Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings 
Class 7A, Week 1, 2024
Copyright Seventy Seven’s Football Publishing, LLC 

1.  Fayetteville (1-0)

2.  Bryant (1-0) 

3.  Conway (1-0) 

4.  Bentonville (0-1) 

5.  Pulaski Academy (1-0) 

6.  Cabot (0-1) 

7. Bentonville West (0-1) 

8.  Little Rock Christian (1-0) 

9.  Rogers (1-0) 

10.  North Little Rock (0-1) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

 No. 4 Bentonville (0-1) at  NO. 3 CONWAY (1-0) This matchup has a December feel with both teams expected to be in the mix down the stretch to make state championship runs. Conway gained 469 offensive yards last week in a 42-21 road win over Class 6A Jonesboro. Arkansas commit Grayson Wilson threw for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he rushed for 2 scores; WR Kam Blackmon (3-130 receiving, TD) and RB Trey Harris (14-130 rushing, 2 TDs) were also big contribuors. “Once we were able to get ahead of the sticks and play with some tempo, we were able to create some explosive plays,” Conway offensive coordinator Mark Kelley said.

Bentonville lost its home-opener in overtime to a strong Tulsa Union team. Cole Slepecki and Trevor Grant combined to complete 19 of 29 passes for 248 yards. Chris Ficklin rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries. Eli Brooks and Blair Irvin III each had 5 receptions.  

Wilson, a dual-threat quarterback who conducts tempo offense, might be the difference-maker. 

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

 7A WEST
NO. 1 FAYETTEVILLE (1-0) at Broken Arrow (Okla.) (1-0): Broken Arrow beat Springdale Har-Ber last week 42-21; Fayetteville knocked off Cabot 48-13, an effort that pleased Bulldogs Coach Casey Dick. “It was a great team win,” Dick said. “Overcame lots of obstacles and adversity. Once we settled in and played the game we got better, I thought, as the game went on. We were able to run the ball and do a good job of containing the run and putting pressure on the quarterback. Overall very proud of our group and how they handled Week 0. Senior quarterback Garyt Odom looked sharp in his debut. Fayetteville’s run-stopping defense could be the difference. 

No. 4 Bentonville (0-1) at NO. 3 CONWAY (1-0) 

See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above.

NO. 6 CABOT (0-1) at No. 7 Bentonville West (0-1): Cabot and Bentonville West both look to rebound after opening with losses. Bentonville West fought hard with big plays from Tre Thompson and Que Thompson. Cabot counters with a talented backfield – Cooper Powell scored a touchdown in Week 1 and Keegan Vest showed the ability to reach the second level with speed. Special teams play could prove pivotal, with the edge going to Cabot, which had junior kicker Dean Heyer make 2 field goals last week in the loss to Fayetteville.  

Carl Junction (Mo.) (0-1) at ROGERS HERITAGE (0-1): Carl Junction (Mo.) lost 45-7 in its opener to Capital City (Mo.). Rogers Heritage dropped its opener to Class 6A Siloam Springs, which ended a 27-game losing streak. Heritage got within 3 in the fourth quarter after a Dominic Castaneda touchdown, but Siloam Springs sealed the victory with a late score. Castaneda showed game-breaking speed in an August scrimmage game with Poteau (Okla). Home-field advantage could be the difference for a hungry Heritage team.   

Class 5A Farmington (0-1) at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (0-1): Springdale Har-Ber RB Titus Cramer showed playmaking ability with more than 200 total yards and 3 touchdowns in a 42-21 loss to Broken Arrow, Okla. Farmington fell to Shiloh Christian 47-6. Har-Ber trailed Broken Arrow by 7 at the half but was unable to keep up in the second half. Evan Baker neared the 300-yard passing mark. Springdale Har-Ber’s offensive skill could be too much for Farmington.  

FS Northside (0-1) at CLASS 6A NO. 1 GREENWOOD (1-0) Greenwood Coach Chris Young said that Northside’s defense is athletic and full of experience, and described Northside wideout Cam Massey as an explosive playmaker. “He will be one of the best athletes we see all year,” Young said. Greenwood rolled over Bentonville West 70-35 in its opener. Kane Archer accounted for 4 touchdowns (3 in the air, 1 on the ground); Wesley Raggio added 3 TDs for the Bulldogs. Northside lost its opener 34-27 to rival Fort Smith Southside. 

NO. 9 ROGERS (1-0) at Holland Hall (Okla.) (0-1) Holland Hall enters after losing Cascia Hall 29-28 in its season opener. Rogers beat North Little Rock 43-0 in its opener. Junior QB Jeff Regan started the scoring with a 30-yard run. Rogers then got a safety and a Cam Cunningham 78-yard kickoff return to jump out 16-0. Rogers has momentum after playing well in all 3 phases.  

SPRINGDALE (1-0) at Class 6A Van Buren (1-0): Springdale topped Little Rock Central 49-21 in last week’s opener behind QB Jack Pounders’ 4 total touchdowns. Springdale racked up more than 200 rushing yards in the first half. Van Buren opened with a 10-point win over Class 5A Alma in the “Battle of the Bone.” Springdale controls the tempo of the game with its flexbone approach.   

7A CENTRAL 

NO. 5 PULASKI ACADEMY (1-0) at Madison Ridgeland Academy (Miss.) 

Pulaski Academy Coach Anthony Lucas said Madison Ridgeland Academy possesses athletic ability on both sides of the ball. Pulaski Academy gets the edge here after Brandon Cobb threw for 475 yards and 5 TDs in a 35-21 Week 0 victory over Joe T. Robinson. The programs have faced each other in summer camps and 3 times in past seasons.

NO. 2 BRYANT (1-0) at Memphis Christian Brothers (Tenn.) 

Bryant Coach Quad Sanders said the key to beating Christian Brothers Friday will be to improve and correct missed assignments incurred in a 52-42 win over Benton in the Salt Bowl. Myron Thrash and Daniel Anderson lead a powerful Hornets rushing attack; Nick Miller and Matthew Ferguson intercepted passes for Bryant. The ability to force turnovers gives Bryant the edge.  

Little Rock Southwest (0-0) at CLASS 6A LAKE HAMILTON (0-1): Lake Hamilton Coach Tommie Gilleran said that the Gryphons are “fast and physical.” Lake Hamilton lost its opener to Class 5A Lakeside. Little Rock Southwest has a first-year coach, Chadwick Lewis, who takes over Daryl Patton. Lewis coached the offensive line last year at Sylvan Hills.

CLASS 6A NO. 2 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 over 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.