Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 6, 2024

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC.

1. Greenwood (5-0)

2. Benton (4-1)

3. Shiloh Christian (3-2)

4. Marion (4-1)

5. LR Catholic (5-0)

6. Mountain Home (4-1)

7. Lake Hamilton (4-1)

8. Fort Smith Southside (3-2)

9. Russellville (3-2)

10. Jonesboro (1-4)

NOT RANKED

6A East: West Memphis (0-5), El Dorado (2-3), Sheridan (2-3) and Sylvan Hills (0-5).

6A West: Siloam Springs (2-3) and Van Buren (2-3).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 10 Jonesboro (1-4, 1-1) at NO. 5 LR CATHOLIC (5-0, 2-0) Jonesboro has won the past 3 meetings with the Rockets, including 37-7 in 2021. Catholic has not beaten Jonesboro since 2018.

Jonesboro slammed Sheridan 49-28 last week after leading 42-14 at halftime. The Golden Hurricane got TD passes from Asa Myers to Matt Baertels and Myerion Taylor, while Nigel Bell returned an interception for a TD. Jonesboro linebackers K.J. Anderson and Markeice Stafford anchor a defense that has played well against explosive offenses — Conway, Joe T. Robinson, Sheridan, and Benton.

Catholic outgained West Memphis 365-142 a week ago in the Rockets' 41-13 road victory. LR Catholic senior QB Jackson England passed for 258 yards and Rockets running backs combined to rush for 107 yards. Catholic led 34-6 at halftime at West Memphis.

Jonesboro enters off its best offensive showing of 2024, but Catholic and its top-ranked scoring defense in Class 6A (allows 11.6 points per game) gets enough stops to win here.

WEEK 6 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly selected 6 of 8 games (75 percent) involving 6A teams a week ago and has correctly picked 52 of 63 games (82 percent) for the season.

6A EAST

W. Memphis (0-5, 0-2) at NO. 4 MARION (4-1, 2-0): West Memphis officially leads the all-time series 19-2, including 3 nonconference wins in the 1980s, but Marion has won the past 3 meetings on the field. One of those wins, 33-3 in 2021, ended up being a forfeit loss. These schools are separated by less than 5 miles. West Memphis is off to its worst start since going 1-5 in 2013. The Blue Devils trailed unbeaten Little Rock Catholic 14-6 last week in the first quarter before falling 41-13. West Memphis rushed for 114 yards against the stingy Rockets, but was held to 28 passing yards. Marion beat El Dorado for the third season in a row last Friday night, rallying for a 34-28 win after trailing 21-14 early in the fourth quarter. Two-time all-state tailback Jalen Smith scored 4 touchdowns at El Dorado, including the game-winner with 16 seconds left in regulation. Marion won despite having 3 starting offensive linemen out, but seniors Carius Curne, who is an LSU commit, Charlie Cantrell and Michael Watson led the front. Junior defensive backs Kejaris Hill and Kajaris Hill (twin brothers) each recorded interceptions at El Dorado. Seniors Emanuel Key (8 tackles last week) and Kendrick Cauley (6 stops) pitched in.

EL DORADO (2-3, 1-1) at Sylvan Hills (0-5, 0-2): El Dorado has won the past 3 meetings, including 42-13 a season ago. El Dorado Coach Chris Hill coached Sylvan Hills from 2020-2022, leading the Bears to a 19-15 record and a 2020 6A East co-championship. No. 2 Benton stifled Sylvan Hills 49-0 a week ago, the Bears' second shutout loss of the ball. The Bears continue to play without 4 starters this season, while QB Tyler Hampton leads the offense and Malachi Summons and Josiah Rainey anchor the defense. El Dorado led Marion 21-14 after 3 quarters last week, and was tied 28-28 until Marion scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left. The Wildcats lost despite getting a all-around performance from A.J. Gilmore, who returned kickoffs for nearly 100 yards, had a TD reception, and an interception return for a TD. Cannon Jacobs threw 2 TD passes. El Dorado has more playmakers and the edge right now, even playing away from home.

No. 10 Jonesboro (1-4, 1-1) at NO. 5 LR CATHOLIC (5-0, 2-0). See Game of the Week, above.

NO. 2 BENTON (4-1, 2-0) at Sheridan (2-3, 1-1): Benton has won the past 2 meetings by a combined 84-28. Sheridan was tied with Jonesboro at 7-7 in the first quarter a week ago before falling 49-28. Payton Sterritt caught a long pass from Dax McMellon to set up Zay Stephens' first TD for Sheridan at Jonesboro. Benton outgained Sylvan Hills 343-55 and led 42-0 after the first quarter a week ago in a 49-0 victory. The Panthers rushed for 154 yards and passed for 189 yards. It was Benton's first shutout since beating Jacksonville 70-0 last October. The Benton defense got interceptions from Landon Jackson, O'Marcus King and Trey Stewart, while Jay Alford, Jack Johnson, Mason Laster, Ty Matyja, Isaac Hill, Weston Monson, and Dominic Roy logged QB sacks.

6A WEST 

Van Buren (2-3, 1-1) at NO. 7 LAKE HAMILTON (4-1, 2-0): Lake Hamilton has won 3 of 4 meetings with Van Buren since the Pointers dropped to Class 6A in time for the 2020 season, but Van Buren downed Lake Hamilton 49-28 last fall. Van Buren looked strong in a 45-11 victory over Siloam Springs. Van Buren led 8-3 after the first quarter, 22-3 at halftime, and 35-11 after three quarters. The Pointers totaled 458 yards (235 passing, 223 rushing). Sophomore QB Hayden Williford completed 12 of 21 passes for 223 yards and a career-high 4 TDs, while senior tailback Cameron Keller ran 26 times for 214 yards and a TD. Trenton Cooley and Austin Riggs each logged 93 yards receiving, while Cooley scored twice, Riggs once, and Elijah Johnson once as well. Bryan Ramos (9 tackles against Siloam), John-Michael Fisher (8 stops) and Darren Mays (7 tackles) led the defense. Lake Hamilton won its fourth game in succession a week ago with a dramatic 26-24 victory over Fort Smith Southside. The Wolves trailed 10-0 at halftime and 17-0 in the third period. Lake Hamilton rolled up 359 yards against the Mavericks, led by QB Landon West's 123 yards passing and 122 yards rushing from Hayden Barton. Lake Hamilton had 7 tackles for loss against Southside, including 4 from Hagan Tyler.

NO. 6 MOUNTAIN HOME (4-1, 1-1) at No. 9 Russellville (3-2, 1-1): The Mountain Home Bombers have won 3 of the past 5 meetings with Russellville, including 24-21 last fall.

Russellville lost 63-14 a week ago at Greenwood, but the Cyclones recorded 253 yards, including 152 on the ground. Russellville committed 4 turnovers and allowed the Bulldogs to convert 7 of 8 times on third down. QB Luke Jones threw for a TD. Mountain Home played tough against Shiloh Christian for the better part of 3 quarters last week before falling 37-13. The Bombers were tied with the Saints at 6-6 late in the second period, and Shiloh led 23-13 early in the fourth quarter as the Bombers drove into Shiloh territory. Mountain Home rolled up 291 yards against the Saints, including 239 passing. Shiloh limited Mountain Home to 54 rushing yards last week after the Bombers had averaged more than 300 yards rushing per week through 4 games. Bombers QB Brantlee Phillips completed 30 passes against Shiloh Christian.

No. 8 FS Southside (3-2, 0-2) at NO. 3 SHILOH CHRISTIAN (3-2, 1-1): This will be the first meeting between the schools. Southside led 17-0 before falling 26-24 to Lake Hamilton. The Mavericks marched inside Lake Hamilton's 25 on their final possession, but could not take the lead late. Southside QB Wilson Key (17-25 passing, 234 yards, TD; 55 rushing, TD) led the offense, along with Jayden Webb (8-81 receiving), Peyton Zimmerman (4-88) and Joaquin Fox (TD reception). Maddox Perez and Layden Rowe logged sacks for Southside. Shiloh pulled away a week ago from Mountain Home in a 37-13 road victory as Griffin Mason scored 2 TDs on the ground, and he caught 1 of Jake Bodenstein's TD tosses, the other going to Chandler Kemp. Tristan Carpenter also returned a punt 15 yards for a score. 

NO. 1 GREENWOOD (5-0, 2-0) at Siloam Springs (2-3, 0-2): Greenwood has won 11 in a row over Siloam Springs, including 55-14 last year. Siloam's last victory over Greenwood was 38-21 in 2010. Siloam Springs trailed Van Buren 8-3 after a quarter and 22-11 in the third quarter last week before losing 45-11. Panthers tailback Mason Short delivered a 28-yard TD run against the Pointers. Siloam starts no less than 3 sophomores this season. Greenwood's winning streak reached 18 games with last week's 63-14 victory over Russellville. The Bulldogs outgained the Cyclones 408-253. The Bulldogs led 56-0 in the third period, and won behind junior QB Kane Archer's 238 passing yards and 5 passing TDs, and he added a rushing score. Tailback Wesley Raggio caught a 66-yard TD pass from Archer, and he added a 4-yard rushing score. Grant Karnes and Champ Davis each caught 2 TD passes from Archer, while Daejuan Ford returned an interception 40 yards for a TD. Siloam needs a signature win against 1 of the elite teams in this league to make a playoff push, but it won't happen this week against Greenwood's top scoring offense in Class 6A (55.0 ppg).