The state’s top clash of Class 5A titans ended with an unexpected margin and running clock to boot.
St. Augustine atoned for its loss to Karr in year’s Division I select state championship game with an emphatic 52-14 victory for a share of the District 9-5A championship.
The Purple Knights (9-0) were also awarded the No. 1 ranking in this week’s Class 5A rankings that were released by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. With 10 of 11 first-place votes, they compiled 131 points, ahead of No. 2 Alexandria (8-1) with 117 points and No. 3 Karr (8-1) with 113.
St. Augustine, which stopped the state’s longest winning streak at 35 games, followed the 234-yard, 4-TD passing effort of quarterback Jaelle Noble, and freshman defensive back Louis Brown who returned one of his three interceptions for a 99-yard touchdown.
The Catholic League also featured another Top 10 showdown with Jesuit edging Archbishop Rummel, 37-33. The Blue Jays (7-2) climbed three spots in the Class 5A poll to No. 6, while the Raiders (7-2) dropped to No. 7.
Mandeville (9-0) reached a season’s best ranking of No. 5 following its 20-17 win over previously undefeated Northshore, 20-17, to win a share of the District 6-5A crown.
Class 4A’s top-ranked Westgate (8-0) won a share of the District 4-4A title with a 21-0 win over No. Lafayette Renaissance Charter (6-3) which fell two spots to No. 10.
St. Charles (8-1) was again a unanimous choice for No. 1 in Class 3A with a 48-24 win over Lutcher, 48-24, and won a share of the District 9-3A championship. The Bulldogs (6-3) lost two spots in the poll to No. 8, just behind Jena (6-3) which fell from No. 3 following a 55-40 non-district loss to Class 4A’s Leesville (8-1), which is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A.
No. 3 Eunice (9-0), No. 4 Sterlington (6-3) and No. 5 St. James (7-2) and No. 6 Marksville (8-1) all moved up with Jena’s loss.
Blowouts were the theme in Class 2A with nine of the Top 10 teams winning by an average of 35 points.
Top-ranked Notre Dame (9-0), which defeated Kinder, 43-0, picked up nine first-place votes and 129 points to continue to lead No. 2 Calvary Baptist (8-1) with 121 points.
Catholic-New Iberia (6-3) rejoined the rankings and in a tie for No. 10 with Lake Arthur.
East Feliciana (8-1) is the biggest riser in Class 1A. The Tigers upset fifth-ranked Kentwood, 22-6, to win the District 9-1A title and climb into this week’s rankings at No. 7.
The District 7-1A title was decided when No. 8 Jeanerette ended No. 7 Westminster-Lafayette’s undefeated season, 26-19. The Tigers moved up two spots to No. 6, while the Chargers dropped to No. 10.
No. 3 Haynesville (8-1) won the District 1-1A title with a 29-20 win over Cedar Creek, which dropped the Cougars from the rankings.
LSWA Statewide polls
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Augustine (10) 9-0 131 2
2. Alexandria (1) 8-1 117 3
3. Karr 8-1 113 1
4. Ruston 7-2 94 5
5. Mandeville 9-0 78 6
6. Jesuit 7-2 71 7
7. Archbishop Rummel 7-2 67 4
8. Catholic-Baton Rouge 6-3 53 8
9. Barbe 8-1 44 9
10. Brother Martin 6-3 36 10
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 32, Northshore 7, John Curtis 5, West Monroe 5, Destrehan 2, Zachary 2, Acadiana 1.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (8) 8-0 128 1
2. Neville (2) 7-1 122 2
3. North DeSoto (1) 9-0 110 3
4. Archbishop Shaw 8-1 90 4
5. Madison Prep 7-2 85 5
6. Lake Charles Prep 8-1 77 6
7. John F. Kennedy 8-1 67 7
8. Leesville 8-1 44 9
9. Franklin Parish 6-3 42 10
10. Lafayette Renaissance 6-3 40 8
Others receiving votes: Salmen 23, Opelousas 17, Carencro 4, Cecilia 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Charles (11) 8-1 132 1
2. University 7-2 121 2
3. Eunice 9-0 100 4
4. Sterlington 6-3 89 5
5. St. James 7-2 82 7
6. Marksville 8-1 76 8
7. Jena 6-3 62 3
8. Lutcher 6-3 53 6
9. West Feliciana 8-1 51 9
10. Jennings 7-2 31 10
Others receiving votes: Loyola Prep 24, Iowa 22, Jewel Sumner 7, Vandebilt Catholic 3, Northwest 1.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Notre Dame (9) 9-0 129 1
2. Calvary Baptist (1) 8-1 121 2
3. Mangham 8-1 109 3
4. Newman 8-1 94 4
5. Dunham (1) 6-3 88 5
6. Lafayette Christian Academy 7-2 80 6
7. Mansfield 8-1 57 7
8. Amite 7-2 45 8
9. Vinton 9-0 42 9
10. Lake Arthur 8-1 29 10
(tie) Catholic-New Iberia 6-3 29 NR
Others receiving votes: Pine 18, Loreauville 14, Caldwell Parish 3, Country Day 1, Rosepine 2.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (9) 9-0 130 1
2. Riverside Academy (2) 8-1 119 2
3. Haynesville 8-1 103 3
4. Southern Lab 8-0 90 4
5. Ascension Catholic 8-1 81 6
6. Jeanerette 8-1 69 8
7. East Feliciana 8-1 56 NR
8. Logansport 8-1 55 10
9. Kentwood 8-1 51 5
10. Westminster-Lafayette 8-1 37 7
Others receiving votes: Cedar Creek 28, St. Mary’s 9, Jonesboro-Hodge 5, Ascension Episcopal 4, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 4, South Plaquemines 1,
