Defending Division III state champion Catholic High School is tied for fourth in the statewide preseason high school football polls released Monday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

The Panthers are the lone Teche Area team receiving votes in the inaugural poll of the season conducted by a statewide panel of voters.

CHS opens the season Friday at Westgate at 7 p.m.

John Curtis leads the Class 5A poll with 100 points and two of nine first-place votes. Zachary had six firt-place votes but 97 points to come in second with West Monroe third at 91 points and one first-place vote.

The remainder of teh top 10 includes Destrehan, East Ascension, Evangel Christian, Catholic of Baton Rouge, Acadiana and Scotlandville. Barbe and Sulphur, two teams that share District 3-5A with New Iberia Senior High and Acadiana, also are receiving votes.

Karr has eight first-place votes and 105 total points to lead the Class 4A poll. Warren Easton is second, followed by St. Thomas More, Lakeshore, Neville, Northwood, Parkview Baptist, Plaquemine, Leesville and North Desoto. Teurlings Catholic and Rayne, which compete in District 4-4A with Westgate and St. Thomas More, also are receiving votes. Breaux Bridge, which plays in District 5-4A with St. Martinville, is receiving votes as well.

In Class 3A, University Lab School has eight of nine first-place votes and 107 total points with Sterlington second at 90 points and one first-place vote. Kaplan, Jena, Church Point, Jennings, De La Salle, West Feliciana, St. James and Northwest round out the Top 10. Kaplan is a member of District 8-3A with the Teche Area’s Erath.

Amite leads the Class 2A poll with 101 points and seven first-place votes. Notre Dame is second with Many third. Welsh is tied with CHS for fourth, followed by Newman, The Dunham School, St. Helena, Kinder and Calvary Baptist. Ascension Episcopal, which competes in District 7-2A with CHS, also is receiving votes.

West St. John is first in the Class A poll with seven first-place votes and 106 points. Kentwood and Southern Lab are tied for second place, followed by Lafayette Christian, Haynesville, Oak Grove, a tie between Ascension Catholic and Logansport, Vermilion Catholic and Basile.

Central Catholic, which shares District 7-A with Vermilion Catholic and area teams Hanson, Highland Baptist and Centerville, is receiving votes.