A loss by No. 1 Ruston didn’t allow third-ranked Alexandria Senior High to move higher in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll.
The Bearcats (2-1), a District 2-5A opponent for ASH on Oct. 23, dropped to second in this week’s poll. Defending Select Division I state champion Edna Karr (3-0), who was No. 2, moved up after topping Ruston 21-14 in New Orleans on Saturday.
ASH (3-0) demolished Class 2A power Lafayette Christian 45-0 last Friday. The Trojans maintained their No. 3 ranking.
Now they get tested. Friday, ASH goes to Monroe to take on Neville (2-1), which has dropped out of 2-5A and is now in Class 4A – but just pounded last year’s Non-Select Division I state champion Ouachita 49-0 last Friday night.
Neville, No. 3 in the 4A poll, has won its last two after opening with a 42-16 loss at Ruston that was much more competitive than the score indicates. The Tigers went to Shreveport in Week 2 and put down Evangel 43-27, intercepting LSU commit Pop Houston three times.
ASH has outscored its three opponents 148-36, beating Bryant (Ark.) 44-20, then smacking Union Parish 59-16 before blowing out LCA.
The Trojans are the only Rapides Parish team getting votes in the LSWA polls.
Only 16 of the 50 ranked teams in this week’s top 10 polls are from the 318 area code, including Jena and Marksville.
Eleven sports media members in the LSWA are polled weekly to compile the rankings.
Class 5A
School (1st place votes), record, poll points, last week’s ranking
1. Karr (10), 3-0, 131, 2
2. Ruston, 2-1, 115,1
3. Alexandria Senior High, 3-0, 109, 3
4. St. Augustine, 3-0, 104, 4
5. John Curtis, 2-1, 782 6
6. Archbishop Rummel, 3-0, 80, 7
7. Acadiana, 3-0, 45, 8
8. Brother Martin, 3-0, 47, 9
9. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-2, 45, 5
10. Jesuit, 3-0, 22, Not ranked
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 15, Central 13, West Monroe 8, Ouachita 7, Mandeville 5, Barbe 3, Thibodaux 3.
Class 4A
1. Westgate (9), 3-0, 129, 1
2. North DeSoto (1), 3-0, 114, 3
3. Neville (1), 2-1, 104, 4
4. Archbishop Shaw, 2-1, 99, 2
5. Lake Charles Prep, 3-0, 91, 5
6. Franklin Parish, 2-1, 76, 7
7. Madison Prep, 1-2, 62, 6
8. John F. Kennedy, 2-1, 46, NR
9. Belle Chasse, 3-0, 36, NR
10. Cecilia, 2-1, 29, 8
Others receiving votes: Plaquemine 27, Salmen 19, Lafayette Renaissance 7, Franklinton 3, Opelousas 3, Carencro 2, Teurlings Catholic 2, E.D. White 1
Class 3A
1. St. James (9), 3-0, 130, 2
2. St. Charles (2), 2-1, 118, 1
3. Sterlington, 2-1, 104, 4
4. Jena, 2-1, 96, 3
5. University, 1-2, 83, 6
6. Iowa, 1-2, 81, 5
7. Jewel Sumner, 2-1, 64, 7
8. Loyola, 2-1, 55, 8
9. Marksville, 3-0, 42, 9
10. Eunice, 3-0, 30, NR
Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 23, Carroll 13, Iota 4, Northwest 3, De La Salle 2, West Feliciana 1.
Class 2A
1, Calvary Baptist (9), 3-0, 130, 1
2, Dunham (2), 2-1, 120, 2
3. Notre Dame, 3-0, 113, 3
4. Mangham, 2-1, 96, 4
5. Amite, 3-0, 67, 7
6. Lafayette Christian Academy, 2-1, 55, 5
7. Oak Grove, 1-2, 53, 6
8. Catholic-New Iberia, 2-1, 51, 9
9. Mansfield, 3-0, 48, 10
10. Newman, 2-1, 27, NR
Others receiving votes: Kinder 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 7, Covenant Christian 7, Country Day 4, Lake Arthur 2.
Class 1A
1. Ouachita Christian (6), 3-0, 127, 1
2. Riverside Academy (4), 3-0, 125, 2
3. Ascension Catholic, 3-0, 110, 3
4. Jeanerette, 3-0, 96, 4
5. Haynesville, 2-1, 84, 5
6. Logansport, 3-0, 72, 6
7. Southern Lab, 2-0, 65, 7
8. Kentwood, 3-0, 63, 8
9. Westminster-Lafayette, 3-0, 40, 9
10. Cedar Creek, 3-0, 35, NR
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 20, South Plaquemines 13, Lincoln Prep 11, Westminster-Opelousas 3, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 1, St. Edmund 1.