October is here, and that means the push to the Louisiana High School football playoffs will soon kick into high gear.
The Catholic League's Week 4schedule is stacked. Edna Karr will try to keep its 32-game win streak alive against a Brother Martin squad that has the nation's top wide receiver, Easton Royal, whose speed had made defenses look silly. John Curtis will try to get back in the win column, but their defense will need a big performance against Archbishop Rummel and their quarterback, Colton Nussmeier. Jesuit and Holy Cross will meet in a rivalry game, while St. Augustine will look to extend its win streak to five games when it faces Chalmette.
Two of the best small schools in the state will face each other in the Battle of St. John the Baptist Parish. Defending Division IV-Select state champion Riverside will host defending Division II-Select state champion St. Charles in the "St. John Super Bowl."
Several other games notable games are taking place across the state this weekend. Neville, the second-ranked team in Class 4A, will face another 5A opponent, former district rival West Monroe. Barbe and Sulphur, two Calcasieu Parish and District 3-5A rivals who are having their best seasons in the last decade, will meet on the gridiron. Sterlington and Oak Grove in a matchup of two of the top small teams in the northeastern Louisiana. In Northwest Louisiana, Loyola Prep will face Calvary Baptist, and in the Acadiana area, Eunice and Church Point will meet in a district rivalry game.
We take a look at those games and many more in this week's edition of the Pelican State Prep Football Preview.
Louisiana Sports Writers Association Polls
School (1st place votes), record
Class 5A
1. Edna Karr (10) 4-0
2. Ruston 3-1
3. St. Augustine (1) 4-0
4. Archbishop Rummel 4-0
5. Brother Martin 4-0
6. John Curtis 2-2
7. Alexandria 3-1
8. St. Thomas More 3-1
9. Acadiana 3-1
10. West Monroe 3-1
Others receiving votes: Jesuit, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Ouachita, Barbe, Central, Thibodaux.
Class 4A
1. Westgate (8) 4-0
2. Neville (2) 3-1
3. North DeSoto (1) 4-0
4. Archbishop Shaw 3-1
5. Lake Charles Prep 4-0
6. Franklin Parish 3-1
7. Madison Prep 2-2
8. John F. Kennedy 3-1
9. Belle Chasse 4-0
10. Cecilia 3-1
Others receiving votes: Plaquemine, Opelousas, Salmen, Lafayette Renaissance, Leesville.
Class 3A
1. St. James (9) 4-0
2. St. Charles (2) 3-1
3. Jena 3-1
4. University 2-2
5. Sterlington 2-2
6. Jewel Sumner 3-1
7. Loyola Prep 3-1
8. Marksville 4-0
9. Eunice 4-0
10. West Feliciana 4-0
Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic, Iowa, Northwest, Jennings, Carroll.
Class 2A
1. Calvary Baptist (11) 4-0
2. Notre Dame 4-0
3. Mangham 3-1
4. Dunham 2-2
5. Lafayette Christian Academy 3-1
6. Amite 3-1
7. Newman 3-1
8. Catholic-New Iberia 2-2
9. Lake Arthur 4-0
10. Mansfield 3-1
Others receiving votes: Oak Grove, Loreauville, Covenant Christian, Kinder, Vinton, West St. Mary, Country Day, Green Oaks, Homer.
Class 1A
1. Ouachita Christian (7) 4-0
2. Riverside Academy (4) 4-0
3. Ascension Catholic 4-0
4. Haynesville 3-1
5. Logansport 4-0
6. Southern Lab 3-0
7. Kentwood 4-0
8. Jeanerette 3-1
9. Westminster-Lafayette 4-0
10. Cedar Creek 4-0
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana, South Plaquemines, Ascension Episcopal, Catholic-Pointe Coupee, St. Mary’s.
