Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 6, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC

1. Greenwood (6-0)

2. LR Christian (4-1)

3. Benton (4-1)

4. Pulaski Academy (4-1)

5. West Memphis (4-1)

6. LR Catholic (3-2)

7. Marion (4-1)

8. Searcy (4-1)

9. Van Buren (2-3)

10. Lake Hamilton (3-3)

11. Mountain Home (3-3)

12. Russellville (2-4)

13. El Dorado (2-3)

14. Greenbrier (3-2)

15. Sheridan (2-3)

16. Sylvan Hills (0-5)

17. Jacksonville (1-4)

18. Greene County Tech (1-4)

19. Siloam Springs (0-6)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 6 of 9 games (67 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and 52 of 63 games (83 percent) on the season.

WEEK 6 PREDICTIONS (favored team in All Caps and highlighted)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 5 WEST MEMPHIS (4-1, 4-0) at No. 13 El Dorado (2-3, 1-3)

El Dorado has won 2 of the past 3 meetings with West Memphis, but the Blue Devils beat the Wildcats 37-30 last fall. El Dorado battled Searcy all night last week before allowing the final 12 points in a 47-35 defeat. El Dorado forced 2 Searcy turnovers, but sophomore quarterback Mitchell Polk played well despite being sacked 6 times. The Wildcats made a number of big plays as the offense continues to improve. Linebacker Lamarion Clemmons anchors the defense.

West Memphis downed defending 6A East champion and state semifinalist Little Rock Catholic 21-14 last week for Homecoming. The Blue Devils scored 21 unanswered points in the middle of the game before breaking up a Rockets Hail Mary to clinch victory. West Memphis senior QB Keland Mills operates the Blue Devils offense efficiently, and 2022 all-state performer Dylan Greer is his favorite receiver. Opposing coaches rave about the tenacity of the Blue Devils D-line and linebackers.

El Dorado is improving under first-year coach Chris Hill, but West Memphis is clicking on all cylinders right now.

6A EAST

No. 8 Searcy (4-1, 3-1) at No. 7 MARION (4-1, 3-1): Marion leads the series 9-8, and the Patriots have won the past 2 meetings, including 57-28 last year at Searcy. This battle between 4-1 teams could be for a home playoff game come November. Searcy scored the final 12 points last week to topple El Dorado 47-35. The Lions amassed 583 yards against the Wildcats, led by senior QB Ty Strickland's 250 yards passing and 3 TDs.

Sophomore tailback Rickey Love rushed for 241 yards and 4 scores. Sophomore Lawson Wimberly (12) and junior Will Evans (11) led Searcy in tackles. Marion took its first loss last week at Benton, falling 61-23 after trailing 21-0 after a quarter. Marion senior QB Ashton Gray (237 rushing, TD runs of 72 and 80 yards) led a Marion offense that suffered 2 turnovers. Marion's defense will have to make the difference in this game

against an explosive Searcy team.

WEST MEMPHIS at El Dorado: See hootens.com Game of the Week, above.

No. 1 BENTON (4-1, 4-0) at Greene County Tech (1-4, 0-4): Benton won the only other meeting between these schools 58-0 last October. Greene County Tech totaled 306 yards (164 passing and 142 rushing) in last week's 28-25 defeat at Jacksonville. The Eagles led 25-22 into the fourth quarter before the Titans scored the game-

winning TD. Benton amassed 519 yards in last week's 61-23 homecoming victory over Marion. The Panthers led 21-0 after a quarter and 51-16 at halftime. Benton scored on its first 9 possessions, including 8 TDs. Benton is tied with West Memphis atop the 6A East, and owns head-to-head victories over top contenders (LR Catholic and Marion), and the Panthers keep the pedal to the metal this week.

Sheridan (2-3, 2-2) at No. 6 LR CATHOLIC (3-2, 2-2): LR Catholic downed Sheridan 21-7 a season ago, but Sheridan evened its conference record by outlasting Sylvan Hills 27-23. QB Brady Dillon (318 passing, 3 TDs) and Jackson Bourne (7-173 receiving) led the Yellowjacks. Sheridan outscored Sylvan Hills 13-6 after halftime and the defense clinched the win by turning Sylvan Hills away on a red-zone drive late in the fourth quarter. Catholic fell 21-14 last week at West Memphis despite QB Jackson England hitting Thomas Duch and Cody Fogleman with TD passes. The winner of this game will remain in contention to host a first-round playoff game, and it should be Catholic's defense making the difference.

Jacksonville (1-4, 1-3) at SYLVAN HILLS (0-5. 0-4): Sylvan Hills downed Jacksonville 19-14 last season, and the winner of this game remains in playoff contention another week. Jacksonville ended an 18-game losing streak, overcoming 3 turnovers, in last week's 28-25 victory over Greene County Tech, scoring the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter. Sylvan Hills and first-year Coach Jason Houle are still looking for their first win, but the Bears battled Sheridan in last week's 27-23 loss. Sylvan Hills scored first against Sheridan, and the Bears drove inside the Sheridan red zone in the fourth

quarter, but didn't score. Josiah Rainey and Malachi Simpson scored TDs for Sylvan Hills, and Alex Bohlman booted a field goal just before halftime to give the Bears a 16-14 lead. Jacksonville is playing with confidence right now, but Sylvan Hills continues to get players back from injury and is ready to make a second-half playoff push.

6A WEST

No. 10 LAKE HAMILTON (3-3, 2-2) at Greenbrier (3-2, 2-1): Lake Hamilton won the first meeting of these schools 33-14 a season ago. Greenbrier managed 168 yards (79 in the first half) in last week's 35-7 loss to Greenwood, with Kane Richardson scoring the TD. Lake Hamilton, without senior QB Easton Hurley, trailed Van Buren 7-0 en route to a 49-28 loss. Junior QB Landon West completed 8 passes to 5 receivers for 146 yards and a TD. The Wolves rushed for 266 yards and 3 TDs against Van Buren, led by Hayden Barton's 188 yards and 2 TDs. This is an important game for playoff seeding, but the Wolves should be able to control the clock and earn a big victory.

No. 1 LR CHRISTIAN (4-1, 4-0) at Mountain Home (3-3, 1-3): LR Christian handled Mountain Home 45-13 last year in the first meeting of these schools. Mountain Home competed hard last week in a 35-14 loss at defending Class 6A state champion Pulaski Academy. Senior QB Cade Yates passed for 234 yards and a TD, but the Bombers rushed for 33 yards on 22 attempts (1.5 yards per carry) in the loss. Little Rock Christian took last week off after pounding rival Pulaski Academy 55-13.  LRCA led PA 27-6 after the first quarter and 34-6 at halftime. Senior QB Walker White (20-33 passing, 256 yards, 5 TDs vs. PA) led the Warriors, who converted 6 of 12 third-down attempts. Mountain Home is in the hunt for a home playoff game, but LRCA will keep playing well in all facets this week.

No. 4 PULASKI ACADEMY (4-1, 2-1) at Siloam Springs (0-6, 0-4): Pulaski Academy has won the previous 2 meetings in this series, including 69-26 last fall. Siloam Springs gained 273 yards in last week's 61-17 loss to Russellville, led by Mason Short's 147 rushing yards and Jed Derwin’s 2 TDs. The Panthers possessed the football for more than 36 minutes against Russellville. The Bruins bounced back with a 21-point home win over Mountain Home after a 42-point loss to LR Christian 2 weeks ago. PA QB Brandon Cobb completed passes to 10 Bruins, with Walden Culpepper (10-97) leading the way. PA rushed for 133 yards and 3 TDs against the Bombers. The Bruins continue to produce without last year's leading passer, rusher, and receiver, and we think they get it done again this week on the road.

No. 12 RUSSELLVILLE (2-4, 1-3) at No. 9 Van Buren (2-3, 1-2): This rivalry dates back to

1909, with Russellville leading the series 33-30-5. The Cyclones have won 8 of the 13 meetings since 2002, including 28-21 in 2022. Van Buren jumped Lake Hamilton last week, leading 42-7 at

halftime en route to a 49-28 victory. The Pointers forced 3 Lake Hamilton turnovers.

Russellville led Siloam Springs 41-3 at halftime and won 61-17. Luke Jones and Caleb Campbell combined to complete 9 of 10 passes for 179 yards and 2 TDs at Siloam Springs; the Cyclones rushed for 176 yards on 18 carries. This could

prove to be an important game for playoff positioning in the West, but we think the Russellville defense manufactures enough stops to win a big road game.

OPEN Greenwood.