Class 6A Week 1 Rankings and Selections
HOOTENS.COM
WEEK 1, 2026
CLASS 6A RANKING
- ↔ 1. BENTON (1-0, beat Class 7A Bryant 43-42)
- ↔ 2. SEARCY (1-0, beat Class 5A Batesville 54-13)
- ↑ 5. SYLVAN HILLS (1-0, beat Class 7A LR Central 55-34)
- ↔ 4. VAN BUREN (1-0, beat Class 5A Alma 41-20)
- ↓ 3. MOUNTAIN HOME (0-1, lost to Class 5A Farmington 12-7)
- ↔ 6. EL DORADO (1-0, beat Class 5A Magnolia 23-16)
- ↔ 7. SHERIDAN (1-0, beat Class 5A White Hall 70-16)
- ↔ 8. JONESBORO (1-0, beat Class 7A Cabot 14-12)
- ↔ 9. MARION (0-1, lost to Class 5A Wynne 35-22)
- ↔ 10. FS SOUTHSIDE (0-1, lost to Class 7A FS Northside 21-7)
NOT RANKED
6A EAST: W. Memphis (0-1)
6A WEST: LR Catholic (0-1), Lake Hamilton (0-1), Siloam Springs (0-1), LR Southwest (0-1)
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 10 of 16 games (63 percent) involving Class 6A teams.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Marion (0-1) at NR LAKE HAMILTON (0-1)
Lake Hamilton leads the all-time series with Marion 7-2, but the teams have not met since the Patriots won 14-13 in the opening round of the 2015 Class 6A state playoffs in Pearcy. Marion trailed at Class 5A Wynne 21-0 in the third period last week before rallying to get within 1 score twice in the fourth quarter (21-14 and 28-22) before losing 35-22. Wynne outgained Marion 367-268, and the Yellowjackets doubled the Patriots’ first-down total (22-11). Marion got almost 200 total yards from senior all-conference tailback Jeremiah Dent, but Dent was injured in the second half, and he’s out this week and potentially beyond. Marion played 3 quarterbacks against Wynne, and third-stringer BEN BATEMAN led 3 consecutive TD drives to get the Patriots within 6 points late in the fourth quarter. Bateman completed 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards and 3 TDs, and could start this week. Lake Hamilton battled Garland County rival and defending Class 5A state runner-up Hot Springs Lakeside last week before losing 28-24. The Rams led 7-6 after a quarter, 14-6 at halftime, but the Wolves battled to tie the game at 21-21 after 3 quarters. Lake Hamilton quarterback JACE BOHANNON completed 18 of 27 passes for 278 yards and 2 TDs with 2 interceptions. The Wolves managed 71 rushing yards on 27 carries (2.6 yards per carry).
This contest may come down to who wins in the trenches. Marion surrendered 241 rushing yards last week; Lake Hamilton ran for 71 yards. We think Lake Hamilton finds enough room this week to improve to 1-1 in 2026.
6A EAST
No. 9 Marion (0-1) at NR LAKE HAMILTON (0-1): See Game of the Week.
Class 5A Maumelle (0-1) at No. 3 SYLVAN HILLS (1-0): Maumelle has won 6 of the last 7 meetings, but Sylvan Hills won 55-54 last year, ending a 20-game losing streak and catapulting it to a 10-2 season. Sylvan Hills led Class 7A Little Rock Central 27-13 at halftime last week, on its way to a 55-34 victory. Sylvan Hills QB Caden Burnett tossed 4 TD passes in his first career varsity start, with KADON WILLIAMSON and ZEKE CARRETHER each catching 2 scoring passes. Sylvan Hills did not appear to miss a beat in its opener, and the Bears keep it rolling again this week to improve to 2-0.
No. 2 SEARCY (1-0) at Class 5A No. 7 Valley View (1-0): Searcy has won 3 of the 4 meetings in this series, including 37-27 last fall. Searcy blasted Batesville 54-13 a week ago, leading 14-3 after the first quarter, 26-6 at halftime, and 54-6 after 3 quarters. Searcy all-state QB JACOB MILES (12-18 passing, 192 yards, 3 TDs) and tailback D’ANDRE SHOCKLEY (137 rushing, 2 TDs) led the way for the Lions, who rushed for 207 yards. Five Lions caught passes, led by WILL MANNING (5-101 receiving, TD); JACKSON SMITH and BRYSON THOMPSON also snagged TD tosses. KAYDEN HICKMAN (11 tackles, 2 TFL) led the Searcy defense. Explosive Searcy looks equipped to score points quickly and in bunches this season, and that happens again this week.
No. 7 SHERIDAN (1-0) at NR LR Southwest (0-1): This is the first meeting of these schools since Little Rock Southwest began playing football in 2020. Little Rock Southwest trailed Class 4A Helena at halftime of last week’s 41-18 home defeat, but the Gryphons got good play from receivers MARIO MAXWELL and DALLAS NELSON. Sheridan dispatched Class 5A White Hall 70-16, and the Sheridan defensive starters allowed only 1 touchdown. DYLAN SMITH topped 100 receiving yards with a TD, while HUNTER SOCIA rushed for more than 100 yards and scored twice. REID STEVENS, MASON MORRIS and CARSON LAWRENCE led the Yellowjackets’ defense. PARKER MULLINS left the White Hall game with an injury, and he’s unlikely to play this week. “We had a lot of guys play well,” Sheridan Coach Kevin Kelley says. “Our offensive line was dominant.” “Sheridan is a really good football team,” Little Rock Southwest coach Cameron Murray says. “They have an explosive offense, and a great coaching staff, as well.”
Class 5A No. 5 Hot Springs Lakeside (1-0) at No. 8 JONESBORO (1-0): This is the first meeting of these schools. Jonesboro’s defense stood tall in last week’s 14-12 victory over Class 7A Cabot. The Hurricane scored on their first drive, moving 74 yards in 4 plays, culminating when QB C.J. LOVELACE hit JAYLEN HEARD for a 50-yard pass before O’JAY CULLINS scored on a 6-yard run. Jonesboro led 7-6 at halftime and 14-6 in the fourth period when Cullins scored a 1-yard TD with 6:04 left. Cabot scored a touchdown with 5 seconds left to get within 14-12, but the Jonesboro defense denied the potential tying 2-point conversion, recovered the onside kick, and ran out the clock.
Class 5A No. 8 Camden Fairview (1-0) at No. 6 EL DORADO (1-0): El Dorado has defeated Camden Fairview 10 of the last 12 times, including 43-27 last fall. El Dorado led Class 5A Magnolia 16-8 in the fourth quarter a week ago before the Panthers tied the game at 16-16 with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. El Dorado scored the winning touchdown with 1:44 to play. RYAN POLK tossed 2 TD passes against Magnolia, 1 to JUSTIN HAMMETT and 1 to CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS; JAKAYDEN HAMILTON scored the winning TD on a 2-yard run. It was the first victory for El Dorado first-year coach Brett Shockley. Three of the past 4 meetings between these schools have been decided by 1 point, and it’s likely El Dorado wins this week if it cleans up its play on special teams.
Class 7A NO. 8 FAYETTEVILLE (0-1) at NR W. Memphis (0-1): This is the first meeting of these schools since the opening round of the 2010 playoffs, when Class 7A Fayetteville and quarterback Brandon Allen won at West Memphis 34-20. West Memphis led Class 5A Valley View 6-0 in the first period last week before losing 34-13. QB ANDREW CLAY hit receiver LARRY TUCKER for a 34-yard TD on fourth down for the first score. Blue Devils linebacker CARRELLE MILLER had 2 tackles for loss and JEREMIAH DAVIS intercepted a pass. West Memphis is plotting a playoff return this fall despite rostering 7 seniors, but beating Fayetteville is too much to ask this season.
OPEN No. 1 Benton
6A WEST
Marion (0-1) at LAKE HAMILTON (0-1): See Game of the Week.
No. 5 Mountain Home (0-1) at Class 5A NO. 10 HARRISON (1-0): Harrison leads the all-time series against Mountain Home 56-20-3, but the Bombers have won the past 3, including 28-14 last September. Mountain Home lost its opener 12-7 to Class 5A Farmington when the Cardinals recovered 2 Bombers fumbles and turned them into touchdowns. Mountain Home senior defensive back GUS WILBER returned an interception 52 yards for a TD for the Bombers’ only score. Mountain Home led 7-0 at halftime. Anything goes in a rivalry game, but the Bombers have gained the upper hand in recent years, and the Baxter County outfit keeps it going this week.
Class 7A SPRINGDALE (0-1) at No. 4 Van Buren (1-0): Springdale has won 12 of the past 16 meetings, including 52-41 last fall. Van Buren led Class 5A Alma 33-6 at halftime last week en route to a 41-20 victory in the annual “Battle of the Bone.” Pointers QB HAYDEN WILLIFORD completed 12 of 19 passes for 114 yards and 2 TDs, and he added a team-high 101 rushing yards with another score. Tailback HAYDEN CHRISTENBERRY added 71 rushing yards and a score. Six Pointers caught passes against Alma, led by KANNEN RUSSELL (5-51 receiving, TD). JAXSON SILVERS and DONOVAN AKINS led the Pointers’ defense with 8 tackles apiece. Van Buren believes it can compete for the 6A West crown this fall, but Springdale has too much in this one.
No. 10 FS Southside (0-1) at SALLISAW, Okla. (1-0): Fort Smith Southside fell behind Fort Smith Northside 14-0 early in the second quarter of last week’s 21-7 defeat. The Mavericks got an 8-yard TD pass from QB MICHAEL NOLEWAJKA to JEFFREY CLUNN for their only score. Nolewajka completed 18 of 30 passes against Northside for 180 yards, and it took the Mavericks 32 carries to rush for 100 yards (3.1 yards per carry). Seven Southside receivers caught passes last week, led by WILL BOST’s 5 receptions for 67 yards. This could be a low-scoring affair, but Sallisaw is able to grind out just enough points to improve to 2-0.
NR LR Catholic (0-1) vs. JOHN PAUL II (Texas): This game will be played at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Little Rock Catholic lost its opener 49-14 to Class 5A power Joe T. Robinson. The Rockets allowed 342 yards passing and 4 TDs to 2 Senator QBs, and surrendered 117 yards rushing on 23 carries (5.1 yards per carry). LR Catholic scored first on a 35-yard run by senior QB PHILLIPS BLAIR in the first period. Little Rock Catholic found tough sledding last week against the defending Class 5A state champions, and John Paul II’s defense makes the difference in this one.
Class 5A No. 18 Alma (0-1) at NR RUSSELLVILLE (0-1): Russellville has won the past 2 meetings, but they have not met since 2019 when the Cyclones won 31-21. Russellville lost its 13th consecutive game last Friday night in a 34-13 defeat to Class 5A Morrilton, but the Cyclones did rush for more than 200 yards, including 102 yards from tailback SAM CALLAHAN and 91 yards from QB TALEN HINDSMAN, who completed 7 of 23 passes and a TD, while senior receiver MARCELLUS OLSON-PATTON caught 5 passes for 36 yards and a score. Morrilton outgained Russellville 297-266, but Russellville won the time of possession 30:10-17:50.
No. 7 SHERIDAN (1-0) at NR LR Southwest (0-1): See notes in 6A East section.
OPEN Siloam Springs (0-1)