Class 6A Week 10 Rankings and Selections

HOOTENS.COM

WEEK 10, 2026

RK.— PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 9 RESULT)

1. ↔ 1. Sheridan (-0; beat Sylvan Hills 91-65)
2. ↑  3. Benton (6-3; beat W. Memphis 48-13)
3. ↑  6. Van Buren (8-1; beat Mountain Home 21-14)
4. ↔ 4. Searcy (7-2; beat Marion 48-7) 
5. ↓  2. Mountain Home (7-2; lost at Van Buren 21-14)
6. ↔ 6. Sylvan Hills (5-4; lost at Sheridan 91-65)
7. ↔ 7. Lake Hamilton (6-3; beat Siloam Springs 35-0)
8. ↔ 8. El Dorado (6-3; won at Jonesboro 28-23)
9. ↔ 9. Jonesboro (4-5; lost to El Dorado 28-23) 
10. ↔ 10. FS Southside (4-5; beat LR Southwest 44-7)

NOT RANKED

6A EAST: Marion (1-8), W. Memphis (1-8).

6A WEST: LR Catholic (3-6), Siloam Springs (1-8), LR Southwest (0-9), Russellville (1-8).

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 6 of 8 games (75 percent) last week involving Class 6A teams and has picked 72 of 94 games (77 percent) for the season.

WEEK 10 PREDICTIONS (Favored team in ALL CAPS and HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 3 VAN BUREN (8-1, 6-0) at No. 7 Lake Hamilton (6-3, 5-1)

Lake Hamilton leads the all-time series 4-2, but the Pointers won 36-7 a season ago. A Lake Hamilton victory over Van Buren and a Mountain Home win over Southside would force a perfect triangle 3-way tie atop the 6A West standings. Then it would come down to tiebreaker points, and the team with the fewest points among the three would be the No. 3 playoff seed; the top 2 teams would then go to the head-to-head result between them. Mountain Home beat Lake Hamilton 45-14 two weeks ago; Van Buren topped Mountain Home 21-14 a week ago.

Lake Hamilton led 7-0 after the first period, 21-0 at halftime and 28-0 after 3 quarters in last week’s 35-0 victory at Siloam Springs. It was the Wolves’ first shutout since last year. Lake Hamilton quarterback Jace Bohannan completed 15 of his 20 passes for 171 yards and a TD to J.J. Johnson (7-52 receiving). Bohannan and Braxton Schmidt both rushed for more than 90 yards, with Bohannan scoring 3 times. Blaine Sears (14 tackles against Siloam Springs), Reese Winston (13 stops) and Brecker Callison (10 tackles) led the Lake Hamilton defense.

Van Buren scored its biggest win in recent memory last week, beating Mountain Home 21-14. The victory gives the Pointers at least a share of their first conference championship since 1996, and Van Buren can clinch it outright this week with a win. Last week’s game was tied 7-7 at halftime. Van Buren pushed back ahead 14-7 after 3 quarters before the Bombers tied it at 14-14 in the fourth quarter. Van Buren scored the winning touchdown late in the final frame. Junior playmaker Kannen Russell threw a 27-yard touchdown pass against Mountain Home; QB Hayden Williford totaled 65 yards and a TD. Four Pointers receivers caught passes, led by Drenon Brouwer (2-38-1 receiving). Seniors Blayne Pruitt, Donovan Akins and Jaxson Silvers each recorded 13 tackles or more. These teams have been the top 6A West teams since league play opened in September, but look for Van Buren to clinch the outright league crown on defense. 

6A EAST

No. 1 SHERIDAN (9-0, 6-0) at No. 8 El Dorado (6-3, 3-3): El Dorado leads this series 24-1 all time. El Dorado stayed alive for a first-round home playoff game with last week’s 28-23 win at Jonesboro. The Wildcats would finish as the No. 4 playoff seed with a win and a Sylvan Hills loss. El Dorado would finish as the No. 5 playoff seed with a loss or a Sylvan Hills victory. El Dorado erased a 17-7 third-quarter deficit last week at Jonesboro, scoring 21 unanswered points to win by 5. Ryan Polk ran for 2 short TDs at Jonesboro, and he hit Christian Williams for the go-ahead touchdown pass with 10:29 left in the fourth period. Jaylon Dunn added a TD later in the fourth to provide some insurance. El Dorado totaled 282 yards, including 225 rushing yards, with Trayden Cook-King rushing 12 times for 55 yards. Top-ranked Sheridan clinched its first conference championship since 1987 in its wild 91-65 victory over Sylvan Hills. The 91 points are the second-most points in a single game in Arkansas high school football history. The Yellowjackets will be the No. 1 playoff seed from the 6A East and receive a first-round playoff bye. Sheridan QB Easton Barksdale (33-53-726 passing, 8 TDs) put up a spectacular stat line. Yellowjackets tailback Zay Stephens (17-131 rushing, 3 TDs; 5-119 receiving, TD), senior receiver Dylan Smith (13-319-4) and Hunter Socia (9-224-2 receiving) contributed mightily. Walker Shields also caught a TD pass. Reid Stevens and Layton Tarter led the Sheridan defense with 13 tackles apiece; Rashod Litzsey and Socai intercepted passes, with Litzsey returning his 102 yards for a TD.  El Dorado needs a win to solidify a home playoff game, but Sheridan clinches its first 10-0 regular season since 1987, and only the second in school history, this week. 

No. 9 JONESBORO (4-5, 2-4) at W. Memphis (1-8, 0-6): West Memphis has won 13 of the past 25 meetings with Jonesboro, but the Hurricane have won the past 2 meetings. West Memphis has been eliminated from playoff contention and will miss the postseason for the third consecutive year. West Memphis has 9 seniors on its roster, and QB Andrew Clay could be the first 4-year letterman in at least 50 yards for West Memphis in 2027. West Memphis battled Benton last week, led 6-0 early, then trailed 20-13 in the second quarter before losing 48-13. West Memphis managed 199 yards against Benton, led by Clay’s 158 total yards and 2 TDs, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demetris Craft. Brayden Bass intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, and Ashton Clark also recovered a fumble. Jonesboro is officially in the playoffs, and the Hurricane are locked into the No. 6 playoff seed after last week’s 28-23 home loss to El Dorado. Jonesboro led 17-7 in the third period against El Dorado before allowing 21 unanswered points in the second half. Jonesboro got a 49-yard TD pass from QB C.J. Lovelace to K’Den Hawkins, and Lovelace scored on a 1-yard rush in the second period for a 14-7 lead. Alex Glomski gave Jonesboro that 17-7 lead early in the third period. Nothing is at stake other than bragging rights, but Jonesboro wins on the road and gains momentum heading into the playoffs. 

No. 2 BENTON (6-3, 5-1) at Marion (1-8, 1-5): Benton leads the all-time series 4-3, with the Panthers having won the past 4 meetings. Marion will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004 this fall after last week’s 48-7 loss at Searcy. Marion’s only score came when senior quarterback Ben Bateman threw a touchdown pass to classmate Kam Riley in the third period. The Patriots expect to return 4 offensive line starters up front and a host of tailbacks in 2027. Benton scored the final 34 points in last week’s 48-13 home victory over West Memphis. The win locked Benton into the No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round playoff bye. The Panthers amassed 496 yards, including 301 rushing yards. Tailback Lamarion Bradley (19-197 rushing, 3 TDs) and QB Chase Cobb (10-18-151 passing, TD). Nothing to gain for either team, but Benton has impressed everyone the last few weeks, and the Panthers spoil Marion’s Senior Night on Friday. 

No. 4 SEARCY (7-2, 4-2) at No. 6 Sylvan Hills (5-4, 3-3): The all-time series is tied at 6-6, and the winner will earn the No. 3 playoff seed. Sylvan Hills needs a win to ensure itself a first-round home playoff game.  Sylvan Hills led No. 1 Sheridan 37-36 at halftime last week, and the Bears kept pace most of the night before falling 91-65, a new Arkansas high school football record for combined points (156) in a single game. Sylvan Hills QB Caden Burnett accounted for 5 total touchdowns; Jeremiah Carey scored 4 times; Kadon Williamson returned a kickoff for a TD; and E.J. Duckery scored twice. Searcy scored on 7 of its 8 first-half possessions to claim a 48-0 halftime lead over Marion en route to a 48-7 victory. The Lions outgained Marion 486-129, including 335 passing yards. Searcy junior quarterback Jacob Miles completed 12 of 16 passes for 334 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jackson Smith (3-162-2 receiving) caught a 96-yard TD pass. Will Manning and Bryson Thompson also caught TD passes. Tailback DeAndre Shockley ran for 69 yards and a score while Miles added 60 yards and a score on the ground. This game features 2 of the top-scoring offenses in Class 6A this fall, but Searcy’s underrated defense will make the difference.

6A WEST

No. 3 VAN BUREN (8-1, 6-0) at No. 7 Lake Hamilton (6-3, 5-1): See Game of the Week.

LR CATHOLIC (3-6, 2-4) at LR Southwest (0-9, 0-6): Little Rock Catholic has won the previous 2 meetings against Little Rock Southwest, which has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Gryphons could avoid their third winless season and end a 20-game losing streak with a victory here. Fort Smith Southside topped Southwest 44-7 a week ago, but the Gryphons could return their leading passer, rusher, and at least 3 starters in the offensive line in 2027. Little Rock Catholic clinched a playoff berth with last week’s 41-14 home victory over Russellville, and the Rockets are locked into the No. 5 playoff seed from the 6A West. The Rockets outgained the Cyclones 449-170 as QB Phillips Blair (5-50 passing, TD; 22-237 rushing, TD) and a TD to Hudson Brown. Two-way stalwart Luke Burdine rushed 14 times for 94 yards and 3 TDs. Catholic’s defense makes the difference on the road. 

No. 10 FS Southside (4-5, 4-2) at No. 5 MOUNTAIN HOME (7-2, 5-1): Mountain Home has won the previous two meetings of these schools, including a 42-14 playoff quarterfinal victory in 2024. Fort Smith Southside enters on a 4-game winning streak after a 44-7 home win last week over Little Rock Southwest. The victory locked the Mavericks into the No. 4 playoff seed and set up their first home playoff game in 11 years. FS Southside gets good play weekly from QB Michael Nolewajka (1,330 passing yards, 13 TDs), and tailbacks Drale Morris (984 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and Terrell Warren (553 rushing, 5 TDs). Five Mavericks receivers have caught 11 passes or more this fall, led by senior Sebastian Luht (35-405-5 receiving) and junior Paul Frantz (19-210 receiving, 2 TDs). Seniors Alexander Garcia, Dallas Dubose and Layden Rowe each have more than 50 tackles. Mountain Home lost 21-14 to Van Buren last week as the Pointers’ defense stuffed the Bombers late in the fourth period near the goal line. A Bombers win here, and a Lake Hamilton victory over Van Buren, would give the Bombers a share of their first conference title since 2006. Mountain Home outgained Van Buren 331-189, and recorded 23 first downs compared to Van Buren’s 14. The Bombers allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown and a double-pass TD. Sophomore QB Connor Gentry (11-19-114 passing; 22-62 rushing) and Nazsier Johnson (33-139 rushing, 2 TDs) led the Bombers. We like Mountain Home’s defense and its home-field advantage. 

Siloam Springs (1-8, 1-5) at RUSSELLVILLE (1-8, 1-5): Russellville leads the all-time series against Siloam Springs 10-4, but Siloam Springs won last year 21-6. The winner of this year’s game earns the sixth and final playoff spot from the 6A West, while the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention. Siloam Springs absorbed its second shutout in a row last week in a 35-point defeat against Lake Hamilton. The Panthers, with 9 seniors on the roster,  likely return their top 2 passers in 2027, 5 of the top 6 rushers, 3 of the top 4 receivers, and potentially 3 starters in the offensive line. Russellville seeks its first playoff appearance since 2024 under first-year coach Derek Davis. Little Rock Catholic topped Russellville 41-14 a week ago, but the Cyclones got 26 yards passing from Asher Swindle, 145 yards rushing from Sam Callahan, and 16 yards receiving from Marcellus Olson-Patton. A playoff appearance would energize either team’s offseason, and we are taking Russellville and its punishing rushing attack.