Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy (3-2) earned a spot in this week’s Class 4A poll. The Tigers upset previously undefeated and fifth-ranked Lake Charles College Prep, 56-34, to earn a No. 9 spot, while the Trailblazers fell three spots to No. 8.
Plaquemine (3-2) moved back into the top 10 at No. 10 following its 42-36 win over Brusly.
University High, the No. 1 team in the preseason Class 3A rankings, won its third straight game, a 28-7 at Teurlings Catholic, and is now ranked No. 3 behind No. 1 St. James (5-0) and No. 2 St. Charles (4-1).
Two-time reigning state champion Sterlington (3-2) moved up a spot to No. 4 with a 57-34 win over Oak Grove.
With three ranked teams – No. 3 Jena, No. 6 Jewel Sumner and No. 7 Loyola Prep – there was plenty of movement in the middle of Class 3A.
Unbeaten Marksville (5-0) defeated Pineville, 54-43, and moved up two spots to No. 6 along with Eunice (5-0) at No. 7 and West Feliciana (5-0) at No. 8.
Jewel Sumner (3-2) fell to No. 9 and Loyola (3-2) to No. 10.
Class 2A also has a pair of teams – Amite (4-1) and Newman (4-1) – climb two spots to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively after The Dunham School (2-3) dropped its third straight game without injured quarterback Elijah Haven in the lineup. Lafayette Christian Academy (3-2) was also edged by Class 4A Opelousas, 28-26, and fell to No. 7.
Class 1A Ouachita Christian joined Calvary Baptist (5-0) in Class 2A as the two schools being unanimous No. 1’s this week.
The Eagles (5-0) held off determined, Homer, 48-46, and Ascension Catholic (5-0) moved ahead of Riverside Academy (4-1) to No. 2 after the Rebels lost to St. Charles, 33-23.
A loss by fifth-ranked Logansport, 30-24 to Red River, caused a ripple in the poll with Southern Lab (4-0), Kentwood (5-0), Westminster-Lafayette (5-0) and Jeanerette (4-1) all moving up to No. 5-6-7-8-9, respectively.
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Karr (9) 5-0 129 1
2. Ruston (1) 4-1 118 2
3. St. Augustine (1) 5-0 115 3
4. Archbishop Rummel 5-0 98 4
5. Brother Martin 4-1 80 5
6. Alexandria 4-1 73 7
7. St. Thomas More 4-1 64 8
8. Acadiana 4-1 50 9
9. Jesuit 4-1 45 NR
10. John Curtis 2-3 31 6
Others receiving votes: Catholic-Baton Rouge 21, Barbe 10, West Monroe 10, Central 6, Mandeville 6, Ouachita 1, Thibodaux 1.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (8) 5-0 128 1
2. Neville (2) 4-1 123 2
3. North DeSoto (1) 5-0 108 3
4. Archbishop Shaw 4-1 102 4
5. Franklin Parish 4-1 87 6
6. Madison Prep 3-2 69 7
7. John F. Kennedy 4-1 64 8
8. Lake Charles Prep 4-1 55 5
9. Lafayette Renaissance 3-2 40 NR
10. Plaquemine 3-2 27 NR
Others receiving votes: Opelousas 19, Belle Chasse 17, Cecilia 5, Salmen 4, Leesville 5, Tioga 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. James (8) 5-0 129 1
2. St. Charles (3) 4-1 124 2
3. University 3-2 107 4
4. Sterlington 3-2 95 5
5. Jena 3-2 83 3
6. Marksville 5-0 77 8
7. Eunice 5-0 59 9
8. West Feliciana 5-0 42 10
9. Jewel Sumner 3-2 40 6
10. Loyola Prep 3-2 35 7
Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 32, Iowa 22, Jennings 4, Northwest 4,
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Calvary Baptist (11) 5-0 132 1
2. Notre Dame 5-0 119 2
3. Mangham 4-1 111 3
4. Amite 4-1 91 6
5. Newman 4-1 80 7
6. Dunham 2-3 73 4
7. Lafayette Christian Academy 3-2 68 5
8. Catholic-New Iberia 3-2 53 8
9. Lake Arthur 5-0 45 9
10. Mansfield 4-1 34 10
Others receiving votes: Loreauville 20, Oak Grove 11, Vinton 6, West St. Mary 6, Country Day 3, Green Oaks 3, Kinder 2, Caldwell Parish 1.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (11) 5-0 131 1
2. Ascension Catholic 5-0 115 3
3. Riverside Academy 4-1 112 2
4. Haynesville 4-1 97 4
5. Southern Lab 4-0 84 6
6. Kentwood 5-0 72 7
7. Westminster-Lafayette 5-0 56 9
8. Jeanerette 4-1 52 8
9. Cedar Creek 5-0 47 10
10. Logansport 4-1 40 5
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 23, Ascension Episcopal 14, South Plaquemines 9, St. Mary’s 4, Elton 2.
