Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 6A, Week 8, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC.

1. Greenwood (7-0)

2. LR Christian (6-1)

3. Benton (6-1)

4. Pulaski Academy (6-1)

5. Marion (6-1)

6. West Memphis (5-2)

7. LR Catholic (5-2)

8. Searcy (5-2)

9. Greenbrier (4-3)

10. Van Buren (3-4)

11. Mountain Home (3-4)

12. Russellville (3-5)

13. El Dorado (3-4) 

14. Sheridan (2-5)

15. Lake Hamilton (3-5)

16. Jacksonville (2-5)

17. Greene County Tech (1-6)

18. Sylvan Hills (0-7)

19. Siloam Springs (0-8)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 7 of 9 games (78 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and 67 of 81 games (83 percent) on the season.

WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored team in All Caps and highlighted)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 8 Searcy (5-2, 4-2) at No. 4 BENTON (6-1, 6-0)

Benton bested Searcy 62-28 last year. Searcy led Greene County Tech 34-0 at halftime last week en route to a 47-14 victory. The Lions rolled up 446 yards, led by senior all-conference QB Ty Strickland (19-26 passing, 285 yards, 5 TDs; 71 rushing, TD). Junior Wade Moore and sophomore Curtis Goodrich each topped 100 yards receiving. Junior Will Evans led Searcy with 12 tackles. Benton is undefeated in the 6A East and holds the tiebreaker over 1-loss Marion and 2-loss Catholic. There is still a game at 1-loss West Memphis next Friday, which could decide the 6A East title. The Panthers' 70-0 win at Jacksonville marks the first time Benton scored 70 points in a game since a 79-0 victory over Beebe in 1930. Benton limited Jacksonville to 91 yards (minus-39 rushing) and forced 6 first-half turnovers. Panther sophomore QB Drew Davis completed 13 of 14 passes for 241 yards and 5 TDs, while all-state tailback Braylen Russell dashed for 102 yards and 3 scores. Karson Collatt's 3 TD receptions covered 118 yards. Senior safety Chris Barnard intercepted a pass at Jacksonville. Searcy moves the ball on everyone, but Benton is fully capable of winning a high-scoring affair this week.

6A EAST

Sheridan (2-5, 2-4) at MARION (6-1, 5-1): Marion is 3-0 all-time vs. Sheridan, including the past 2 seasons by the mercy rule. Sheridan pushed favored El Dorado to the wire last week, leading 29-26 in the fourth quarter before falling 32-29. Freshman Isiah Stephens scored his first varsity touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Yellowjackets the lead. Marion prevailed last week for a 20-14 victory at rival West Memphis behind senior QB Ashton Gray's 210 yards rushing and 3 TDs. Marion safety Kendal Brister set up the Pats' game-winning drive with an interception and return in the fourth quarter, and the Marion defense limited the Blue Devils to 3 of 11 on third downs. Sheridan has been competitive this fall under first-year coach Tyler Turner, but Marion has set its sights on a first-round playoff bye and a home quarterfinal game.

Searcy at BENTON: See hootens.com Game of the Week.

Sylvan Hills (0-7, 0-6) at EL DORADO (3-4, 2-4): El Dorado stopped Sylvan Hills 37-19 in 2022. Since then, Chris Hill left Sylvan Hills to take over at El Dorado. Sylvan Hills absorbed its second shutout loss — 42-0 — in last week's loss to Little Rock Catholic. The Bears are averaging 9.0 points per game with projected top running back Sean Thomas out for the season with a knee injury. El Dorado came from behind last week to beat Sheridan for the 22nd time in 23 tries. Zalex Meeks and Lamarion Clemmons are among the top linebackers in Class 6A. El Dorado is part of a 3-way tie with Sheridan and Jacksonville for the final playoff spot from the 6A East, and the Wildcats keep serve this week.

WEST MEMPHIS (5-2, 5-1) at Greene Co. Tech (1-6, 0-6): West Memphis beat Greene Co. Tech 42-29 last season in the first meeting of these schools. Tech surrendered 446 yards last week in a 47-14 loss to Searcy, but the Eagles committed 1 turnover and yielded 1 sack against Searcy. GCT QB Kyson Goodman directed 2 touchdown drives last week. West Memphis suffered its first conference loss, 20-14 to Marion, at Hamilton-Shultz Field. Blue Devil QBs Keland Mills (53 yards) and Andrew Jenkins (1 yard) scored West Memphis' touchdowns. Mills left in the third period with an injury and his status moving forward is unknown. West Memphis rolled up 317 yards (173 passing, 144 rushing) against Marion, and the Blue Devils won the turnover battle 2-1, but 144 penalty yards hurt. Mills' status is worth keeping an eye on, but West Memphis should have enough to win. 

Jacksonville (2-5, 2-4) at LR CATHOLIC (5-2, 4-2): Catholic downed Jacksonville 42-6 a season ago en route to the 6A East conference title and a trip to the state semifinals. The Rockets face long odds this fall to repeat as conference champions, but Catholic recorded its second shutout of 2023 last week in a 42-point victory at Sylvan Hills. Catholic junior QB Jackson English completed 5 of 11 passes in Sherwood for 80 yards and a TD and he added 40 yards rushing and another TD. Senior receiver Cody Fogleman caught 3 passes for 44 yards and a TD, and Cooper Nannen rushed for 76 yards and a TD. Jacksonville absorbed a 70-point loss to Benton last week without starting QB Kentrell Thompson. The Titans committed 6 turnovers before halftime and trailed 56-0 at the break. Thompson clearly has a huge impact on the Jacksonville offense, but it won't matter against Catholic's defense.

6A WEST

PULASKI ACADEMY (6-1, 4-1) at Greenbrier (4-3, 3-2): Pulaski Academy has won the two previous meetings in this series including 50-14 a season ago. The Bruins topped the Panthers 38-28 on the road in the 2021 Class 5A semifinals. Greenbrier sits in fourth place, but the Panthers finish with PA this week, a road trip to Little Rock Christian and a Week 10 home date with Mountain Home. Greenbrier led Russellville 17-0 last week until the fourth quarter, surrendering the winning touchdown in a 21-17 defeat. Kane Richardson completed 10 of 16 passes against Russellville for 176 yards and 2 TDs. PA scored the first 23 points in last week's 57-21 victory over Van Buren. Bruins QB Brandon Cobb completed 34 of 52 passes for 468 yards and 8 TDs against Van Buren, and PA rushed for 162 yards, led by Nate Thomas and Chance McKindra's 58 yards apiece. Kaden Nash (13 tackles) and Peyton Adams (11 stops) led PA in tackles. This is a big game for playoff positioning, but the Bruins offense is clicking right now, and that'll be enough for PA to remain alive for a conference title.

Russellville (3-5, 2-4) at GREENWOOD (7-0, 5-0): Greenwood has won 12 of the last l3 meetings in this series, with the Cyclones victory coming 37-23 in the 2016 Class 6A state title game. Greenwood downed Russellville 42-21 last fall. Russellville beat Greenbrier 21-17 to remain in the playoff picture when Luke Jones ran 3 yards for the winning TD with less than a minute left. Jones' run helped the Cyclones erase a 17-0 fourth-quarter deficit. Senior tailback Tracy Daniels rushed for 178 yards and a TD, and Cayden Rose also scored. Unbeaten Greenwood jumped Lake Hamilton early en route to a 42-0 victory over Lake Hamilton, the Bulldogs' second shutout of the season. Greenwood rolled up 342 yards against Lake Hamilton, led by sophomore QB Kane Archer, who threw more TD passes (3) than he did incompletions (2). Archer finished with 289 total yards and 4 scores. Juniors Zack Zitzmann and Cash Archer led the defense with 7 tackles apiece. Russellville heads to Sebastian County with renewed confidence, but Greenwood is invincible at Smith-Robinson Stadium, and we expect the Bulldogs to extend their home winning streak to 59 straight games.

MOUNTAIN HOME (3-4, 1-4) at Siloam Springs (0-8, 0-6): Mountain Home has won the last 3 meetings in this series, including 44-17 last season. Siloam managed 124 yards in last week's 56-0 loss at second-ranked Little Rock Christian. It was the Panthers' first scoreless outing since a 37-0 loss at Little Rock Parkview in Week 9 of 2020. Siloam QB Dane Marlatt and tailback Jed Derwin have produced. Mountain Home was off last week after enduring a 51-0 loss to Little Rock Christian 2 weeks ago. The Bombers gained 138 yards against the Warriors, and both Bombers turnovers were returned for TDs. Senior QB Cade Yates and tailback Jacob Chenoweth power the Mountain Home offense, while Ty Hannaford rallies the defense at linebacker. Mountain Home needs a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and the Bombers find it this week.

LR CHRISTIAN (6-1, 5-0) at Van Buren (3-4, 2-3): Little Rock Christian won the first meeting of these schools 47-14 a year ago. Van Buren has sole possession of fifth place in the 6A West race, but the Pointers finish their 2023 schedule at (1-4) Mountain Home next week, and home for 0-8 Siloam Springs Week 10. Van Buren lost 57-21 last week at Pulaski Academy, but QB Bryce Perkins completed 29 of 54 passes for 293 yards and 2 TDs. Van Buren netted 3 rushing yards on 19 attempts at PA. Junior Trenton Cooley caught 10 passes for 125 yards and a score a week ago. Senior Peyton Pschier and junior Caden Webb each were credited with 8 tackles. LR Christian's defense has dominated the past 2 weeks, beating Mountain Home (51-0) and Siloam Springs (56-0) behind linebackers Preston Davis and Cooper Jones and senior defensive back Addison Valley. The Warriors allow 11 points per game. Last week, Christian outgained Siloam Springs 411-138 and led 43-0 at halftime. Van Buren could use a big-time win to lock down a playoff berth and host a potential first-round playoff game, but Christian is too complete and has too much to play for this week.

OPEN Lake Hamilton