SJHS notches early third in state 1-A poll

Based on 2009 final performance, St. John High, like many other top clubs last year, received a high ranking in the initial La. Sportswriters Assn. high school football polls.

The Eagles, who reached the state semifinals last year, netted a third-place position in the Class A poll, behind top-ranked South Plaquemines High and second-ranked and defending state champ Haynesville High.

District 8-A rival West St. John High notched a surprise seventh-place ranking despite losing key players off their 2009 club and suffering a lopsided jamboree loss last week to 2-A Riverside Academy.

White Castle High of the 8-A district was expecting a bit higher ranking, but a jamboree loss to 3-A parish rival Plaquemine High apparently hurt the Bulldogs’ chances. They were one spot out of the 1-A top ten at the number 11 spot.

Plaquemine High was unranked. District 8-3A rival St. James High was the only team in the league to receive a ranking at the number six spot in the 3-A poll.

West Monroe, the defending 5-A champ, netted a top spot as did Franklinton in the 4-A poll with Salmen and Neville right below. Notre Dame of Crowley, another 2009 power, notched the 3-A top spot with Redemptorist High second.

Evangel Christian had the top spot in the 2-A poll, just ahead of rival John Curtis.

White Castle not only had district rivals SJHS and WSJHS ranked ahead, the Bulldogs have non-district games against fifth-ranked 2-A Riverside, seventh-ranked 2-A Donaldsonville, and second-ranked 3-A Redemptorist in the early season. That gives WCHS one of the toughest slates in Class A football this season. In comparison, St. John faces only ninth-ranked 5-A Dutchtown. Meanwhile, Plaquemine High has only 17th ranked 3-A foe Catholic of New Iberia and district rival and sixth-ranked St. James on its schedule.