POWER RATINGS (Oct. 15): Newman loses big Friday, not so much on Monday

It's also interesting that South Plaquemines can continue to beat the pants off of its opponents with a potent offense, yet can go nowhere until Cedar Creek loses. That could happen in two weeks as Cedar Creek faces Ouachita Christian, the No. 5 rated team in Class 1A, on Oct. 26.

Average movement in three of the five classes went down, and in the two where it went up, it wasn't that big of a change. Class 2A is still a beast to move in, especially up top, where in the top 10, No. 5-11 didn't move from last week. And the top four only changed places.

Average movement per classification (with move't from a week ago)
Class 5A: 4.089 (Oct. 8 = 4.143)
Class 4A: 3.439 (Oct. 8 = 3.158)
Class 3A: 3.733 (Oct. 8 = 3.8)
Class 2A: 2.691 (Oct. 8 = 2.582)
Class 1A: 3.536 (Oct. 8 = 4.214)

It's easy to see why 2A and 1A are the toughest to move, as 14 schools in each classification stayed in the same place they were in a week ago. 4A and 3A each had five schools move nowhere, and 6A saw six schools remain situated in a familiar spot.

As for the biggest local movers,
Class 5A: St. Augustine (-12); East St. John (+9)
Class 4A: McDonogh (+8); Belle Chasse (-7)
Class 3A: Bogalusa (+8); Ben Franklin (-6)
Class 2A: Riverside (-6); St. Thomas Aquinas (+4)
Class 1A: Crescent City (+11); St. Martin's (-4)

Some more observations:
* Ben Franklin, looking for its first-ever postseason berth, has used up all of its wiggle room with the 9-0 loss to De La Salle. The Falcons were in 25th a week ago, but are now in 31st. With three games left against opponents with a combined 4-17 record, power points will be at a minimum. BF needs to win out to even keep hope of a playoff spot.

* Don't call Shaw's schedule weak. The 4A Eagles have faced some stiff competition, as seen by where its previous opponents rank in this week's ratings. Rummel is No. 5 in 5A, St. Paul's is 17th in 5A, Brother Martin is 15th in 5A, Ehret is 26h in 5A, Morgan City is 20th in 4A, and Belle Chasse is 13th in 4A. But Ehret and Morgan City were both undefeated when Shaw faced them, and Belle Chasse had only one loss. Next up for Shaw - 4A No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic in Houma.

*East St. John got off to a 1-3 start. Not exactly what you expect from the Wildcats. Then again, the schedule was brutal, playing teams currently 23-4. But since then, ESJ has reeled off three straight wins, and the power ratings have taken notice. After falling down to No. 32 after its third loss in a row, ESJ has bounced back to 10th now.

The ratings are below. Questions? Comments? Find any interesting trends? Email me at bhandwerger@wwltv.com

Class: 5A
01) 15.43 Destrehan (+1)
02) 15.29 Acadiana (-1)
03) 14.86 St Thomas More (+1)
04) 14.67 West Monroe (-1)
05) 13.71 Rummel (+4)
06) 13.71 Hahnville (+2)
07) 13.43 Catholic (BR) (+4)
08) 13.17 Huntington (+4)
09) 13.14 Dutchtown (-3)
10) 12.86 East St John (+9)
11) 12.86 Sulphur (-6)
12) 12.83 Captain Shreve (+3)
13) 12.71 Central (BR) (+3)
14) 12.71 Barbe (-7)
15) 12.57 Brother Martin (+3)
16) 12.43 Byrd (-6)
17) 12.43 St Paul (+3)
18) 11.86 Pineville (-4)
19) 11.86 H L Bourgeois (+7)
20) 11.71 Jesuit (+7)
21) 11.71 Mandeville (+3)
22) 11.71 Higgins (+6)
23) 11.57 Fontainebleau (-7)
24) 11.43 Northshore (-11)
25) 11.43 Westgate (-)
26) 11.29 John Ehret (+4)
27) 11.00 Carencro (+2)
28) 11.00 West Jefferson (+3)
29) 10.43 East Ascension (-7)
30) 10.29 Ruston (+8)
31) 10.29 Lafayette (-10)
32) 10.29 Ouachita (+5)
33) 10.00 St Amant (-1)
34) 10.00 St Augustine (-12)
35) 9.86 Thibodaux (+8)
36) 9.57 Scotlandville (-3)
37) 9.43 Central Lafourche (-1)
38) 9.29 Assumption (+6)
39) 9.29 Bonnabel (-5)
40) 9.14 New Iberia (-5)
41) 8.86 Hammond (+6)
42) 8.71 Grace King (-2)
43) 8.57 Ponchatoula (-2)
44) 8.57 Slidell (+4)
45) 8.43 Chalmette (-3)
46) 8.29 Terrebonne (+6)
47) 8.29 Woodlawn (BR) (+2)
48) 8.29 Comeaux (-9)
49) 8.00 South Terrebonne (-4)
50) 7.29 Denham Springs (-4)
51) 7.00 Airline (-)
52) 7.00 Covington (-2)
53) 6.71 Southwood (-)
54) 6.43 South Lafourche (-)
55) 5.29 Walker (-)
56) 5.29 Natchitoches Central (-)

Class: 4A
01) 17.86 Shaw (-)
02) 16.57 Vandebilt Catholic (-)
03) 15.29 Bastrop (-)
04) 14.86 Holy Cross (+1)
05) 14.29 Teurlings Catholic (+2)
06) 14.00 Franklinton (+3)
07) 13.71 Parkway (+4)
08) 13.57 Eunice (+2)
09) 13.57 Benton (+3)
10) 13.57 Neville (+3)
11) 13.43 Northside (-7)
12) 13.29 Breaux Bridge (+3)
13) 13.29 Belle Chasse (-7)
14) 13.00 Washington Marion (+4)
15) 12.86 Zachary (+1)
16) 12.57 Tara (-8)
17) 12.57 West Ouachita (-)
18) 12.29 Haughton (+5)
19) 11.71 Ellender (+6)
20) 11.57 Morgan City (-6)
21) 11.57 Beau Chene (+5)
22) 11.29 Helen Cox (-3)
23) 11.14 O P Walker (+1)
24) 11.14 Tioga (-4)
25) 10.86 DeRidder (-4)
26) 10.86 Pearl River (+1)
27) 10.86 Peabody (+4)
28) 10.67 Fair Park (-6)
29) 10.57 Karr (+5)
30) 10.57 Bossier (+2)
31) 10.43 Abbeville (+2)
32) 10.29 Sam Houston (+3)
33) 10.14 Salmen (-5)
34) 10.14 Istrouma (+5)
35) 10.00 McDonogh#35 (-5)
36) 9.86 Minden (-7)
37) 9.43 St Michael (+3)
38) 9.00 McKinley (-1)
39) 9.00 Alexandria (+6)
40) 9.00 John McDonogh (+8)
41) 8.86 Live Oak (-3)
42) 8.71 Leesville (-6)
43) 8.14 Broadmoor (+6)
44) 8.14 Opelousas (-3)
45) 7.71 Franklin Parish (+1)
46) 7.71 East Jefferson (-4)
47) 7.71 LaGrange (-3)
48) 7.71 Northwood (SH) (-5)
49) 7.43 Glen Oaks (+7)
50) 7.00 Woodlawn (SH) (-3)
51) 6.71 Carroll (-1)
52) 6.43 St Martinville (+2)
53) 6.43 Grant (-1)
54) 6.29 Belaire (-1)
55) 6.29 Warren Easton (-4)
56) 6.00 Riverdale (-1)
57) 5.00 Lee (-)

Class: 3A
01) 16.71 Parkview Baptist (-)
02) 16.29 Notre Dame (+2)
03) 16.29 Westlake (-)
04) 16.29 Redemptorist (+1)
05) 15.29 Jennings (-3)
06) 14.71 Lutcher (-)
07) 14.00 Rayne (+1)
08) 13.86 Bunkie (+1)
09) 13.43 Rayville (+3)
10) 13.14 Capitol (-3)
11) 13.00 Northeast (+3)
12) 12.86 Marksville (+1)
13) 12.57 Amite (+4)
14) 12.29 Baker (-4)
15) 12.14 St Louis (+6)
16) 12.14 St Charles (+4)
17) 12.00 B T Washington (SH) (-6)
18) 11.86 Richwood (+5)
19) 11.71 Cecilia (+5)
20) 11.57 West Feliciana (-5)
21) 11.43 Iota (-5)
22) 11.43 E D White (+4)
23) 11.14 Loranger (-5)
24) 11.14 Wossman (+3)
25) 11.14 Patterson (+6)
26) 10.83 Iowa (+3)
27) 10.71 Independence (+3)
28) 10.71 Port Allen (-9)
29) 10.71 Plaquemine (+7)
30) 10.71 Church Point (-8)
31) 10.14 Ben Franklin (-6)
32) 10.14 Winnfield (+5)
33) 10.00 Bolton (+8)
34) 9.71 Bogalusa (+8)
35) 9.71 Catholic (NI) (+5)
36) 9.71 Vidalia (-3)
37) 9.57 North DeSoto (-5)
38) 9.57 Buckeye (-10)
39) 9.14 Green Oaks (-4)
40) 9.00 Kaplan (-2)
41) 9.00 Madison (-2)
42) 9.00 North Vermilion (-8)
43) 9.00 Clark (+4)
44) 8.86 De La Salle (+4)
45) 8.86 West St Mary (+6)
46) 8.57 Crowley (-3)
47) 8.14 Jena (-3)
48) 8.14 Reed (+6)
49) 8.00 Erath (-3)
50) 7.86 Brusly (-)
51) 7.86 Northwest (-6)
52) 7.71 Franklin (-3)
53) 7.29 Jewel Sumner (-1)
54) 7.00 Douglass (-1)
55) 6.43 Caldwell (+4)
56) 6.43 McMain (-1)
57) 6.29 Albany (+1)
58) 6.14 Berwick (-1)
59) 5.86 Avoyelles (-1)
60) 4.33 Cohen (-)

Class: 2A
01) 19.00 John Curtis (+1)
02) 17.25 Evangel (-1)
03) 16.29 St James (+1)
04) 15.71 Newman (-1)
05) 15.29 Calvary Baptist (-)
06) 15.14 St John (-)
07) 14.86 Donaldsonville (-)
08) 14.43 Ferriday (-)
09) 14.43 Clinton (-)
10) 14.00 Westminster (-)
11) 13.86 Springhill (-)
12) 13.57 Kinder (+2)
13) 13.57 Oakdale (-1)
14) 13.29 Port Barre (+1)
15) 12.71 Springfield (+4)
16) 12.71 Mansfield (+7)
17) 12.43 Dunham (+5)
18) 12.43 Menard (+3)
19) 12.29 Red River (-6)
20) 12.14 University Lab (+5)
21) 12.00 Opelousas Catholic (-5)
22) 12.00 Homer (-5)
23) 11.86 Pope John Paul (-3)
24) 11.71 Livonia (-6)
25) 11.67 Fisher (+3)
26) 11.17 Welsh (+4)
27) 11.14 Loyola (+2)
28) 11.14 Sterlington (-2)
29) 11.00 Ville Platte (+5)
30) 10.86 Riverside (-6)
31) 10.43 Rosepine (-4)
32) 10.29 St Thomas Aquinas (+4)
33) 10.29 Mamou (+5)
34) 10.14 Lake Arthur (+6)
35) 10.00 South Beauregard (+6)
36) 9.71 Many (-5)
37) 9.71 Vinton (-5)
38) 9.57 Episcopal (BR) (-3)
39) 9.57 Farmerville (+6)
40) 9.14 Loreauville (-7)
41) 9.14 Jonesboro Hodge (-2)
42) 9.00 North Caddo (-5)
43) 8.71 Jackson (-)
44) 8.43 Lakeview (-2)
45) 8.29 Pointe Coupee Central (-1)
46) 8.14 St Helena Central (-)
47) 7.71 DeQuincy (+4)
48) 7.14 Jeanerette (-)
49) 7.00 Pine (-2)
50) 6.86 Pickering (-1)
51) 6.57 Lakeside (-1)
52) 6.00 East Beauregard (-)
53) 5.86 Sacred Heart (VP) (-)
54) 5.57 Lake Providence (-)
55) 5.14 Pine Prairie (-)

Class: 1A
01) 15.29 Cedar Creek (-)
02) 14.57 South Plaquemines (-)
03) 14.57 Oak Grove (+1)
04) 14.43 Hamilton Christian (-1)
05) 14.29 Ouachita Christian (-)
06) 14.00 Kentwood (-)
07) 13.71 Delhi Charter (-)
08) 13.29 Central Catholic (+1)
09) 12.86 Oberlin (+5)
10) 12.86 Catholic (PC) (-)
11) 12.86 White Castle (+2)
12) 12.57 Northlake Christian (+5)
13) 12.43 St Edmund's (+2)
14) 12.43 Basile (+4)
15) 11.86 Haynesville (+8)
16) 11.86 Mangham (+5)
17) 11.71 Delhi (-5)
18) 11.67 Acadiana Prep (-10)
19) 11.57 Vermilion Catholic (-8)
20) 11.43 Desire Street (-4)
21) 11.14 West St John (+7)
22) 10.71 South Cameron (-2)
23) 10.57 LaSalle (+7)
24) 10.43 St Frederick (+1)
25) 10.43 St Mary's Natchitoches (-1)
26) 10.29 St Martin's (-4)
27) 10.20 Crescent City (+11)
28) 10.14 Plain Dealing (+6)
29) 10.00 North Iberville (-3)
30) 10.00 Gueydan (+2)
31) 10.00 Christian Life (+4)
32) 9.86 Southern Lab (-5)
33) 9.80 Northwood Lena (-14)
34) 9.57 Ascension Catholic (+5)
35) 9.43 Bernice (+5)
36) 9.33 Varnado (-7)
37) 9.29 Logansport (+7)
38) 9.17 Montgomery (+4)
39) 9.14 Hanson (-6)
40) 9.14 Country Day (+3)
41) 9.00 Arcadia (-10)
42) 8.71 Block (-6)
43) 8.71 Merryville (-6)
44) 8.00 Delcambre (-3)
45) 7.83 Tensas (-)
46) 7.33 False River (+3)
47) 7.00 East Iberville (-)
48) 7.00 University Christian (-2)
49) 7.00 Elton (+1)
50) 6.71 North Central (-2)
51) 6.57 Ridgewood (-)
52) 6.50 Hannan (-)
53) 6.00 Ecole Classique (-)
54) 5.57 Ringgold (-)
55) 4.71 Grambling (-)
56) 4.29 Sarepta (-)

*Unofficial power ratings by kenramsey.com and Van Leigh.