Top 25 Louisiana high school football rankings (9/13/2023)

Rivals Edna Karr, Warren Easton square off in showdown of Top 5 teams this week

It's a difficult decision to move a team down after a win, but Destrehan drops one spot in the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 football rankings despite a 24-7 victory against John Ehret. 

That's not a reflection on the Wildcats. It is a reward to Warren Easton, which had a relatively easy time at Catholic-Baton Rouge in Week 2. That makes back-to-back road wins over top five teams for the Eagles, who are finally at home this week.

Here are 25 Louisiana large-school football state title contenders for the 2023 season 

Arch-rival Edna Karr, which has 11 straight wins in the series, looms as the next challenge. Can the Eagles halt Karr's long streak of head-to-head wins?

Keep reading to find out who else moved up and down, debuted and dropped out.

1. John Curtis Christian, 1-0 (previous rank: 1) 

The Patriots have to be ecstatic to simply get back on the field this week. Their previously scheduled Week 2 date with Zachary fell by the wayside when the two programs couldn't agree on a site.

Santaluces (Florida) makes the trip to the New Orleans area to challenge the Patriots in Week 3. The Chiefs (3-0) are located in Lantana, Fla., a few miles south of West Palm Beach. Santaluces began last season 8-0 before losing its final three games.

Next: vs. Santaluces (Fla.) 

2. Warren Easton, 2-0 (previous rank: 5)

The Eagles, or Road Warriors, if you may, notched a second straight high-profile win in enemy territory. First, it was a one-point win at Ruston in Week 1. On Friday, Warren Easton downed Catholic-Baton Rouge, 49-26.

Quarterback Greg Donaldson completed 13-of-24 passes for 175 yards and three TDs and rushed for two scores. Fred Robertson carried 26 times for 216 yards and two TDs, according to Charles Saltzer of the Baton Rouge Advocate. The Eagles led, 28-6, at halftime.

Next: vs. No. 4 Edna Karr (2-0)

3. Destrehan, 2-0 (previous rank: 2)

The Wildcats won their state-best 16th consecutive game and 25th in a row in the regular season, according to Josh Preston of nola.com. It wasn't easy, however.

The Wildcats were tied, 7-all, with John Ehret (0-2) at the half. Senior RB Shane Lee carried 22 times for 252 yards and two TDs. Lee gained 199 yards in the second half.

Next: vs. East Ascension (2-0)

4. Edna Karr, 2-0 (previous rank: 4)

The Cougars blanked Scotlandville, 45-0, for their second straight shutout. Scotlandville rushed for minus 13 yards and was held to four first downs, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com.

Sophomore QB John Johnson completed 12-of-18 passes for 203 yards and three TDs - to Keith Jones, TaRon Francis and Bryant Sanchez, who returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to paydirt.

Next: at No. 2 Warren Easton (2-0)

5. St. Thomas More, 2-0 (previous rank: 6)

The Cougars were rewarded with an extra home game due to issues with the stadium at Alexandria, which was scheduled to host last Friday's matchup. STM prevailed, 49-21.

QB Sam Altmann completed 20-of-34 passes for 293 yards and four TDs. Landon Strother caught five passes for 103 yards and two TDs. John Luke St. Pierre carried 30 times for 118 yards and two scores.

Next: vs. No. 14 Brother Martin (2-0). The Cougars won last year, 30-16, in a game that also took place in Lafayette.

6. Lafayette Christian, 2-0 (previous rank: 7)

QB Ju'Juan Johnson accounted for five TDs in a 42-14 win at Woodlawn-Baton Rouge. That gives the LSU commit 13 scores - seven passing and six rushing - through two games.

Also, WR Trae Grogan has four catches for four scores this season. RB Jalen Noel rushed for 142 yards on 13 carries with a TD.

Next: vs. Jesuit (1-1)

7. Westgate, 2-0 (previous rank: 8)

RB Tavias Gordon topped the 100-yard rushing mark and ran for four TDs for the second straight week. QB Jaboree Antoine rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries and threw a TD pass to Davian Jackson.

Next: vs. Evangel Christian (1-1)

8. Carencro, 2-0 (previous rank: 9)

Two weeks as a starting quarterback, two school records broken for Chantz Babineaux. The sophomore set a new mark with six passing TDs in a 60-14 rout of Barbe.

Babineaux was 14-of-23 passing for 332 yards. RB Cashmire Batiste carried 14 times for 167 yards and two TDs while catching two passes for 78 yards (both were TDs). TE Kameron Cyprien had four receptions for 152 yards and three TDs.

Next: at Southside (2-0) on Thursday. The Bears will be seeking revenge after losing to their District 3-5A rival in 2022.

9. Ruston, 1-1 (previous rank: 10)

The Bearcats pummeled Jesuit, 35-7. RB Jordan Hayes rushed for 147 yards on 18 carries with two TDs.

DB Semaj Jones scored twice - on a 101-yard interception return and following a blocked punt, according to Mike Strom of nola.com. RB Dylone Brooks tacked on a 10-yard TD run. The game was tied, 7-all, at the half.

Next: at Cabot (Ark.) (2-1). Ruston edged Cabot, 17-14, in 2022. 

10. St. Augustine, 2-0 (previous rank: 11)

Dawson Simmons tossed five TD passes with three going to Tulane commit Josh Jackson in a 40-0 win over L.B. Landry, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com.

Keith Hill and LaDavion Walls each caught a TD from Simmons. Terrill Franklin ran for a score.

Next: at Zachary (1-0)

11. Teurlings Catholic, 2-0 (previous rank: 12)

QB Preston Welch threw for four TDs for the second consecutive week. Four of his eight scoring strikes have been to senior QB Bradford Cain. The Rebels hammered Avoyelles Parish, 45-14, with an efficient offense that ran only eight plays in the first half.

Charlie Mader kicked a 38-yard field goal. TE Jack Purser and WR Cade Cother each hauled in a TD from Welch.

Next: at St. Charles Catholic (2-0). Purser scored two TDs in last year's matchup, which was won by the Rebels, 28-22.

12. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-1 (previous rank: 3)

The Bears showed fight with a second-half rally, but a 28-6 halftime deficit was too much to overcome vs. Warren Easton. Daniel Beale was 14-of-28 passing for 315 yards with TD passes to Amari Clayton and Cohen LeBlanc.

Next: at University Lab (1-1)

13. Zachary, 1-0 (previous rank: 13)

The Broncos are back in action after an open date.

Next: vs. No. 10 St. Augustine (2-0). The Purple Knights came from behind to win last year's matchup, 24-20.

West Monroe (Louisiana) dismisses football coach Todd Garvin 

14. Brother Martin, 2-0 (previous rank: 14)

Sidney Harris rushed for 90 yards on 20 carries with a TD in a hard-fought win against St. Paul's. The game was tied, 10-all, at halftime, before the Crusaders pulled away to win, 23-10.

Grayson Smith kicked field goals covering 37, 36 and 29 yards. RB Jordan West added 67 yards on 14 carries with a TD. QB Seth Dazet completed 15-of-20 passes for 117 yards.

Next: at No. 5 St. Thomas More 

15. Neville, 2-0 (previous rank: 16)

The Tigers trailed the whole way until a touchdown with 2:37 remaining against then-No. 24 Ouachita Parish.

RB Jaylon Nichols scored two TDs to bring the Tigers back from a nine-point deficit. Nichols rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries in the 19-15 defensive struggle, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.

Next: vs. Huntington (2-0)

16. Calvary Baptist, 2-0 (previous rank: 17)

The Cavaliers strolled to a 61-27 win against then-No. 22 Captain Shreve. Through two games, junior QB Abram Wardell has completed 42-of-54 passes for 680 yards and seven TDs with one interception.

Aubrey Hermes (13-295, four TDs) leads the receiving corps. James Simon has rushed for 269 yards on 26 carries with three TDs.

Next: at C.E. Byrd (0-2) on Thursday

17. Airline, 2-0 (previous rank: 18)

The Vikings were involved in another high-scoring shootout on Friday. After a total of 95 points were scored in a Week 1 win vs. North DeSoto, Airline out-slugged Union Parish, 48-44.

QB Ben Taylor has completed 59-of-83 passes for 737 yards and 10 TDs with two interceptions. Sophomore Kenny Darby (17-284, five TDs) is the leading receiver.

Next: vs. Northwood-Shreveport (0-2)

18. Acadiana, 1-1 (previous rank: 19)

Russell Babineaux stepped in at quarterback with Caden DiBetta out with an injury. The junior, a projected receiver in college, rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries and passed for 110 yards in a 35-7 win at Sulphur.

Cameron Monette rushed 13 times for 65 yards and three TDs as well.

Next: at New Iberia (0-2)

19. St. Charles Catholic, 2-0 (previous rank: 20)

Skyler Edwards and Jeremiah Willis ran for TDs in the Comets' 16-14 win over Lutcher. Tyler Milioto was the hero, kicking the game-winning field goal as time expired.

TE Brandon Kragle caught six passes for 126 yards, according to Brooke Robichaux of the L'Observateur.

Next: vs. No. 11 Teurlings Catholic (2-0)

20. Mandeville, 2-0 (previous rank: 23)

The Skippers took down Hahnville, 31-3. QB Caden Jacob threw two TD passes to Donovan McGowen, according to Joseph Halm of nola.com.

Isiah Baham and Nate Sheppard each ran for a score. Creighton Wilbanks kicked a 44-yard field goal.

Next: at Walker (1-1)

21. Holy Cross, 2-0 (previous rank: NR)

Scott Wattigny's coaching tenure is off to a great start. The Tigers defeated De La Salle, 49-27, on Saturday.

Cole Canatella threw four TD passes, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. The Tigers took a 21-0 lead, had it reduced to 35-27, then pulled away on Georgia Tech commit Koby Young's TD reception.

Next: at Chalmette (2-0)

22. Southside, 2-0 (previous rank: NR)

In one of the state's most exciting Week 2 games, the Sharks rallied from a significant early deficit to outscore Cecilia, 49-46.

Three Sharks rushed for over 100 yards: Vernel Joseph (16-191, two TDs), Collin Fabacher (8-141, two TDs) and Ramon Singleton (21-116, two TDs). QB Andrew Angelle ran eight times for 86 yards and two TDs.

Next: vs. No. 8 Carencro (2-0) on Thursday

23. North DeSoto, 1-1 (previous rank: 25)

The Griffins got back in the winning column, coming from behind to beat Center (Texas), 57-52.

Sophomore QB Luke Delafield has passed for 529 yards with six TDs and five interceptions. Trysten Hopper leads the rushing attack with 308 yards on 61 carries and six TDs.

Next: at Loyola College Prep (0-2)

24. East St. John, 2-0 (previous rank: NR)

The Wildcats drummed Carver, 44-0, in Week 2. In Week 1, East St. John rallied from a three-TD deficit to take a 41-40 overtime win vs. St. James.

QB Lorenzo Zeno accounted for five TDs (four passing, one rushing) vs. St. James.

Next: vs. L.B. Landry (0-2)

25. Ouachita Christian, 2-0 (previous rank: NR)

The Eagles sent a reigning state champion home with a loss for the second straight week. Vanderbilt commit Tate Hamby brought a punt back to the end zone in a 28-7 win over then-No. 21 Oak Grove.

Next: vs. Mansfield (0-2)

Dozen to Watch: West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Cecilia, Madison Prep, Lutcher, Evangel Christian, John F. Kennedy, University Lab, Salmen, Opelousas, E.D. White, Jena

Dropped Out: University Lab, Oak Grove, Captain Shreve, Ouachita Parish

Photo of Edna Karr QB John Johnson by WGNO-TV