Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 3, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC

1. Greenwood (3-0)

2. Pulaski Academy (3-0)

3. Little Rock Christian (2-1)

4. Benton (1-1)

5. LR Catholic (2-0)

6. Marion (2-0)

7. Searcy (2-0)

8. West Memphis (1-1)

9. Mountain Home (2-1)

10. El Dorado (1-1)

11. Lake Hamilton (1-2)

12. Russellville (1-2)

13. Greenbrier (2-1)

14. Van Buren (1-1)

15. Sylvan Hills (0-2)

16. Sheridan (0-2)

17. Siloam Springs (0-3)

18. Greene County Tech (1-1)

19. Jacksonville (0-2)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 8 of 9 games (89 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and 29 of 36 games (81 percent) for the season.

WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 5 Little Rock Catholic (2-0) at No. 4 Benton (1-1)

These teams both advanced to the semifinals a season ago, and Catholic bounced Benton 38-14 en route to the 6A East title. The Rockets have won 6 of the past 7 meetings in this series dating to 2006.

Benton beat Sylvan Hills 48-7 last week, scoring 48 consecutive points after falling behind 7-0. The Panthers outgained the Bears 417-130 and outscored Sylvan Hills 41-0 over the second and third quarters. Benton sophomore QB Drew Davis (25-34 passing, 287 yards, 3 TDs) found a connection with Maddox Davis, who caught 12 passes for 138 yards and a score. Benton' defense recorded 4 sacks and limited the Bears to 75 yards rushing on 33 attempts. It is likely that Drew Davis and senior QB Cline Hooten will each get reps against Catholic. The status of Benton all-state senior tailback and Arkansas commit Braylen Russell is unknown after he sat out against Sylvan Hills.

Catholic posted its first shutout win since Sept. 13, 2019 (41-0 at Jacksonville) in a 30-0 conquest of Greene County Tech. Senior Jaxon Hatchett (8 tackles) and sophomore Brock Hatchett (7 tackles) led the Rockets' defense. Catholic junior QB Jackson England ran for a TD against Tech, and he connected with Conner Dutch for another score. Senior receiver Conner Horne caught 8 passes for 80 yards.

This game carries major ramifications in the battle for 6A East supremacy and the top playoff seed. Benton will score just enough to outlast Catholic.

6A EAST

No. 6 Marion (2-0) at Jacksonville (0-2): Marion is 9-2 all-time against Jacksonville, including a 49-18 homecoming victory in 2022. Marion's 23-20 victory at Jacksonville in 2006 helped the Patriots force a 4-way tie for the 6A East title, which also included Jacksonville, then known as the Red Devils. Marion Coach Lance Clark and Jacksonville Coach Eric Allen were on the same coaching staff at Little Rock Christian.

Jacksonville has lost 16 consecutive games, including last week's 48-7 loss to West Memphis. Jacksonville trailed 48-0 at halftime.

Marion never trailed last week in a 50-13 conquest at El Dorado, the Pats' second win in a row over the Wildcats. It was Marion's first victory in 6 tries at El Dorado's Memorial Stadium. The Pats rushed for 394 yards, led by senior QB Ashton Gray (188 yards rushing, 4 total TDs) and junior tailback Jalen Smith (137 yards, 3 TDs). The Marion defense yielded 2 field goals and racked up 7 TFL, including sacks from sophomore end Ryan Blackwell and senior end Cam Brown.

Jacksonville is an improved team in 2023, but Marion has too much this week.

No. 10 El Dorado (1-1) at Greene Co. Tech (1-1): El Dorado, which won last season's matchup 44-6 at home, will travel about 464 roundtrip miles to play this ballgame. Greene County Tech lost 30-0 to LR Catholic last week at War Memorial Stadium, the Golden Eagles' first shutout loss since a 58-0 midseason defeat to Benton. The Tech defense limited Catholic to 214 yards. Javen McGowan recorded a sack, while Brooks Reddick recovered a fumble. El Dorado totaled 224 yards in last week's 50-13 home loss to Marion, and the only Wildcats touchdown came when Lamarion Clemmons returned a fumble 33 yards for a TD. El Dorado is evolving under first-year coach Chris Hill, but we expect the Wildcats defense to find success against a Tech offense averaging 3.0 points per game in 2023.

No. 7 Search (2-0) at Sylvan Hills (0-2): Searcy has won 3 of the past 5 meetings with Sylvan Hills, including 34-28 last season. Malachi Sherwin scored a TD for Sylvan Hills to open the scoring last week at Benton, but the Bears allowed the final 48 points.

Searcy oulasted Sheridan 49-40 last week. It was 28-28 at halftime, and the Lions led 35-34 after 3 quarters. Lewis Garcia, Charles Thompson, Maddox Heep, and Lawson Wimberly each recorded sacks against Sheridan. Searcy has too much offensive firepower (51.0 points per game) for a Sylvan Hills a Sylvan Hills team that has scored 7 points for the season.

Sheridan (0-2) at No. 8 West Memphis (1-1): West Memphis has won 2 of 3 in this series, including 28-21 last season in overtime. Searcy beat Sheridan 49-40 last week, with QB Brady Dillon (17-32 passing, 289 yards, 4 TDs) an C.J. Dollarhide (16-70 rushing, TD) leading the way. Five Yellowjackets caught passes, led by Jackson Bourne (5 receptions for 107 yards and 2 TDs) and Jace Bradshaw (7 catches for 78 yards and a score). The Sheridan passing game established single-game school records for passing TDs, passing yards, and it was the first time with 3 receivers logging at least 75 yards and each catching a TD.

West Memphis led Jacksonville 48-0 at halftime before winning 48-7. The Blue Devils rolled up 526 yards (271 rushing and 255 passing) against the Titans. West Memphis' defense allowed Jacksonville to convert 1 of 12 third-down conversions. Three previous meetings between these schools have been decided by a combined 14 points. It could be close again, but the Blue Devils will come up with enough stops to claim victory.

6A WEST

Van Buren (1-1) at Greenbrier (2-1): Van Buren downed Greenbrier 40-14 a season ago.

Greenbrier improved to 2-1 a week ago, opening conference play with a 50-21 victory at Siloam Springs. The Panthers scored on their first 2 drives and never trailed. Enoch Assan scored twice for Greenbrier, and Eli Weaver scored once.

Van Buren was off last week after losing to Fort Smith Southside 55-28 in Week 1. Van Buren trailed 14-9 after the first period, but the Mavericks outscored the Pointers 35-0 in the second period to trigger the running clock. Van Buren senior QB Bryce Perkins completed 27 of 54 passes against Southside for 285 yards and 2 TDs; Cameron Keller rushed for 136 yards and a score. Sophomore Philip Steele caught 8 passes for 112 yards against Southside.

This feels like an even game on paper, but the home field should propel Greenbrier to victory.

Siloam Springs (0-3) at No. 1 Greenwood (3-0): Greenwood has beaten Siloam Springs 10 consecutive times, with the Panthers' last win coming 38-21 in 2010. Greenwood won 61-7 last season. Greenbrier beat Siloam Springs 50-21 a week ago, but Jed Derwin, Cameron Stafford, and Dane Marlatt scored TDs for the Panthers.

Greenwood has dazzled early in 2023, including last week's 55-7 victory at previously unbeaten Mountain Home. Greenwood led 21-0 after the first quarter and 35-7 at halftime. Sophomore QB Kane Archer hit L.J. Robins with 2 TD passes, while Bodey Steinfeldt scored 5 TDs. Greenwood, with stars all over its roster, has a 57-game home winning streak that should remain in tact.

Mountain Home (2-1) at Lake Hamilton (1-2): Lake Hamilton won 28-19 last season at Mountain Home. The Bombers lost 55-7 to No. 1 Greenwood last week. Mountain Home QB Cade Yates fired a TD pass to Jett Hannaford for the Bombers' only score. Greenwood led 21-0 after the first quarter and 35-7 at halftime. Seven Lake Hamilton players combined to rush for more than 200 yards in a 42-14 loss at Little Rock Christian, a game in which LR Christian led 35-0 two plays into the third quarter.

This could be one of the week's closer games, but Mountain Home's prolific passing game helps the Bombers brave a long road trip to notch a crucial conference victory.

No. 3 LR Christian (2-1) at Russellville (1-2): LRCA routed Russellville 42-14 last season, the first meeting of the schools. Russellville held a 20-18 halftime lead a week ago at Pulaski Academy, but the Bruins outscored the Cyclones 30-0 the rest of the way for a 48-20 victory. Russellville rushed 25 times for 23 yards at PA.

LR Christian routed Lake Hamilton 42-14 last Thursday night, amassing almost 500 yards of offense. The Warriors led 28-0 at halftime, a lead that hit 35-0 on the second play of the third period. LR Christian QB Walker White completed 15 of 23 passes for 339 yards and 3 TDs, and he rushed for 23 yards and another score. Cade Bowman (4-171 receiving, 1 TD) and tailback Ronnie Anoyoke (55 rushing, 1 TD) assisted White.

Russellville will be in the conversation to host a playoff game this November, but the Warriors win this if their run defense contains Russellville and all-state tailback Tracy Daniels.

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