Class 5A
Class 5A Rankings
Week 0, 2025
- LR Parkview
- Joe T. Robinson
- HS Lakeside
- Farmington
- Camden Fairview
- Valley View
- Morrilton
- Nettleton
- Maumelle
- Greenbrier
- Searcy
- Wynne
- Hot Springs
- Pine Bluff
- Harding Academy
- Magnolia
- Alma
- White Hall
- Brookland
- Beebe
Not Ranked:
5A CENTRAL: Jacksonville, Watson Chapel
5A EAST: Batesville, Greene Co. Tech, Paragould
5A SOUTH: Arkansas High, De Queen, Hope
5A WEST: Clarksville, Harrison, Pea Ridge, Vilonia
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Class 7A PULASKI ACADEMY at No. 2 Joe T. Robinson: These teams open the season against each other for a sixth consecutive season (PA has won the past 5 by a combined 110 points). Joe T. Robinson beat Mountain Home by 3 points in a scrimmage game, while Pulaski Academy lost at Class 6A Jonesboro. Senator Deuce Williams forced a fumble and returned it 60 yards for a TD vs. Mountain Home, while Hakim Frampton caught an 87-yard TD pass. Defensive ends Lennox Campos and Caleb Smith both played well, while linebackers Isiah Reece and Jackson Redman, a transfer from Pulaski Academy, stood out. Pulaski Academy struggled early in its scrimmage game at Jonesboro (trailed 10-0 in first half).
LAST YEAR: Hootens.com correctly predicted 174 of 207 games (84 percent).
WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)
5A CENTRAL
No. 9 MAUMELLE at Class 6A Sylvan Hills (Thurs.): Maumelle has won 5 straight over Sylvan Hills, including the past 2 by a combined 56-0. Mark Kelley takes over as Sylvan Hills’ coach, inheriting a 20-game losing streak. Maumelle features a stout running attack led by seniors Jacob Henry, Bubba Johnson and Marshaun Wiley, who all played well in the summer, along with Jahlon Harris and Jordan Harris.
Class 7A PULASKI ACADEMY at No. 2 Joe T. Robinson: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
No. 14 Pine Bluff at MILLWOOD (Okla.): Pine Bluff beat Class 7A LR Southwest 20-6 in a scrimmage game last week. QB Jamar Morrow threw 2 TD passes, while Darrick Dunn caught a TD pass, threw a TD pass and ran for 45 yards.
Batesville at No. 11 SEARCY: These rivals play for the 26th consecutive season. Searcy beat Wynne 17-7 in last week’s scrimmage game, while Batesville lost to Greenbrier. Coach Zak Clark says Searcy’s defense played well in its scrimmage.
No. 18 White Hall at Class 6A SHERIDAN: White Hall lost its scrimmage to Stuttgart 21-13, while Sheridan led Malvern 32-7 at halftime. Sheridan senior RB Eli Turner ran for 130 yards vs. Malvern. Sheridan could feature one of the better offensive lines in Class 6A with junior tackles Eythan Cowden (6-2, 315) and Bradley Sturdivant (6-4, 310).
Watson Chapel at Class 4A HELENA: Watson Chapel Coach Steven Heard says the Wildcats made strides in the summer. They won 1 game between 2021-2023, and won 2 games last fall. Helena won 6 games last year after winning 1 game total from 2020-2023.
Class 4A MALVERN at Jacksonville: Malvern lost its scrimmage to Class 6A Sheridan, while Jacksonville lost 27-26 to Class 7A LR Central. Malvern’s offense is still in learning mode after the transfer of 3 starters in the spring. Jacksonville’s Mason Ball ran for 141 yards and 3 TDs vs. Jacksonville, while Matthew Golberry played well at receiver (8-71-1 TD) and DB (7 tackles, 1 interception).
OPEN No. 20 Beebe
5A EAST
Batesville at No. 11 SEARCY: See comment in 5A Central.
Poplar Bluff (Mo.) at No. 6 VALLEY VIEW: Valley View has won its 3 meetings over Poplar Bluff. The Blazers played 4 QBs in their scrimmage game vs. Marion, with Levi Manning throwing for a TD pass to Camarion Davis. Barrett Mallett ran for a TD.
No. 12 Wynne at Class 6A MARION: Wynne leads the series 34-14-1, but Marion beat the Yellowjackets 38-24 last fall. The Yellowjackets defense played well in last week’s scrimmage game vs. Searcy.
Greene Co. Tech at Class 4A GOSNELL: The Pirates beat GCT by 19 points last season, and return all-state receiver Jai Jacobs (731 yards, 8 TDs last year). The Pirates beat Class 5A Paragould 35-0 in a scrimmage last week. Chris Smith succeeds Lewis Earnest as Gosnell’s coach. Smith compiled a 94-32 record at multiple stops in Tennessee the past decade.
PARAGOULD at Class 3A Manila: Paragould struggled in a 35-0 loss in its scrimmage game last week vs. Gosnell. ZK Lanej and Marcool Attai both ran the ball well, but turnovers and penalties doomed the Rams.
Class 4A Trumann at No. 8 NETTLETON: Nettleton has won the past 4 in the series, including last season 27-20. Nettleton scrimmaged Southside last week. Nettleton Coach Steven Hampton says senior all-state running back Xavier Harrell (1,216 yards, 16 TDs last year), WR Jorden Simmons (705 yards, 10 TDs), DL Ahmad Hurston and LB Damin Coleman (109 tackles) played well in the summer. Former Wynne player and Marion assistant Jake Snyder succeeds Gunner Cook as Trumann’s coach.
OPEN No. 15 Harding Academy, Brookland
5A SOUTH
No. 5 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW at Class 4A Arkadelphia: Camden Fairview has beaten Arkadelphia 7 of the past 9 meetings, including 40-25 last season. Arkadelphia RBs Blake Moody and Kaden Whitaker played well in the scrimmage game. Camden Fairview scrimmaged Class 7A No. 1 Bryant last week. The Cardinals offensive line played well in the summer, while newcomers at the skilled positions faced a learning curve.
No. 3 HS Lakeside at Class 6A LAKE HAMILTON: Lake Hamilton has won 5 of 7 meetings since the series resumed in 2018 after being dormant since 1999, but Lakeside has won the past 2 meetings by a combined 12 points (Lake Hamilton won the previous five by a combined 206-99). HS Lakeside’s has high hopes with senior QB Wally Wolcott (2,554 yards, 32 TDs last year).
Class 4A Nashville at No. 16 MAGNOLIA: Magnolia beat the Scrappers by 19 points in last year’s opener. Magnolia relies on 8 returning starters on defense this fall, led by senior LBs Chevis Johnson (116 tackles last year) and Carmelo McDonald (108 tackles). Brad Chesshir takes over as coach at Nashville, succeeding Shawn Jackson (6-5 in only season). The Scrappers scrimmaged Class 5A HS Lakeside last week. QB DJ Jefferson passed for 156 yards and threw a TD pass to Carson Chambers. Makhi Johnson played well at DE.
No. 13 HOT SPRINGS at Class 6A West Memphis: West Memphis should be better in its second season under Vincent Newton. Hot Springs looks to rebound after missing the playoffs in 2024 by losing the final 3 games. Hot Springs senior QB Bishop Allen passed for 229 yards and 3 TDs in Hot Springs’ scrimmage game, while Luey Jaime (7-112) and his brother Gabe Jaime (7-69-2 TDs) stood out at receiver. Jayden Meadows led the Trojans with 7 tackles.
Arkansas High at Class 6A LR CATHOLIC: Former McGehee player Leroy Hood takes over at Arkansas High, succeeding Trey Outlaw (3-18 record in 3 years). LR Catholic won this matchup by 5 points last fall. Arkansas High beat Class 7A FS Northside 27-10 in a 2-quarter scrimmage last week.
De Queen at Class 4A MENA: Mena has won 13 of the past 24 in the series, including the past 2 by a combined 81-7. Mena QB Tripp Hensley played well over the summer, along with OG/NG Max Rocha and LBs Hunter Mcclara, Ryder House, Jimmy Glenn and Guice Anderson. De Queen Coach Richard Bell says that QB Jack Martin enjoyed a solid fall camp, along with DT Jose Flores, LB Rusty Bermeo and S Landon Wise.
OPEN No. 1 LR Parkview, Hope
5A WEST
No. 16 Alma at VAN BUREN (Thurs.): Alma has won 8 of the past 13 “Battle of the Bone” matchups, but Van Buren has won 2 in a row by a combined 33 points. FS Southside beat Alma 17-7 in a half scrimmage game last week. Sophomore RB Dallas Perkins showed potential, while senior NG Demetrius Humphrey and junior twins Colton Nutt and Tristan Nutt played well up front.
EDMOND NORTH (Okla.) at No. 4 Farmington: Farmington scheduled Oklahoma power Edmond North to replace Shiloh Christian on the schedule. Farmington QB Ayden Lester played well in summer team camps. Senior RB Jordan Logue and DL Jaxen Seward performed well in the scrimmage game.
No. 7 MORRILTON at Class 6A Russellville: Russellville leads the all-time Battle of I-40 series 58-34-3, and the Cyclones have won 14 of the past 19. But Morrilton won last fall by 5 points and the Devil Dogs return starters at 15 positions. QB Maddox Berry and WR Jamarcus Sandidge played well in last week’s scrimmage.
No. 10 GREENBRIER at Class 4A Warren: Greenbrier played well in its scrimmage against Batesville. The Panthers handled Warren 41-34 last season, and will rely on senior RB Enoch Assan (2,003 yards, 22 TDs in 2024) this fall. Warren, which beat McGehee in its scrimmage, counters with a strong running attack, led by senior Antonio Davis (more than 1,200 yards last fall). Lumberjacks QB Jackson Denton, who broke his leg in last year’s opener, returned vs. McGehee, throwing 4 TD passes, including 2 to Tayshawn Edwards.
Harrison at BRANSON (Mo.): Branson beat Harrison 23-7 last season, the first matchup between the programs. Harrison’s offense clicked in last week’s scrimmage victory over Class 4A Ozark. Harrison’s defensive front revolves around senior NG Dayton Waters (6-5, 275). Senior Eli McNutt ran for 126 yards and 2 TDs in the first half of the scrimmage, while Isiah Hale ran 4 times for 55 yards and 2 TDs.
Pea Ridge at Class 4A GRAVETTE: Tony Travis returns as Pea Ridge’s coach after working in administration. He previously led Pea Ridge to a 39-38 record from 2009-2015. Travis has implemented a 3-4 defense, which will be led by senior LB Tristen German. Gravette relies on a strong defensive front, led by senior NG Porter Bird (33 tackles).
Class 4A Clarksville at OZARK: This game was moved to Ozark on Monday due to stadium construction at Clarksville. Ozark has won 17 of the past 24 in the series, including the past 5 by a combined 88 points. The Hillbillies lost at Harrison by 10 points in a scrimmage game last week. Sophomore John Skolarski led the junior high to a conference title last year, produced big plays in the summer and scored a TD in the scrimmage.
OPEN Vilonia