Louisiana
The Sporting News Louisiana high school football Top 25 for Week 2: Carencro enters | Sporting News
Week 1 started off with a bang.
There were many statement wins, as well as tough losses from most of the teams on this list. A couple of those games were the Neville/Evangel and Lafayette Christian/Archbishop Rummel games, which led to great finishes in matchups against ranked opponents.
As expected, we have a few new teams joining the list led by Carencro and 2024 state finalists Dunham and St. James.
Here is the Week 2 version of The Sporting News’ Louisiana football Top 25.
1. Edna Karr
Next Game: Sept. 12, American Heritage (Fla.) (1-1)
Last Game: No. 1 Edna Karr 35, No. Archbishop Shaw 0
Current Streak: 14 wins
The Cougars are already in midseason form following their shutout of Archbishop Shaw and did not allow a first down until the third quarter. Nicholls commit Tre Garrison added a pair of touchdowns to power Karr to a big win. Now, Karr shifts its focus to a national power in American Heritage in the Superdome.
2. Catholic (Baton Rouge)
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 2
Next Game: Sept. 12, No. 15 St. Thomas More (0-1)
Last Game: No. 2 Catholic (Baton Rouge) 32, No. 8 Destrehan 23
Current Streak: 1 win
Bear junior running back Justin Batiste only rushed for 21 yards, but he propelled them to a big win over Destrehan with four touchdowns. Catholic’s two-quarterback attack was able to go for 246 yards, as Turner Goldsmith threw for 191 on 16-for-22 aim. Now, the Bears get to prep for Virginia Tech commit Cole Bergeron and St. Thomas More.
3. Ruston
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 3
Next Game: Sept. 12, at Cabot (Ark.) (0-2)
Last Game: No. 3 Ruston 49, No. 11 Acadiana 7
Current Streak: 1 win
Do not count the Bearcats out just yet as they went on the road and won big over Acadiana. Sophomore running back Dalen Powell ran for 259 yards and scored four touchdowns to help answer any question marks about Ruston’s ability to run the ball. The Bearcats’ next four games are against out-of-state teams.
4. Neville
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 4
Next Game: Sept. 12, Calvary (1-0)
Last Game: No. 4 Neville 33, No. 23 Evangel 32
Current Streak: 1 win
A win is a win, no matter how you take it. A blocked field goal by Jakobe Collins sealed an entertaining game for the Tigers as they overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit. Neville will try to defeat another Shreveport private school – Calvary – at Bill Ruple Stadium Friday.
5. St. Augustine
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 5
Next Game: Sept. 13, at East St. John (0-1)
Last Game: No. 5 St. Augustine 56, McDonogh #35 6
Current Streak: 1 win
The Purple Knights were the only team on last week’s list to play Saturday, but the extra day was not a problem as they defeated McDonogh #35 handily. Vashaun Coulon was in a great rhythm with his receivers all game and accounted for 218 yards and four touchdowns. St. Aug has another Saturday game this week and travels to Reserve to play East St. John.
6. John Curtis
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 6
Next Game: Sept. 12, Northshore (0-1)
Last Game: No. 6 John Curtis 54, Cathedral (Calif.) 26
Current Streak: 1 win
The Patriots made the 1,900-mile trek to Hollywood and came away with a resounding victory over Cathedral. John Curtis ran for a program record 654 yards as Jacobi Boudreaux, Gavin Ledet and London Padgett each rushed for over 100 yards. The Patriots return to New Orleans to host Northshore in Week 2.
7. Central (Baton Rouge)
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 9
Next Game: Sept. 12, at Denham Springs (1-0)
Last Game: No. 9 Central (Baton Rouge) 20, De La Salle 13
Current Streak: 8 wins
The Wildcats pushed the state’s second-longest winning streak to eight after defeating De La Salle and will make the short trek to Denham Springs this week.
Here’s some postgame interviews from last night’s @ash_trojanFB game vs. West Feliciana. @CenLaPrepsLLC #cenlapreps
First, we hear from Coach Thomas Bachman. pic.twitter.com/MwicULvMp7
— LaMar Gafford (@lamargafford) September 6, 2025
8. Alexandria
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 10
Next Game: Sept. 11, Union Parish (0-1)
Last Game: No. 10 Alexandria 54, West Feliciana 7
Current Streak: 1 win
Everything went right for the Trojans in Week 1, as they jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first five minutes and did not look back. ASH quarterback Karsen Sellers passed for 236 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense did not allow a point until the running clock was implemented. It is a short week for the Trojans as they host Union Parish.
9. Zachary
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 12
Next Game: Sept. 12, Acadiana (0-1)
Last Game: No. 12 Zachary 52, Plaquemine 28
Current Streak: 1 win
The Broncos got themselves a good win last week against Plaquemine – attacking by air and ground to control the Green Devils. Jeremey Patton rushed for a pair of touchdowns, while Michael Kirby passed for three. Zachary hosts an Acadiana squad that is reeling off its 49-7 loss at home to Ruston.
10. Lafayette Christian
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 13
Next Game: Sept. 12, at No. 13 Carencro (1-0)
Last Game: No. 13 Lafayette Christian 27, No. 16 Archbishop Rummel 26
Current Streak: 1 win
The Knights climbed to the top 10 this week after surviving in their win over Rummel, thanks to a missed extra point. UL Lafayette commit Braylon Walker was incredible in pacing LCA – tallying 322 total yards and two touchdowns. The Knights head north on Interstate 49 to Exit 4 to face Carencro.
11. Teurlings Catholic
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 14
Next Game: Sept. 12, at Sam Houston (1-0)
Last Game: No. 14 Teurlings Catholic 48, Opelousas 12
Current Streak: 1 win
The Rebels opened the 2025 season with an empathic win to spoil Harry Coleman’s debut at Opelousas. Teurlings will travel for the next two weeks, beginning with a trip to Moss Bluff to face Sam Houston.
12. Destrehan
- 2025 Record: 0-1
- Last Week: No. 8
Next Game: Sept. 12, Bonnabel (1-0)
Last Game: No. 2 Catholic (Baton Rouge) 32, No. 8 Destrehan 23
Current Streak: 1 loss
Credit to the Wildcats for jumping out to an early 10-0 lead against Catholic (Baton Rouge), as they are still in the top 15 despite their loss. LSU commit Jabari Mack had an interception return for a touchdown and Incarnate Word commit Jackson Field also scored, but it was not enough against a tough Bear defense. Destrehan will look to get back on track against Bonnabel, who shut out Sophie B. Wright in Week 1.
13. Carencro
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: Not Ranked
Next Game: Sept. 12, No. 10 Lafayette Christian (1-0)
Last Game: Carencro 30, No. 7 St. Thomas More 27
Current Streak: 1 win
What a statement win for the Bears, who defeated St. Thomas More for the first time since 2006 and the first time on the road since 2003. Nicholls commit Chantz Babineaux intercepted a pair of passes, while returning one for a touchdown as the game was the opposite of last year’s showdown. Reaching the highest spot of any debuting team this week, Carencro will look for another top 10 win against Lafayette Christian.
14. Brother Martin
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 17
Next Game: Sept. 12, at St. Paul’s (1-0)
Last Game: No. 17 Brother Martin 29, East Ascension 22
Current Streak: 1 win
The Crusaders were on the ropes at East Ascension but rallied from a 22-9 halftime deficit thanks to Easton Royal’s 130 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Brother Martin gave up 239 rushing yards, but made a red zone stand when it counted most to preserve the win. The Crusaders will look to slow down St. Paul’s on the Northshore this week.
15. St. Thomas More
- 2025 Record: 0-1
- Last Week: No. 7
Next Game: Sept. 12, at No. 2 Catholic (Baton Rouge) (1-0)
Last Game: Carencro 30, No. 7 St. Thomas More 27
Current Streak: 1 loss
Virginia Tech commit Cole Bergeron earned 224 total yards and three touchdowns, but Carencro made him earn every yard and touchdown. Bergeron only completed 16 of 48 passes and both of his interceptions came against Babineaux, who took one back for a touchdown. Bergeron will battle another one of the top quarterbacks in the state – Baylor Graves – this week.
16. North DeSoto
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 19
Next Game: Sept. 12, Center (Texas) (2-0)
Last Game: No. 19 North DeSoto 46, Union Parish 3
Current Streak: 1 win
The Griffins earned a quality victory against Union Parish last week – outgaining it, 394-224, in yards. Northwestern State commit Luke Delafield not only spread the ball well with six receivers catching his 16 completions, but he also caught an 11-yard pass. North DeSoto will look to slow down Center (Texas) running back, who has rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns.
17. Jesuit
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 21
Next Game: Sept. 12, E.D. White (0-1)
Last Game: No. 21 Jesuit 31, Jesuit Dallas (Texas) 6
Current Streak: 1 win
The Blue Jays won a rain-shortened game and evened the home-and-home series against their neighboring state brethren. Jesuit returns to Louisiana to host an E.D. White squad that aims to return to the rankings.
18. University Lab
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 24
Next Game: Sept. 12, at No. 20 Archbishop Rummel (0-1) (at Caesars Superdome)
Last Game: No. 24 University Lab 49, Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) 8
Current Streak: 2 wins
The Cubs ran, ran and ran some more behind the duo of Sage Ingram and Corbin Odell against Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) to kick off their season. Ingram and Odell rushed for a total of 211 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers did not have an answer to slow either back down. University has its sights on the Superdome in December but will get a preliminary trip there this week to play Archbishop Rummel.
19. Franklin Parish
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: No. 25
Next Game: Sept. 12, at St. Frederick (0-1)
Last Game: No. 25 Franklin Parish 52, West Jefferson 0
Current Streak: 1 win
It was a great all-around effort for the Patriots, who cruised past West Jeff in a shutout win. LSU commit Dezyrian “Pook” Ellis pass for three touchdowns, while junior running back added 127 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries. Franklin Parish heads north to play St. Frederick, after the Warriors lost to Loyola.
20. Archbishop Rummel
- 2025 Record: 0-1
- Last Week: No. 16
Next Game: Sept. 12, No. 19 University Lab (1-0) (at Caesars Superdome)
Last Game: No. 13 Lafayette Christian 27, No. 16 Archbishop Rummel 26
Current Streak: 2 losses
The Raiders nearly rallied back from a 10-point deficit against LCA but fell prey to a missed extra point late in the ball game. Despite the loss, Jaden Terrance helped lead the comeback with an 80-yard rushing touchdown. Rummel draws another ranked opponent in University Lab in the Superdome Friday.
21. Dunham
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: Not Ranked
Next Game: Sept. 11, Live Oak (0-1)
Last Game: Dunham 49, Parkview Baptist 14
Current Streak: 1 win
The Tigers make their debut on this list after making a short road trip to take on Parkview Baptist. Dunham junior quarterback Elijah Haven picked up where he left off last season with five passing touchdowns in the first half. Up next is the Tigers’ home opener with Class 5A’s Live Oak, which lost to St. Paul’s, 48-13.
SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network
22. St. James
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: Not Ranked
Next Game: Sept. 12, at West St. John (0-1)
Last Game: St. James 49, East St. John 6
Current Streak: 1 win
St. James took care of business against East St. John and makes its first appearance in this year’s Louisiana Top 25. Jakias Villanueva caught 10 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns – one of those being a 75-yarder to open the second half. Up next for the Wildcats is West St. John, which dropped a close to Young Audiences Charter.
23. Holy Cross
- 2025 Record: 1-0
- Last Week: Not Ranked
Next Game: Sept. 11, at De La Salle (0-1)
Last Game: Holy Cross 27, No. 20 E.D. White 26
Current Streak: 1 win
The Tigers swap spots with E.D. White by going from one of the first five out to the main poll. Ke’Rynn Smith powered Holy Cross with 210 yards and two touchdowns as it scored a late touchdown to secure the win.
24. Archbishop Shaw
- 2025 Record: 0-1
- Last Week: No. 18
Next Game: Sept. 12, West Jefferson (0-1)
Last Game: No. 1 Edna Karr 35, No. 18 Archbishop Shaw
Current Streak: 1 loss
Credit to the Eagles for keeping the game close at 7-0 at halftime, but Karr was just too strong in the third quarter and pulled away. Shaw did not get a first down until the second half and the game was out of reach by then.
25. Evangel
- 2025 Record: 0-1
- Last Week: No. 23
Next Game: Sept. 12, Natchitoches Central (1-0)
Last Game: No. 4 Neville 33, No. 23 Evangel 32
Current Streak: 2 losses
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead at Neville and controlled most of the game until a blocked field goal did them in. Overall, it was a good showing as junior Peyton “Pop” Houston accounted for 348 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Ethan Mandigo made 10 tackles and four sacks. Evangel enters District 1-5A against a Natchitoches Central squad that shut out Breaux Bridge, 41-0.
FIRST FIVE OUT
No. 26 Catholic (New Iberia); No. 27 Sterlington; No. 28 E.D. White, No. 29 Franklinton; No. 30 Madison Prep
DROPPED OUT
No. 11 Acadiana; No. 15 Southside; No. 20 E.D. White; No. 22 Cecilia
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
Top stars, individual performances from Week 1 of Louisiana high school football
Louisiana’s Top 25 Quarterbacks to Watch for the 2025 Season
The Sporting News 2025 National High School Football Top 25 rankings
The Sporting News 2025 Texas High School Football Top 25 rankings
Louisiana
‘Sinners’ shines light on blues legends from Louisiana. See who, how they contributed.
Hopefully Ryan Coogler has a U-Haul on standby. The 39-year-old movie director may need a moving van March 15 to bring the Oscars home for his horror film, “Sinners.”
The movie, which grossed $369 million in worldwide box office receipts, is up for a record 16 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Original Song.
This image released by CBS Broadcasting shows Ryan Coogler, center, accepting the award for cinematic and box office achievement for “Sinners” during the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“Sinners” is already a winner for putting the spotlight on the blues and at least three Louisiana musicians who shaped the sound. Much of the vampire thriller is set in Southern juke joints of the 1930s, makeshift dancehalls that shook with sounds that poured the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&B, rap, country and more.
Coogler illustrates that past and future in a scene with the original song, “I Lied to You.” The 1930s scene drifts to visions of the coming decades of rock, rap, break dancing and funk.
Buddy Guy uses a drum stick to play a Jimi Hendrix tune at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 4, 2023.
Buddy Guy, an 89-year-old native of Pointe Coupee Parish, appears briefly in the movie as an aging version of the character Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore. Born in 1936 in Lettsworth, Guy was a product of this “Sinners” era with skills that heavily influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and others considered guitar gods.
A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and Kennedy Center honoree, Guy is still going strong with a tour of Australia set for April.
Fellow blues senior and Homer native Bobby Rush has also enjoyed “Sinners” notoriety, along with the late harmonica legend Little Walter of Marksville. Rush, 92, wasn’t seen in the movie, but his harmonica was used for the character “Delta Slim.”
Bluesman Bobby Rush, 92, right, performs with Kenny Wayne Shepherd in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
Guy and actor Miles Caton performed the Little Walter original, “Juke.” The song has more than 2.2 million streams on Spotify and nearly 750,000 plays on YouTube.
Like Guy, Rush is not resting in his senior years. Between now and end of May, Rush has gigs stretching from the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans to the Ribs & Blues Festival in the Netherlands.
Similar to Guy, Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs in 1930, left Louisiana for Chicago, where he recorded “Juke,” “My Babe” and more groundbreaking harmonica blues. Renowned as an alcoholic with a short fuse and numerous fight injuries, Walter only lived to the age of 37.
Art director Tim Davis helped create the church in “Sinners,” and fans have analyzed its design. Miles Caton plays preacher boy Sammie in the film.
Yet the blues of Walter, Rush and Guy live on, thanks to “Sinners,” introducing a new generation to the foundation of American music.
Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS Public Media.
Louisiana
Louisiana State Police provide update on officer-involved shooting in Gonzales
Louisiana State Police released updated information regarding an officer-involved shooting March 5 in Ascension Parish.
According to an LSP news release, the preliminary investigation found that a Gonzales Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop at around 10:45 p.m. near the intersection of South John Street and Orice Roth Road.
In the release, LSP identified the driver of the vehicle as 21-year-old Anthony Talbert of Baton Rouge, who was accompanied by a female passenger.
During the stop, Talbert allegedly reached toward a firearm that was inside the vehicle, per the release.
The officer responded by discharging a department-issued firearm one time, which grazed both Talbert and the unidentified female, the release continued.
According to police, Talbert then fled the scene, exceeding 100 miles per hour and disregarding multiple traffic controls.
Troopers reported Talbert was taken into custody following a short pursuit.
He was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on charges of aggravated flight, reckless operation, obstruction of justice and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said in the release.
Per troopers, the female was transported to a hospital and was treated for minor injuries.
LSP’s initial news release reported no officers were injured.
According to police, the investigation remained active and further information would be released as available.
Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana.
Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.
Louisiana
Should Shreveport homeowners buy earthquake insurance in Louisiana?
Louisiana’s ‘largest’ ever earthquake rattles home security camera
A security camera captured the moment a 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook homes in northwest Louisiana.
Thursday’s earthquake that shook furniture and rattled pipes in the Shreveport region may have some property owners wondering whether they should consider buying insurance to cover them from potential stronger movement in the future.
The 4.9 magnitude earthquake that struck just north of Coushatta at 5:30 a.m. March 5 was the strongest onshore event in Louisiana history.
No structural damage has been reported from Thursday’s earthquake so far, but the strength of the movement may have been enough to raise concern.
“If people are concerned they should call their insurance agent and explore pricing and options,” Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said in an interview with USA Today Network.
“It’s not an issue that has come up often in Louisiana, but if coverage can alleviate anxiety and risk it’s absolutely something homeowners and property owners should consult their agent about,” he said.
Earth movement or subsidence insurance is generally excluded from homeowners’ policies, as is flood insurance, but property owners can secure the coverage through their insurers as an add-on, called an endorsement.
Eugene Montgomery, owner of Community Financial Insurance Center in northern Louisiana, said a subsidence endorsement to cover earthquake damage would generally be inexpensive in Louisiana because of the low risk.
“The coverage itself is inexpensive, but the deductible would be high,” Montgomery told USA Today Network.
That’s the case for one Shreveport homeowner who asked not to be identified. The homeowner secured a subsidence endorsement following Thursday’s earthquake that cost $120 per year after discounts with a 10% deductible.
Republican state Sen. Adam Bass, who also operates an Allstate agency in Bossier, said most people won’t buy an add-on that’s not required by their mortgage holders no matter how inexpensive it is.
Bass said he hasn’t had any inquiries about earth movement insurance during his career.
But Montgomery said he remembers a temporary spike in those policies in 1990 when climatologist Iben Brown predicted a major earthquake would strike the New Madrid Fault in Missouri on Dec. 3 of that year, a forecast that flopped.
“It really created a little bit of a panic,” Montgomery said. “Everybody wanted insurance for a short period of time.”
Montgomery doesn’t expect a similar run on earthquake after Thursday’s event, but said he won’t be surprised if some level of interest increases.
“When people can actually feel the earth moving it gets their attention,” he said.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
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