Bearcats remain No. 5 in LSWA prep poll

Ruston remains a top five team in Class 5A in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers prep football poll after another top-10 win over No. 3 (4A) Lafayette Christian last week.

The Bearcats’ defense forced five interceptions off the highly rated LSU prospect Ju’Juan Johnson and rushed for 228 yards on the ground as a team, thanks in large part off to Jordan Hayes (121 yards, 1 TD) and Dylone Brooks (69 yards, 1 TD).

The rest of the top five in Class 5A remained the same after each squad remained unbeaten, while Airline and East St. John entered the top-10 for the first time.

Ruston will have an opportunity for another top-10 win this Friday when the Bearcats travel to No. 2 (4A) Neville in a storied non-district rivalry game. The Tigers vaulted LCA in the latest Class 4A rankings after the program’s first 4-0 start since 2016.

Here is the entire LSWA poll:

Class 5A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. John Curtis (9) 3-0 149 1   

2. Edna Karr (4) 4-0 143  2

3. Destrehan 4-0 131  3

4. Zachary 3-0 116  4

5. Ruston 4-0 111  5

6. Carencro 4-0 85  6

7. West Monroe 4-0 61  8

8. Acadiana 3-1 59  9

9. Airline 4-0 43 NR

10. East St. John 4-0 35 NR

Others receiving votes: St. Augustine 30, Catholic-Baton Rouge 27, Brother Martin 9, Southside 8, Dutchtown 4, Sam Houston 3, Holy Cross 3, Parkway 1.

Class 4A

1. St. Thomas More (13) 4-0 156  1

2. Neville 4-0 136  3

3. Lafayette Christian 3-1 130  2

4. Westgate 4-0 121  4

5. North DeSoto 3-1 95  6

6. Warren Easton 1-3 88  5

7. Lutcher 2-1 73  7

8. West Feliciana 3-1 64 8     

9. Teurlings Catholic 3-1 57 9

10. Archbishop Shaw 2-2 21  NR

Others receiving votes: Cecilia 19, Tioga 17, Evangel Christian 14, Opelousas 9, Franklin Parish 7, Plaquemine 5, Morgan City 1, Vandebilt Catholic 1.

Class 3A

1. University (10) 3-1 153  1

2. E.D. White (3) 4-0 138  3

3. St. James 3-1 134  2

4. Sterlington 3-1 120 4

5. Jena 4-0 91 6

6. Union Parish 2-2 83 7

7. Parkview Baptist 3-1 80 8

8. Madison Prep 2-2 50  5

9. John F. Kennedy 3-1 47 9

10. St. Louis 3-1 39 10

Others receiving votes: Amite 24, Wossman 11, Iota 10, North Webster 7, Bogalusa 6, Lake Charles Prep 6, Bunkie 4, Carroll 4, Pine 3, South Beauregard 1.

Class 2A

1. Calvary Baptist (9) 4-0 152 1

2. St. Charles (4) 4-0 147  2

3. Newman 4-0 129  3

4. Dunham 3-1 110  5

5. Oak Grove 2-2 101  6

6. Notre Dame 2-2 91  4

7. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 3-1 69  8

8. Northlake Christian 4-0 52 9

9. Many 2-2 48  7

10. Loreauville 3-1 43 10

Others receiving votes: Catholic-New Iberia 39, Oakdale 26, Ascension Episcopal 3, South Plaquemine 3.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (13) 4-0 157  1

2. Vermilion Catholic 4-0 142  3

3. Southern Lab 2-1 122  4

4. Homer 3-1 108  5

5. Kentwood 3-1 106 2

6. St. Martin’s 3-0 86  6

7. Riverside Academy 3-1 82 7

8. Haynesville 4-0 77 8

9. St. Mary’s 4-0 52 10

10. Ascension Catholic 3-1 39 9

Others receiving votes: Logansport 31, Glenbrook Academy 9, Jeanerette 6, St. Frederick 6, White Castle 2, Centerville 1.