Bearcats up to No. 4 in Class 5A

With three top-10 wins under its belt, Ruston moved up in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association prep poll, as the Bearcats improved to No. 4 in Class 5A.

No. 4 Ruston (5-0) defeated longtime rival No. 3 Neville (4A) 14-10 in comeback fashion on Friday, keeping the Bearcats unbeaten and giving the team their third marquee victory of the year with wins already over No. 2 Lafayette Christian (4A) and No. 6 Warren Easton (4A).

Ruston quarterback Josh Brantley rushed for a career-high 146 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead his team back to victory and give the Bearcats their first win at Neville since 2017.

John Curtis slipped from No. 1 to No. 5 in Class 5A after suffering its first loss of the season, while Zachary, Destrehan, and Edna Karr made up the new top three for the rankings.

Ruston opens district play on Friday at home against Alexandria Senior High (3-2).

Here’s the rest of the prep poll:

Class 5A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. Edna Karr (6) 5-0 136 2

2. Destrehan (3) 5-0 127 3

3. Zachary (1) 4-0 115 4

4. Ruston 5-0 111 5

5. John Curtis (2) 3-1 96 1

6. Carencro 5-0 84 6

7. Acadiana 4-1 58 8

8. Holy Cross 5-0 55 NR

9. Airline 5-0 48 9

10. East St. John 5-0 30 10

Others receiving votes: Catholic-Baton Rouge 29, West Monroe 22, Southside 8, Dutchtown 7, Brother Martin 5, St. Augustine 4, Sam Houston 1

Class 4A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. St. Thomas More (12) 5-0 144  1

2. Lafayette Christian 4-1 129  3

3. Neville 4-1 115  2

4. North DeSoto 4-1 100  5

5. Westgate 4-1 93  4

6. Warren Easton 2-3 91  6

7. Lutcher 3-1 70  7

8. West Feliciana 4-1 52 8

9. Teurlings Catholic 4-1 50 9

10. Archbishop Shaw 3-2 31  10

Others receiving votes: Cecilia 29, Evangel Christian 9, Tioga 8, Opelousas 6, St. Michael 5, Franklin Parish 1

Class 3A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. University (10) 4-1 142  1

2. E.D. White (2) 5-0 128  2

3. St. James 4-1 121  3

4. Sterlington 4-1 112 4

5. Jena 5-0 86 5

6. Union Parish 3-2 82 6

7. Parkview Baptist 4-1 69 7

8. Madison Prep 3-2 46  8

9. John F. Kennedy 4-1 41 9

10. St. Louis 4-1 39 10

Others receiving votes: Wossman 25, Lake Charles Prep 14, Amite 9, North Webster 7, Pine 6, Bunkie 4, Iota 3, Carroll 1, South Beauregard 1.

Class 2A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. Calvary Baptist (10) 5-0 142 1

2. St. Charles (2) 5-0 134  2

3. Newman 4-0 120  3

4. Oak Grove 3-2 105  5

5. Dunham 3-2 83  4

6. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 4-1 80  7

7. Northlake Christian 4-0 65 8

8. Notre Dame 2-3 56  6

9. Many 2-2 53  9

10. Catholic-New Iberia 4-1 51 NR

Others receiving votes: Ascension Episcopal 13, Oakdale 11, South Plaquemines 10, Loreauville 7, D’Arbonne Woods 6, Welsh 1.

Class 1A

School 1st rec pts prev

1. Ouachita Christian (12) 5-0 144  1

2. Vermilion Catholic 5-0 131  2

3. Southern Lab 3-1 113  3

4. Homer 4-1 103  4

5. Kentwood 4-1 96 5

6. St. Martin’s 4-0 74  6

7. Riverside Academy 4-1 72 7

8. Haynesville 5-0 70 8

9. St. Mary’s 4-0 52 9

10. Logansport 4-1 34 NR

Others receiving votes: Glenbrook Academy 19, Ascension Catholic 17, St. Frederick 7, Centerville 1, Jeanerette 1