For the second time this regular season the top two teams in their respective classification met in a hard-fought game that was decided in the fourth quarter.
The winners in each case, the second-ranked teams, defeated the top-ranked teams and flip-flopped spots in the ensuing statewide rankings.
Running back Evan Duffour was the catalyst in reigning Division II select state champion St. Charles’ commitment to the running game in the second half with a team-high 196 yards, to with two touchdowns, in the No. 2 Comets’ 28-20 victory over No. 1 St. James in the District 9-3A opener for both teams.
St. Charles (4-1) received 10 of 11 first-place votes and 131 points to regain the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A this week ahead of No. 2 St. James (4-1) which received the other first-place vote and 115 points.
St. Charles was the No. 1 team in Class 3A when preseason No. 1 University High lost to Archbishop Rummel in the season opener.
The son of St. James head coach LaVanta David Jr. threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off a second time when Drew Aucoin sealed the game with an interception with 32 seconds to go.
Karr took over the No. 1 position in Class 5A with a 21-14 victory over Ruston of Sept. 19 in the Caeser’s Superdome. The Cougars (6-0) have been the top-ranked team in the state’s highest classification for the past four weeks, garnering nine first-place votes and 130 points, ahead of No. Ruston (5-1) with 116 points and No. 3 St. Augustine (6-0) with 115.
The Purple Knights host the Cougars in a District 9-5A showdown on Oct. 31.
One of the hottest teams in the state, Barbe, debuts this week in the Class 5A poll at No. 9. The Buccaneers (6-0) took a decisive 66-17 District 3-5A win over previously No. 8 Acadiana and gained 48 points, ahead of another newcomer to the rankings No. 10 Mandeville (6-0) with 25 points.
Leesville (5-1) opened District 3-4A play with a 49-6 blowout of Rayne. That extended the winning streak for the Wampus Cats to four straight and moved them into the Class 4A poll at No. 10.
Leesville debuted this week after previous No. 10 Plaquemine (3-3) lost to St. Michael the Archangel, 28-27, in District 6-4A action.
A fourth-straight win by University High (4-2), a 42-12 road victory over Kaplan, earned the Cubs 112 votes and a No. 3 spot in the Class 3A poll behind St. Charles and St. James.
Vandebilt Catholic (4-2) worked its way back after four weeks in the Class 3A rankings at No. 10 following a 50-0 blowout of Patterson in District 9-3A play.
In the lone matchup of ranked teams in Class 3A, No. 5 Jena (4-2) handed a 36-30 defeat to No. 6 Marksville (5-1), dropping the Tigers to eighth.
The Terriers replaced former No. 10 Loyola Prep (3-3) which suffered its second consecutive loss, this time 66-46 to No. 4 Sterlington (4-2) in a District 1-3A encounter.
The Class 2A and 1A rankings remained intact and didn’t experience any movement.
Calvary Baptist (6-0) remained the consensus No. 1 team in Class 2A with all 11 first-place votes after their 64-14 win over Homer in District 1-2A competition. The Cavaliers topped No. 2 Notre Dame (6-0) which defeated Abbeville, 27-8, in a nondistrict game.
Ouachita Christian (6-0) picked up nine first-place votes and 130 points to hold onto the No. 1 spot in Class 1A followed by No. 2 Ascension Catholic (6-0) and No. 3 Riverside Academy (5-1).
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Karr (9) 6-0 130 1
2. Ruston (1) 5-1 116 2
3. St. Augustine (1) 6-0 115 3
4. Archbishop Rummel 6-0 101 4
5. Alexandria 5-1 86 6
6. Jesuit 5-1 62 9
7. St. Thomas More 5-1 59 7
8. Brother Martin 4-2 50 5
8. Barbe 6-0 48 NR
10. Mandeville 6-0 25 NR
Others receiving votes: John Curtis 23, Catholic-Baton Rouge 21, Acadiana 18, Zachary 5, Destrehan 2, Northshore 2, Hahnville 1, Haughton 1.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (8) 5-0 128 1
2. Neville (2) 4-1 122 2
3. North DeSoto (1) 6-0 108 3
4. Archbishop Shaw 5-1 104 4
5. Franklin Parish 5-1 78 5
6. Madison Prep 4-2 75 6
7. John F. Kennedy 5-1 64 7
8. Lake Charles Prep 5-1 61 8
9. Lafayette Renaissance 4-2 49 9
10. Leesville 5-1 22 NR
Others receiving votes: Cecilia 15, Salmen 8, Tioga 8, Plaquemine 7, St. Michael 6, Belle Chasse 4, Opelousas 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Charles (10) 5-1 131 2
2. St. James (1) 5-1 115 1
3. University 4-2 112 3
4. Sterlington 4-2 101 4
5. Jena 4-2 87 5
6. Eunice 6-0 72 7
7. West Feliciana 6-0 56 8
8. Marksville 5-1 52 6
9. Jewel Sumner 4-2 43 9
10. Vandebilt Catholic 4-2 38 NR
Others receiving votes: Loyola Prep 15, Iowa 15, Jennings 10, Northwest 6, Lutcher 5.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Calvary Baptist (11) 6-0 132 1
2. Notre Dame 6-0 119 2
3. Mangham 5-1 110 3
4. Amite 5-1 96 4
5. Newman 5-1 81 5
6. Dunham 3-3 71 6
7. Lafayette Christian Academy 4-2 70 7
8. Catholic-New Iberia 4-2 49 8
9. Lake Arthur 6-0 47 9
10. Mansfield 5-1 34 10
Others receiving votes: Loreauville 21, Vinton 11, Oak Grove 8, Welsh 4, Green Oaks 2, West St. Mary 2, Country Day 1, Rosepine 1.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (9) 6-0 130 1
2. Ascension Catholic (1) 6-0 118 2
3. Riverside Academy (1) 5-1 110 3
4. Haynesville 5-1 97 4
5. Southern Lab 5-0 89 5
6. Kentwood 6-0 66 6
7. Westminster-Lafayette 6-0 62 7
8. Jeanerette 5-1 52 8
9. Cedar Creek 6-0 44 9
10. Logansport 5-1 40 10
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 22, South Plaquemines 12, Elton 3, Ascension Episcopal 3, Jonesboro-Hodge 3, Sacred Heart-VP 2, St. John-Plaquemine 1.
