Louisiana high school football Top 25 rankings (11/29/2023)

Catholic-Baton Rouge and Zachary vault into Top 10 after huge quarterfinal-round wins

This week will be the semifinal round all across the state for those still playing in the four select and non-select divisions. 

Next week, we'll rank the top 16 teams that have reached the LHSAA Prep Classic state finals across those eight divisions. Once the three-day championship event in New Orleans is complete, we'll revisit this list for the final SBLive Louisiana Top 25.

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

1. St. Thomas More, 12-0 (previous rank: 1) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 1

The Cougars dismantled eighth-seeded St. Michael, 49-0. The STM defense held the Warriors to 4-of-13 passing for 37 yards and an interception. DB Brian Broussard had an interception and blocked a field goal, according to Kevin Foote of the Acadiana Advocate. Hutch Swilley carried eight times for 55 yards and two TDs.

Also, John Luke St. Pierre rushed five times for 71 yards and two TDs. QB Sam Altmann passed for 217 yards and a TD. John Barton rushed for a 53-yard TD and hauled in a 56-yard reception. Landon Strother caught five passes for 75 yards.

Next: vs. fifth-seeded Archbishop Shaw (10-2)

2. Calvary Baptist, 12-0 (previous rank: 3) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 2

The Cavaliers took down 10th-seeded Parkview Baptist, 49-28. Tailback James Simon rushed for 328 yards and four TDs. Abram Wardell completed 19-of-23 passes for 211 yards and three TDs.

Next: vs. third-seeded Isidore Newman (11-1)

3. Ruston, 12-0 (previous rank: 5) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 1

The Bearcats destroyed ninth-seeded Walker, 56-17. Jordan Hayes ran for 173 yards on 13 carries with two TDs, according to T. Scott Boatright of the Lincoln Parish Journal. Hayes added an 80-yard kick return.

Dylone Brooks rushed for 49 yards and two TDs.

Next: vs. No. 21 Mandeville (9-4)

4. St. Charles Catholic, 12-0 (previous rank: 4) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 1

The Comets erased a 14-7 deficit to defeat ninth-seeded Notre Dame, 31-21. Kaden Foster returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports.

Jeremiah Wills ran for 137 yards on 18 carries. Brady St. Pierre completed 8-of-13 passes for 96 yards and three TDs.

Next: vs. fourth-seeded University Lab (11-1)

5. University Lab, 11-1 (previous rank: 6) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division III select No. 4

The Cubs pounded 21st-seeded Lake Charles College Prep, 45-21. Seth Gale caught two TD passes from Emile Picarella and scored two special teams touchdowns on a punt and a kick return. Riley Small ran for 124 yards with a TD.

Next: at No. 4 St. Charles Catholic (12-0)

6. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 10-2 (previous rank: 11) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 3

The Bears outscored sixth-seeded John Curtis Christian, 38-35. Daniel Beale completed 21-of-27 passes for 233 yards and three TDs and ran for two touchdowns, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate. The win avenged last season's playoff loss to the Patriots.

Next: vs. No. 18 Archbishop Rummel (7-6)

7. Zachary, 11-1 (previous rank: 12) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 6

The Broncos snapped the state's longest winning streak by defeating third-seeded Destrehan, 35-14. Kameron Thomas ran for 243 yards on 27 carries with a TD. LSU tight end commit Trey'Dez Green caught two TD passes, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com.

Next: vs. seventh-seeded Dutchtown (11-1) 

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

The Knights ran past No. 11 McDonogh 35, 57-21. QB Ju'Juan Johnson's favorite targets are TJ Marzell (44-750, 11 TDs), Trae Grogan (32-598, nine TDs), Brennan Walker (29-495, eight TDs) and Jalen Noel (28-489, six TDs).

Next: vs. seventh-seeded Teurlings Catholic (9-3)

Lafayette Christian Academy 2024 QB Ju'Juan Johnson sets Louisiana career total yardage record 

9. Edna Karr, 10-1 (previous rank: 8) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 5

The Cougars outlasted No. 13 Alexandria, 40-34. Sophomore QB John Johnson totaled 285 yards and three TDs on 16 completions, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Daejawn Smith ran for 125 yards on 18 carries with two scores.

Next: vs. eighth-seeded Acadiana (10-2)

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

The Rams upset top-seeded Holy Cross, 28-14. Jonah Gauthier ran for 218 yards on 19 carries with three TDs. Ezekiel Hypolite leads the team with 1,062 yards on 122 carries with 21 TDs.

Next: at fifth-seeded Edna Karr (10-1)

11. Destrehan, 11-1 (previous rank: 2) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 3 - season complete

The Wildcats lost, 35-14, to sixth-seeded Zachary. Jabari Mack's 50-yard run set up a short TD from tailback Shane Lee. Jackson Fields threw a 68-yard TD pass to Ole Miss commit Anthony Robinson. The loss ended Destrehan's 25-game winning streak.

12. John Curtis Christian, 9-3 (previous rank: 7) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 6 - season complete

The Patriots lost, 38-35, at third-seeded Catholic-Baton Rouge. QB Dagan Bruno completed all nine of his pass attempts for 175 yards and two TDs. The senior also ran for a score. The Patriots knocked off Acadiana and Edna Karr during the regular season.

13. North DeSoto, 11-1 (previous rank: 13) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 1

The Griffins routed eighth-seeded Iowa, 45-21. Sophomore QB Luke Delafield completed 17-of-21 passes for 278 yards and four TDs. Cole Cory and Landry Wyatt combined for 11 receptions, 172 yards and four TDs.

Next: vs. No. 12 Opelousas (10-3)

14. Cecilia, 11-1 (previous rank: 15) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 2

The Bulldogs handled No. 10 Jennings, 38-14. QB Diesel Solari has thrown for 1,214 yards and 17 TDs with six interceptions. His top targets are Brent Gordon (20-412, four TDs), Ellis Stewart (21-297, five TDs) and Jonathan Boudreaux (21-272, four TDs).

Next: vs. No. 22 Northwest (9-3)

15. Dutchtown, 11-1 (previous rank: 16) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 7

The Griffins ousted No. 18 Central-Baton Rouge, 21-20. Gary Dukes and Carter Hanberry ran for 81 yards apiece and Hanberry scored three touchdowns in the first half, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Next: at sixth-seeded Zachary (11-1)

16. Archbishop Shaw, 10-2 (previous rank 17) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 5

The Eagles defeated fourth-seeded John F. Kennedy, 20-13. Jasper Parker and Mason Wilson combined for 216 yards rushing on 36 carries, according to Jacob Senat of Crescent City Sports.

Next: at top-seeded St. Thomas More (12-0)

Louisiana LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 13 of 2023 season 

17. Teurlings Catholic, 9-3 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 7

The Rebels rolled to a 35-7 lead in the first half and upset second-seeded E.D. White, 42-28. Ayden Trahan and Doug E. Viltz have combined for 984 yards on 182 carries and 13 TDs.

Next: at third-seeded Lafayette Christian (10-2)

18. Mandeville, 9-4 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 21

The Skippers outscored fourth-seeded Airline, 56-50. Junior tailback Nate Sheppard rushed for 268 yards and scored six touchdowns. QB Ben Hendricks accounted for 139 yards and had a hand in four TDs.

Next: at top-seeded Ruston (12-0)

19. Holy Cross, 9-3 (previous rank: 14) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 1 - season complete

The Tigers lost, 28-14, to eighth-seeded Acadiana. QB Cole Canatella completed 11-of-18 passes for 203 yards and two TDs with an interception, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Krosse Johnson's 80-yard catch and run provided the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

Holy Cross defeated John Curtis Christian during the regular season to give coach Scott Wattigny a signature win in his debut season.

20. Archbishop Rummel, 7-6 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 18

The Raiders upset seventh-seeded St. Paul's, 35-21. Jaidyn Martin rushed for 118 yards on 24 carries with three TDs, according to Mike Gegenheimer of nola.com. Rummel previously took out the No. 15 and No. 2 seeds in Northwood-Shreveport and Captain Shreve, respectively.

Next: at third-seeded Catholic-Baton Rouge (10-2)

21. John F. Kennedy, 10-2 (previous rank: 18) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No.18 - season complete

The Cougars lost, 20-13, to fifth-seeded Archbishop Shaw. QB Amyne Darensbourg completed 9-of-16 passes for 142 yards with a TD and rushed for 87 yards on eight carries, according to Jacob Senat of Crescent City Sports.

Shaw and St. Amant were the only foes to score in double-digits against the Cougars, who lost to St. Amant, 20-14, in Week 3.

22. St. Paul's, 10-2 (previous rank: 19) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I select No. 7 - season complete

The Wolves lost, 35-21, to No.18 Archbishop Rummel. QB Brennan Keim completed 14-of-23 passes for 201 yards, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. He passed for one score and ran for another. Drew Talley made two field goals.

23. E.D. White, 11-1 (previous rank: 20) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II select No. 2 - season complete

The Cardinals lost, 42-28, to seventh-seeded Teurlings Catholic. Nicholls St. commit Paxton Lafont finished the season with 946 yards on 51 catches with 12 TDs. 

24. Opleousas, 10-3 (previous rank: NR) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 12

The Tigers beat fourth-seeded Lutcher, 26-10. A fake punt from its own 9-yard line sparked Opelousas to a scoring drive in the third quarter, and the Tigers outscored the 2022 state champs, 20-0, in the second half. D'Shaun Ford rushed for 168 yards on 29 carries with two TDs.

Next: at top-seeded North DeSoto (11-1)

25. Airline, 10-2 (previous rank: 21) LHSAA Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 4 - season complete

The Vikings lost, 56-50, to No. 21 Mandeville. QB Ben Taylor completed 35-of-49 passes for 387 yards and three TDs. Taylor, a junior, finished the season with 4,189 yards passing and 49 TDs.

HONORABLE MENTION (season complete)

Neville, Central-Baton Rouge, Carencro

ON THE BUBBLE

Ouachita Christian, Riverside Academy, Northwest, Sterlington, Jena, Vermilion Catholic, Southern Lab, Union Parish, St. James, Isidore Newman, Oak Grove, Kentwood

Photo of Catholic-Baton Rouge quarterback Daniel Beale by Crescent City Sports

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA