The stakes were high and the Alexandria Senior High Trojans delivered.
As a result of their 40-36 victory last Friday over defending Non-Select Division I state champion Ruston, the reigning District 2-5A titleholder, the Trojans got on their horse and rode up two places to No. 4 in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A Top 10 rankings.
A dozen LSWA members from around the state vote weekly to rank the top 10 teams in each of the five LHSAA classifications.
Unbeaten ASH (8-0) is the only local school receiving votes. Nearby Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish is No. 2 in Class 3A.
ASH was one point shy of a third-place tie.
The Trojans visit district foe Ouachita Parish Friday night. The Lions (5-3) missed an extra point late in a 22-21 homefield loss Oct. 11 to Ruston, and were whipped 41-14 last Friday at second-ranked Neville, the other 2-5A unbeaten.
ASH and Neville tangle in the final week of the regular season, in Alexandria, in a potential district championship game.
The LSWA’s Top 10 rankings for Week 9:
CLASS 5A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Karr (9) 7-0, 141, 1
2. Neville (3) 8-0, 132, 2
3. Acadiana 7-1, 111, 4
4. Alexandria
5. Catholic-Baton Rouge 6-1, 96, 5
6. Ruston 6-2, 79, 3
7. Zachary 6-1, 77, 7
8. Archbishop Rummel 7-1, 59, 8
9. Airline
10. Mandeville 8-0, 32, T10
Others receiving votes: Central 17, Jesuit 14, Hahnville 8, John Curtis 5, St. Paul’s 4, West Monroe 4, Byrd 2, Covington 1, Parkway 1.
CLASS 4A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Teurlings Catholic (12) 8-0, 144, 1
2. North DeSoto 6-2, 123, T2
3. Lutcher
4. St. Thomas More 5-3, 104, 4
5. E.D. White 6-2, 94, 5
6. Archbishop Shaw 6-2, 91, 6
7. Opelousas 4-3, 77, 8
8. Franklin Parish 7-1, 50, 9
9. Cecilia
10. Franklinton 7-1, 31, 10
Others receiving votes: Westgate 25, Plaquemine 13, Iowa 8, Vanderbilt Catholic 5, West Ouachita 4, Minden 3, Istrouma 1, Lakeshore 1, Leesville 1, Northwood-Shreveport 1.
CLASS 3A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. University (12) 7-1, 144, 1
2. Bunkie
3. Jennings 7-1, 114, 3
4. St. James 5-2, 107, 4
5. Northwest 6-2, 89, 5
6. John F. Kennedy 4-4, 79, 6
7. Amite 6-2, 62, 7
8. Jewel Sumner 7-1, 57, 8
9. Sterlington 5-3, 49, 9
10. Madison Prep 5-3, 43, 10
Others receiving votes: De La Salle 23, Erath 12, Bastrop 5, Iota 5, Kaplan 5, Lake Charles Prep 4, Carroll 3, Haynes Academy 3, Jena 1.
CLASS 2A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Newman (7) 6-0, 132, 1
2. Calvary Baptist (1) 6-2, 129, 2
3. Dunham (3) 8-0, 126, 3
4. Oak Grove (1) 6-1, 108, 4
5. Ouachita Christian 8-0, 96, 5
6. Catholic-New Iberia 7-1, 86, 6
7. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 7-1, 63, 7
8. Union Parish 4-4, 49, NR
9. Notre Dame 4-4, 46, 8
10. Lafayette Chrisitan 3-5, 42, 10
Others receiving votes: Mangham 19, Pope John Paul 13, DeQuincy 6, Lafayette Renaissance 4, Northlake Christian 4, Ferriday 3, Kinder 1, Lakeside 1, South Plaquemines 1.
CLASS 1A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Vermilion Catholic (12) 8-0, 144, 1
2. Haynesville 8-0, 128, 2
3. Ascension Catholic 6-1, 114, 3
4. Riverside 5-2, 108, 4
5. Catholic-Pointe Coupee 8-0, 92, 5
6. Covenant Christian 8-0, 89, 6
7. Southern Lab 4-3, 79, 7
8. St. Martin’s 5-2, 44, 9
9. Kentwood 5-3, 40, 8
10. Ascension Episcopal 6-1, 38, NR
Others receiving votes: St. Edmund 19, Logansport 9, Jeanerette 8, St. Frederick 7, Central Catholic 4, Westminster-Opelousas 4, General Trass 3, Hamilton Christian 3, Delhi Charter 1, Glenbrook Academy 1, Elton 1.