Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 1, 2024

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC.

1. Greenwood (1-0)
2. Benton (0-1)
3. Shiloh Christian (1-0)
4. Fort Smith Southside (1-0)
5. Marion (1-0)
6. Jonesboro (0-1)
7. Mountain Home (1-0)
8. El Dorado (0-1)
9. LR Catholic (1-0)
10. Sheridan (1-0)

Not ranked:
6A East: West Memphis (0-1), Sylvan Hills (1-0)
6A West: Russellville (0-1), Siloam Springs (1-0), Van Buren (1-0), Lake Hamilton (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

Class 7A FS Northside (0-1) at NO. 1 GREENWOOD (1-0) 

Greenwood has won 5 consecutive meetings with the Grizzlies, dating to a 31-16 Northside victory in the 2018 opener. Greenwood Coach Chris Young is a graduate of Northside, where Young's father — Joe Fred Young — guided the Grizzlies to a 147-67 record over 18 seasons.

Greenwood looked unstoppable in last week's 70-35 victory over Bentonville West. Wesley Raggio ran for 3 TDs against the Wolverines, while Kane Archer completed 25 of 29 passes for 287 yards and 3 scores of his own. Archer added 121 yards on the ground with another score. Greenwood not only won its 14th consecutive game, but also scored the most points allowed by Bentonville West since it started varsity football in 2016.

Northside couldn’t hold a lead against Southside. Greenwood needs to address its ball security (fumbled 5 times against West), but we think it does to beat Northside.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 15 of 16 games (94 percent) correctly a week ago.

6A EAST

CLASS 5A NO. 2 HARDING ACADEMY (0-0) at No. 5 Marion (1-0): This is the first meeting between these schools. Class 5A Harding Academy has won 4 of the past 5 state championships, including last season's Class 4A crown, vaulting the Wildcats into Class 5A due to the AAA's competitive equity rule. The Wildcats didn't play last week, but return 2-time all-state QB Owen Miller (4,656 yards, 61 TDs in 2023) and 2-time all-conference receiver Endy McGalliard (40-654-10). Marion erased a 14-0 first-half deficit last week to slip past Wynne 34-28 last week. Senior RB Jalen Smith accounted for 191 yards and 5 TDs, including the game-winning 21-yard pass to senior Mitrell Lewis (3 catches, 82 yards) with less than 3 minutes left.

Marion competes against a 5A East team for the third week in a row after topping Valley View 26-17 in the scrimmage game and coming from behind last week to win at Wynne 34-28. Marion erased a 14-0 first-half deficit and a 20-14 halftime deficit. Senior tailback Jalen Smith racked up 191 total yards at Wynne and 5 touchdowns, including the eventual game-winning 21-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Mitrell Lewis (3 catches for 82 yards) on fourth down with less than 3 minutes left. Junior QB Zayden Walker completed 10 of his 13 passes for 134 yards. Senior linebacker Emanuel Key (10 tackles) had a fourth-down sack that ended Wynne's final drive.

Marion plugged the run against Wynne well (allowed 235 yards on 60 carries for less than 4 yards per carry), but allowed the Yellowjackets to complete 6 of 7 passes for 111 yards and 2 TDs, which is bad news against a Harding outfit that specializes in the passing game.

CLASS 5A VILONIA (0-0) at Sylvan Hills (0-1): Sylvan Hills has won the past 3 meetings, topping the Eagles in 3 consecutive season-openers from 2013-2015.  Clint Ashcraft (68-36 in 9 years at Conway) debuts as Vilonia's coach. The Eagles didn't play last week. Sylvan Hills trailed Maumelle by 6 points at halftime last week but allowed 24 points in the third quarter of a 36-0 loss. The Bears managed 29 yards after QB Tyler Hampton was injured, and his moving forward is uncertain.

This is Vilonia’s opener, but we think Eagles will be able to get past a Sylvan Hills team that has scored 2 TDs or less during every game of its 11-game losing skid.

CLASS 5A NO. 3 JOE T. ROBINSON (0-1) at Jonesboro (0-1): It is believed to be the first meeting between these schools. Jonesboro rushed for 154 yards and did not commit a turnover in last week's 42-21 loss to Class 7A No. 2 Conway. Junior QB Asa Myers passed for 114 yards against the Wampus Cats, while T.J. Brown rushed for 111 yards and a TD to lead the way.

CLASS 5A NO. 10 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW at No. 8 El Dorado: El Dorado is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings against Class 5A Camden Fairview, including a 21-20 win a season ago. 

El Dorado pushed Class 7A Little Rock Christian last week, leading the Warriors 14-13 at halftime before losing 21-14. Wildcats linebacker Jakori Lumsey and cornerback Jaquavion Hampton intercepted first-half passes, with Hampton returning his for a TD. El Dorado did not score in the second half, but the final Wildcats drive reached the Warriors’ red area before turning it over on downs.

We think El Dorado, behind its playmaking defense, wins another thriller in this south Arkansas rivalry.

No. 9 LR Catholic (1-0) vs. NOLAN (TEXAS) CATHOLIC: Nolan Catholic topped LR Catholic 36-34 in overtime in 2021.

LR Catholic escaped Texarkana 20-15 last week after leading 14-0 at halftime. Rockets QB Jackson England hit Landon Roaf with 15 seconds left for the game-winning score when Catholic trailed 15-14 after committing 3 second-half turnovers. 

This has been a close series through the years, but Nolan Catholic makes the last play this week to knock off the Rockets.

NO. 10 SHERIDAN (1-0) at Class 5A No. 9 HS Lakeside (1-0): These teams split nonconference games in 2020 and 2021, with the Yellowjackets ripping the Rams 24-7 in the last meeting.

Sheridan recovered 3 first-half onside kicks to take a 44-7 lead on its way to a 44-20 victory over Class 5A White Hall, earning the Battle of Highway 270 trophy for the first time since 2019. Dax McMellon completed 21 of 36 passes against White Hall for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns, while sophomore tailback Zay Stephens eclipsed 200 total yards with 3 TDs. The Sheridan first-team defense allowed 1 touchdown. 

Sheridan, under first-year coach Kevin Kelley, makes its case as one of the state's surprise teams this week with a big win.

OPEN Benton (0-1) and West Memphis (0-1)

6A WEST

NO. 7 MOUNTAIN HOME (1-0) at Class 5A Harrison (0-0): Harrison leads the series 56-18-3, but the Bombers tagged the Goblins with a 44-31 loss a season ago. Mountain Home has not won at Harrison since 2012.

Mountain Home dazzled in its opener last week, hitting West Plains (Mo.) with 36 unanswered points in the first half to pull away for a 43-21 victory to give Coach Steve Ary his first win over his old school. The Bombers amassed 454 total yards, including 381 yards on the ground.

Mountain Home's offense should keep the Goblins off balance enough to notch a second consecutive win in the series.

Russellville (0-1) at 5A NO. 4 GREENBRIER (1-0): Russellville topped Greenbrier each of the past 2 seasons when the schools were conference foes — by a combined 10 points, including a 21-17 conquest last fall.

Russellville allowed 28 first-quarter points last week to Morrilton, but the Cyclones rallied before losing 35-30. Sam Callahan and Marcellus Olson-Patton scored TDs.

Russellville has had recent success against the Panthers, but Greenbrier played lights out in last week's victory over Warren and continues the run this week. 

SHILOH CHRISTIAN (1-0) at Class 7A No. 8 LR Christian (1-0): Shiloh Christian beat Little Rock Christian  43-22 last fall, the first of 3 losses for LR Christian.

Shiloh rolled Class 4A Farmington 47-6 in last week's opener behind junior tailback Griffin Mason's 212 total yards and 5 TDs. The Saints scored the first 22 points against the Cardinals and led 34-6 at halftime.

Shiloh's explosive offense helps it score enough this week to get past the Warriors. 

Class 7A FS Northside (0-1) at NO. 1 GREENWOOD (1-0): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.

Class 7A LR Southwest (0-0) at LAKE HAMILTON (0-1): This is the first meeting of these schools.

Lake Hamilton held a 17-14 halftime lead last week against old rival Hot Springs Lakeside, but the Rams came up with 20 second-half points to escape with a 34-29 victory. Lake Hamilton scored when senior QB Landon West threw 2 TDs passes, and West later added a TD run. Caleb Rouse sprinted 25 yards for a TD.

Class 5A No. 15 Alma (0-1) at SILOAM SPRINGS (1-0): Alma has topped Siloam Springs the past 2 seasons by a combined 55 points. Siloam Springs Coach Doug Loughridge coached Alma from 2013-2019, guiding the Airedales to a 48-36 record and 3 conference titles.

Siloam Springs ended its 27-game losing skid last week with a 17-0 victory over Class 7A Heritage, and the Panthers are 1-0 for the first time since 2018. Siloam's first shutout since 2019 was highlighted by sophomore Boaz Benson, who led the club in tackles, while J.T. Thompson, Gage Jones, and Mikey McKinley had interceptions and Kayden Davidson and Thompson added sacks. The Panthers rushed for 311 yards and 2 TDs at Heritage, led by Gio Flores, who darted for 156 yards and a TD and Ryan Estacio's 52 yards.

Siloam must turn the page after snapping the skid a week ago, but the Panthers may be the most improved team in Class 6A, and they can win this game if they can limit Alma's Izzy Towns-Robinson. 

Class 7A Springdale (1-0) at VAN BUREN (1-0): These schools have not met since Van Buren topped Springdale 31-12 in 2019. 

Van Buren scored twice in the final minute last Thursday night to stun Class 5A Alma 37-27 to earn the Battle of the Bone for the second year in a row. Van Buren tailback Cam Keller ran 3 yards for a TD with 26 seconds left to give the Pointers a 30-27 lead, and a Caden Webb interception return for a TD made the final score. Keller rushed for 112 yards and a score while receiver Trenton Cooley caught 3 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs. 

Van Buren's offensive playmakers help guide the Pointers to victory again this week 

OPEN FS Southside