Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 0, 2024

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC.

1. Greenwood
2. Benton 
3. Shiloh Christian
4. Fort Smith Southside
5. Marion 
6. Jonesboro
7. El Dorado
8. LR Catholic 
9. Lake Hamilton
10. Mountain Home 

Not ranked:
6A East: West Memphis, Sheridan, Sylvan Hills
6A West: Russellville, Siloam Springs, Van Buren 

No. 5 MARION at Class 5A No. 12 Wynne
Wynne leads the all-time series 34-13-1, but Marion won 27-7 last fall, its most lopsided victory over the Yellowjacks. Marion has not won at Wynne since a 24-23 overtime victory in the 2018 season-opener. Wynne returns 17 starters after winning its final 3 regular-season games last fall to make the playoffs. Marion has won 21 games over the past 3 seasons, the school's best 3-year run since claiming 21 victories from 2009 to 2011. Eleven starters return for Marion, and the Patriots exit fall camp with more than 90 varsity players on the roster. 
Seven starters return for the Marion offense, which averaged almost 40 points per game a season ago. Five projected 3-year starters lead, including 2-time all-state tailback Jalen Smith, who is less than 900 yards away from breaking the school's all-time rushing record. Smith should have room to run this season behind all-state left tackle and LSU commit Carius Curne, and potential all-state center Charlie Cantrell (4.1 GPA). Receivers Cam Garrett, Mitrell Lewis, and Christian Young combined to catch almost 60 passes last season for 1,131 yards and 12 touchdowns. Look for the Patriots to rotate 6 linebackers, including seniors Carter Moore, Jaron Davis, Emmanuel Key, and juniors Zimran Phelix, Chris Byrd, and Zadean Wilson. Marion trailed Valley View 10-6 at halftime of its scrimmage last Friday night, but the Patriots forced a turnover on downs on the third quarter's first drive and took the lead for good when junior QB Zayden Walker hit Lewis for a 4-yard TD toss, and Marion won 26-17. 
This contest always appeals to the communities, so expect a big crowd on Friday night at Yellowjacket Stadium. Look for Marion's playmakers to lead it past Wynne on a hot August evening.

No. 2 Benton vs. CLASS 7A NO. 2 BRYANT: Bryant leads the series 25-24-2, including a 19-1-2 mark since 2002, the year the matchup became known as the Salt Bowl. Bryant has won 17 of the past 18 meetings, including 7 in a row. The schools tied at 14-14 in 2014; Benton's last victory against its Saline County rival was in 2005. Benton enters the season ranked at No. 2 in Class 6A, and is a near consensus pick to win a second consecutive 6A East title. Parker Glaze, Isaiah Gipson, and Daniel Jordan anchor the offensive line, but expect others to rotate at the other 2 spots until starters emerge. The Panthers get a lift this season from 3 newcomers — tailback Luther Tucker, defensive lineman Jay Alford, and cornerback Trey Stewart. Benton will be one of the teams to beat in Class 6A this season, but Bryant appears to have taken a step forward in Coach Quad Sanders' second season and the Hornets continue their dominance at War Memorial Stadium.
CLASS 7A NO. 8 LR CHRISTIAN at No. 7 El Dorado: The schools met in the 2022 playoffs with LR Christian winning 27-10, but this will be the first regular-season meeting. This will be Little Rock Christian's first game since moving to Class 7A because of the Competitive Equity Factor.
No less than 4 starters exited El Dorado over the summer, including an all-state performer. The Wildcats offense will rely on playmakers Gavin Jacobs and Bretavion Brown, while linebacker Jakori Lumsey and safety A.J. Gilmore spark the defense.
CLASS 7A NO. 3 CONWAY at No. 6 Jonesboro: Conway has beaten Jonesboro every year since 2016, including by a combined 99-26 the past 2 seasons when they competed in the 7A Central. Jonesboro dips back into the 6A East, where the Golden Hurricane shared the league title in 2021, the last time they were in 6A. The offense is led by 3 returning starters: QB Asa Meyers, tight end Myreion Taylor, and college offensive line prospect J'darius McCray, but only all-league linebackers Markeice Stafford and K.J. Anderson return to a defense that surrendered 28 points per game last year. Jonesboro exits fall camp with 97 varsity players on its roster, and the Golden Hurricane won the Akel's Carpet One bracket at the Shootout of the South 7-on-7 tournament, and they finished as runners-up at the Beast of the East 7-on-7. Jonesboro's offense should be able to put up yardage, but Conway's big plays give the edge to the Wampus Cats.
Class 5A White Hall at SHERIDAN: White Hall has won the Highway 270 trophy the past 4 years, and 7 of 8 overall, including 43-19 in 2023. Noted Arkansas coaches Darryl Patton (White Hall) and Kevin Kelley (Sheridan) debut at new schools. Kelley's first Sheridan team impressed during summer 7-on-7 tournaments and topped Class 4A Malvern 49-20 in a benefit scrimmage a week ago. Sheridan led 49-6 after a half of varsity action; the Yellowjackets allowed 2 touchdowns during the junior-varsity portion of the game. Junior Dax McMellan earned the starting QB job over the summer, and senior Brady Dillon will now start on defense. Kelley says sophomore tailback Zay Stephens might be the state's most electrifying player. "He's a candidate to score anytime he touches the ball," Kelley says. Braxton Fox leads the defense for a Sheridan team that exits fall camp with 58 players on its roster. 
West Memphis at CLASS 5A HOT SPRINGS: These schools are meeting for the first time since the modern playoff era began in 1969. West Memphis reboots under Coach Vincent Newton, who served as Blue Devils defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 when the school finished a combined 21-3 and advanced to the state semifinals each season. Newton inherited 48 varsity football players when he arrived on campus in April, but 70 players took part in summer workouts when West Memphis elected to work in the weight room and on conditioning rather than attend team camps and 7-on-7s. Senior Andrew Jenkins and freshman Andrew Clay compete at QB, and each could see action. Look for tailbacks Carlos Williams and Kenny Brown to split time. Defensive lineman Deon Stidwell dazzled coaches during fall camp. 
Sylvan Hills at NO. 7 CLASS 5A MAUMELLE: Maumelle has won the past 4 season-openers against Sylvan Hills, including 20-0 last fall. Sylvan Hills pivots after its first winless season of the modern playoff era (since 1969), returning starters at 16 positions, including 2-way athletes Josiah Rainey (offers from Utah, Arkansas State, and Memphis among others) and Malachi Summons (offers from Toledo, with many others evaluating), while sophomore halfback Jeremiah Carey garnered recruiting interest over the summer. Sylvan Hills has designs on being 1 of the state's most improved teams this fall, but Maumelle has too much for the Bears to overcome this week. 
NO. 8 LR CATHOLIC at Class 5A Arkansas High (Texarkana): The teams haven't met since LR Catholic topped Texarkana 28-7 in the 1985 Class AAAA quarterfinals en route to a second consecutive state championship. Catholic looks to continue its successful run in Class 6A after winning 11 games 2 years ago and 7 in 2023. Twelve starters return, including all-conference QB Jackson England, as well as 3-year starters Tobias DeSalvo and Sam Paladino up front, but the Rockets' top 4 receivers graduated in May. Seniors Jake Black-Ocken and Paul Plafcan spearhead a defense that led the 6A East in scoring a season ago (16.5 points per game). Little Rock Parkview scored 27 first-quarter points to top Catholic 34-7 in a preseason scrimmage. This is one of the more intriguing games this week, but Catholic's depth prevails to give first-year head coach Richard Cochran his first win.

6A WEST

VAN BUREN at Class 5A Alma: Van Buren has won 4 of the past 6 meetings in the "Battle of the Bone," including last August, when the Pointers rolled 51-28. Van Buren (16 returning starters from last year's 5-7 team) boasts 2 of the top playmakers in Class 6A this fall, with all-conference tailback Cameron Keller (1,136 rushing yards last year with 15 TDs) and all-state receiver Trenton Cooley (85 receptions last fall for 1,221 yards and 12 scores), while all-league nose guard Alex Welborn (49 tackles last fall), linebacker John Michael Fisher (51 stops) and all-conference safety Landon Evans (86 tackles with 2 interceptions) return to the defense. Van Buren struggled in last week's scrimmage and that bodes well for Alma. 

NO. 1 GREENWOOD at Class 7A No. 7 Bentonville West: Greenwood won the only previous meeting with Bentonville West 35-28 in September 2020, and the Bulldogs are 9-2 since 2018 against Class 7A schools. Greenwood, the defending Class 6A champion, flexed its muscles over the summer, winning the Russellville 7-on-7 tournament, and the Bulldogs roll into the regular season after erasing a 14-point deficit to top defending Class 7A state champion Fayetteville 27-20 in last week's scrimmage. Seven starters return to an offense that led Class 6A with 51.5 points per game, including all-state QB Kane Archer, and all-league receiver Isaiah Arrington, who could also contribute on defense. Bentonville West is a perennial playoff team from the 7A West, but Greenwood looks loaded in its quest for a second consecutive state championship.

NO. 4 FS SOUTHSIDE at Class 7A FS Northside: Southside sparked its 7-5 season last year with a 42-35 victory over Northside in the Battle of Rogers Avenue, the first Mavericks victory in the series since 2015, a span of 7 games. Southside returns 5 offensive starters, including 1 on the offensive line (Nick Arnold). Look for athletes Joseph Kincannon and Peyton Zimmerman to produce big plays at receiver and in the secondary. We believe that Southside will be one of the top 6A West teams this fall, but replacing so much offensive production pushes the edge here to Northside. Cam Massey had a 60-yard touchdown for Northside in its preseason scrimmage at Broken Arrow (Okla), and Jayden Youngblood and JaLeal Covin combined for more than 100 yards rushing.

SILOAM SPRINGS at Class 7A Heritage: Heritage won 38-13 a year ago, its fourth consecutive victory in the series. Siloam Springs enters the season with a 27-game losing streak, but the vibes around summer and fall camp were good under veteran coach Doug Loughridge. The Panthers return 13 starters, and they add a talented sophomore group. Siloam Springs emerged from fall camp with vastly improved strength. Heritage has had recent success against Siloam Springs, but the Panthers snap the skid this week and give Loughridge his first win at the school.

West Plains (Mo.) at NO. 10 MOUNTAIN HOME: The "Steve Ary Bowl" comes to Baxter County this week, as Mountain Home, Ary's current team, hosts West Plains, where Ary once coached. Ary's Bombers must replace the school's all-time leading passer this season to continue their recent success (4 quarterfinal appearances since 2020), but 9 starters return to a defensive unit that surrendered 3 touchdowns or less 5 times a season ago. Senior tailback Jacob Chenoweth and junior Barrett Miller could split duties on offense, while senior all-league left tackle Caleb Perdue leads up front.

Class 5A Farmington at NO. 4 SHILOH CHRISTIAN: These teams split conference games the past 2 years when they were members of the 5A West. Farmington's 31-28 last fall helped the Cardinals shared the league crown. Shiloh Christian broke fall camp with 61 varsity players after a summer in which the Saints advanced to the semifinals of 7-on-7 events at Southern Methodist University, Oklahoma State, and the Southwest Elite tournament. Sophomore QB Cole Creighton powered the Saint offense this summer, while A.J. Ylanan, Cohen Beach, and Chandler Kemp delivered big plays at receiver and in the secondary.

No. 9 Lake Hamilton at CLASS 5A NO. 9 HS LAKESIDE: Lake Hamilton won the first 5 meetings after the series resumed in 2018, but Hot Springs Lakeside got off to a fast start last fall, topping the Wolves 49-42 in the season-opener.

Lake Hamilton finished 3-7 last fall after enduring no less than 7 season-ending injuries to starters early in the year. The Wolves return 16 starters, including at QB Landon West, fullback Hayden Barton, wingbacks Dylan Murphy and Cole Weeks, and offensive linemen Bryson Hill, Hayden Rhodes, Harley Husser, and Ayden Montgomery. David Dalton emerged over the summer on the defensive line, while Hilton Mann did the same at cornerback to bolster the defense. "We are a lot better at every position," Coach Tommy Gilleran says. Lake Hamilton could be the most improved team in Class 6A this fall, but it won't be able to score and keep up with Lakeside this week.

RUSSELLVILLE at Class 5A Morrilton: Russellville leads the Battle of I-40 series 58-33-3, including a disputed outcome in 1928 when each side claims a victory. The Cyclones have won 13 of the past 17, including 33-21 a season ago. Russellville plots a playoff return after missing the cut a season ago based on tiebreakers. Coach Dave Wheeler guided his team through an excellent spring camp, and the Cyclones impressed during summer team camps and 7-on-7 tournaments. Cyclone defensive lineman Magnus Golden could be one of the state's top playmakers this season.