Week 1 Upsets Flip Louisiana High School Football Rankings

When the first games of the season rolled around, nobody could have predicted just how much the LSWA football polls would be turned upside‑down. A handful of surprise losses sent three schools—Westgate, St. Charles and Ouachita Christian—rocketing to the number‑one spot in their classes.

The biggest shock came in Class 5A, where the defending champion, Ruston, demolished the top‑ranked 4A squad Neville. That loss vaulted Westgate into the lead for Class 4A. In Class 3A, the previously favored University stumbled in its opener, opening the door for St. Charles to claim the summit. And in the tiny‑school arena of Class 1A, Haynesville’s lopsided defeat at the hands of Ouachita Christian gave the latter an instant #1 ranking.

It’s not just the three new leaders that are making headlines. Two other programs, Acadiana and Brother Martin, broke into the Class 5A poll for the first time, while Cecilia earned its inaugural vote in the 4A rankings.

Below is a quick snapshot of the new top‑ten listings as voted by Louisiana’s sportswriters:

Class 5A – 1️⃣ Ruston (131 pts) • 2️⃣ Karr (123) • 3️⃣ Alexandria (100) • 4️⃣ St. Augustine (97) • 5️⃣ Catholic‑Baton Rouge (80) …

Class 4A – 1️⃣ Westgate (124 pts) • 2️⃣ Archbishop Shaw (118) • 3️⃣ North DeSoto (108) • 4️⃣ Neville (104) • 5️⃣ Plaquemine (94) …

Class 3A – 1️⃣ St. Charles (129 pts) • 2️⃣ Sterlington (118) • 3️⃣ St. James (104) • 4️⃣ University (104) • 5️⃣ Jena (83) …

Class 2A – 1️⃣ Dunham (132 pts) • 2️⃣ Calvary Baptist (120) • 3️⃣ Oak Grove (106) • 4️⃣ Notre Dame (97) • 5️⃣ Kinder (85) …

Class 1A – 1️⃣ Ouachita Christian (130 pts) • 2️⃣ Riverside Academy (121) • 3️⃣ Ascension Catholic (105) • 4️⃣ Jeanerette (92) • 5️⃣ Haynesville (90) …

These rankings, released after just one week of play, are a reminder that high school football in Louisiana is as unpredictable as it is exciting. As the season unfolds, expect more twists, more rivalries, and plenty of chances for underdogs to rewrite the story.

For regular updates on LSWA rankings, game results, and behind‑the‑scenes coverage, stay tuned to the Daily Comet and follow journalist Jimmy Watson on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.