Analyst's Take: Looking at PRZ team 'Power Scores' after Week 10

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 additional 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 was markedly improved later in the season.   Some results still appear to need to be input, but I wanted to take the end of the regular season as another opportunity to check in on what we have.   Here's a look at the updated top of the list.   1. Edna Karr Cougars — Class 5A   As mentioned a couple weeks ago, the Cougars are the clear-cut No. 1 team in the state thus far. The talent, consistency and résumé speak for themselves. Edna Karr is one of 10 undefeated teams entering the playoffs, played one of the state's tougher schedules and hasn't allowed an in-state opponent to come any closer than 21 points all season. The defense has been unreal from LSU-committed [player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'] anchoring the front line to a secondary of four Division-I FBS commits headlined by LSU-committed safety [player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] and Texas-committed cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='710970' first='Hayward' last='Howard Jr.'] and everywhere in between. And quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson'] and the offense have shown the ability to beat opponents in any number of ways depending on what's left open.   2. North DeSoto Griffins — Class 4A   The Griffins move up another spot after wrapping up their undefeated regular season. 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'] headline a dynamic offense that overwhelm opponents in a blink. And the defense has both been a bit stingier overall, allowing fewer points this year than last, and has done well coming up with timely stops when most necessary to rise to the occasion in North DeSoto's few closer games to help seal away victories.   3. Teurlings Catholic — Class 4A   The Rebels join North DeSoto as an undefeated Class 4A team and added their biggest win of the season with an emphatic defeat of rival St. Thomas More to claim their first win in the series since 2015. The team isn't loaded with high-profile or highly ranked college prospects, but is led by a great senior core of talented leaders such as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1602070' first='Alex' last='Munoz'], center Drake Perry, edge rusher Andrew Fruge and linebacker Jaxon Broussard. Teurlings Catholic will have the benefit of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but will have its work cut out as one of the few teams in its classification who play up into Division-I for the playoffs.   4. St. Augustine Purple Knights — Class 5A   The Purple Knights had been the highest-ranked one-loss team in the PRZLA "power scores" in prior weeks and move up another few spots to No. 4 overall. Their only loss came to Edna Karr in the closest came anyone has provided the Cougars to date. 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, including 2028 edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1618856' first='Darren' last='Coates Jr.'] who continues to come on as one of the state's top young defensive disrupters.   5. Lafayette Christian — Class 2A   The Knights remain steady at No. 5 and as the highest-ranked smaller-school program on the "power scores" list — and rightfully so. Lafayette Christian showcased all season its ability to compete with and beat good Class 5A and Class 4A opponents and to dominate other Class 2A schools. Most recently, Ragin' Cajuns-committed safety [player_tooltip player_id='1345269' first='Luke' last='Green'], linebackers and defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1537169' first='Jaimason' last='Marzell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1999638' first='Jayden' last='Arceneaux'], [player_tooltip player_id='1619501' first='Kaleb' last='Simon'] and company held high-powered Evangel Christian to easily its season-low scoring output to still secure a win on a rare occasion on which an opponent was able to at least slow down [player_tooltip player_id='1601816' first='Braylon' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1145834' first='Caiden' last='Bellard'], [player_tooltip player_id='924621' first='Brayden' last='Allen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1348446' first='Draylon' last='August'] and company on the LCA offense. Walker and his talented cast of weapons are capable of striking as quickly as anyone in the state. The Knights enter their Division-III Select bracket as the No. 1 seed, the favorite and a likely handful for everyone in their path.   6. Iowa Yellow Jackets — Class 4A   The third Class 4A team in the top 10, the Yellow Jackets are — like North DeSoto and Teurlings Catholic — still undefeated on the season. Iowa has quietly been one of the state's top contenders in its classification and division the past few years, consistently putting together strong regular seasons and solid playoff runs and knocking at the door of a potential historic Superdome opportunity. No one played the Yellow Jackets closer than 15 points thus far, and they'll enjoy home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The headline prospect on this year's roster has been 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.   7. Ruston Bearcats — Class 5A   The Bearcats rose to the top of the chaotic and hard-fought District 2-5A race when the dust settled, climb back into the top 10 of the "power scores" and will open the Division-I Non-Select bracket this week as the No. 1 seed. A pair of juniors with LSU offers — tight end [player_tooltip player_id='469439' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] and safety [player_tooltip player_id='1356159' first='Jayden' last='Anding'] — were the headline prospects entering the season, and sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1845257' first='Dalen' last='Powell'] — who unfortunately suffered a leg injury Friday — has been as big a breakout star as anyone in the state this fall. Ruston has a smaller defensive line than in years past, but a group that has been quick and disruptive with a physical linebacking corps and secondary flying around behind them. And junior quarterback Sam Hartwell has done well in his first season as starter not only managing the offense smoothly, but coming up with critical plays in some of the team's biggest games, such as a furious comeback late against Neville.   8. Belle Chasse Cardinals — Class 4A   Belle Chasse has risen into the top 10 of the PRZLA "power scores" and a No. 3 seed in the Division-II Non-Select playoff bracket with one of the state's stoutest defenses with shutouts in six of their 10 games and an average of just 5.1 points allowed per contest despite facing a few notable opponents, including three with state-championship experience in the past couple seasons. Two-way standout Savion Barthelemy, an edge rusher and tight end, is the team's most highly touted prospect, including a Texas State commitment. But the Cardinals feature good talent and experience all over the field, including Logan Jackson, Logan Cuevas and Hilario Rodriguez among others in the defensive box and quarterback Amari Ambrose and running back Dillan Carter among the offensive playmakers.   9. Brusly Panthers — Class 4A   A stingy Panthers group enters the top 10 after a 9-1 regular season in which they racked up more shutouts (0) than games in which they allowed 14 or more points. The roster is loaded with talented seniors on both sides of the ball such as quarterback/athlete Drake Vincent, Nicholls State-committed running back [player_tooltip player_id='1736838' first='Patrick' last='Gales'], linebacker Brayden Ray and cornerback Ryland Johnson to name a few that have helped lead Brusly to one of the more under-the-radar great seasons around the state, earning a No. 6 seed in the Division-II Non-Select bracket where it should have an opportunity to make some noise.   10. Jewel Sumner — Class 3A   The Cowboys are the highest-ranked Class 3A team in the "power scores" — not necessarily the highest-profile, but a solid all-around team that finished its regular season undefeated for the first time in program history and did so against a respectable schedule overall. A big group of seniors, including quarterback Eli Neyland and running back Jamohn Dyson, have led the way for a program that has made major strides throughout their high school careers, including the first district title and first quarterfinal appearance in two decades, and now looks to push that progression even farther heading into the Division-III Select playoffs as a No. 3 seed.

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.