Class 6A Week 11 Rankings and Playoff Selections

RK.— PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 10 RESULT)

1. ↔ 1. Sheridan (10-0; beat El Dorado 46-27)
2. ↔ 2. Benton (7-3; beat Marion 56-17)
3. ↔ 3. Van Buren (9-1; beat Lake Hamilton 28-27)
4. ↔ 4. Searcy (8-2; beat Sylvan Hills 38-24) 
5. ↔ 5. Mountain Home (8-2; beat FS Southside 38-6)
6. ↔ 6. Sylvan Hills (5-5; lost to Searcy 38-24)
7. ↔ 7. Lake Hamilton (6-4; lost to Van Buren 28-27)
8. ↔ 8. El Dorado (6-4; lost at Sheridan 46-27)
9. ↔ 9. Jonesboro (5-5; won at W. Memphis 48-41) 
10. ↔ 10. FS Southside (4-6; lost to Mountain Home 38-6)

NOT RANKED

6A EAST: Marion (1-9), W. Memphis (1-9)

6A WEST: LR Catholic (4-6), Siloam Springs (1-9), LR Southwest (0-10), Russellville (2-8).

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 8 of 8 games (100 percent) involving Class 6A teams and has picked 80 of 102 games (79 percent) for the season.

WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS (Favored team in ALL CAPS and HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

6A East No. 5 El Dorado (6-4) at 6A West No. 4 FS SOUTHSIDE (4-6): The winner advances to next week’s Class 6A state quarterfinal at Sheridan. El Dorado battled 6A East champion Sheridan for 4 quarters last week, leading 17-16 at halftime before falling 46-27. Wildcats tailback Jaylon Dunn (17-75 rushing), Trayden Cook-King (11-62 rushing) and Christian Williams (3-90 receiving) all scored touchdowns; Diego Aguilar kicked 2 field goals. Fort Smith Southside clinched its first home playoff game since 2014 despite losing 38-6 at Mountain Home. The Mavericks trailed 3-0 after the first quarter, but the deficit was 24-0 at halftime. Southside junior quarterback Michael Nolewajka threw for 76 yards and a TD to Terrell Warren, but the Mavericks were held to 80 rushing yards (3.3 yards per carry). Southside sophomore Sawyer Pierce (11 tackles) and Thad Sexton (10 tackles) led the defense. El Dorado’s 275-mile trip to Fort Smith, the longest in the opening round of the Class 6A state playoffs, takes its toll as Southside wins a thriller. 

TOP OF THE BRACKET

FIRST-ROUND BYE: West No. 1 Van Buren (9-1)

6A West No. 5 LR Catholic (4-6) at 6A East No. 4 SYLVAN HILLS (5-5): Little Rock Catholic has won 3 of the past 4 meetings between these schools, but Sylvan Hills won 50-22 a season ago. The winner plays at Van Buren in next week’s quarterfinals. Catholic recorded its second shutout of the season last week (35-0) at Little Rock Southwest. The Rockets led 7-0 after a quarter, 14-0 at halftime, and 28-0 after 3 quarters. QB Phillips Blair (6-7-53 passing; 11-121 rushing, TD) and senior tailback Luke Burdine (16-130 rushing, 3 TDs) led the offense; senior Pate Capps (10 tackles), William Robertson (6), Bryson Hendon (5) and Silas Smith (fumble recovery, interception) led on defense. Sylvan Hills dropped its regular-season finale 38-24 to Searcy, allowing 526 yards. Bears QB Caden Burnett completed 20 passes for 194 yards and ran 8 times for 75 yards. This is the shortest road trip in the opening playoff round, less than 25 miles up and back, but Sylvan Hills rides its diverse offense to victory this week. 

FIRST-ROUND BYE: East No. 2 Benton (7-3).

6A East No. 6 Jonesboro (5-5) at 6A West No. 3 LAKE HAMILTON (6-4): Lake Hamilton won the previous 2 meetings between these schools, nonconference games in 2022 and 2023. The winner advances to play at Benton in next week’s Class 6A state quarterfinals. Jonesboro outlasted West Memphis 48-41 a week ago on the road behind QB C.J. Lovelace’s 5 total touchdowns. K’Den Hawkins added 2 TDs, including a kickoff-return score. Jonesboro led 27-19 at halftime and 41-19 early in the third quarter.  Lake Hamilton lost 28-27 at Van Buren last week. Wolves QB Jace Bohannan (24-35-373 passing; 10-32 rushing, TD) triggered the offense, with help from senior Braxton Schmidt (25-91 rushing, 2 TDs) and Blaine Sears (4-yard TD run). D.J. Wilson and J.J. Johnson each topped 100 yards receiving. Blaine Sears led the Lake Hamilton defense with 6 tackles. We like Lake Hamilton at home, peaking at the right time. 

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET

FIRST-ROUND BYE East No. 1 seed Sheridan (10-0 overall).

FIRST-ROUND BYE West No. 2 seed Mountain Home (8-2).

6A East No. 5 El Dorado (6-4) at 6A West No. 4 FS SOUTHSIDE (4-6): See Game of the Week, above.

6A West No. 6 Russellville (2-8) at 6A East No. 3 SEARCY (8-2): The winner here advances to next week’s Class 6A state quarterfinals at Mountain Home. Russellville returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2024 after last week’s 57-21 victory over Siloam Springs. The game was tied 7-7 after the first period, but the Cyclones outscored the Panthers 35-7 in the second to take control. Russellville tailback Sam Callahan (28-204 rushing, 4 TDs) accounted for more than half of the Cyclones’ 371 offensive yards; QB Asher Swindler (4-5-106 passing, 2 TDs) threw TD passes to Marcellus Olson-Patton and Parker Jackson.  Searcy clinched the No. 3 playoff seed and a first-round home playoff game with last week’s 38-24 road victory at Sylvan Hills. The Lions amassed 526 yards (288 rushing and 238 passing), led by junior QB Jacob Miles (18-28-234 passing, 4 TDs; 15-152 rushing), senior tailback DeAndre Shockley (14-101 rushing, TD); senior Jackson Smith (4-107 receiving, 3 TDs) and Bryson Thompson (4-56 receiving, TD). Kayden Hickman and Will Gaines finished with 9 tackles apiece, and Jeremiah Goodman recorded a sack. Russellville has established a physical identity in 2026, but Searcy has too many weapons and will advance.