Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
The Parkway Panthers started the season ranked No. 7 in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A football poll.
After two weeks, the Panthers are already up to No. 2.
Parkway’s ranking is the highest for a Bossier Parish school since Haughton reached No. 3 in Class 4A in 2010. The ranking is also likely the highest Parkway has ever achieved.
Parkway (2-0), which routed Marshall, Texas, 62-19 Saturday, jumped three spots in the Week 2 rankings released Monday.
The Panthers moved ahead of St. Augustine, Acadiana and West Monroe. Those teams were ranked 2-3-4, respectively, after Week 1.
Last week, St. Augustine (1-1) lost to Class 4A No. 1 Edna Karr 33-24 after leading 24-13 at the half. Acadiana (1-1) lost to Class 4A No. 2 Neville 35-28 in the Battle on the Border at Independence Stadium.
West Monroe improved to 1-1 with a 41-13 rout of Hammond.
Parkway received two of the 10 first-place votes and tallied 103 points.
The rankings are based on 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second, eight for a third, etc.
Barbe, which defeated Parkway 45-35 in the quarterfinals last year, received seven first-place votes and 117 points and remained No. 1 for the third straight week.
St. Augustine received the other first-place vote and had 95 points at No. 3. No. 4 West Monroe had 86 points.
Parkway’s District 1-5A rival Byrd jumped three spots in the poll to No. 7.
Airline (1-1) was among “others receiving votes.” The Vikings tallied four points, which would put them at No. 15 in extended rankings.
Ruston (1-1), which defeated Airline 24-10 last Friday, received three points.
Parkway travels to Arkansas High (1-1) Friday night. Airline visits Franklinton (2-0).
Haughton (2-0), which did not receive votes despite routing its first two opponents, visits Minden (1-1).
In other games involving parish teams Friday, Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing (0-2) is at Benton (0-2) and Bossier (0-2) hosts Northwood (1-1).
John Curtis (1-1) remained No. 1 in Class 3A despite losing to Florida team St. Thomas Aquinas 27-13. Evangel (2-0) remained No. 2.
Many (2-0) and Ouachita Christian (2-0) remained No. 1 in Classes 2A and 1A, respectively.
