Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 7, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC

1. Greenwood (6-0)

2. LR Christian (5-1)

3. Benton (5-1)

4. Pulaski Academy (5-1)

5. West Memphis (5-1)

6. LR Catholic (4-2)

7. Marion (5-1)

8. Greenbrier (4-2)

9. Searcy (4-2)

10. Van Buren (3-3)

11. Lake Hamilton (3-4)

12. Mountain Home (3-4)

13. El Dorado (2-4)

14. Russellville (2-5)

15. Sheridan (2-4)

16. Jacksonville (2-4)

17. Greene County Tech (1-5)

18. Sylvan Hills (0-6)

19. Siloam Springs (0-7)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 6 of 9 games (67 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and 60 of 72 games (83 percent) on the season.

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS (favored team in All Caps and highlighted)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 7 Marion (5-1, 4-1) at No. 5 W. MEMPHIS (5-1, 5-0)

Marion needs a win to stay in the running for a share of the 6A East conference title, should Benton stumble down the stretch. A West Memphis victory keeps the Blue Devils undefeated in league action before they play Benton Week 9.
Marion has won the last 2 meetings of the Crittenden County Super Bowl on the field, but the Patriots forfeited their 33-3 victory in 2021 due to an ineligible player. Marion led West Memphis 16-0 last year at halftime en route to a 16-12 victory at home.

Marion bounced back from its loss at Benton in Week 5 to drop Searcy last week 56-35. The Patriots rushed for 613 yards against the Lions, led by senior quarterback Ashton Gray's 287 yards and 5 touchdowns. Gray also completed 6 of 7 passes against Searcy for 73 yards and another score. Senior tailbacks Jalen Smith (239 rushing, TD) and Jamar Foster (4-81 rushing, 63-yard TD on the game's first play) supplemented Gray. Marion led 43-35 midway through the fourth quarter when it got TDs from Gray and Smith. Junior cornerback Taheem Frost intercepted a pass to end Searcy's final drive. Marion rushes for almost 300 yards per week behind offensive linemen Aqeelo Allen, Jermaine Davis, Charlie Cantrell, Carter Benton, Allen Miller, and Carius Curne.

West Memphis has won 5 in a row since a season-opening loss at Class 7A Jonesboro, the latest coming in a 43-10 win at El Dorado last week. The Blue Devils outgained the Wildcats 533-173, led by QB Keland Mills (14-20 passing, 209 yards, 4 TDs; 99 rushing, 2 TDs). West Memphis led 14-0 after the first quarter and 28-3 at halftime. Opposing coaches rave about West Memphis' defensive line, led by senior Cincinnati commit Marquaze Parker and nose guard Scotty Dobbins. Mason Barton anchors the Blue Devils offensive line, while Dylan Greer delivers big plays at receiver.

Marion's offense has proven worthy so far in 2023, but the Blue Devils have the personnel to slow Marion's running game and will turn the Pats away on Friday night.

6A EAST

Marion at WEST MEMPHIS: See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above.

No. 3 BENTON (5-1, 5-0) at Jacksonville (2-4, 2-3): Benton downed Jacksonville 63-18 a season ago, but this year the Titans enter play on a 2-game winning streak, including last week's 28-13 victory at Sylvan Hills. Jacksonville had lost 18 straight games. Sylvan Hills led Jacksonville 13-6 in the third period a week ago, but the Titans scored the game's final 22 points. Jacksonville outgained Sylvan Hills 366-217. Benton continues to overwhelm its 6A East competition, including last week's 63-7 win over Greene County Tech. The Panthers outgained the Eagles 459-83 and led 49-7 at halftime. Benton sophomore QB Drew Davis completed 14 of 16 passes for 349 yards and 7 TDs against Tech. Jacksonville is improved, but Benton has the 6A East title in its sights.

Greene County Tech (1-5, 0-5) at SEARCY (4-2, 3-2): Searcy gashed Greene County Tech 57-19 last October. Greene County Tech has lost 5 in a row since a season-opening 6-4 victory over its crosstown rival Paragould. Tech gained 83 yards in last week's 63-7 loss to Benton, with Kyson Goodman accounting for the team's touchdown. Searcy totaled 589 yards in last week's 56-35 loss at Marion. The Lions never led but were within 8 points midway through the fourth quarter. Searcy QB Ty Strickland totaled more than 300 yards at Marion with 4 TDs. Searcy has the offense to beat Tech this week.

EL DORADO (2-4, 1-4) at Sheridan (2-4. 2-3): El Dorado has won 21 of the past 22 meetings with Sheridan, with the Yellowjackets' 41-26 win in 2021 their only victory in the series since 2001. Sheridan has been competitive every week under first-year coach Tyler Turner. The Yellowjackets led defending 6A East champion Little Rock Catholic 7-0 through most of the first half a week ago before surrendering 28 unanswered points in a 28-14 defeat. Sheridan QB Brady Dillon (10-17 passing, 87 yards; 74 rushing, TD) and Jace Bradshaw (8-86 receiving) led the offense. Dillon capped off Sheridan's 15-play, 93-yard first-quarter drive with a TD run. Jake Smith scored Sheridan's other TD. El Dorado was without standout linebacker Zalex Meeks in last week's 43-10 loss to West Memphis. The Wildcats drove inside the West Memphis 20-yard line 3 times in the first half but scored only 3 points. El Dorado gained 173 yards against West Memphis, 58 on the ground. El Dorado sophomore QB Mitchell Polk (10-19 passing, 173 yards) and Jamari Robinson (5-81 receiving) were the Wildcats' stat leaders. These teams are jockeying for a playoff spot, but El Dorado makes enough plays to win in Grant County.

No. 6 LR CATHOLIC (4-2, 3-2) at Sylvan Hills (0-6, 0-5): LR Catholic has won 7 of the past 12 meetings, including 24-14 last fall. Sylvan Hills is off to its worst start since going 1-5 to open 2010. Sylvan Hills led Jacksonville last week 14-6 in the third period but did not score again in a 28-14 defeat. The Bears managed 217 yards against Jacksonville, and the Titans recorded more first downs (18) than the Bears (12). Josiah Rainey and Malachi Summons anchor the Sylvan Hills defense. LR Catholic trailed 7-0 early but scored 28 consecutive points in last week's win over Sheridan. Junior QB Jackson English (20-26 passing, 263 yards; 60 rushing, 4 TDs) was Catholic's main cog. Tailback Cooper Nannen added 112 rushing yards for Catholic, which gained nearly 500 yards. Catholic, allowing 18 points per game, faces a Sylvan Hills offense that scores 11 points per game. That matchup favors the Rockets.

6A WEST

No. 1 GREENWOOD (6-0, 4-0) at Lake Hamilton (3-4, 2-3): Greenwood has won the last 8 meetings, including 24-0 last fall. Greenbrier blanked Lake Hamilton 21-0 a week ago, holding the Wolves to 151 total yards. Junior Hayden Barton rushed for 93 yards, while sophomore Derynn Owens darted for 76 yards. Greenwood, which averages 51 points per game to lead Class 6A, was idle a week ago. The Bulldogs led Greenbrier 21-0 at the half and 35-0 after 3 quarters in a 35-6 win 2 weeks ago. Greenwood rolled up 450 yards (226 passing, 224 rushing) yards against Greenbrier, led by tailback Braydean Davis' 181 rushing yards and 4 TDs. Greenwood QBs Kane Archer and Cooper Goodwin combined to complete 19 of 27 passes for 226 yards and a TD. Zack Zitzmann (9 tackles against Greenbrier), Brady Mackey (8 stops), and Kaleb Garner (7 tackles) lead a defense that allows just 11 points per game. Greenwood is getting healthier every week, while Lake Hamilton could play again this week without senior QB Easton Hurley, giving Greenwood a huge advantage.

Siloam Springs (0-7, 0-5) at No. 2 LR CHRISTIAN (5-1, 4-0): These teams have split the previous 4 meetings, but LR Christian won 62-7 last fall. Siloam Springs lost 60-13 to Pulaski Academy last week, extending its losing streak to 24. Siloam Springs was within 26-13 in the first half last week before the Bruins scored the game's final 34 points. The Panthers got a TD from Mikey McKinley. LR Christian looks to be headed toward a Week 10 clash with Greenwood to determine 6A West . The Warriors rolled up more than 350 yards in the first half, scoring 6 TDs in less than 13 minutes to pull away to a 51-0 victory at Mountain Home last week. Senior QB Walker White (293 passing, 57 rushing in the first half) leads the Warriors, who seem to get better each week. That trend continues on Friday.

Van Buren (3-3, 2-2) at No. 3 PULASKI ACADEMY (5-1, 3-1): PA pounded the Pointers 69-26 a season ago in these schools' first meeting. Van Buren topped Russellville in a 28-27 thriller last week when senior QB Bryce Perkins hit Weston Wilcox for a TD with 58 seconds left in regulation. Manning Dodson's extra point proved to be the difference. The extra point stood up after Peyton Pschier blocked a Cyclones PAT earlier in the night. Perkins (19-33 passing, 334, 3 TDs) and Trenton Cooley (6-170 receiving, TD) sparked Van Buren, which trailed Russellville 21-7 at halftime. Pulaski Academy led Siloam Springs 19-0 after a quarter and 39-13 at halftime of last week's 60-13 victory. The Bruins limited the Panthers to 7 total yards and 2 first downs. Five Bruins (Miles Ward, J.T. Phelan, Kaden Nash, Jackson Redman, and River Angel) tallied sacks against Siloam Springs. The Bruins defense makes the difference once again this week.

GREENBRIER (4-2, 3-1) at Russellville (2-5, 1-4): Russellville won 27-21 last year, the only other meeting between the schools. Russellville dropped a 28-27 heartbreaker last week at Van Buren after leading 21-7 at halftime and 27-21 late in the fourth quarter. QB Luke Jones (14-28 passing, 184 yards, 3 TDs) and Tracy Daniels (76 rushing, 1 TD) led the offense for Russellville. Greenbrier beat Lake Hamilton 21-0 last week, its first shutout since beating Wynne 14-0 in the 2021 Class 5A quarterfinals. Greenbrier outgained Lake Hamilton 271-151 and forced 3 turnovers. This is a big game for playoff positioning, but we think Greenbrier's opportunistic defense gets it past Russellville this week.

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