Analyst's Take: 6 notables too low in PRZ team 'Power Scores'

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, as mentioned when looking at the latest top 10, the formula does appear to be much improved with a much more reasonable top of the list following Week 8 action.   That said, I still see many teams I would consider under-valued and wanted to take some time to spotlight a few that could even make cases as high as the top 10 or 15 — including a point made to include a couple non-5A teams.   12. Alexandria Trojans — Class 5A   I would potentially argue Alexandria as a top-five team in the state right now and certainly a top-10. The Trojans boast a deep, talented and sound defensive unit with several future college players including, but not limited to, linemen Jade Bayonne and Peter Hobbs, linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1601781' first='Xzavier' last='White'] and Jackson Townsend, edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='934571' first='Bryson' last='Phoenix'] and defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='1610149' first='Jakyrin' last='Griffin'], [player_tooltip player_id='920704' first='Jay' last='Frazier'], Kerrick Gaines, [player_tooltip player_id='1426922' first='Jaytun' last='Terry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1611413' first='Letravious' last='Williams']. And junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1250281' first='Karsen' last='Sellers'] has led an offense that has somehow managed to not miss a beat despite its notable 2025 graduations as a good offensive line, dynamic 2028 running back duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1263234' first='Kason' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1375178' first='Noble' last='Williams'] and cast of outside weapons headlined by junior receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1250291' first='Alex' last='Fontenot'] and Griffin have given opponents fits. Alexandria's lone loss came in a wild finish at West Monroe, and the Trojans are fresh off a win against Ruston.   20. Ruston Bearcats — Class 5A   Ruston is the third District 2-5A team spotlighted this week between West Monroe in the top 10 and Alexandria just above. I'd argue all are top-10 teams in the state or, at worst, damned close. And I'll actually mention a fourth league member here shortly that I consider right in the mix as well. The Bearcats falling a little lower in the power scores makes sense with a couple of losses against their record, but one came on the road out of state at a highly ranked Stephenville (Texas) and the other came to Alexandria despite a strong start. Probably only a handful or so of teams — certainly not almost 20 — around Louisiana would fare well against Ruston (particularly when healthy). Junior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='469439' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] is the high-profile star of the offense, but sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1845257' first='Dalen' last='Powell'] continues to make a name for himself among the state's top young backs, and first-year starting quarterback Sam Hartwell and wide receiver Josiah Morgan have had their moments. The defensive front isn't big, but it quick and disruptive, and the linebacker corps and secondary behind them feature talented athletes — including junior standouts such as [player_tooltip player_id='469441' first='Keilan' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1356159' first='Jayden' last='Anding'] and senior leader Miles Brown to name a few — who play fast and physical flying around behind them.   25. Catholic (Baton Rouge) Bears — Class 5A   The storyline for Catholic (Baton Rouge) is similar to Ruston's. The Bears have dropped a pair of games — one to a District 2-5A foe in West Monroe and the other to a highly ranked out-of-state opponent in Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Miss.) — but appear pretty clearly to still be a top-10 team in the state. Stanford commit [player_tooltip player_id='1345158' first='Blaise' last='Thomassie'] and the offensive line have set up a deep backfield, including two different quarterbacks and a handful of running backs, for success. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='739720' first='Jayden' last='Miles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1610241' first='Jude' last='Chamberlain'] have developed into increasingly versatile weapons. And the defense headlined by safety [player_tooltip player_id='401737' first='Blaine' last='Bradford'] (Ohio State), linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1602064' first='Harrison' last='Kidder'] (Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1602105' first='Maxwell' last='Maurer'], defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1356164' first='Jayden' last='Vessell'] and defensive tackle TarJon Dearbone is versatile in its own right, comfortable and confident playing in multiple looks and always in fast and hard-hitting fashion.   42. Madison Prep Chargers — Class 3A   The first of a couple non-Class 5A teams included in this list, Madison Prep's "power score" may be a little lower because of a combination of a loss — albeit to a good Class 5A foe in Southside — and a weaker midseason schedule overall by the nature of its district and an annual local rivalry game against Class 1A Southern Lab, whose record took some early hits against large-school competition. The Chargers stacked their pre-district — Dutchtown, Mandeville and Southside — and even preseason — Central and Catholic (Baton Rouge) — dates with Class 5A foes to help boost their schedule overall and fared well overall against that slate before rolling through their first four league games by a 218-3 margin. The offensive and defensive lines are among the biggest and strongest in the state, versatile junior star [player_tooltip player_id='739753' first='Landon' last='Johnson'] and senior safety [player_tooltip player_id='1603222' first='Javen' last='Holmes'] may be among the state's more under-discussed Power-Four prospects and they and [player_tooltip player_id='1603236' first='Cannon' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1612657' first='Darius' last='Mack'], [player_tooltip player_id='710982' first='Ryan' last='Variste'] lead a defense that plays with an edge regardless of who's across the line of scrimmage.   46. St. James Wildcats — Class 3A   I view Madison Prep, University Lab, St. James and Sterlington — in some order — as the top tier of Class 3A teams. All four teams have shown their ability to match up well with good Class 4A and 5A competition, a testament to their combination of high-level talent, depth at their level and coaching and preparation. A young St. James squad made a run in 2024 to a second straight state-title appearance and returned much of that roster this year another year older, more physically developed and more experienced. Sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1291430' first='Ja'Juan' last='Jackson'] leads an offense with senior wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id='401966' first='Jakias' last='Villanueva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1348431' first='Kanye' last='Zenon'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1191955' first='Kani' last='King-Young'] among the big names, and a slew of familiar names returning on defense includes [player_tooltip player_id='934578' first='Jye' last='Blain'], [player_tooltip player_id='920687' first='Amir' last='Broden'], [player_tooltip player_id='871856' first='Kendrick' last='Joseph Jr.'], [player_tooltip player_id='920681' first='Nolan' last='Zenon'] and I'Zavier Anderson.   64. Neville Tigers — Class 5A   The Tigers' three-loss record understandably drops them down the ladder a bit. But they stood out to me when I didn't see them anywhere in the top 50. I don't see anywhere close to 50 or 60 teams being better despite the stumbles against a good out-of-state Oak Grove (Mississippi) and — in heartbreaking, late fashion to — St. Thomas More and Ruston. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='489183' first='Parker' last='Robinson'], senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1736546' first='Van' last='Martinez'] and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1238574' first='Ze'land' last='Young'] and a good running back rotation headline a good offense — albeit with some ups and downs in those bigger games — and the star safety duo of Jaylen Reed and [player_tooltip player_id='920694' first='Julian' last='Burns'] back end a good overall defense. While Neville may not be a top-10 team right now, it shouldn't be much farther down the list — certainly not outside the top 50.

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.