Class 4A Week 9 Rankings and Selections
Hootens.com
Week 9, 2026
1. ↔ 1. Stuttgart (8-0; beat Warren 45-16)
2. ↔ 2. Nashville (8-0; beat Hope 63-6)
3.↔ 3. Elkins (7-1; beat Green Forest 39-7)
4. ↔ 4. Ozark (8-0; beat Booneville 34-18)
5. ↔ 5. Fountain Lake (7-1; beat Malvern 69-45)
6. ↔ 6. Southside (7-1; beat Forrest City 23-12)
7. ↑ 9. Gravette (7-1; beat Prairie Grove 43-0)
8. ↓ 7. Booneville (7-1; lost at Ozark 34-18
9. ↑ 10. Arkadelphia (5-3; beat Ashdown 49-12)
10. ↑ 11. Lonoke (6-2; beat Heber Springs (49-20)
11. ↑ 12. Highland (7-1; beat Gosnell 56-27)
12. ↑ 16. Hamburg (7-1; beat Star City 63-19
13. ↑ 14. Bauxite (6-2; beat Clinton 55-17)
14. ↓ 8. Gosnell (6-2; lost at Highland 56-27)
15. ↔ 15. Forrest City (6-2; lost at Southside 23-12)
16. ↑ NR. Lamar (6-2; beat Pottsville 36-29)
17. ↔ 17. Warren (4-4; lost to Stuttgart 45-16)
18. ↓ 13. Pottsville (6-2; lost to Lamar 36-29)
19. ↑ 20. Monticello (4-4; beat Watson Chapel 50-6)
20. ↓ 18. Heber Springs (6-2; lost at Lonoke 49-20)
NOT RANKED
1-4A: Berryville (3-5), Gentry (7-1), Green Forest (4-4), Huntsville (2-6), Lincoln (1-7), Prairie Grove (3-5)
2-4A: Bald Knob (3-5), CAC (6-2), Clinton (0-8), HG Haskell (3-5), Mayflower (3-5)
3-4A: Blytheville (0-8), Jonesboro Westside (5-3), Pocahontas (3-5), Trumann (0-7)
4-4A: Dover (3-5), Mena (4-4), Subiaco Academy (0-8), Waldron (4-4)
7-4A: Ashdown (4-4), Fouke (3-5), Genoa Central (3-5), Hope (1-7), Malvern (5-3)
8-4A: Crossett (3-5), DeWitt (3-5), Star City (3-5), Watson Chapel (0-8)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 Gravette (7-1; 5-0) at No. 3 ELKINS (7-1; 5-0): The winner earns at least a share of the 1-4A championship. Elkins has won all 6 matchups since the teams moved into the same conference in 2020, but 4 were by 2 touchdowns or less, including a 21-16 win last season. Elkins’ only loss this fall came in Week 3 at Class 3A defending champion Mansfield, 52-27; Gravette’s only loss was in Week 3, 15-14 at Grove, Okla.
Elkins won at Green Forest 39-7 last week: Senior quarterback Austin Born completed 22 of 34 passes for 386 yards and 2 touchdowns, with senior receivers Ki’Onte Martin (5-131 yards, 1 TD) and Trey Whittle (7-118 yards, 1 TD) the top targets. Sophomore Jett Johnson ran for 88 yards on 19 carries. Senior receiver/safety Braxton Toney caught 5 passes for 79 yards and led the defense with 7 tackles. Sophomore Presley Srita (6 tackles) and junior end Isaac Meyer (5 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss) played well. “They play a physical brand of football,” Gravette Coach Kelby Bohannon says. “They have great team speed and athletes at all positions.”
Gravette pounded Prairie Grove 43-0 a week ago, jumping to a 29-0 first-quarter lead. Senior QB Hudson Harris hit 6 of 7 passes for 85 yards and 1 TD, and ran for a 20-yard TD. Senior workhorse JD Beem had a rushing line of 8-148-3, and racked up 4 tackles on defense. Senior Cade Phillips‘ only reception went 39 yards for a TD. Senior linebacker Austin Wolf (10 tackles, including 3 TFL and 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble), senior end Colton Priebe (7 tackles) and junior DE/LB Emilio Alvarez (7 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries) keyed the defense a week ago. Senior kicker Brody Bohannon has made 33 of 34 extra points and 2 field goals this fall, recorded 15 kickoff touchbacks, and averages 38 yards per punt.
“Defensively, Gravette is aggressive and runs to the ball,” Elkins Coach Zach Watson says. “We have to stop their run on first and second down and put them into situations they have not been in a whole lot this season.”
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 21 of 24 games (88 percent) and has correctly picked 216 of 246 games this season (88 percent).
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)
1-4A
No. 7 Gravette (7-1; 5-0) at No. 3 ELKINS (7-1; 5-0): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Gentry (7-1; 4-1) at PRAIRIE GROVE (3-5; 3-2): Gentry can still finish anywhere between the No. 1 and No. 4 seed, while Prairie Grove likely finishes No. 3 or No. 4. Prairie Grove has won 3 of the past 5 in this series. The Tigers lacked 3 starting skill players in last week’s 43-0 loss to Gravette, leaving running backs Race Orr and Leon Frisard to take on bigger roles and run more snaps. Sophomore Noah Barnes also played well at QB/RB; Luke Parrish and Tate Bailey made plays on defense. Gentry QB Semmie Guenther passed for 210 yards and 4 TDs in last week’s 41-0 win over Berryville, with CJ Bolinger catching all 4 TDs. Tyler Rowan led the defense with 8 tackles, 2 forced and recovered fumbles, while Steven Cung made 5 tackles, including 3 sacks, and forced 2 fumbles.
Lincoln (1-7; 0-5) at BERRYVILLE (3-5; 1-4): Berryville’s 31-15 victory over Lincoln last fall snapped a 13-game series losing streak. Berryville can still make the playoffs following last week’s 41-0 loss to Gentry. But, the Bobcats need big efforts from senior QB CT Hicks and John Butler. Lincoln lost to Huntsville 38-35 a week ago, but sophomore QB Hesstyn Logsdon (190 passing, 2 TDs; 67 rushing, 2 TDs) and senior WR Tucker Odom (5-117-2 receiving) were productive.
Green Forest (4-4; 1-4) at HUNTSVILLE (2-6, 1-4): Huntsville has won 10 of the past 12 in the series, including 37- 34 last fall. The winner keeps its playoff hopes alive. Huntsville senior Wyatt Ingram (25-154-2 rushing) led his team to a 3-point win over Lincoln last week. Green Forest hung with Elkins last week before losing 39-7. Jace Meador and Ywa Hay Moo each ran for 70 yards, and Radon Lawrence ran for a 30-yard TD. Jayson Miles led the defense with 10 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.
2-4A
Mayflower (3-5; 1-4) at No. 10 LONOKE (6-2; 5-0): These teams have not played since splitting games as members of the former 6AAA conference in 2004-2005. Mayflower lost to HG Haskell by 36 points last week; Lonoke notched a 49-21 win over Heber Springs. Lonoke needs 1 win to lock up the No. 1 playoff seed. Jackrabbits senior QB Dylan Dean passed for 238 yards and 3 TDs vs. Heber Springs, and Jonathan Hixon (3-48-1 receiving; 54 rushing, 1 TD; 12 tackles) contributed. D’Mareon Eason (6-112-1 receiving; 64 rushing, 1 TD; 3 PBU’s on defense. Ryder Ingle had 13 tackles, and ran for 2 TDs; Graham Stuart made 11 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Darrius Jeffrey caught 4 passes for 74 yards and 1 TD and blocked a punt that set up a TD.
No. 20 Heber Springs (6-2; 4-1) at No. 13 BAUXITE (6-2; 4-1): This is the first meeting between these programs. Heber Springs must move on from last week’s 28-point loss at Lonoke. Sophomore QB Spencer Sugg passed for 225 yards and 2 TDs, setting the school’s single-season passing record (2,235 yards). Eli Long (6-150-2 TDs) and Noah Englholm (5-59) led the receivers; Lane Bradley returned a kickoff 77 yards for a TD, and Sabin Wilson led the Panthers with 9 tackles. Bauxite sophomore QB Wyatt Foreman set an early tone in last week’s 55-17 win over Clinton with a 33-yard TD run on the first possession. Bauxite forced 3 turnovers.
CLINTON (0-8; 0-5) at Bald Knob (3-5; 0-5): Clinton has won the past 2 meetings with Bald Knob (56-28 in 2021 and 21-15 in 2020), but Bald Knob has dominated the series in the playoff era (20-5-1 since 1974). Clinton’s Collin Swan ran for 95 yards and Manny Lopez had 4 carries for 74 yards in last week’s 38-point loss at Bauxite. Bald Knob lost to CAC 42-6 last week. Senior OL Isaiah Watson registered 7 knockdown blocks, 1 pancake and allowed zero QB pressures.
HG Haskell (2-6; 2-3) at CAC (6-2; 3-2): The winner likely gets at least a No. 4 playoff spot. HG Haskell has won both of its previous matchups over CAC (35-14 in 2022 and 43-42 in 2023). HG Haskell beat Mayflower last week 48-12. Junior Ace Garcia ran for 220 yards and 4 TDs, while OL Barrett Nelson earned a 100-percent blocking grade. Junior Luke Ammons (6 tackles, 3 interceptions) returned a kickoff and an interception for TDs. CAC beat Bald Knob 42-6 a week ago, with QB Jackson Plumlee passing for 226 yards and 3 TDs and running for 1 TD. Brody Vantilborg ran for 118 yards and 2 TDs; Zach Withrow caught 6 passes for 66 yards and 1 TD; Ross Mounts led on defense with 11 tackles and 1 interception.
3-4A
Pocahontas (3-5; 2-3) at No. 6 SOUTHSIDE (7-1; 5-0): These teams have split their 8 meetings, with Southside winning 34-20 a year ago. Pocahontas senior RB Xayver Ballard ran for 200 yards and 3 TDs in last week’s 46-12 win over Blytheville, and fullback Ryder Baltz scored rushing and receiving TDs. Junior LB Lane Thielemier recovered 2 fumbles. Southside plays Highland next week for the conference title. Southside squeezed past Forrest City 23-12 a week ago, with wingback Ayden Rodriguez rushing for 2 TDs, and QB Trey Allen exceeding 100 rushing yards. Ryan McLaughlin (104 yards) and Bently Southerland (87 yards) played well on offense; Boston Stott (2 interceptions) and Brycen Van Winkle (2 sacks) played well on defense.
Jonesboro Westside (5-3; 2-3) at No. 14 GOSNELL (6-2; 3-2): Gosnell has won 23 of the 25 meetings in the series since 2000 (didn’t play in 2020), including the past 4 by a combined 201-16. Gosnell must recover after losing consecutive games to Southside and Highland. Jonesboro Westside kept its playoff hopes alive with last week’s 28-12 win over Trumann. The Warriors ran for 291 yards, led by Drew Woods (23-130-1) and Trey Williams (19-123-2). Barrett Burgess‘ only carry went 63 yards for a TD.
No. 11 HIGHLAND (7-1; 5-0) at No. 15 Forrest City (6-2; 3-2): The winner improves its playoff positioning. Highland beat Gosnell 56-27 a week ago, with senior QB Austin Christy throwing for 256 yards and 2 TDs. Senior WR Jimmy Jensen (5-190-1) and Zeke Varela ran for 161 yards and 3 TDs. Carson Standford (1 tackles) and Reymond Demison (11 tackles) led the defense. Forrest City lost at Southside by 11 points; QB Kendrick Patterson and WR/DB Vonterrious Williams have played well for the Mustangs.
Blytheville (0-8; 0-5) at TRUMANN (0-8; 0-5): Blytheville has won 3 consecutive in the series, but 2 of them were decided by 6 points each. Blytheville has been outscored 364-56 this season; Trumann 318-36. Trumann’s Johnny Bell ran for 120 yards and 2 TDs, and racked up 13 tackles in last week’s 28-12 loss to Jonesboro Westside.
4-4A
No. 4 OZARK (8-0; 5-0) at Dover (3-5; 1-4): Ozark has won 8 in a row over Dover, including 71-7 last fall. The Hillbillies relied on defense last week to get past previously unbeaten Booneville 34-18. Senior LB Deacon Gage made 17 stops and 1 interception; and junior LB Canyon Connelly had 10 tackles. Ozark ran for 410 yards, led by John Skolarski (211 yards, 2 TDs) and senior Easton Fox (15-189 yards, 1 TD). Dover fullback Zeke Brown ran for 87 yards and 1 TD in last week’s 42-14 loss to Mena.
No. 16 Lamar (6-2; 3-2) at No. 8 BOONEVILLE (7-1; 4-1): The winner likely gets the No. 2 playoff seed. Booneville is coming off a loss at Ozark, where the Bearcats were limited to 308 yards (263 rushing, 45 passing). Senior Brody Chambers ran for 109 yards and 1 TD; Devon Ritchie had 8 carries for 62 yards. Hayden Daniel led the Bearcats with 15 tackles; Sadler Miller recorded 8 stops. Lamar’s Whitman Stormen (5-73) and Brailon Carr (6-96) were the top runners; QB Karsten Schluterman passed for 86 yards and ran for 50. Kendrick Carr (4-90-1 receiving; 9 tackles with 1 interception on defense), Grady Marvel (15 tackles), Tucker Williams (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Brailon Carr (9 tackles) contributed.
Waldron (4-4; 1-4) at No. 18 POTTSVILLE (6-2; 3-2): Pottsville has won 11 of the 12 meetings with Waldron, including the past 2 seasons by a combined 107-32. But the Apaches are struggling with injuries after losing to Lamar last week 36-29. “We are so beat up, just trying to get healthy,” Coach Bryan Rust says. Penn Helton ran 32 times for 160 yards vs. Lamar. Waldron won its first conference game, taking down Subiaco Academy 41-0. The Bulldogs ran for 390 yards, including Jaxson Brown‘s 3-carry, 105-yard, 2-TD effort. Austin Hudson completed his only pass for a TD, and ran for 110 yards and 1 TD; Kevin Velazquez made 5 extra points.
Subiaco Academy (0-8; 0-5) at MENA (4-4; 3-2): Subiaco Academy officially notified Mena Monday morning that it’s forfeiting this week, its third forfeiture in 5 weeks. Mena plays at Ozark next week; Subiaco Academy is scheduled to host Lamar.
7-4A
Malvern (5-3; 4-1) at No. 2 NASHVILLE (8-0; 5-0): Nashville’s 28-point win last season ended a 5-game losing skid to the Leopards (Malvern beat Nashville in the regular-season and in the 2022 semifinals on its way to the state championship). Malvern beat Fouke by 1 point 2 weeks ago and lost a 69-45 shootout last week to Fountain Lake. Wesley Morley led the Leopards with 20 carries for 230 yards and 4 TDs. Nashville can secure the No. 1 playoff seed with a victory after crushing Hope 63-6 last week. The Scrappers totaled 523 yards, with junior Jacoby Hopson running 11 times for 181 yards and 5 TDs, and catching 2 passes for 48 yards. Senior QB DJ Jefferson ran 7 times for 56 yards and 1 TD and completed 6-of-10 passes for 110 yards. Sophomore LB Bo Dean returned an interception for a TD, his third defensive score of the year.
Hope (1-7; 1-4) at No. 5 FOUNTAIN LAKE (7-1; 4-1): Fountain Lake secures the No. 2 seed with a win and a Malvern loss (the Cobras beat Malvern last week 69-45). Senior Peyton Harwood owns the state career receptions record with 307 after catching 12 passes last week, 6 of them for TDs (also a state record). Fountain Lake senior QB Cooper Buss has 102 career TD passes. Hope senior LB Joel Bell (8 tackles), LB Cayden Haywood (8 tackles, and caught Hope’s only TD), and junior Fernando Perez (5 tackles, including 2 sacks) played well in last week’s loss to Nashville.
Genoa Central (3-5; 0-5) at No. 9 ARKADELPHIA (5-3; 3-2): Genoa Central played well in last week’s 16-7 loss to rival Fouke. Arkadelphia sophomore QB Turner Ross passed for 187 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 1 TD to fuel the 49-12 win at Ashdown. Senior RB Caiden Whitaker (11-80 yards, 2 TDs) and junior Bryce Meakin (4-116 yards, 2 TDs rushing; 4-90-1 TD receiving) made plays offensively, while senior LB Marion Brownlee (9 tackles, 1 forced fumble) and Jayce Nelson (6 tackles, including 2.5 sacks) were keys on D.
Ashdown (3-5; 2-3) at FOUKE (3-5; 1-4): The winner likely gets the No. 5 playoff seed. Ashdown is 4-0 all-time vs. Fouke, but the programs haven’t played since 2003. Logan Erwin ran 70 yards for a TD and returned an interception for Ashdown’s other score in last week’s 49-12 loss to Arkadelphia. Fouke senior QB Cody Hefflin ran 11 times for 230 yards and 1 TD in last week’s 16-7 win over Genoa Central. Bryce Graves ran 24 times for 124 yards, and Hayden Shermer kicked a 47-yard field goal. Cameron Crabtree (2 interceptions) and Weston Rowton (1 interception) led on defense.
8-4A
Star City (3-5; 1-4) at No. 1 STUTTGART (8-0; 5-0): These teams meet for the ninth consecutive season, with Stuttgart winning 6 times, including 3 consecutive. Top-ranked Stuttgart beat Warren last week 45-16. Senior QB Cain Price (10-19-194 passing, 4 TDs) and Tayquan Hall (220 yards, kickoff return for TD) sparked the offense, while LB Knox Hillman (1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception) and Keaton Byers (interception return for a TD) led the defense. Byers has 9 interceptions this fall.
DeWitt (3-5; 2-3) at No. 12 HAMBURG (7-1; 4-1): Hamburg’s 43-8 win last season snapped a 5-game losing streak to DeWitt. DeWitt probably assures itself a playoff spot with a win in either of its final 2 games. The Dragons beat Crossett last week 20-7. Junior Landyn Graham returned an interception for a TD; seniors Xa Cox and Rae Frye both intercepted passes. Cam Mitchell (12), Cannon Craig (11) and Cox (10) topped the tackle chart. Hamburg junior Aiden Robinson led the team with 28 tackles in last week’s 63-19 win over Star City. DE Jamarius Wilson had 7 tackles, including 1.5 sacks; senior WR Charles Mooney tallied 112 yards and 1 TD.
No. 17 WARREN (4-4; 3-2) at Watson Chapel (0-8; 0-5): Warren can still finish as the No. 3 seed if it wins out. The Lumberjacks lost to Stuttgart 45-16 last week; the Lumberjacks have surrendered at least 45 points in half of their games this fall. Watson Chapel lost to Monticello 50-6 a week ago and has given up at least 41 points in 6 games. Jaykilynn Battles (9-62 rushing; 3-30-1 TD receiving) and LB Trendell Willis (11 tackles) played well vs. Monticello.
No. 19 MONTICELLO (4-4; 3-2) at Crossett (3-5; 1-4): These teams have been conference rivals since 1977, with Monticello winning 3 consecutive in the series (Crossett had won 8 of 9 before that). Monticello can still finish as the No. 2 seed if it wins out and gets some help. Senior TE Jax Rawls caught 4 passes for 94 yards and 1 TD in last week’s 50-6 win over Watson Chapel; QB Hudson Harvey passed for 174 yards and 2 TDs; and Danner Loyd was effective in multiple facets (3-37-1 TD receiving; 1 rushing TD; 6 tackles). Crossett senior Charles Moore caught 6 passes for 81 yards and 1 TD in last week’s 20-7 loss at DeWitt.