St. Augustine has been a steady riser in The Times-Picayune New Orleans area large school rankings.
From unranked at the start of the season to No. 4 in the current ranking after a 3-1 start to the season.
The three wins came with some high point totals: 49 against McDonogh 35, 58 against Cecilia and 42 against Warren Easton.
The lone loss came against Missouri football powerhouse Cardinal Ritter, a two-time reigning state champion with six seniors committed to major colleges.
Junior quarterback Vashaun Coulon has several skilled receivers to catch passes with senior Lejon Moore and sophomores Ray’Quan Williams and Miguel Whitley among them. Tulane commitment Warren Roberts has been a disruptive player on the defensive line.
First-year head coach Robert Valdez has instilled something into St. Augustine so that it suddenly has the look of a team that could contend. This does not look like the same team that went 4-8 overall and 0-6 in district games last season.
Will St. Augustine contend for a state title this season? Too soon to say.
For district? That could be determined this week against large schools No. 1 Edna Karr. The 7 p.m. Saturday showdown at Tad Gormley Stadium will give one team a leg up in the district race.
No. 2 Rummel continued its impressive run of wins against state-ranked opponents, the latest coming against John Curtis.
Destrehan, Mandeville, Shaw and St. Paul’s each moved up one placement with their wins on Friday.
No. 10 Lakeshore is a newcomer to the rankings — a reward for its undefeated start with lopsided scores across the board.
Easton slipped out of the rankings but could just as quickly move back in if the Eagles win this week against Curtis.
Kennedy stayed atop the small school rankings despite the narrow loss to St. Paul’s. One loss does not erase a string of three wins against Class 5A schools.
The small school rankings are due for a shakeup with No. 4 St. Martin’s facing No. 5 Pope John Paul II and with No. 5 South Plaquemines facing No. 7 Livingston Collegiate.
No. 10 Booker T. Washington, at 0-3, as played among the stronger schedules in the state against Class 5A schools that have a combined 9-2 record.
New Orleans area prep football rankings for Week 5
With record and last week’s ranking
Class 5A, 4A
1. Karr 3-0 (1)
Won vs. Holy Cross 45-20; Saturday vs. St. Augustine
2. Rummel 4-0 (2)
Won vs. John Curtis 14-7; Friday vs. Brother Martin
3. Destrehan 2-2 (4)
Won vs. East St. John 39-16; Friday at Terrebonne
4. St. Augustine 3-1 (7)
Won vs. Easton 42-19; Saturday vs. Edna Karr
5. Mandeville 4-0 (6)
Won vs. Slidell 56-14; Thursday at Northshore
6. Brother Martin 3-1 (3)
Lost vs. Jesuit 17-5; Friday vs. Rummel
7. John Curtis 1-2 (5)
Lost vs. Rummel 14-7; Friday vs. Easton
8. Shaw 2-2 (9)
Won vs. Lafayette Christian 31-8; Friday vs. De La Salle
9. St. Paul’s 3-1 (10)
Won vs. Kennedy 25-22; Friday at University High
10. Lakeshore 4-0 (NR)
Won vs. Northlake 42-16; Thursday vs. Salmen
Class 3A and below
1. Kennedy 3-1 (1)
Lost vs. St. Paul’s 25-22; Thursday vs. John Ehret
2. Newman 2-0 (2)
Won vs. Willow 44-0; Friday vs. Riverdale
3. Riverside 2-1 (3)
Won vs. St. Thomas Aquinas 67-0; Friday vs. Vermilion Catholic
4. St. Martin’s 4-0 (4)
Won vs. McMain 42-0; Friday at Pope John Paul II
5. Pope John Paul II 4-0 (5)
Won vs. Ben Franklin 42-7; Friday vs. St. Martin’s
6. South Plaquemines 3-1 (7)
Won vs. East Jefferson 38-35; Friday at Livingston
7. De La Salle 1-3 (8)
Won vs. St. Charles 10-0; Friday at Shaw
8. Livingston Collegiate 3-1 (9)
Won vs. Carver 28-13; Friday vs. South Plaquemines
9. Northlake Christian 1-2 (6)
Lost vs. Lakeshore 43-16; Friday vs. Breaux Bridge
10. Booker T. Washington 0-3 (10)
Lost vs. Chalmette 36-6; Friday vs. Carver