Hootens.com

7A Rankings

Week 12, 2024

BY STEVEN JONES

1. Bryant (10-0, 7-0)

2. Conway (9-1, 6-1)  

3. Bentonville (7-3, 7-0) 

4. Fayetteville (8-2, 6-1) 

5. Pulaski Academy (9-2, 5-2) 

6. Rogers (8-3, 5-2)  

7. Cabot (5-6, 3-4)

8. Bentonville West (4-7, 3-4) 

9. Springdale (7-4, 4-3)

10. Little Rock Christian (6-5, 4-3) 

7A Central Unranked:

Little Rock Southwest (2-9, 2-5)

Little Rock Central (2-8, 1-6)

North Little Rock (0-10, 0-7)

7A West Unranked:

Springdale Har-Ber (2-9, 1-6)

Fort Smith Northside (2-8, 1-6)

Rogers Heritage (0-10, 0-7)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK 

7A Central (3) No. 5 PULASKI ACADEMY (9-2, 5-2) at 7A West (2) Fayetteville (8-2, 6-1): An epic November showdown of teams led by noted former Razorbacks — Fayetteville Coach Casey Dick (5,856 passing, 47 TDs at QB from 2005-2008) and Pulaski Academy Coach Anthony Lucas (137-2,879 receiving, 23 TDs at WR from 1995-1999) just down the road from the stadium where they earned considerable fame. Dick's Fayetteville team enters off a first-round bye. Lucas' Pulaski Academy team posted a 58-13 first-round win over Springdale Har-Ber. Both coaches have led their programs to state titles and won 40-plus games: Dick (48-20) in 5 seasons, Lucas (44-7) in 4 seasons. This game looks to be very evenly matched. The defenses have given up some points, but they look to be playing their best as of late. Quarterbacks Garyt Odom (Fayetteville) and Brandon Cobb (Pulaski Academy) are two of the state's top passers. When comparing common opponents, Fayetteville beat Har-Ber by 45 and PA won by 46. Cabot, the other common opponent, lost to Fayetteville 48-13 while Pulaski Academy won 56-47 in Week 9. 

Fayetteville has had 2 weeks to prepare and get healthy; Pulaski Academy had the chance to stay sharp and get live game reps in its win over Har-Ber. You could argue that Fayetteville, the defending 7A state champ, has an advantage going against a Pulaski Academy team that is playing its first 7A season. Pulaski Academy, with 9 wins, last won fewer than 10 games in 2009. Look for Pulaski Academy to pull off the upset over the defending champs, winning its 10th game for the 15th consecutive year.

WEEK 12 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in yellow) 

LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly picked 4 of 4 games (100 percent) involving 7A teams and has correctly picked 98 of 108 games (91 percent) in 2024. 

TOP OF BRACKET

7A Central (5) Cabot (5-6, 3-4) at 7A CENTRAL (1) BRYANT (10-0, 7-3): Cabot looks to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2022 when it lost 15-13 to Bentonville. Junior kicker Dean Heyer booted a 22-yard field goal with 17 seconds remaining to send Coach Scott Reed’s team to the quarterfinals with a 33-32 win over Springdale. Cabot has been able to run the football on most opponents but Springdale did limit their rushing attack last week. 

Bryant Coach Quad Sanders is 20-2 since taking over the Hornets last fall, and they have yet to lose to a 7A Central opponent. Bryant defeated Cabot 3 weeks ago by 50 points. The No. 1 Hornets, winners of 5 of the past 6 7A state titles, have defeated each conference foe by at least 4 scores.

Bryant’s run-stopping defensive line will prove to be the difference.

7A Central (3) PULASKI ACADEMY (9-2, 5-2) at 7A West (2) Fayetteville (8-2, 6-1). See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above. 

BOTTOM OF BRACKET

7A West (5) Bentonville West (4-7, 3-4) at 7A WEST (1) BENTONVILLE (7-3, 7-0): Bentonville West, eyeing its first semifinal appearance since 2019, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 38-22 win on the road against Little Rock Christian. Coach Bryan Pratt's Wolverines scored 3 defensive TDs — with sophomore LB Quentin Lavalais returning a fumble for a score, and senior William Davis scoring on a fumble return and a Pick-Six. Jody Grant’s Bentonville Tigers went 0-3 to start the season, but they won 7 in a row once 7A West play started (allowing 13.2 points per game) to earn the No. 1 seed and first-round bye. The Tigers beat every 7A West opponent by at least 3 scores, including a 42-13 win over Bentonville West. QB Trevor Grant passed for 212 yards in a 38-0 win over Springdale. Both defenses come in playing well, but the Tigers offense will be too much. 

7A West (3) Rogers (8-3, 5-2) at 7A Central (2) CONWAY (9-1, 6-1): Rogers earned its fourth consecutive 8-win season with last week's win over LR Southwest. Rogers Coach Chad Harbison is 34-13 since taking over the Mounties' program, and junior QB Jeff Regan is as explosive a playmaker as there is remaining in the 7A playoffs. The Mounties forced 3 LR Southwest turnovers in a 35-0 first-round win. Cam Cunningham, Baker Miller, and Christian Flores all had takeaways. The Wampus Cats, eyeing a fifth consecutive appearance in the semifinals, used their bye week as an opportunity to get healthy after losing to Bryant in Week 10. Conway entered the Bryant game 9-0, and Coach Buck James is 19-3 in 2 seasons. Conway beats Rogers at home to survive and advance.