Class 6A Week 4 Rankings and Selections
HOOTENS.COM
WEEK 4, 2026
CLASS 6A RANKING
PR. — PV. TEAM (RECORD, WEEK 3 RESULT)
- ↑ 2. Searcy (3-0; beat Class 5A Greenbrier 35-28)
- ↑ 3. Sylvan Hills (2-1; did not play last week)
- ↓ 1. Benton (1-2; lost to Class 5A Joe T. Robinson 56-35)
- ↔ 4. Mountain Home (2-1; did not play last week)
- ↔ 5. Sheridan (3-0; did not play last week)
- ↔ 6. Van Buren (2-1; did not play last week)
- ↔ 7. El Dorado (3-0; did not play last week)
- ↔ 8. Jonesboro (2-1; did not play last week)
- ↔ 9. LR Catholic (1-2; lost to Class 7A Cabot 21-14)
- ↔ 10. Lake Hamilton (1-2; did not play last week)
NOT RANKED
6A EAST: Marion (0-3), W. Memphis (1-2)
6A WEST: FS Southside (0-3), Siloam Springs (0-3), LR Southwest (0-3), Russellville (0-3)
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 3 of 4 games (75 percent) last week involving Class 6A teams and has picked 30 of 46 games (66 percent) involving Class 6A teams in 2026.
WEEK 4 PREDICTIONS (Favored team in ALL CAPS and HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE)
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 El Dorado (3-0) at No. 1 SEARCY (3-0)
El Dorado has won 5 of the 7 meetings with Searcy all time, but Searcy won the last meeting 47-35 in 2023. El Dorado was idle last week after a 3-0 start, sparked by Class 6A’s top-scoring defense so far this fall, which has surrendered less than 10 points per game. The Wildcats pounded Class 5A Pine Bluff 42-7 2 weeks ago after leading 8-7 after the first quarter, 15-7 at halftime, and 21-7 to open the fourth quarter. Wildcats tailback Trayden Cook-King rushed for 114 yards and 2 TDs; Gavin Jacobs connected with Antwon Gray for a 75-yard touchdown pass, and Ryan Polk found Justin Hammett for a 7-yard TD pass. Jaquavion Hampton returned an interception 101 yards for a score.
Searcy ranks second in Class 6A in scoring offense (48.3 points per game) after outlasting Class 5A Greenbrier 35-28 last week, erasing 3 deficits. The Lions scored the winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Wyatt Woodle returned a blocked punt 26 yards for a score. Lions sophomore QB Bryson Allen hit Jackson Smith for 2 TD passes (8 and 18 yards), and Jacob Miles ran 8 yards for a score against Greenbrier. The high-flying Searcy Lions grind out enough offense on El Dorado’s stingy defense to move to 4-0 overall.
6A EAST
No. 2 SYLVAN HILLS (2-1) at Marion (0-3): Marion is 8-4 all time against Sylvan Hills, but the Bears won the last meeting, 34-32, in last season’s Class 6A state quarterfinals in Sherwood. Marion lost to Class 7A Conway 48-0 2 weeks ago, but the Patriots got good play from senior quarterback Ben Bateman and senior playmaker Kam Riley, while senior left tackle Walt Tucker, Jr. anchors the offensive line. Sylvan Hills battled at Class 7A Fayetteville 2 weeks ago before falling 52-42. The Bears surrendered 586 total yards to Fayetteville, including more than 400 through the air, but the Bears still led 21-12 at the end of the first period before allowing 26 unanswered points in the second quarter. Brian Dixson returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown; Jeremiah Carey added a 35-yard TD reception from QB Caden Burnett and Ezekiel Carrethers caught 2 TD passes; Howell scored a 5-yard rushing TD, and Preston Strong scored from a yard out. Sylvan Hills may be susceptible through the air this fall, but Marion runs it better than passes it, and that helps the Bears win at Marion for the first time since the 2018 state playoff quarterfinals, and just the second time ever.
No. 8 Jonesboro (2-1) at No. 3 BENTON (1-2): Benton is 5-0 all-time with Jonesboro, including a 55-24 conquest in 2025. Jonesboro was idle last week after losing to Class 5A Valley View 30-21 on Sept. 11. Cam Davis caught a 30-yard TD pass from C.J. Lovelace.; Angel Feliz (64 yards) and Tevin Oliver (44 yards) added rushing scores. Benton trailed Class 5A Power Joe T. Robinson 28-21 at halftime last week, but lost 56-35. The Panthers got 3 TD runs from QB Chase Cobb, and TD runs from Lamarion Bradley, and Jake Cloud (80-yard score). This feels like a must-win game for both teams coming off a loss, but we like Benton to bounce back with big plays.
No. 7 El Dorado at No. 1 SEARCY: See Game of the Week.
West Memphis (1-2) at No. 5 SHERIDAN (3-0): West Memphis leads the all-time series with Sheridan 4-3, but the Yellowjackets have won the past 2 meetings, including 64-20 in 2025. West Memphis snapped its 15-game losing streak 2 weeks ago with a 39-37 come-from-behind win over Class 5A Wynne. The Blue Devils won the turnover battle 2-1, but surrendered more than 400 yards and 5 sacks. West Memphis continues to get good play from junior QB Andrew Clay and senior linebacker Carelle Miller. Sheridan is 3-0 for the first time since 2000 after topping Class 4A power Warren 51-13 2 weeks ago. Sheridan led Warren 25-0 after a quarter and 51-6 at halftime. Sheridan quarterbacks Easton Barksdale and Mason Morris combined for 18 completions on 19 attempts, 354 yards, and 5 touchdowns against the Lumberjacks, with Walker Shields and Dylan Smith each recording 93 receiving yards or more and combined for 3 TDs. Tailback Zay Stephens recorded 96 yards on 7 carries with a TD. The Sheridan defense continued to play well, and the first-team defense has allowed 1 touchdown so far in 2026. West Memphis seems to have improved every week so far this fall, but Sheridan has too much big-play ability this week.
6A WEST
No. 10 LAKE HAMILTON (1-2) at FS Southside (0-3): Fort Smith Southside has won 3 of the last 4 meetings with Lake Hamilton, but is 1-1 since the schools have been members of the 6A West. Fort Smith Southside lost to Pryor (Okla.) 43-7 two weeks ago, but the Mavericks got good play from junior QB Michael Nolewajak (15-23 passing, 193 yards, 1 TD), senior receiver Sebastian Luht (6-118, receiving, TD) and Southside rushed 28 times for 173 yards (6.2 yards per carry). Sophomore defenders Ryan Young and Sawyer Pierce led the defense with 7 tackles apiece. Lake Hamilton lost its last outing 2 weeks ago, 40-20 against Class 5A Jacksonville. Wolves junior QB Jace Bohannan completed 19 of 38 passes for 244 yards and a TD, and Lake Hamilton rushed 24 times for 175 yards (7.3 yards per carry), with TD runs from J.J. Johnson and Blaine Sears; Mason Peters recorded 16 total tackles. The winner of this one takes a big step toward a playoff push, and we think Lake Hamilton earns it by limiting turnovers and bad plays.
No. 4 MOUNTAIN HOME (2-1) at No. 9 LR Catholic (1-2): Mountain Home has won both meetings all time against Little Rock Catholic, including 42-14 in the 2024 Class 6A state playoff quarterfinals, which is the last meeting of the schools. Little Rock Catholic battled Class 7A Cabot last week for 4 quarters before falling 21-14. The Rockets got a short TD run from 2-way standout Luke Burdine and a TD toss from Philips Blair to Hunter Markham. Mountain Home took its bye week a week ago after rolling Rolla (Mo.) 44-21 2 weeks ago. The Bombers got 2 TD passes and a TD run from sophomore QB Connor Gentry. Nazsier Johnson added 2 TD runs, while Kanye Worman and Gus Wilber caught Gentry’s touchdown passes. Mountain Home led 34-7 at halftime. These are 2 of the top 3 scoring defenses in the state after 4 weeks, so the difference will come down to Mountain Home’s diverse offensive attack.
LR Southwest (0-3) at RUSSELLVILLE (0-3): This is the first meeting of the schools since Little Rock Southwest began playing football in 2020. Little Rock Southwest fell to Class 7A Little Rock Central 35-3 two weeks ago. The Gryphons got a 61-yard completion from QB Brady Williams to set up a 31-yard field goal, but Southwest went on to commit a turnover and had a punt blocked after the scoring drive to thwart 2 opportunities. Russellville was off last week after losing 42-6 2 weeks ago to Class 7A Fort Smith Northside. Northside outgained the Cyclones 407-253 and held Russellville to 4 of 14 on third down. Russellville got a TD pass from Talen Hindsman to Parker Jackson, while Luis Perez ran 11 times for 57 yards. The loser of this game faces an uphill climb to make the playoffs, and Russellville rides the home-field advantage and balanced offense to a tight win.
No. 6 VAN BUREN (2-1) at Siloam Springs (0-3): Van Buren leads this series 9-5, including the last 5 in succession. Siloam Springs racked up almost 500 yards (274 passing, 225 rushing) last week but lost 56-26 to Class 5A Texarkana. Panthers junior QB Cooper Hahn completed 7 of 16 passes for 275 yards and 3 TDs against the Razorbacks; Landon Golding ran 10 times for 110 yards and a score; Emerett Patterson caught 5 passes for 252 yards and 3 scores. Van Buren lost its first game 2 weeks ago, 50-42, to Class 5A Greenbrier. Greenbrier led 14-7 after a quarter and 29-22 at halftime, but Van Buren rallied for a 36-22 lead after 2 quarters. Senior QB Hayden Williford completed 23 of 31 passes for 350 yards and 3 TDs against Greenbrier. Tailback Hayden Christenberry (23-202 rushing) and TD runs from Darian Fantuzzi and Williford helped. Senior receiver Abe Cone (12-263 receiving, 2 TDs) and Drenon Brouwer (3-33 receiving, TD) led the passing game. T.J. Woodruff (10 tackles), Jaxson Silvers (7 stops), and Ayden Laxton (7 tackles) led on defense. Van Buren has its sights set on the 6A West crown, and the Pointers can take a big step toward that this week with a big road win.