Louisiana high school football Top 25 rankings (11/8/2023)

There is a new face at No. 1 in this week's SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings.

After several weeks at No. 2, St. Thomas More climbs to the top slot after defeating Lafayette Christian, 44-40. The two Lafayette private schools have met only three times, and all three games were instant classics.

However, the fledgling rivalry could already be coming to an abrupt end, as Lafayette Christian has elected to play in its enrollment class (2A) after playing up on the Class 4A level the past two years.

Louisiana high school football playoff brackets released for all select and non-select divisions

Most of the Top 25 are idle this week with first round playoff byes. Keep reading to find out who moved up and down this week. No one dropped out.

1. St. Thomas More, 10-0 (previous rank: 2) Playoff Standing - Division II select No. 1

The Cougars ascend to the top spot after beating No. 5 Lafayette Christian on the road, 44-40. John Luke St. Pierre rushed for 163 yards on 27 carries with two TDs. Gabe Mocek added 110 yards on 20 carries with a TD. QB Sam Altmann ran for two scores and threw the game-winning TD to Sanders Foreman, who caught five passes for 102 yards.

Next: Bye

2. Destrehan, 10-0 (previous rank: 3) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 3

The Wildcats defeated Thibodaux, 38-12, to extend their state's best winning streak to 24 games. LSU commit Kolaj Cobbins stripped the ball and Arrington Adams recovered and returned it 40 yards for a 24-0 lead, according to Ryan Arena of the St. Charles Herald Guide.

Next: Bye

3. Ruston, 10-0 (previous rank: 4) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 1

The Bearcats rallied from a 28-21 deficit to defeat West Monroe, 35-28. Jordan Hayes has rushed for 1,296 yards on 168 carries with 15 TDs. QB Josh Brantley has rushed for 547 yards and seven TDs while passing for 821 yards and seven TDs with six interceptions, according to Bret McCormick.

Next: Bye

4. Calvary Baptist, 10-0 (previous rank: 7) Playoff Standing - Division III select No. 2

The Cavaliers beat Loyola College Prep, 50-10. Tailback James Simon rushed for 133 yards on 13 carries with three TDs. QB Abram Wardell completed 20-of-24 passes for 322 yards and two TDs.

Next: Bye

5. St. Charles Catholic, 10-0 (previous rank: 8) Playoff Standing - Division III select No. 1

The Comets blanked Isidore Newman, 28-0. Jeremiah Wills ran for 117 yards on 17 carries with two TDs, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Skyler Edwards ran for 68 yards on nine carries and caught a TD pass from Brady St. Pierre.

Next: Bye

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6. Neville, 8-1 (previous rank: 9) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 2

The Tigers had an open date. Neville played eight home games and could host three playoff games. Ruston handed the Tigers their only loss, 14-10, in a game where Neville led 10-0 in the fourth quarter.

Next: Bye

7. University Lab, 9-1 (previous rank 10) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 4

The Cubs hammered Parkview Baptist, 55-21. QB Emile Picarella completed 14-of-18 passes for 249 yards and four TDs, according to Charles Salzer of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Keylan Moses ran for two TDs and recorded four tackles for loss.

Next: Bye

8. John Curtis Christian, 7-2 (previous rank: 11) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 6

The Patriots mauled No. 1 Edna Karr, 41-7, to give coach J.T. Curtis Jr. his 622nd career win - at least in regard to on the field victories. QB Dagan Bruno was 8-of-10 passing for 155 yards and two TDs - and rushed for 61 yards on nine carries.

Next: Bye

9. Edna Karr, 8-1 (previous rank: 1) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 5

The Cougars were stunned at home by John Curtis Christian, which was ranked 11th. Sophomore QB John Johnson completed 21-of-24 passes for 150 yards. Junior tailback Daejawn Smith scored a TD, according to Matt Sims of Crescent City Sports.

Next: Bye

10. Lafayette Christian, 8-2 (previous rank: 5) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 3

The Knights led St. Thomas More, 40-37, with under two minutes to play, but the Cougars rallied to win. LSU commit Ju'Juan Johnson rushed for 137 yards on 22 carries with a TD and completed 18-of-29 passes for 395 yards and three TDs.

Next: Bye

11. Acadiana, 8-2 (previous rank: 12) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 8

The Rams completed a perfect district campaign by throttling Barbe on Thursday, 57-6. Ezekiel Hypolite rushed for 177 yards on 10 carries with 10 TDs. Hypolite leads the team with 901 yards on 78 carries and 19 TDs.

Next: Bye

12. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 8-2 (previous rank: 15) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 3

The Bears nipped No. 6 Zachary in overtime, 35-28. Barry Remo ran for 101 yards on 21 carries for Catholic, which won the District 4-5A title. University of Louisiana QB commit Daniel Beale passed for two TDs and ran for two, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Next: Bye

13. Zachary, 8-1 (previous rank: 6) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 6

The Broncos lost a 35-28 heartbreaker in overtime to Catholic-Baton Rouge. Kameron Thomas ran for 169 yards on 27 carries with two TDs. LSU tight end commit Trey'Dez Green caught six passes for 132 yards and a TD, according to Robin Fambrough.

Next: vs. No. 27 Barbe (6-4)

14. North DeSoto, 9-1 (previous rank: 14) Playoff Standing - Division II non-select No. 1

The Griffins thumped Northwood-Shreveport, 64-29. Sophomore QB Luke Delafield completed 13-of-18 passes for 286 yards and five TDs. Cole Cory leads the team with 57 receptions for 1,139 yards and 11 TDs.

Next: Bye

15. Holy Cross, 8-2 (previous rank: 16) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 1

The Tigers blew out East St. John, 56-19. Ke'Rynn Smith rushed for 149 yards on 16 carries with two TDs, according to Mike Strom of nola.com. Krosse Johnson had three catches for 87 yards and a TD.

Next: Bye

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16. Captain Shreve, 9-1 (previous rank: 17) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 2

The Gators completed a 7-0 run through District 1-5A with a 56-28 win over Haughton. QB Quortni Beamer and tailback Jamarlon Otis combined for 37 carries, 351 yards and two TDs.

Next: Bye

17. Cecilia, 9-1 (previous rank: 18) Playoff Standing - Division II non-select No. 2

The Bulldogs downed Iota, 55-35. Junior QB Diesel Solari ran for 347 yards on 19 carries with six TDs and threw for 101 yards and a score. Solari leads the team with 1,071 yards rushing on 114 carries and 23 TDs. He has passed for 1,043 yards and 16 TDs.

Next: Bye

18. Archbishop Shaw, 8-2 (previous rank: 25) Playoff Standing - Division II select No. 5

The Eagles beat No. 13 Carencro, 57-50. Mason Wilson passed for 149 yards and carried 21 times for 166 yards and four TDs. Jasper Parker rushed for 163 yards on 17 carries with three TDs and caught two passes for 89 yards.

Next: Bye

19. E.D. White, 10-0 (previous rank: 19) Playoff Standing - Division II select No. 2

The Cardinals defeated St. James, 27-19. Carter Douglas ran for three TDs and Jake Sternfels ran for another. A Sternfels pass to Paxton LaFont set up one of the TD runs, according to Lanny Vangilder of Crescent City Sports.

Next: Bye

20. Dutchtown, 8-1 (previous rank: 20) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 7

The Griffins beat East Ascension, 37-14. Carter Hanberry ran for two TDs and returned an interception 34 yards for another score, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Next: vs. 26th-seeded South Lafourche (5-4)

21. Airline, 9-1 (previous rank: 21) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 4

The Vikings ripped Southwood, 47-9. QB Ben Taylor completed 25-of-31 passes for 320 yards and four TDs.

Next: Bye

22. Carencro, 8-2 (previous rank: 13) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 9

The Bears dropped a 57-50 decision to Archbishop Shaw, which was ranked No. 25. Cashmire Batiste ran for 239 yards on 22 carries with four TDs and caught four passes for 98 yards and a TD.

Next: vs. 24th-seeded Pineville (2-8)

23. St. Paul's, 9-1 (previous rank: 22) Playoff Standing - Division I select No. 7

The Wolves toppled Fontainebleau, 38-21. The Wolves scored 24 unanswered points after trailing 21-14 at halftime, according to Mike Gegenheimer with nola.com. Ben Buisson ran for 52 yards on eight carries, caught three passes for 58 yards and threw a 9-yard TD pass. He accounted for three TDs.

Next: Bye

24. St. Amant, 9-1 (previous rank: 23) Playoff Standing - Division I non-select No. 5

The Gators defeated Live Oak, 20-3. Cooper Babin threw two TD passes to Jermichael Millien, according to Kyle Rivere of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Layne Swanson had two interceptions.

Next: vs. No. 28 Ouachita Parish (3-7)

25. John F. Kennedy, 9-1 (previous rank: 24) Playoff Standing - Division II select No. 4

The Cougars trounced Sophie B. Wright, 62-24. QB Amyne Darensbourg passed for 320 yards and six TDs.

Next: Bye

Dropped Out

None

On the Bubble

Sterlington, West Monroe, Teurlings Catholic, Lutcher, Assumption, Ouachita Christian, Walker, Jena, Sam Houston, Central-Baton Rouge, Southside, Opelousas

Photo of St. Thomas More RB John Luke St. Pierre (left) and QB Sam Altmann by Brad Kemp, The Acadiana Advocate

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA