PERSONAL BODYGUARDS—STA QB Raymone Andrews (1) has all the time he wants thanks to running backs Zack Reed (5) and Brandon Lorio (22) during last Friday’s key District 9-2A win over St. Helena Central. The Falcons, still ranked No. 4 by the LSWA, are No. 8 in the unofficial power rankings — which could mean having to face No. 1 John Curtis in the semifinals. Photo by Mike Kiral

There was the usual movement in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's prep football poll this week.

But the rankings high school coaches statewide are paying closer attention to this week are the power rankings, trying to determine who's in the playoffs and who will be hosting a first-round game going into the final two weeks of the season.

Loranger, Independence and St. Helena Central will be three of the local teams keeping the closest eye on the rankings.

The Wolves (3-4 overall, 2-1 in District 10-3) are 30th in Class 3A in the unofficial rankings posted on kenramsey.com. Loranger has a power ranking of 10.29, tied with North Vermilion, which is 29th because of a higher strength factor.

Jennings is 31st at 10.14, Wossman 32nd at 10.12 and Bunkie 33rd with a 9.86. Loranger closes out the season at home against Bogalusa Friday and at Independence the following Friday.

"Eveyrthing is big from here on out," Loranger head coach Sam Messina said. "We have to go out and execute offensively and defensively and do the little things good to have a chance to win."

Unlike Loranger, Independence (5-2, 2-1), which ends the season with two home games, doesn't have to sweat getting in. The Tigers’ big question is whether they'll land a home game for the bi-district round, and right now it looks good.

The Tigers are 12th in the power rankings, tied at 12.71 with Lutcher and Buckeye, though both with a higher strength factor. St. Louis is currently in the final spot to host a first round game with a ranking of 12.43. Independence, which moved up three spots to 15th in the LSWA poll with seven points, hosts Jewel Sumner Friday.

District 10-3A leader Amite (7-0, 3-0) is fifth in the power rankings at 14.43. Notre Dame leads at 15.43, followed by Westlake (14.83), St. Charles Catholic (14.57) and Parkview Baptist (14.43, with a higher strength factor).

The Warriors remained fourth in the LSWA poll with 111 points, trailing Parkview (137 points, eight first place votes), Westlake (133, 3) and Notre Dame (121, 1). Amite hosts Albany Friday and travels to Bogalusa in week 10.

In Class 2A, St. Thomas Aquinas (7-0, 3-0) sits at No. 8 in 2A with a 13.86 ranking. John Curtis is first at 18.12, followed by Evangel (17.25), St. James (16.43), Calvary Baptist (15.25), Donaldsonville (15.00), Farmerville (14.12) and Many (14.12).

The Falcons host Southern Lab in a non-district game Friday before traveling to Pope John Paul. PJP at 5-2 overall and 2-0 in district, is currently 10th in the power rankings.

The top 10 remained the same in the LSWA 2A poll. John Curtis is first with 143 points and 11 first place votes, followed by Evangel (129), Calvary (124), St. Thomas (108, one first place vote) and Port Barre (84).

St. Helena (4-3, 1-1) is 26th after eight weeks and would like to climb a spot or two avoid some of those big dogs at the top of the 2A bracket.

The Hawks are tied with Clinton at 11.14 but have a higher strength factor. St. Helena is home to Pope John Paul II and Pine to end the regular season.

Lusher is currently the last team in at 10.00, but Menard also has a 10.00 at 33rd. Springfield (2-5, 0-3) is in trouble at 39th at 10.00 with a trip to Pine and a non-district home game against Cohen to close out the season.

Kentwood is another local team assured of hosting a first-round playoff game. The Roos (4-3, 4-0) have already clinched at least a share of the District 7-1A title and can win it outright with a victory at Varnado Friday.

Kentwood is 11th in the power rankings with a 11.43 while Varnado is 13th at 12.25, but both are lookin gup at a District 7-1A rival. Christian Life —which is currently second in the district and lost to Kentwood — is sixth at 13.43. Defending state champion South Plaquemines leads at 16.29, followed by Ouachita Christian (14.62) and Mangham (14.38).

Kentwood, which ends the season at St. James, climbed two spots to eighth in the LSWA poll after defeating Northlake Christian 35-6 Friday. The Roos received 57 points in coming in one spot behind Christian Life.

South Plaquemines stayed at No. 1 with 143 points and 11 first place votes. Rounding out the top five were St. Edmund (132, one), Ouachita Christian (118), Haynesville (102) and Mangham (96).

In Class 5A, Ponchatoula (3-4, 1-4) is still in the playoff hunt, but barely. The Wave is ranked 39th with a 9.00 rating. Central Lafourche is currently 32nd at 9.83. Catholic (9.29), Bonnabel (9.14), St. Augustine (9.00) and South Terrebonne (9.00) are also ahead of the the Green Wave, which hosts Fontainebleau and Hammond to end the season.

District 7-5A teams currently in the top 32 are Northshore (11th, 13.00), Mandeville (12th, 13.00), St. Paul's (18th, 12.12), Slidell (27th, 10.57) and Fontainebleau (28th, 10.57).

Mandeville is the lone district team in the LSWA poll, coming in tied for 16th with three points. West Monroe was No. 1 for the second straight week with 137 points and seven first place votes. Destrehan (four) and Barbe (one) also received first place votes in ranking two-three.