Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings 

Class 6A, Week 12, 2023 

Copyright Seventy Sevens Football Publishing, LLC. 

1. Greenwood (10-0) 

2. Benton (9-1) 

3. LR Christian (8-2) 

4. Pulaski Academy (9-2) 

5. Marion (8-2) 

6. Greenbrier (6-5) 

7. Mountain Home (6-5) 

8. Van Buren (5-6) 

9. West Memphis (7-4) 

10. LR Catholic (7-4) 

11. Searcy (6-5) 

12. El Dorado (6-5) 

13. Russellville (4-6) 

14. Lake Hamilton (3-7) 

15. Sheridan (3-7) 

16. Jacksonville (2-8) 

17. Greene County Tech (2-8) 

18. Sylvan Hills (0-10) 

19. Siloam Springs (0-10) 

LAST WEEK 

Hootens.com correctly picked 2 of 4 games (50 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and is 94 of 

111 games (85 percent) on the season. 

WEEK 12 PREDICTIONS (favored team in All Caps and highlighted) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK 

West-3 PULASKI ACADEMY (9-2) at East-2 Marion (8-2): This is the first football matchup between the schools. 

Pulaski Academy has won a state championship 8 of the past 9 seasons, including last year’s Class 6A  crown after moving up from Class 5A because of the Arkansas competitive equity rule. Marion pursues its third state semifinal appearance in 4 seasons after making runs to the final 4 in 2020 and 2021. 

Marion (8-2) matched its best regular-season record since 2018, the last time the Patriots finished as conference runners-up, enjoyed a first-round bye and hosted a quarterfinal contest. Four times in the past 6 years Marion has made the round of 8. 

Marion’s offense (41.1 ppg in 2023) operates behind senior quarterback Ashton Gray, who has rushed for 1,737 yards this fall with 27 touchdowns. Gray completes 56 percent of his passes for 1,242 yards and 11 scores. Junior tailback Jalen Smith rushed for a career-high 1,506 yards with 17 TDs after earning all-state honors a season ago. Marion’s top 3 receivers are juniors — Cam Garrett, Mitrell Lewis, and Christian Young — have combined this season for 48 receptions for 1,050 yards and 10 TDs. Four seniors (Aqeelo Allen, Jermaine Davis, Allen Miller, and Carter Benton) anchor the Marion offensive line, joining juniors Carius Curne and Charlie Cantrell. 

Marion’s defense, allowing 22.4 points per game, is led by senior linebackers Dewayne  Williams (team-high 76 tackles, including 7 for loss, and 2 sacks), Victor Turner (66 stops in 9 games with 2 interceptions), and Javen Griffin (59 tackles with 4 TFL). Marion senior safeties Martaveon Banks (50 tackles) and Kendal Brister (team-high 5 interceptions with 42 tackles) lead the secondary. 

Pulaski Academy erased a 13-12 third-period deficit by scoring the game’s final 29 points in last week’s 41-13 opening-round victory over El Dorado. The Bruins limited the Wildcats to 7 first downs and a 1-of-12 conversion rate on third down. PA outgained El Dorado 596-155. 

The Bruins return to the state quarterfinals despite losing its leading returning passer, rusher, and receiver since June. QB Brandon Cobb completed 34 of 49 passes against El Dorado for 335 yards and a TD while leading the Bruins in rushing with 72 yards and another score. Javion Walker rushed for 66 yards,  while Nate Thomas rushed for 2 TDs. Eleven Bruins caught passes last week, led by Charlie Cotros (2-67, 1 TD), Andrew Fiser (8-57) and Walden Culpepper (8-62).  The Bruins’ defense recorded 14 sacks, led by Peyton Adams (6,) and 2 apiece from Jake Fuller and Ronan Rutherford. 

If it’s true that styles make fights, then this will be a battle to watch as Marion’s ground-and-pound attack (341 rushing ypg) takes on Pulaski Academy’s passing attack, which averages 369 ypg. PA isn’t used to playing on the road in the playoffs, but the Bruins’ tradition helps them get back to the semifinals this week.

TOP OF BRACKET 

West-4 Greenbrier (6-5) at East-1 BENTON (9-1): The winner advances to the state semifinals against the winner of the Van Buren-Little Rock Christian contest. Greenbrier qualified for the 2021 Class 5A state semifinals and last year moved to Class 6A. Benton has advanced to the semifinals or deeper 3 of the past 5 seasons, with Class 6A runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019. 

Greenbrier ripped Searcy 42-21 a week ago behind QB Kane Richardson’s 228 passing yards with 5 TDs. Miles Miller (5-187 receiving, 4 TDs) was Richardson’s primary target. The Panthers limited the Lions to 262 yards, more than 200 yards fewer than Searcy averaged per game this season. Junior Eric Huett (4 tackles, 1 sack) led the Greenbrier defensive front, while Kaden Brooks, Elijah Weaver, and M. John Polk each had 2 tackles.  Benton earned a first-round bye last week after finishing 9-1 overall and earning the outright 6A East title. Twenty-three Benton seniors dot the roster, and this class has won 2 league titles, finished 24-1 in conference play, and advanced to last season’s state semifinals. The Panthers capped their 2023 regular season 2 weeks ago with a 48-14 victory over Sheridan, a game that Benton led 48-0 at halftime. Benton sophomore QB Drew Davis (37 TD passes) holds the single-season school record for TD passes. Senior tailback Braylen Russell rushed for 95 yards and 2 TDs against Sheridan, while Maddox Davis (8-54 receiving) and Elias Payne (3-83). Maddox Davis and Payne each totaled more than 800 receiving yards and combined for 24 TD passes. Walter Hicks (8 tackles, sack, fumble return TD) led the Panthers against Sheridan. 

Greenbrier yielded less than 25 points per game, but Benton has so many offensive options that the Panthers can manufacture enough points to return to the semifinals. 

West-6 Van Buren (5-6) at West-2 LR CHRISTIAN (8-2): Little Rock Christian has won the only two meetings in this series, including 58-3 earlier this season.  

Van Buren hit the road last week and rolled up a season-high 55 points in a 23-point victory at West  Memphis. The Pointers led 27-17 at halftime and led by as much as 55-25 in the fourth quarter. Pointers senior QB Bryce Perkins became the school’s all-time TD pass leader during the game. Perkins (21-36 passing, 361 yards, 4 TDs; 26 rushing, 2 TDs), tailback Cameron Keller (28-175 rushing, 2 TDs) and junior receiver Trenton Cooley (9-132 receiving, 2 TDs) caught 9 passes for 132 yards while Peyton Pschier and Keller also caught TD passes. Pschier (9 tackles, blocked punt that led to TD) and junior defensive lineman Alex Wellborn (8 tackles, 2 sacks) led the defense. 

Little Rock Christian had a first-round bye last week after falling 56-39 in what turned out to be a 6A West title game Week 10 at Greenwood. The Warriors led Greenwood 24-21 late in the second quarter before the Bulldogs scored on their final 2 drives of the first half and led 35-24 at halftime. LRCA senior QB and Auburn commit Walker White (21-34 passing, 288 yards, TD; 77 rushing, 3 TDs) led the offense. LRCA linebackers Preston Davis and Cooper Jones lead a defense that leads 6A in fewest points per game (14.3). 

Van Buren earned its way to the quarterfinals last week, but Little Rock Christian has its eyes set on a  state title game rematch with Greenwood in December and will not overlook this game. 

BOTTOM OF BRACKET 

West-5 Mountain Home (6-5) at West-1 GREENWOOD (10-0): This marks the third time in 4 years that these schools have met in the quarterfinals. Mountain Home is in the quarterfinals for the fourth season in a row, as the Bombers erased an early 13-0 deficit for a 21-16 last Friday night at Little Rock Catholic. Bombers senior QB Cade Yates, who is the school’s all-time TD pass leader, completed 10 of 16 passes at Catholic for 161 yards and a long TD toss to Jett Hannaford. Senior tailback Chris Hubbard rushed for 139 yards and a score against the Rockets. Juniors Eli Jones and Noah Greninger recorded sacks for the Bombers, who prevented  Catholic from converting a third down in 10 tries, while the Bombers got 5 of 6 fourth-down conversions. 

Greenwood last played 2 weeks ago, beating Little Rock Christian 56-39 for the outright 6A West title. It was the 15th conference title in 19 seasons for Greenwood. The Bulldogs rolled up 504 yards, led by sophomore QB Kane Archer (18-26 passing, 281 yards, 4 TDs; 102 rushing, 3 TDs) led the way, with help from tailback Braydean Davis (121 rushing) and receivers 

Isaiah Arrington (3-126, TD), L.J. Robins (8-102, 2) and Grant Karnes (TD reception). Sophomore lineman Cody Taylor recorded 6 pancake blocks. Junior Zach Zitzmann (14 tackles) and Landon Nelms and Brady Mackey (9 tackles) supported the defense. 

Greenwood puts its 61-game home winning streak on the line this week against a dangerous Mountain Home team that knows how to win in the playoffs, but Class 6A’s last unbeaten team will be locked in this week to advance to the semifinals for the ninth season in a row, and the 18th time since 2004.