NAT'L RANKINGS (Oct. 30): Destrehan up; Shaw down
By Bradley Handwerger
Long have I wondered how anyone would possibly rank the thousands of high school football teams across the country. I've thought that anybody who wanted to take on the task had my backing. It certainly isn't easy.
Throughout the season, I've been keeping tabs on MaxPreps.com to see how they view Louisiana football. I don't hold any grudges. I don't even have a dog in the proverbial fight. I honestly think the site does a heck of a job considering the task at hand.
But I've got to wonder -- why don't they view prep football in this state as being good? Year in and year out, you hear about how good the talent is in Louisiana. How you can fill several teams up with players from this state.
So, why are there only four teams in the top 100, of which only one is in the top 25? And why are there more than 100 spots between No. 57 Destrehan and More, the next closest team? (more...)
I know I’ve been on this rant before. But I’ve seen football in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and now Louisiana. It’s every bit as good here as there, and vice versa.
* How can Shaw, 9-0 and manhandling nearly everybody it plays, fall 14 spots after a 42-12 pasting of Ellender?
* How can Bastrop, 9-0 and legitimately one of the top teams in the state and region, beat West Ouachita 50-0 and stay put?
* Curtis is ranked No. 302. Did you see that happening before the season?
MaxPreps.com National Top 100
No. 17 West Monroe, 8-0 (+5): 49-7 over Natchitoches Central
No. 40 Shaw, 9-0 (-14): 42-12 over Ellender
No. 43 Bastrop, 9-0 (-): 50-0 over West Ouachita
No. 57 Destrehan, 9-0 (+9): 51-6 over East Ascension
FYI: St. James is No. 240 and Curtis is No. 302.
MaxPreps.com State Top 25
No. 1 West Monroe (-)
No. 2 Shaw (-)
No. 3 Bastrop (-)
No. 4 Destrehan (-)No. 5 More (+6)
No. 6 Evangel (+1)
No. 7 Calvary Baptist (+1)
No. 8 Westlake (+2)
No. 9 St. James (+9)
No. 10 Rummel (+2)
No. 11 Notre Dame (-2)
No. 12 Acadiana (-6)
No. 13 Curtis (-8)
No. 14 East St. John (+3)
No. 15 Catholic-BR (+1)
No. 16 Teurlings Catholic (-1)
No. 17 Hahnville (-3)No. 18 Vandebilt Catholic (-5)
No. 19 Carencro (+6)
No. 20 Barbe (-)
No. 21 Redemptorist (-)
No. 22 Sulphur (+10)
No. 23 Westgate (-4)
No. 24 Dutchtown (+3)
No. 25 Lutcher (-3)
Others receiving votes: Higgins, Franklinton, Byrd, Ehret, Mandeville
Comments? Questions? Think the rankings are out of touch? Comment below or email me at bhandwerger@wwltv.com
Posted by Bradley Handwerger 
at 3:24 PM | Permalink
| Comments (1)
I see 11 teams ahead of curtis. Sure they are not having a typical Curtis year but no way 11 teams are better than curtis any year. Wow even Notre Dames ahead of Curtis, Whomever takes the time to do these rankings need to take the time to do some history. Not tom say that history repeats itself but in Curtis' case ........