There were no wire-to-wire No. 1 teams during the regular season.
Three teams, though, came close, with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association releasing its final regular-season polls today ahead of the start of the playoffs this week.
Westgate, St. Charles and Ouachita Christian were all ranked No. 2 in the preseason rankings but climbed the ladder to finish No. 1 at the close of the regular season.
Westgate (9-0) took over the top spot in Class 4A after the first week of the season and held its ground, closing out a perfect run toward the District 4-4A championship with a 38-6 win over Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy.
St. Charles, the reigning Division II select state champion, vaulted to the No. 1 spot in Class 3A in the sixth week of the season and finished with five straight wins. The Comets (9-1), the consensus top team with all 11 first-place votes, defeated Vandebilt Catholic for the District 9-3A title.
Ouachita Christian (10-0) became the state’s No. 1 team in Class 1A in the first week of the season and reeled off an undefeated season. The Eagles, who received nine 11 first-place votes, stayed unbeaten with a 56-0 win over Delhi for the District 2-1A title.
St. Augustine (10-0) won the District 9-5A title, defeating Archbishop Rummel 35-32, and was the consensus No. 1 team in Class 5A.
District foe Jesuit (8-2) experienced the biggest jump with its 40-19 win over Karr, leapfrogging three spots to No. 3 behind St. Augustine and Alexandria (9-1).
No. 5 Mandeville (10-0) joined St. Augustine among the only two teams in the state’s highest classification to complete an undefeated regular season.
North DeSoto, the Division II nonselect state runner-up, picked up a first-place vote and remained No. 3 in Class 4A. The Griffins are the only team to go unbeaten in that classification.
University, the state’s No. 1 preseason team in Class 3A, bounced back from consecutive losses to open the year with eight straight victories. The Cubs (8-2) are ranked No. 2 behind St. Charles.
No. 3 Eunice (10-0) was the only team in Class 3A to complete the regular season undefeated.
No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 7 Vinton were the lone teams in Class 2A to finish with 10-0 marks in the regular season. The Pioneers, who took over the top spot in the eighth week of the season, received nine first-place votes to finish ahead of No. 2 Calvary Baptist, 129-121.
Class 1A experienced the greatest movement of teams.
Kentwood’s 28-3 win over Haynesville boosted the Kangaroos (9-1) four spots to No. 5, while dropping the Golden Tornado (8-2) five notches to No. 8.
Westminster-Lafayette (9-1) had a significant win, defeating fifth-ranked Ascension Catholic 28-14, and climbed three spots to No. 7, while dropping the Bulldogs (8-2) from No. 5 to No. 10.
Southern Lab (9-0) joined Ouachita Christian among Class 1A’s two undefeated teams.
Class 5A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Augustine (11) 10-0 132 1
2. Alexandria 9-1 118 2
3. Jesuit 8-2 98 6
4. Ruston 8-2 96 4
5. Mandeville 10-0 80 5
6. Karr 8-2 77 3
7. Catholic-Baton Rouge 7-3 56 8
8. Archbishop Rummel 7-3 54 7
9. Barbe 9-1 50 9
10. Brother Martin 7-3 37 10
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 35, Northshore 13, John Curtis 6, Zachary 3, Destrehan 2.
Class 4A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Westgate (8) 9-0 128 1
2. Neville (2) 8-1 122 2
3. North DeSoto (1) 10-0 108 3
4. Archbishop Shaw 9-1 103 4
5. Madison Prep 8-2 82 5
6. Lake Charles Prep 9-1 80 6
7. John F. Kennedy 9-1 67 7
8. Franklin Parish 7-3 44 9
9. Lafayette Renaissance 7-3 42 10
10. Leesville 8-2 38 8
Others receiving votes: Salmen 22, Opelousas 17, Cecilia 3, St. Michael 1.
Class 3A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. St. Charles (11) 9-1 132 1
2. University 8-2 121 2
3. Eunice 10-0 102 3
4. Sterlington 7-3 92 4
5. St. James 8-2 90 5
6. Jena 7-3 70 7
7. Lutcher 7-3 60 8
8. West Feliciana 9-1 55 9
9. Jennings 8-2 35 10
10. Marksville 8-2 32 6
Others receiving votes: Iowa 29, Loyola Prep 25, Jewel Sumner 7, Bunkie 1, Northwest 1.
Class 2A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Notre Dame (9) 10-0 129 1
2. Calvary Baptist (1) 9-1 121 2
3. Mangham 9-1 109 3
4. Newman 9-1 94 4
5. Dunham (1) 7-3 88 5
6. Lafayette Christian Academy 8-2 83 6
7. Vinton 10-0 53 7
8. Amite 7-3 48 8
9. Lake Arthur 9-1 39 9
10. Mansfield 8-2 33 7
Others receiving votes: Pine 26, Loreauville 19, Catholic-New Iberia 6, Caldwell Parish 4, Country Day 2, Rosepine 2, Welsh 2, West St. Mary 1.
Class 1A
School, 1st rec, points, Prev. rank
1. Ouachita Christian (9) 10-0 130 1
2. Riverside Academy (2) 9-1 120 2
3. Southern Lab 9-0 110 4
4. Jeanerette 9-1 81 6
5. Kentwood 9-1 73 9
6. East Feliciana 9-1 68 7
7. Westminster-Lafayette 9-1 63 10
8. Haynesville 8-2 61 3
9. Logansport 9-1 58 8
10. Ascension Catholic 8-2 53 5
Others receiving votes: Cedar Creek 29, St. Mary’s 7, Ascension Episcopal 4, South Plaquemines 2, Jonesboro-Hodge 1.
