Louisiana high school football Top 25 rankings (11/22/2023)

Plenty of movement this week after several surprising second-round playoff results

There was a great deal of movement in this week's SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings.

Hey, we had to make up for the previous week where everyone stayed put.

Keep reading to find out who moved up, down and dropped out. Two teams in the rankings had their seasons come to an end in the second round of the playoffs.

Louisiana football LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 12 of 2023 season 

1. St. Thomas More, 11-0 (previous rank: 1) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 1 

The Cougars blew out 17th-seeded Istrouma, 57-17. Tailback Hutch Swilley returned from injury and rushed for 57 yards on five carries with a TD. Sam Altmann completed 9-of-17 passes for 142 yards and three TDs. Landon Strother caught five passes for 103 yards and two TDs.

Next: vs. eighth-seeded St. Michael (8-2)

2. Destrehan, 11-0 (previous rank: 2) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 3

The Wildcats beat 14th-seeded Belle Chasse, 31-10. Destrehan was without head coach Marcus Scott, who underwent a kidney transplant.

Shane Lee rushed for 136 yards on 18 carries with a TD, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Shane Ward carried 12 times for 102 yards and a score. QB Jackson Fields passed for 243 yards and two TDs.

Next: vs. sixth-seeded Zachary (9-1)

3. Calvary Baptist, 11-0 (previous rank: 4) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 2

The Cavaliers shut out 15th-seeded Holy Savior Menard, 49-0. Calvary Baptist's receiving corps is led by Aubrey Hermes (56-1,102, 13 TDs), John Simon IV (39-722, eight TDs), Kolby Thomas (51-611, seven TDs) and Chris Jackson (40-604, seven TDs).

Next: vs. 10th-seeded Parkview Baptist (10-2)

4. St. Charles Catholic, 11-0 (previous rank: 5) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 1

The Comets eliminated 17th-seeded Ascension Episcopal, 47-0. Kaden Foster had two big special teams plays, according to Chris Dabe, returning a kick 73 yards and returning a blocked field goal for a TD. Jeremiah Wills rushed for 129 yards and three TDs on eight carries. Skylar Edwards rushed for 96 yards on nine carries with a TD.

Next: vs. ninth-seeded Notre Dame-Crowley (9-3)

5. Ruston, 11-0 (previous rank: 3) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 1

The Bearcats held off 16th-seeded Westgate, 20-18. Ruston led, 20-3, but the Tigers roared back and scored an apparent game-tying two-point conversion. A penalty, however, moved the ball back and the subsequent try failed.

QB Joshua Brantley rushed for 96 yards on 15 carries with a TD and completed 4-of-9 passes for 73 yards and a score, according to Matt Belinson of the Ruston Daily Leader.

Next: vs. ninth-seeded Walker (10-2)

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

6. University Lab, 10-1 (previous rank: 7) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 4

The Cubs throttled 13th-seeded Patrick Taylor, 62-6. QB Emile Picarella threw three TD passes. Riley Small rushed for two scores. Seth Gale caught a TD pass and returned a punt 65 yards to paydirt.

Next: vs. 21st-seeded Lake Charles College Prep (5-6)

7. John Curtis Christian, 9-2 (previous rank: 8) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 6

The Patriots outlasted 22nd-seeded St. Augustine, 49-42. Four players went for a TD as the Patriots carried 39 times for 234 yards. QB Dagan Bruno completed 12-of-14 passes for 187 yards and three TDs.

Next: vs. third-seeded Catholic-BR (9-2)

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

The Cougars whipped 21st-seeded Woodlawn-Baton Rouge, 50-0. QB John Johnson passed for 232 yards and four TDs, according to Andrew Valenti of nola.com. Daejawn Smith ran for 141 yards on 12 carries with a TD. Johnson added a rushing TD.

Next: vs. 13th-seeded Alexandria (8-4)

9. Lafayette Christian, 9-2 (previous rank: 10) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 3

The Knights defeated 14th-seeded Peabody Magnet, 54-20. LSU defensive back commit JuJuan Johnson completed 13-of-20 passes for 329 yards and three TDs with three interceptions. He is expected to break former Evangel Christian QB Brock Berlin's record for career yardage this week.

Braylon Walker caught two passes for 113 yards and a score as well.

Next: vs. 11th-seeded McDonogh 35 (8-3)

10. Acadiana, 9-2 (previous rank: 11) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 8

The Rams beat ninth-seeded Carencro, 14-7. Ezekiel Hypolite rushed for 75 yards on 19 carries with a TD. Collin DiBetta carried once for a 25-yard score.

Next: at top-seeded Holy Cross (9-2) Saturday at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond

11. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 9-2 (previous rank: 12) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 3

The Bears thumped 14th-seeded John Ehret, 45-9. Barry Remo rushed for 121 yards on 11 carries with two TDs, according to Jim Kleinpeter of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Jeremy Fisher ran for two scores, and QB Daniel Beale passed for two TDs.

Next: vs. sixth-seeded John Curtis Christian (9-2)

12. Zachary, 10-1 (previous rank: 13) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 6

The Broncos beat 11th-seeded Salmen, 49-28. Kameron Thomas rushed for 147 yards on 15 carries with a TD. Quarterbacks Hudson Spangler and Caleb Gonzales combined to complete 9-of-17 passes for 162 yards and three TDs.

Next: at third-seeded Destrehan (11-0)

13. North DeSoto, 10-1 (previous rank: 14) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 1

The Griffins pummeled 17th-seeded DeRidder, 63-21. QB Luke Delafield completed 11-of-13 passes for 185 yards and four TDs.

Cole Cory leads the team with 60 catches for 1,191 yards and 12 TDs. Landry Wyatt has 36 receptions for 919 yards and 15 TDs.

Next: vs. eighth-seeded Iowa (9-3)

14. Holy Cross, 9-2 (previous rank: 13) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 1

The Tigers breezed past 16th-seeded Jesuit, 42-0. QB Cole Canatella completed 12-of-17 passes for 200 yards with three TDs, according to nola.com's Darrell Williams. He rushed for 72 yards on eight tries with a score.

Next: vs. eighth-seeded Acadiana (9-2) Saturday at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond

15. Cecilia, 10-1 (previous rank: 17) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 2

The Bulldogs exploded for a 70-30 win over 15th-seeded Iota. Cecilia got out to a 49-7 lead and was ahead, 70-21, by the end of the third quarter.

QB Diesel Solari and RB Corey Broussard combined for 442 yards rushing and eight TDs. Solari completed 7-of-9 passes for 100 yards and a score.

Next: vs. 10th-seeded Jennings (9-3)

16. Dutchtown, 10-1 (previous rank: 20) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 7

The Griffins handled 10th-seeded Chalmette, 48-7. Carter Hanberry rushed for 126 yards, including a 98-yard scoring jaunt, according to Kyle Rivere of the Baton Rouge Advocate. QB Ethan Aucoin passed for 157 yards and two TDs.

Next: vs. 18th-seeded Central-Baton Rouge (9-3)

17. Archbishop Shaw, 9-2 (previous rank: 18) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 5

The Eagles rallied to topple 12th-seeded Evangel Christian, 20-13. QB Mason Wilson rushed for 197 yards and passed for 108 with two TDs, according to Clyde Verdin of nola.com. Dallas Borne had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Tailback Jasper Parker recently received an offer from Florida State.

Next: at fourth-seeded John F. Kennedy (10-1)

18. John F. Kennedy, 10-1 (previous rank: 25) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 4

The Cougars beat 13th-seeded Vandebilt Catholic, 46-6. QB Amyne Darensbourg completed 18-of-27 passes for 209 yards and five TDs.

The Cougars have held eight opponents to single-digit scoring.

Next: vs. fifth-seeded Archbishop Shaw (9-2)

19. St. Paul's, 10-1 (previous rank: 23) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 7

The Wolves defeated 10th-seeded Tioga, 38-14. Sophomore Cody Corales rushed for 97 yards on 15 carries with three TDs, according to Mike Gegenheimer of nola.com.

Ben Buisson rushed for 60 yards on four attempts with a TD. QB Brennan Klein completed 10-of-14 passes for 125 yards.

Next: vs. 18th-seeded Archbishop Rummel (6-6)

20. E.D. White, 11-0 (previous rank: 19) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 2

The Cardinals bounced back from a second-half deficit to defeat 15th-seeded De La Salle, 31-27. Paxton Lafont had nine receptions for 169 yards and two TDs.

QB Jake Sternfels completed 12-of-16 passes for 200 yards with the scoring strikes to Lafont, according to Casey Gisclair of the Lafourche Gazette.

Next: vs. seventh-seeded Teurlings Catholic (8-3)

21. Airline, 10-1 (previous rank: 21) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 4

The Vikings stuffed a late two-point conversion bid to get past 13th-seeded Southside, 36-35. QB Ben Taylor completed 23-of-26 passes for 295 yards and two TDs, according to Russell Hedges of bossierpress.com. Jarvis Davis and Kenny Darby combined for 15 receptions and 194 yards.

Next: vs. 21st-seeded Mandeville (8-4)

22. Walker, 10-2 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 9

The Wildcats defeated 25th-seeded Northshore, 28-2. Jamari Evans had eight catches for 166 yards and two TDs, according to nola.com's Joseph Halm. The Walker defense held the Panthers to 137 yards of offense.

Next: at top-seeded Ruston (11-0)

23. Central-Baton Rouge, 9-3 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 18

The Wildcats overcame a 16-0 deficit to nip second-seeded Neville, 17-16. Damon Blocker ran for a score. QB Jackson Firmin completed 8-of-20 passes for 120 yards and a TD.

Next: at seventh-seeded Dutchtown (10-1)

24. Neville, 8-2 (previous rank: 6) - season complete

The second-seeded Tigers fell, 17-16, to 18th-seeded Central-Baton Rouge in a Division I non-select regional playoff game. QB Aman Fuller completed 9-of-20 passes for 170 yards and a TD with two interceptions, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen.

Neville lost 14-10 to Ruston during the regular season.

25. Carencro, 9-3 (previous rank: 22) - season complete

The ninth-seeded Bears lost, 14-7, at eighth-seeded Acadiana in a Division I select regional playoff game. The Bears dropped two games to Acadiana by a total of eight points with another close loss at Archbishop Shaw in Week 10. The Bears began the season 8-0.

QB Chantz Babineaux finished the year with 2,683 yards passing and 28 TDs with five interceptions. He rushed for 939 yards with 14 TDs. Cashmire Batiste gained a team-high 1,641 yards with 25 TDs. Receiving leaders were Austin Dyson (49-743, six TDs), Batiste (23-562, eight TDs), Joni Martin (16-454, two TDs), Kendrick Bernard (32-415, four TDs), Kameron Cyprien (20-404, seven TDs) and Landon Norris (10-168, two TDs). 

ON THE BUBBLE

Alexandria, Teurlings Catholic, Sterlington, Jena, Ouachita Christian, Lutcher, Assumption, Opelousas, Archbishop Rummel, Mandeville, Isidore Newman, Parkview Baptist

DROPPED OUT

Captain Shreve. St. Amant 

Photo of St. Charles Catholic RB Jeremiah Wills by Scott Threlkeld, New Orleans Times-Picayune 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA