Louisiana high school football Top 25 rankings (12/7/2023)

Ranking the 16 teams heading to New Orleans for the LHSAA Prep Classic

This week's SBLive Louisiana Top 25 rankings will be a bit different. 

Since this is the final week of the 2023 season, plus the fact that there are 16 schools still playing, we have decided - heading into this week's LHSAA Prep Classic - to rank all 16 programs that are vying for state championships.

Louisiana's Prep Classic high school football state championships: Game previews, kickoff times 

1. St. Thomas More (13-0)

The Cougars have been the most complete team in the state, going undefeated against the likes of Alexandria, Brother Martin, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Teurlings Catholic, Westgate and Lafayette Christian, who they'll face again in the Division II select finals.

Hutch Swilley, John Luke St. Pierre and Gabe Mocek have combined to rush for 2,070 yards and 36 touchdowns.

2. Ruston (13-0)

The Bearcats have been on a tear since a 20-18 win over Westgate in the Division I non-select second round; blowing out Walker, 56-17, and easily defeating a Mandeville team, 28-7, that had scored 142 total points in three playoff games.

Ruston's defense shined in a 29-26 regular-season win over Lafayette Christian as the Bearcats intercepted Ju'Juan Johnson five times.

3. Calvary Baptist (13-0)

The Cavaliers boast the Prep Classic's deepest receiving corps in Aubrey Hermes (63 catches-1,267 yards, 14 TDs), John Simon (46-794, nine TDs), Kolby Thomas (64-756, 10 TDs) and Chris Jackson (40-604, seven TDs).

Freshman Braylun Huglon has six of the defense's 15 interceptions. Quarterback Abram Wardell has thrown only one pick.

What makes undefeated Calvary Baptist's high-octane offense tick?

4. St. Charles Catholic (13-0)

The top-seeded Comets take on second-seeded Calvary Baptist in the Division III select finals. QB Brady St. Pierre completed 7-of-14 passes for 100 yards in the semifinal win over University Lab. Skyler Edwards rushed for 94 yards on eight carries.

5. Catholic-Baton Rouge (11-2)

The third-seeded Bears have bounced three New Orleans metro area teams from the Division I select bracket in John Ehret, John Curtis Christian and Archbishop Rummel. Catholic-BR and Ruston lost to Warren Easton on the field before the Eagles were forced to forfeit both games. The Bears handed Zachary its only loss.

Louisiana LookBack: Top takeaways from Week 14 of 2023 season 

6. Zachary (12-1)

The sixth-seeded Broncos can gash defenses with tailback Kameron Thomas or go up top to receivers Tyson George and Trey'Dez Green. Zachary, which tangles with Ruston in the Division I non-select final, knocked out unbeaten defending champion Destrehan on the road in the quarterfinals.

7. Lafayette Christian (11-2)

This is the last shot at St. Thomas More for the Knights, who move down from Class 4A to Class 2A next season. LCA has lost all three meetings vs. the Cougars. Quarterback Ju'Juan Johnson set the state's all-time total yardage and career touchdowns records earlier this season. The Knights beat Acadiana in Week 1, 61-38.

8. Acadiana (11-2)

The eighth-seeded Rams downed two higher-seeded Catholic League opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals, defeating No. 1 Holy Cross in Hammond on a Saturday ahead of last week's win at No. 5 Edna Karr. They'll face Catholic-BR next.

9. Cecilia (12-1)

The Bulldogs feature one of the state's most dynamic players in quarterback Diesel Solari, who does everything well. The junior plays significant reps in the secondary, an unusual tactic for the quarterback of a large-school program.

10. Opelousas (11-3)

The Tigers haven't lost since Week 8 at Cecilia, their District 5-4A rival and opponent in the Division II non-select title game. Opelousas is big and fast with a blue-collar ground game.

11. St. James (11-2)

The Wildcats, who take on Union Parish in the Division III non-select championship, routed Many, 40-0, in the quarterfinals. It was the Tigers who beat St. James in the 2022 semifinals. St. James lost by one point to Class 5A East St. John in Week 1 and by eight points to an undefeated E.D. White team for the district championship.

12. Southern Lab (11-1)

The Kittens lost by one point to Class 3A Madison Prep during the regular season and beat defending Division IV select champion Ouachita Christian in last week's semifinal game.

13. Oak Grove (11-2)

The Tigers have a rematch with Haynesville in the Division IV non-select title game. Oak Grove, which won the regular season matchup by 34 points, beat Mangham in the quarterfinal round by one point after defeating the Dragons by 16 in the regular season.

14. Union Parish (9-4)

Linebacker Ty'Quereis Wilson was credited with one solo tackle, a forced fumble and 26 assists in last week's 24-16 win at top-seeded Jena in the Division III non-select semifinal game.

15. Riverside Academy (12-1)

The fifth-seeded Rebels, who challenge second-seeded Southern Lab, got two rushing touchdowns from eighth-grader Chris Becknell in last week's win over Vermilion Catholic.

16. Haynesville (12-1)

Haynesville is trying for its 18th state title vs. Oak Grove, which has won seven. The two programs have met 12 times. Only one, in 1989, was for the state championship. Oak Grove won, 28-0.

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

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA