Analyst's Take: PRZ team 'Power Scores' much improved after Wk 8

Prep Redzone has rolled out its new "Power Scores" team rankings based on a formula incorporating factors such as win percentages, strength of schedule and point differential.   For a more complete run down on the network's "Power Scores," <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/what-are-power-scores/">click here</a>.   These rankings aren't put together by me or any other scout, reporter or manager. In fact, at my first look at the new feature following Week 6, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/analyst-take-first-look-at-power-scores-teams-2025/">I couldn't have disagreed much more with the list</a>.   But whether the formula has gradually worked out better with another two weeks of results factored in or tweaks have been made to correct some of the issues and produce a more reflective set of rankings, the list I'm seeing now following Week 8 is markedly improved.   Here's a look at the updated top of the list.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes PRZLA's "Power Scores" Top 10 </h2>   1. Edna Karr Cougars — Class 5A   I don't see any case right now for any other No. 1 team, so I was pleased to see the Cougars make their rightful way to the top of the list this time around. Their defense is loaded with college talent at every level, and they have an offense orchestrated by Liberty commitment [player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson'] that can continually apply pressure to opponents and prove overwhelming — whether right out the gate or over the course of four quarters. Somewhere during the past few weeks, many of the questions being asked on Edna Karr have shifted from "Can anyone beat them?" to "Can anyone even keep a game close?"   2. John Curtis Patriots — Class 5A   The Patriots are a perfect No. 2 overall team here because, to piggyback off the perspective in Edna Karr's section, John Curtis is as likely a candidate as anyone to potentially challenge the Cougars. The program is always well-coached and physical all over the field, and this year's group posts some good talent and experience. Styles make fights, and the Patriots' traditionally run-heavy, veer-option can present challenges in terms of both its effectiveness moving and scoring the ball and its ability to shorten games and magnify opponents' errors. But as coach J.T. Curtis has increasingly pointed out in recent years, his program is happy to take advantage of opportunities in the passing game when they're there. And sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1848454' first='London' last='Padgett'] has shown his ability to do exactly that, including a solid passing performance in Week 8 against a good Jesuit defense.   3. North DeSoto Griffins — Class 4A   The top-ranked Class 4A team in the list is a bit higher than I'd have them, but the Griffins certainly have a strong case to be fairly high on this list. North DeSoto is undefeated against a schedule almost entirely of Class 4A competition with a marquee "statement win" earlier in the season against a good Class 5A opponent in West Monroe, which has only continued to look stronger as the season has continued. Northwestern State-committed quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='401978' first='Luke' last='Delafield'] and Louisiana Tech-committed running back [player_tooltip player_id='1345167' first='Kenny' last='Thomas'] lead a dynamic offense behind a good offensive line, and the Griffins have allowed more than 50 fewer points thus far than at the same time last season.   4. Teurlings Catholic — Class 4A   The storyline for the Rebels is similar to the aforementioned Griffins. Teurlings Catholic is an undefeated Class 4A squad that has a case to be the top-ranked team in the the state's second-highest classification with a solid schedule to this point highlighted by a pair of wins against Class 5A opponents and another against one of Class 2A's best teams, a Notre Dame squad that always presents a tough matchup. The Rebels lean on a senior quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1602070' first='Alex' last='Munoz'] with a good offensive line and cast of weapons and sound, physical defense with Andrew Fruge, Jaxon Broussard and company flying around the field making plays.   5. Lafayette Christian — Class 2A   As I mentioned in my previous analysis of the "power scores," any good all-classifications rankings in Louisiana will always trend particularly Class 5A-heavy near the top with a few top Class 4A programs and potentially a particularly high-level smaller-school program or two that can break that trend and be an exception to that rule. Lafayette Christian once again fits that bill this season and has proven so repeatedly on the field. The Knights compiled a 4-1 record against all high-quality larger-school competition in their pre-district schedule and have now rolled their way through good Class 2A opponents the past three weeks. Dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1601816' first='Braylon' last='Walker'], a Louisiana (Lafayette) defensive back commitment, leads an explosive offense with weapons everywhere headlined by receivers [player_tooltip player_id='924621' first='Brayden' last='Allen'] (Oklahoma) and [player_tooltip player_id='1348446' first='Draylon' last='August'] and sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1145834' first='Caiden' last='Bellard']. And the defense has the size and athleticism to hold its own with just about anyone in the state with safety [player_tooltip player_id='1345269' first='Luke' last='Green'] (Ragin' Cajuns) and linebacker/edge [player_tooltip player_id='1537169' first='Jaimason' last='Marzell'] a couple potential next-level prospects to know.   6. Parkway Panthers — Class 5A   The Panthers' are the state's lone remaining undefeated Class 5A public or Division-I Non-Select team and deserve high billing to go with that. The schedule hasn't exactly been loaded, although much of that is out of their control in a nine-team (and thus eight-game) District 1-5A in a year in which a couple of the league's other top teams have been a bit down from their recent standard. And Parkway has managed to edge out wins the past three weeks against Airline, Huntington and Captain Shreve in its toughest stretch to date and remain unscathed deep into the stretch run. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='212342' first='Kaleb' last='Williams'] has led an offense averaging more than 50 points per game with Gary Burney Jr. and [player_tooltip player_id='401735' first='Antonio' last='Gladney'] among the top weapons. Meanwhile big Roderick Johnson Jr. and the defense have held opponents to a respectable 26.0 points per outing.   7. St. Augustine Purple Knights — Class 5A   St. Augustine is the highest-ranked one-loss team in PRZLA's "power rankings." I would not only agree with that distinction for the Purple Knights, but we actually argue them as deserving of a higher ranking with several impressive wins on a stacked schedule and a lone loss coming to the aforementioned Edna Karr team rolling through all competition. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1348424' first='Vashaun' last='Coulon'] has quietly been one of the state's most productive passers, spreading the ball around to a deep, talented receiver corps headlined by high-profile 2027 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='1323402' first='Miguel' last='Whitley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1356127' first='Ray'Quan' last='Williams'], but featuring a half-dozen or more pass-catchers who have consistently hurt opponents. The offensive line, though young in some places, appears to be coming on strong as the season progresses. And the defense features a good veteran core with seniors such as [player_tooltip player_id='1601952' first='Syre' last='Gilmore'], [player_tooltip player_id='401948' first='Clinton' last='Hill Jr.'], [player_tooltip player_id='1237618' first='Chad' last='Jones Jr.'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401985' first='Ty' last='Dominique'], but also some a slew of juniors and sophomores making plays.   8. Vandebilt Catholic Terriers — Class 4A   No classification has more undefeated teams remaining than Class 4A, and the Terriers are the third-ranked of that group behind North DeSoto and Teurlings Catholic. Vandebilt Catholic boasts a stingy defense with an average of just 12.4 points per game allowed to a schedule entirely of Class 4A and Class 5A opposition, including a big District 8-4A win already under its belt against Lutcher earlier this month. And the Terriers offense — led by its big, athletic senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1737492' first='Ethan' last='Heney'] — has shown the ability to rack up some big nights, including five games with 40-plus points, when it's clicking.   9. Iowa Yellow Jackets — Class 4A   The fourth Class 4A team in the top 10, the Yellow Jackets are — like North DeSoto, Teurlings Catholic and Vandebilt Catholic — still undefeated on the season. And Iowa now has most, if not all, of its toughest regular-season challenges already behind it and has still yet to allow an opponent any closer than 15 points in the final margin. The headline prospect thus far is Houston-committed wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1601751' first='Jeremiah' last='Bushnell'], but the team features a few players the next three classes in the Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings. Senior running back J'vien Adams is over 1,000 yards, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1632323' first='Kaston' last='Lewis'] has pushed past 400 so far on the ground while also joining Bushnell and junior Gaven Brown among the team's top defensive playmakers.   10. West Monroe Rebels — Class 5A   Another one-loss Class 5A team in the top 10 that, if anything, may have a case for an even higher positioning. West Monroe has faced one of the tougher scheduled on this list and has stumbled only to North DeSoto. A few of the impressive wins meanwhile include upending Catholic (Baton Rouge), Alexandria and Ouachita Parish thus far. The Rebels like to lean on their defense and run game with Tulane commit [player_tooltip player_id='401986' first='Tylan' last='George'] and a big offensive line and senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='401946' first='Christian' last='Ponti'] often able to enforce their will on opponents with long, spirit-breaking grinds down the field. But the offense has also proven capable of mounting comebacks in big games whether with the methodical, pounding ground approach or with the quick-strike explosiveness Tulane commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1601945' first='Trez' last='Davis'] provides since his return from injury. The final two weeks present two more major tests in Neville and Ruston, but West Monroe has been among the state's best teams thus far.

Prep Redzone has rolled out its new "Power Scores" team rankings based on a formula incorporating factors such as win percentages, strength of schedule and point differential.