JOURNAL STAFF
Airline’s undefeated first half of the 2024 high school football season has come with lots of dramatic finishes, and those have finally allowed the Vikings to join Calvary Baptist as local teams in the weekly state Top 10 rankings compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Airline got a late field goal to prevail in a season-opening 52-49 win over Barbe in Lake Charles. The Vikes prevailed 47-42 at home in Week 3 to kick off District 1-5A play. Last Friday topped them all – a 69-68 triumph at reigning district champ Captain Shreve, with the decisive plays a stop on the Gators’ bid for a two-point conversion with 1:05 to go, and Airline’s recovery of the ensuing onside kick.
Now they’ll meet the other 5-0 team in 1-5A, Parkway, Friday night at M.D. Ray Stadium. The Panthers picked up some voting support in the LSWA poll for the first time this week after toppling previously undefeated Byrd 46-35.
Calvary rolled to its second District 1-2A win but will face a couple of tests to remain No. 2 in Class 2A voting. An Oct. 18 visit to district newcomer Union Parish – a matchup of reigning state champs – is followed by a confrontation with Class 5A Huntington Oct. 25.
A panel of 12 LSWA members from around the state vote on the five top 10 polls each week through the end of the regular season.
This week’s LSWA polls:
Class 5A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Ruston (12) 5-0, 144, 1
2. Karr 4-0, 132, 2
3. Acadiana 4-1, 120, 3
4. Catholic-Baton Rouge 3-1, 97, 4
5. Neville 5-0, 95, 5
6. Alexandria
7. Zachary 3-1, 75, 8
8. Archbishop Rummel 4-1, 41, 7
9. John Curtis 2-2, 27, 10
10. Central 5-0, 25, NR
(tie) Airline
Others receiving votes: St. Augustine 15, Mandeville 14, Brother Martin 13, Terrebonne 9, West Monroe 5, Hahnville 5, Parkway 4, Dutchtown 3, Covington 2.
Class 4A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Teurlings Catholic (12) 5-0, 144, 1
2. North DeSoto 3-2, 121, 2
3. E.D. White 4-1, 118, 3
4. Lutcher 4-0, 103, 5
5. St. Thomas More 2-3, 96, 6
6. Archbishop Shaw 3-2, 72, 9
7. Cecilia
8. Opelousas 1-4, 56, 4
9. Franklin Parish 4-1, 44, 7
10. Lakeshore 5-0, 41, NR
Others receiving votes: Westgate 20, Leesville 19, West Ouachita 18, Plaquemine 7, Franklinton 3, Vandebilt Catholic 2, McDonogh (35) 1, Minden 1.
Class 3A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. University (12) 4-1, 144, 1
2. St. James 3-1, 131, 2
3. Bunkie
4. Jennings 4-1, 96, 7
5. Northwest 3-2, 69, 9
6. John F. Kennedy 1-4, 67, 3
7. Amite 3-2, 54, NR
8. Jewel Sumner 4-1, 51, 8
9. Bastrop 4-1, 45, 5
10. Sterlington 2-3, 38, 10
Others receiving votes: Madison Prep 33, Jena 29, Erath 15, De La Salle 13, Pine 5, Iota 4, Lake Charles College Prep 4, Kaplan 1, Westlake 1.
Class 2A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Newman (8) 3-0, 134, 1
2. Calvary Baptist (1) 3-2, 128, 2
3. Oak Grove (1) 4-1, 118, 3
4. Dunham (2) 5-0, 117, 4
5. Ouachita Christian 5-0, 94, 5
6. Catholic-New Iberia 4-1, 84, 6
7. Mangham 4-1, 52, 10
(tie) Lafayette Chrisitan 1-4, 52, 7
9. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 4-1, 50, 8
10. Ferriday 5-0, 47, NR
Others receiving votes: Pope John Paul 24, Union Parish 12, Notre Dame 20, Kinder 2, DeQuincy 1.
Class 1A
School (1st place votes), record, total voting points, previous ranking
1. Vermilion Catholic (11) 5-0, 143, 2
2. Haynesville 5-0, 126, 3
3. Southern Lab (1) 3-1, 124, 1
4. Ascension Catholic 2-1, 51, 8
5. Riverside 2-2, 74, 4
6. St. Martin’s
7. Catholic-Pointe Coupee 4-0, 60, 10
8. Covenant Christian 5-0, 54, NR
9. Kentwood 3-2, 51, 6
10. Opelousas Catholic 4-1, 41, 7
Others receiving votes: Ascension Episcopal 33, St. Edmund 30, Jeanerette 19, Logansport 12, St. Frederick 10, Hamilton Christian 1, North Iberville 1.