Most times, a loss will cost a team at least a few spots in the Top 10 high school football state rankings compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Not this week, in Calvary Baptist’s case.
The Class 2A rankings still have the Cavaliers at No. 1, despite their first loss in 16 games last week. It came by a narrow margin, 42-38, to the No. 5 team in Class 5A, Neville.
Calvary (1-1) took the lead last Friday at home in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Neville regained the edge less than two minutes later and stopped the Cavaliers’ last possession with a block-in-the-back penalty wiping out a first down run, and a sack pinning CBA deep in its own territory.
In a contest without a punt by either team, there were over 1,000 combined yards. Neville advanced two spots in the Class 5A rankings released Monday.
Twelve LSWA members who cover high school football around the state vote weekly on the Top 10s in each classification. Calvary did lose four No. 1 votes and what was a 22-point lead slimmed to 15 this week.
No other local team is in a state Top 10, although Airline is a few points away in Class 5A and Northwood picked up a vote in Class 4A this week.
This week’s LSWA Top 10 rankings by class:
Class 5A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Ruston (11) 2-0, 143, 1
2. Karr 1-0, 127, 2
3. Catholic-BR (1) 2-0, 124, 3
4. Acadiana 1-1, 110, 4
5. Neville 2-0, 79, 7
6. Zachary 1-1, 77, 5
7. Destrehan 1-1, 69, 6
8. John Curtis 1-1, 54, 8
9. St. Augustine 2-0, 46, 9
10. Alexandria 2-0, 25, NR
Others receiving votes: Archbishop Rummel 17, Airline 14, West Monroe 12, Dutchtown 9, Brother Martin 8, Mandeville 7, Carencro 4, Walker 3, Barbe 3, Central 1, Jesuit 1, Terrebonne 1.
Class 4A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. St. Thomas More (4) 1-1,135, 2
2. North DeSoto (8) 1-1, 132, 1
3. Opelousas 0-1, 108, 3
4. Teurlings Catholic 2-0, 91, 8
5. Cecilia 1-1, 88, 4
6. Westgate 1-0, 86, 6
7. Archbishop Shaw 1-1, 84, 7
8. E.D. White 1-1, 82, 5
9. Lutcher 1-0, 51, 9
10. St. Charles 0-1, 31, 10
Others receiving votes: Assumption 20, Franklin Parish 10, Lakeshore 3, Istrouma 1, Leesville 1, McDonough (35) 1, Northwood-Shreveport 1, Vandebilt Catholic 1, Wossman.
Class 3A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. St. James (8) 1-0, 139, 2
2. University (3) 1-1, 128, 1
3. Northwest (1) 2-0, 120, 3
4. Sterlington 2-0, 106, 4
5. John F. Kennedy 2-0, 103, 5
6. Bunkie 2-0, 83, 6
7. Jena 2-0, 72, 7
8. Bastrop 2-0, 41, NR
9. Madison Prep 0-2, 37, 8
10. De La Salle 0-2, 23, 10
Others receiving votes: Amite 21, Parkview Baptist 20, Jewel Sumner 14, Jennings 12, Lake Charles College Prep 5, Pine 4, Erath 3, Donaldsonville 1.
Class 2A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Calvary Baptist (8) 1-1, 138, 1
2. Newman (3) 1-0, 123, 2
3. Oak Grove (1) 1-1, 118, 3
4. Lafayette Christian 1-1, 117, 4
5. Notre Dame 2-0, 93, 5
6. Dunham 2-0, 89, 6
7. Ouachita Christian 2-0, 73, 8
8. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 2-0, 57, 9
9. Union Parish 0-2, 51, 6
10. Catholic-New Iberia 1-1 34 10
Others receiving votes: Mangham 18, Ferriday 15, South Plaquemines 8, Pope John Paul (II) 4, Northlake Christian 1.
Class 1A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Southern Lab (9) 1-0, 139, 1
2. Vermilion Catholic (3) 2-0, 135, 2
3. Haynesville 2-0, 119, 3
4. Riverside 0-1, 103, 4
5. St. Martin’s 2-0, 89, 7
6. Kentwood 1-1, 79, 4
7. Ascension Catholic 0-1, 67, 8
8. Opelousas Catholic 2-0, 62, 9
9. Logansport 1-1, 49, 6
10. Central Catholic 1-0, 34, 10
Others receiving votes: Catholic-Point Coupee 31, Covenant Christian 20, Ascension Episcopal 5, Jeanerette 5, St. Frederick 2, White Castle 1.