Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings 

Class 6A, Week 13, 2023 

Copyright Seventy Sevens Football Publishing, LLC. 

1. Greenwood (11-0) 

2. Benton (10-1) 

3. LR Christian (9-2) 

4. Pulaski Academy (10-2) 

5. Marion (8-3) 

6. Greenbrier (6-6) 

7. Mountain Home (6-6) 

8. Van Buren (5-7) 

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 4 of 4 games (100 percent) involving Class 6A teams last week and is 98 of 115 games (85 percent) on the season.

WEEK 13 PREDICTIONS (favored team in All Caps and highlighted)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

6A West-2 No. 3 LR Christian (9-2) at 6A East-1 No. 2 BENTON (10-1): This is the first official meeting of these schools, but they have met the past several years in the preseason benefit scrimmage.

LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN returns to the semifinals for the fifth time in 6 years, dating back to its time in Class 5A. The Warriors punched their semifinals ticket by routing Van Buren 52-28 a week ago. LRCA scored the game's first 21 points and led the Pointers 31-7 at halftime. The Warriors amassed 542 yards (296 passing, 246 rushing) while forcing 4 Pointers turnovers. Senior quarterback Walker White (17-27 passing, 246 yards, 3 TDs vs. Van Buren) is an Auburn commit who has completed 147 of 245 passes this fall for 2,280 yards and 28 TDs. The Warriors rushed for 296 yards and 4 scores against Van Buren, and are led on the ground by sophomore Jackson Ward, who has rushed for 709 yards and 7 TDs. White has rushed 339 yards with 6 TDs for the season. Three Warriors have caught 37 passes or more, led by senior Tate Collins (43-714 receiving, 5 TDs); senior Cade Bowman (42-605-7 receiving) and Tristian Watson (37-591 receiving, 11 TDs). Linebackers Cooper Jones (87 tackles) and Preston Davis (86 stops) pace Class 6A's top scoring defense (15.5 points per game). Garland Davis (5), Grey Earls (4), and Jones (3) lead the Warriors in sacks. Jake Field (6 interceptions) and Trey Howard (2 INTs) have bolstered the back side of the defense.

BENTON has been unchallenged since a season-opening loss to Class 7A power Bryant, winning 10 consecutive games, 9 by the sportsmanship rule. The Panthers finished 9-0 this fall against 6A East competition before routing Greenbrier 62-21 last week in the quarterfinals. Benton led 14-7 after the first quarter, and the Panthers opened up a 35-13 halftime lead that ballooned to 55-13 in the fourth quarter. Benton sophomore QB Drew Davis threw for 371 yards and 5 TDs, relying on Elias Payne (10-200 receiving, 2 TDs. Senior tailback Braylen Russell, an Arkansas commit,  rushed for 179 yards and 2 TDs, and caught a 36-yard TD pass. Benton linemen Parker Glaze, Tanner Holden, and Caleb Purdy anchor Benton's offensive front. Senior safety Chris Barnard (12 tackles, 1 INT.) led Benton's defense. Peyton McNeely, Chase Harding, and Ian Alvarez deliver big plays for the Panthers defense.

This has the makings of a competitive and memorable semifinal, but Benton has 16 players ticketed to college football. That fact, along with the home-field advantage, should be enough to push the Panthers past the worthy Warriors for a trip to the finals.

OTHER SEMIFINAL

6A West-3 No. 4 Pulaski Academy (9-2) at 6A West-1 No. 1 GREENWOOD (11-0): Greenwood is 4-3 all-time against Pulaski Academy, including a 58- 33 conquest in Week 9 this season.

PULASKI ACADEMY, which has won the state title 8 of the past 9 seasons including last year's Class 6A crown, slipped past Marion 27-26 when junior QB Brandon Cobb connected with Andrew Fiser for a 27-yard TD pass on the game's final play. There were 4 lead changes in the fourth quarter after PA took a 14-12 lead entering the final period. Marion won the turnover battle 3-2 and recovered every Pulaski Academy onside kick, but the Bruins outgained the Patriots 488-313. Cobb (25-43 passing, 270 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 67 rushing, TD) triggered an offense that saw 4 Bruins rushing for 40 yards or more. Fiser (9-110. receiving, TD) scored on a 60-yard reverse. John Goodwin (11) and Steven Nash (10) led the Bruins, while Peyton Adams recovered a fumble.

GREENWOOD, the top-ranked 6A team, continued to steamrolling its opposition last week with a 56-14 win over Mountain Home. Senior tailback Braydean Davis (184 rushing, 4 TDs) helped Greenwood to a 21-7 halftime lead. Bulldogs sophomore QB Kane Archer (18-26 passing, 3 TDs) connected with Grant Karnes (6-105 receiving, TD), L.J. Robins (4-66 receiving, TD) and Peyton Presson (TD pass). Junior Kaylor Jasna (13 tackles against Mountain Home), senior Joshua Allen (10 stops), and Zach Zitzmann (9 tackles) fortified the Greenwood defense.

This matchup pits 2 of the state's most decorated teams over the past 20 years, but Greenwood extends its lengthy home winning streak to 62 games this week.