Class 4A Week 11 Rankings and Playoff Selections

Published On: November 9, 2026Categories: Featured, High School, News, Rankings and Picks

↔ 1. Stuttgart (10-0; beat Hamburg 52-28)
↔ 2. Nashville (10-0; beat Genoa Central 47-14)
↔ 3. Elkins (9-1; beat Huntsville 49-28)
↔ 4. Ozark (10-0; beat Mena 51-20)
↔ 5. Fountain Lake (9-1; beat Ashdown 51-22)
↑ 7. Gravette (8-2; beat Gentry 57-17)
↑ 11. Highland (9-1; beat Southside 21-14 in OT)
↔ 8. Booneville (9-1; beat Pottsville 30-27)
↓ 6. Southside (8-2; lost to Highland 21-14 in OT)
↔ 10. Lonoke (8-2; beat HG Haskell 35-20)
↑ 12. Hamburg (8-2; lost to Stuttgart 52-28)
↑ 13. Bauxite (8-2; beat CAC 55-35)
↑ 14. Gosnell (8-2; beat Blytheville 54-0)
↑ 16. Warren (6-4; beat Crossett 49-26)
↔ 15. Forrest City (7-3; beat Jonesboro Westside 32-14)
↑ NR. Malvern (6-4; beat Arkadelphia 22-21)
↔ 17. Lamar (7-3; beat Subiaco via forfeit 13-0)
↓ 9. Arkadelphia (6-4; lost to Malvern 22-21)
↔ 19. Monticello (6-4; beat DeWitt 35-28)
↓ 18. Pottsville (7-3; lost to Booneville 30-27)

NOT RANKED:

1-4A: Berryville (5-5), Gentry (8-2), Green Forest (5-5), Huntsville (2-8), Lincoln (1-9), Prairie Grove (4-6)

2-4A: Bald Knob (3-7), CAC (8-2), Clinton (1-9), HG Haskell (3-7), Mayflower (4-6)

3-4A: Blytheville (1-9), Jonesboro Westside (5-5), Pocahontas (4-6), Trumann (0-10)

4-4A: Dover (3-7), Mena (5-5), Subiaco Academy (0-10), Waldron (5-5)

7-4A: Ashdown (5-5), Fouke (3-7), Genoa Central (3-7), Hope (2-8)

8-4A: Crossett (3-7), DeWitt (3-7), Star City (4-6), Watson Chapel (0-10)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 4 8-4A Monticello (6-4) at No. 2 2-4A BAUXITE (8-2): These teams split nonconference games the past 6 years, with Bauxite winning 38-36 a year ago.

Monticello rested some starters last week and still beat DeWitt 35-28 for its third consecutive victory. Junior Ja’Bralyn Culbreath led the Billies with 23 carries, 198 yards and 1 TD. Senior Danner Loyd (6-67 yards, TD) and sophomore Dax Bowman (6-53 yards, TD) bolstered a rushing attack missing senior Joseph Accelus (157-852 yards, 9 TDs this season). Accelus was held out to rest for the playoffs after an injury in Week 5.

Bauxite earned the No. 2 seed with last week’s 55-35 win over Central Arkansas Christian, the Miners’ sixth consecutive victory since losing to eventual league champion Lonoke in Week 4. The Miners defense gave up 52 yards rushing last week, intercepted 2 passes and forced 2 fumbles. Hudson Wilson (2 sacks, 3 TFL), DL Jaden Banks (2 sacks), Emery Moore (1 interception), Ethan Kelley (1 interception) and Brody Mathis (1 fumble recovery) led Bauxite’s defense. Sophomore QB Wyatt Foreman (138 passing yards, TD; 177 rushing yards, 2 TDs), seniors Elijah Perry (71 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 2 2-point conversions), Gavin Hilderbrand (96 receiving yards) and Carter Ballard (TD reception) and junior Gunnar Morris (TD run). “They are fast-paced on offense and really good running it,” Monticello Coach Randy Harvey says. “We have to control the football, and tackle well in space to have a chance.”

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 22 of 24 games (92 percent) and has picked 258 of 294 games (88 percent) for the season.

WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)

TOP OF THE BRACKET

FIRST-ROUND BYE No. 1 1-4A Elkins

No. 4 3-4A Forrest City (7-3) at No. 3 7-4A MALVERN (6-4): These teams haven’t played in the modern era. Forrest City’s defense forced a turnover and held Jonesboro Westside on downs inside the red zone twice in last week’s 32-14 victory. Both of senior Vernon Sampson‘s carries resulted in TDs (80 and 50 yards). Malvern scored the final 12 points last week to upend Arkadelphia 22-21 on junior QB Aaron Pinkston‘s winning TD pass in the final seconds to junior Tyler Osbourne. (5-79 receiving, 2 TDs) and Pinkston (2 TD passes; 10-69 rushing; and 9 tackles and 1 sack on defense; Jeremiah Jimerson (13 tackles) and sophomore Terrance Hawkins made 10 tackles and returned a fumble 99 yards for a TD.

No. 5 1-4A Berryville (5-5) at No. 1 8-4A STUTTGART (10-0): Berryville advances to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 after beating Green Forest 48-23 last week. Bobcats senior RB John Butler (176 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and senior QB CT Hicks totaled 260 yards (157 rushing, 103 passing) and 2 TDs. Senior DL Randy Lazo made 8 tackles, including 2 TFLs. Stuttgart won its second 8-4A title in a row with last week’s 52-28 victory over Hamburg. Senior QB Cain Price passed for 453 yards and 5 TDs (all TDs to different receivers), and junior RB Tyquan Hall had 209 yards and 2 TDs. LB Kiptyn Carey made 10 tackles and broke up 2 fourth-down passes.

No. 3 3-4A GOSNELL (8-2) at No. 3 4-4A Lamar (7-3): Gosnell’s 2 losses this fall were to Southside and Highland, who combined for a 17-3 regular-season record. The Pirates jumped on rival Blytheville 42-0 in the first quarter last week before winning 54-0. QB Jamar Allen ran for 3 first-quarter TDs and threw a 24-yard TD pass to Lamarco Wilborn; Mylan Booker returned an interception for a TD. Lamar received a forfeit from Subiaco Academy last week, and 2 weeks ago the Warriors lost to Booneville 38-18. Whitman Storment ran 10 times for 46 yards and made 17 tackles vs. Booneville; Brailon Carr totaled 62 yards (46 receiving, 16 rushing) and made 15 tackles 2 weeks ago. Kasen Humphrey led Lamar with 18 tackles and caught 3 passes. “Gosnell’s Jamar Allen and (RB) Mason Woods are special players with the ball in their hands,” Lamar Coach Jackson Guerra says. “Our discipline and effort must be on point to give us a chance.”

No. 5 8-4A DeWitt (3-7) at No. 1 2-4A LONOKE (8-2): These teams played 17 times between 1989-2009, with Lonoke winning 15. DeWitt qualifies for the playoffs after beating Watson Chapel and Crossett in Weeks 7-8, then pushed Monticello a week ago before losing 35-28. DeWitt QB Rodney Ross passed for 330 yards and 3 TDs at Monticello, with Marshawn Bowers tallying 106 yards receiving and 1 TD. Rae Frey caught a TD pass and led the defense with 13 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries; Cruz Miller played well on special teams and defense. Lonoke won its first conference title this year since sharing the 2019 crown in a 4-way tie. QB Dylan Dean threw 3 TD passes in last week’s 35-2 win at HG Haskell; Jonathan Hixon and Josh Sherman each caught and ran for TDs.

No. 5 2-4A HG Haskell (3-7) at No. 2 7-4A FOUNTAIN LAKE (9-1): These teams have been 7-4A members for 6 of the past 8 seasons, with Fountain Lake winning 4 times, including 48-28 a year ago. Junior Ace Garcia (22-117 rushing yards, TD vs. Lonoke) leads Haskell’s rushing attack this fall, and the Cardinals must run the ball effectively to keep Fountain Lake’s high-powered offense off the field. Senior OL Barrett Nelson earned a 100-percent blocking grade, and Jackson Estes led the defense with 9 tackles. Senior QB Cooper Buss, WRs Peyton Harwood and Kase Haire have played well all season. Sophomore Wyatt Dean (141 rushing yards, 5 TDs at Ashdown) has emerged in the backfield.

No. 4 7-4A Arkadelphia (6-4) at No. 2 4-4A BOONEVILLE (9-1): These 2 teams have never played. Arkadelphia was relegated to the No. 4 seed after giving up a TD in the final seconds of last week’s 22-21 loss at Malvern. QB Turner Ross completed 17 of 20 passes for 168 yards and ran for 34 yards on 8 carries. Bryce Meakin (13-78 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Caiden Whitaker (13-54 rushing yards, TD). Mario Brownlee (6 tackles, including 2 TFLs); and Hunter Yarber had 4 tackles, 3 of those for losses. Booneville secured the No. 2 seed with last week’s 30-27 victory over Pottsville. Senior Brody Chambers (128 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and QB Tayden Washburn (95 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 1 TD pass) sparked the offense. “We have to play disciplined defense,” Arkadelphia Coach Chris Kizer says. “One misfit (in a gap) or bad read, and they make you pay.”

No. 4 4-4A Pottsville (7-3) at No. 2 3-4A SOUTHSIDE (8-2): Both teams rely on effective running games. Pottsville ran for 258 yards in last week’s 3-point loss at Booneville. Senior Kai Mahan (10-141 rushing, 3 TDs), Penn Helton (15-82 rushing) and QB Cort Johnson averaged nearly 5 yards per carry and scored 2 TDs. LBs Dawson Parker, Luke Rust and Helton had 9 tackles each. Southside’s Karson McSpadden filled in for injured QB Trey Allen in last week’s 21-14 overtime loss at Highland. McSpadden ran for 122 yards and passed for 97 yards. LB Gentry Shirley-Hoskins made 17 tackles; McSpadden had an interception and forced 1 fumble, and Corbin Foster had an interception. “We have to figure out how to make big plays at the right moment,” Pottsville Coach Bryan Rust says.

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET

FIRST-ROUND BYE No. 1 7-4A Nashville

No. 4 2-4A CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN (7-3) at No. 3 4-4A Gentry (8-2): CAC beat Gentry 49-20 in the first round of the 2019 playoffs. Both teams are coming off losses last week when wins would have given them higher seeds. Gentry finishes as a No. 3 seed after losing to Gravette 57-17, but earned its first home playoff game since 1998. Titus Cable led Gentry’s defense last week with 7 tackles and returned 1 interception for a TD; Braden Woodcock also returned an interception for a TD, and Ethan Meyers had 16 tackles. CAC finishes as a No. 4 playoff seed after losing at Bauxite last week, 55-35. Junior QB Jackson Plumlee passed for 260 yards and 3 TDs, with Lucas Beck catching 7 passes. Andrew Lowe (14 tackles), Cam Moats (10 tackles) and Beck (8 tackles) led the defense.

No. 5 7-4A Ashdown (5-5) at No. 1 4-4A OZARK (10-0): Ozark won both of the previous playoff meetings over Ashdown (20-7 in the second round in 2020 and 23-22 in the first round in 2016). The Hillbillies went 10-0 for the first time since 2000 (when they lost at Nashville in the quarterfinals). Junior John Skolarski (18-330 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and senior Easton Fox (13-117 yards, 1 TD) ran the Hillbillies to a 51-20 win over Mena last week. Skolarski ran for an Ozark single-season record 2,063 yards this season in 9 games, and he played sparingly in blowouts vs. Dover and Huntsville. Deacon Gage (12 tackles), Fox (11 tackles) and sophomore Stet Styles (7 tackles, including 2 TFL) led on defense. Ashdown lost to Fountain Lake last week 51-22. QB Shooter Johnson (203 yards, 2 TDs passing), Cordae Baker (10 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD) and Tyler Smith (4-123 yards, 2 TDs receiving) led the Panthers.

No. 3 2-4A Heber Springs (7-3) at No. 3 8-4A WARREN (6-4): Warren has won both of its playoff games over Heber Springs, which scored 42 unanswered second-half points in last week’s 58-14 victory over rival Clinton. Heber Springs sophomore Lane Bradley returned a punt for a TD vs. Clinton; he has 3 kickoff returns this fall. Panthers sophomore QB Spencer Sugg has thrown a school-record 30 TD passes this fall; sophomore WR Eli Long has 47 receptions. Titus Bullington (19 tackles) led the defense; Josiah Riggs had a big night on both sides of the ball (5-91-1 TD receiving; 12 tackles). Warren senior Josiah Steen returned from injury last week (first action since Week 1) to catch 3 TD passes in a 49-26 win over Crossett. RB/LB Chris Alford played well on both sides.

No. 5 4-4A Mena (5-5) at No. 1 3-4A HIGHLAND (9-1): These teams have split their 2 playoff meetings (Highland won 38-14 in 1998, Mena won 30-19 in 2000). Mena trailed Ozark 20-14 at halftime last week, but lost by 31 points. The Bearcats surrendered 529 yards rushing. QB Hank Rose threw 1 TD and ran for a TD vs. Ozark. Senior Chance Hughes scored Mena’s other TD. Highland overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit last week to secure its first conference championship since 2014 with a 21-14 overtime win over Southside. Senior QB Austin Christy passed for 224 yards and 2 TDs; versatile senior Jimmy Jensen ran 2 times for 23 yards, caught 6 passes for 77 yards and amassed 9 tackles and 1 interception. Senior Carson Stanford caught a 30-yard TD pass and led the defense with 15 tackles, including 4 TFLs.

No. 5 3-4A Pocahontas (4-6) at No. 2 1-4A GRAVETTE (8-2): These teams have split their 4 previous playoff meetings. Pocahontas’ 35-8 win over Jonesboro Westside in Week 5 helped it make the playoffs (also beat Blytheville and Trumann in the final 3 weeks by a combined 87-24). Senior QB Spencer James passed for 160 yards and 3 TDs and ran for a TD in last week’s 29-point victory over Trumann. Sophomore Jaxon McDonald ran for 95 yards and 1 TD; sophomore receiver Ace Brooks caught 5 passes for 74 yards and 1 TD. Junior LB Lane Thielemier made 8 tackles. Gravette locked up the No. 2 seed with last week’s 40-point win over Gentry. Gravette senior QB Hudson Harris (209 passing yards, 2 TDs; 3-79 rushing yards and 1 TD. Junior Calvin Bird, filling in for injured RB JD Beem, ran for 123 yards and 1 TD; junior Jack Grimes ran for 3 TDs. Bird and Grimes led the defense with 8 tackles apiece.

No. 4 1-4A Prairie Grove (4-6) at No. 2 8-4A HAMBURG (8-2): These teams split their previous first-round playoff meetings (Prairie Grove won 47-14 in 2006, Hamburg won 28-27 in 2019). Prairie Grove beat Lincoln 56-20 last week. Eight Tigers scored TDs, including Triston Cameron with a scoop-and-score on defense. QB Noah Bowling threw a 47-yard TD pass to Kenan Stucki in the first quarter and ran 14 yards for a TD in the second quarter. Hamburg tallied 422 yards (285 yards passing, 147 rushing) in last week’s 52-28 loss at top-ranked Stuttgart. Charles Mooney (9 catches, 145 yards, 2 TDs) and Jade Canley (6-104 receiving, TD) were targeted by senior QB Kaiden Thomas (285 passing yards, 3 TDs; 126 rushing yards, TD). Thomas also made 3 tackles. Junior LB Aiden Robinson (11 tackles) and senior LB Jace Harrington (10 tackles) led the defense.