By STEVEN JONES

Hootens.com

7A Rankings

Week 14, 2024

1. Bryant (12-0, 7-0)

2. Bentonville (9-3, 7-0) 

3. Conway (10-2, 6-1)  

4. Pulaski Academy (10-3, 5-2) 

5. Fayetteville (8-3, 6-1) 

6. Rogers (8-4, 5-2)  

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

8. Bentonville West (4-8, 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)

WEEK 14 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in yellow) 

LAST WEEK

 Hootens.com correctly picked 1 of 2 games (50 percent) involving 7A teams and has correctly picked 103 of 113 games (91 percent) in 2024. 

7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

(Saturday, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m., War Memorial Stadium)

No. 2 Bentonville (9-3, 7-0) vs NO. 1 BRYANT (12-0, 7-0): This is a rematch of the 2023 state semifinal game when Bentonville went to Bryant and ended the Hornets' quest for their 6th consecutive 7A state title. That loss was 1 of 2 suffered by Bryant Coach Quad Sanderson, who is 22-2 since taking over the program from Buck James in the summer of 2023. Coach Jody Grant is 95-26 in his 10th season at Bentonville.

Bentonville used a 37-yard field goal by senior kicker Ryan Fernstrom as time expired to beat Conway 36-34 last week. Fernstrom missed an extra-point attempt earlier in the game. Bryant heads to War Memorial Stadium under a full head of steam after beating Pulaski Academy 41-7 behind a defense that had PA bottled for most of the game.

Unlike Bryant, which is undefeated, Bentonville started the season 0-3, including a season-opening 55-21 loss to Conway. The Tigers beat Springdale Har-Ber 55-21 in Week 4 and enter this matchup on a 9-game winning streak, which includes the 7A West championship and 2 playoff victories. Bryant makes the short trip to Little Rock to Little Rock as the undefeated favorite.

Quarterbacks Jordan Walker (Bryant) and Trevor Grant (Bentonville) have played at a championship level all season long.

Conway is the lone common opponent. Bentonville lost to Conway 55-21 to start the season but beat the Wampus Cats 36-34 last week. Bryant handled Conway 49-14 in Week 10 to capture the outright 7A Central title. 

Bentonville’s impressive run to the title game comes to an end Saturday as Bryant’s defense and depth at running back will prove to be the difference.