7A Week 8 Picks & Rankings
Hootens.com
7A Rankings
Week 8, 2024
BY STEVEN JONES
1. Bryant (7-0, 4-0)
2. Conway (7-0, 4-0)
3. Pulaski Academy (5-1, 2-1)
4. Bentonville (4-3, 4-0)
5. Fayetteville (5-2, 3-1)
6. Rogers (5-2, 3-1)
7. Springdale (6-1, 3-1)
8. Little Rock Christian (5-2, 3-1)
9. Fort Smith Northside (2-5, 1-3)
10. Cabot (2-5, 1-3)
7A Central Unranked:
Little Rock Southwest (1-6, 1-3)
Little Rock Central (1-6, 0-4)
North Little Rock (0-7, 0-4)
7A West Unranked:
Springdale Har-Ber (1-6, 0-4)
Bentonville West (1-6, 1-3)
Rogers Heritage (0-7, 0-4)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 2 CONWAY (7-0, 4-0) at No. 3 Pulaski Academy (6-1, 3-1): PA won a wild one — 56-47 — over the Cabot Panthers last week. Senior KJ Colen’s 58-yard Pick-6 in the 4th quarter put the Bruins on top for good. Conway won 57-7 over Little Rock Central without Grayson Wilson. Junior Wesley Tapp threw for 3 touchdowns in his place and the Wampus Cats had 4 non-offensive scores (3 defensive, 1 special teams). This week’s matchup will come down to who can make stops. These two offenses are not only the best in all classifications of Arkansas, but 2 of the top high school offenses in the country.
What the coaches are saying:
Conway Coach Buck James: “We have to outscore them. We have to handle their offense and score points. They are very good on offense.”
PA Coach Anthony Lucas: “As always, we have to take care of the football and keep that QB [Grayson Wilson] in the pocket. We have to pressure him. It’s going to be an exciting game!”
Conway Offensive Coordinator Mark Kelley: “Whichever team protects the QB better will win. Both QBs are really athletic and skill players offensively will have chances to make plays.”
PA Defensive Coordinator Madison Taylor: The key will be “limiting big plays. Conway has been scoring on big plays and they are a very potent offense.”
Conway makes plays defensively and comes out with a road victory.
WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in yellow)
LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly picked 7 of 8 games (88 percent) involving 7A teams and has correctly picked 71 of 80 games (89 percent) in 2024.
7A WEST
No. 6 Rogers (5-2, 3-1) at No. 4 BENTONVILLE (4-3, 4-0): Rogers scored on its first 4 possessions and pulled away from previously undefeated Springdale, 48-9. Senior QB Jeff Regan had 4 scores for Rogers. Bentonville, which forced 5 first-half turnovers, looked sharp with nearly 450 offensive yards in its 41-10 win over defending champ Fayetteville. Trevor Grant threw for 272 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Tigers benefit from the home crowd and takeaways to knock down Rogers.
No. 7 Springdale (6-1, 3-1) at No. 5 FAYETTEVILLE (5-2, 3-1): Springdale senior QB Jack Pounders left last week’s game with an injury, the Bulldogs struggled offensively and Rogers pulled away to win 48-9. Fayetteville managed 378 yards in its 31-point loss to Bentonville. Senior QB Garyt Odom threw for 290 yards, with receivers Catavion Taylor and Jaison DeLamar each totaling more than 100 yards. Fayetteville bounces back this week as its offense will be too much for Springdale.
No. 9 Fort Smith Northside (2-5, 1-3) at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (1-6, 0-4): Northside has found something in senior RB Jayden Youngblood, who rushed 13 times for for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Grizzlies defense had a productive second half and they beat Heritage 49-14. Har-Ber lost 35-34 to Bentonville West. Titus Cramer had 209 yards of total offense (157 rushing, 52 receiving) and 4 touchdowns (3 rush, 1 receiving) but the Wildcats didn’t convert a 2-point try to win at the end.
BENTONVILLE WEST (1-6, 1-3) at Rogers Heritage (0-7, 0-4): Heritage senior RB Evan Gordon makes plays weekly on both sides of the ball as the War Eagles search for their first win. Bentonville West stopped Har-Ber’s 2-point attempt to win 35-34. QB Tre Thompson totaled 4 touchdowns (2 pass, 2 rush).
7A CENTRAL
No. 10 Cabot (2-5, 1-3) at NO. 1 BRYANT (7-0, 4-0): Cabot fell to 2-5 but went punch for punch before falling 56-47 to Pulaski Academy. The Panthers are back in the top 10 with offensive firepower supplied by junior QB Maddox McCrory. Bryant wins weekly with a balanced offensive attack and speed on defense. The Hornets are playing at an elite level as they remain class 7A’s top squad.
Little Rock Southwest (1-6, 1-3) at No. 8 LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN (5-2, 3-1): Little Rock Southwest beat North Little Rock 2 weeks ago for its first conference win. The Gryphons are one of the most improved teams in all classifications, even though it doesn't show in its record Little Rock Christian continues a steady 2024 campaign with different stars each week. First-year Coach Dustin Grimmett has the Warriors headed to the playoffs.
North Little Rock (0-7, 0-4) at LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL (1-6, 0-4): One of these teams will win its first conference game. Central turned the ball over too many times and allowed a special teams score in its 57-7 loss to Conway. NLR looks to improve offensively. Give Central the edge at Quigley Stadium.
No. 2 CONWAY (7-0, 4-0) at No. 3 Pulaski Academy (6-1, 3-1) - See game of the week, above.
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