Class 6A Week 5 Rankings and Picks
CLASS 6A RANKINGS
Week 5, 2025
RK. – PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 4 RESULT)
1. ↔ 1. Greenwood (4-0; beat Shiloh Christian 35-24)
2. ↔ 2. Shiloh Christian (2-2; lost at Greenwood 35-24)
3. ↔ 3. Benton (3-1; beat Jonesboro 55-24)
4. ↔ 4. Marion (3-1; beat Sylvan Hills 49-46)
5. ↔ 5. Mountain Home (4-0; beat FS Southside 39-21)
6. ↔ 6. El Dorado (3-1; beat LR Catholic 48-31)
7. ↑ 8. Sheridan (2-2; beat West Memphis 64-20)
8. ↑ 10. Sylvan Hills (3-1; lost to Marion 49-46)
9. ↔ 9. Lake Hamilton (2-2; beat Siloam Springs 53-20)
10. ↑ NR. FS Southside (3-1; lost at Mountain Home 39-21)
NOT RANKED
6A EAST: LR Catholic (1-3), Jonesboro (1-3), W. Memphis (0-4)
6A WEST: Van Buren (2-2), Siloam Springs (2-2), Russellville (0-4)
CLASS 6A GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 5 Mountain Home (4-0) at No. 2 SHILOH CHRISTIAN (2-2)
Shiloh Christian rallied past Mountain Home 37-13 a year ago, and the winner of this game takes the inside track for the No. 2 playoff seed from the 6A West, a first-round playoff bye, and a home quarterfinal game.
Mountain Home is 4-0 for the second season in a row after beating Fort Smith Southside Mavericks 39-21. The Bombers got 182 rushing yards and 2 TDs from senior playmaker Barrett Miller, including an 80-yard TD run to seal the victory. Miller also intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart a Southside drive. Mountain Home senior QB Brantlee Phillips, who committed last week to Southeast Missouri State, completed 15 of 23 passes for 269 yards and 2 TDs, and he added a short rushing score. WR Carter Adkins (7-108 receiving, TD) and Bryce Kincade (33-yard TD catch) led the receivers. Isaac Ballard kicked a 32-yard field goal and was 4 for 4 on extra points.
Shiloh Christian must bounce back after an emotional 35-24 loss at Greenwood. The Saints got 3 TDs from tailback Max Eldridge (19-121 rushing), and a 37-yard TD toss from Cole Creighton (13-29 passing, 195 yards, TD) to Chandler Kemp. The TD pass to Kemp gave Shiloh Christian a 12-7 lead, and the Saints led 18-14 just before halftime.
This game will be decided up front, with run-happy Mountain Home facing a stingy Shiloh Christian run defense. The Saints make enough plays this week to pick up a big home win.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked all 8 games (100 percent) involving Class 6A teams. Hootens.com is 47 of 54 (87 percent) on the season.
6A EAST
No. 6 El Dorado (3-1) at No. 4 MARION (3-1): El Dorado leads the all-time series 7-3, but the Patriots have won the last 3 meetings, including 34-28 at El Dorado in 2024.
El Dorado scored on 6 of 8 true possessions (not counting kneeldowns) and topped Little Rock Catholic 49-31 a week ago. Senior tailback Jeremy Samuels (26-150 rushing, 4 TDs) and QB Cannon Jacobs (154 rushing, 2 TDs) led the rushing attack. Jacobs also completed 7 of 11 passes for 173 yards, while Brunson Brock caught two passes for 75 yards and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a TD. Opposing coaches credit El Dorado’s punishing running game to its strong offensive line play and a deep stable of backs who make plays.
Marion led upstart Sylvan Hills 26-19 last week at halftime and went up 39-19 in the third period before holding on for a 49-46 victory at Bill Blackwood Field. The Patriots scored 26 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to create enough separation. Marion senior QB Zayden Walker rolled up a combined 180 yards and 3 TDs, including 2 TD tosses to senior receiver Aamoni Wren. Patriots tailback Rico Ward ran 23 times for 109 yards and two scores; senior safety Kajeris Hill ran 4 times for 23 yards and 2 TDs. Senior DE Zimran Phelix had five tackles, including three sacks. Zadean Wilson had nine tackles, including 1 TFL. Senior guard Jasean Burks returned to the lineup last week after missing the first three games, and the Patriots are trending towards full health after missing four starters last week at Sylvan Hills.
Marion has beaten El Dorado once at home, 27-23 in 2022, but the Patriots passing game has continued to evolve throughout September, and Marion’s offensive balance gives it a boost on Friday night.
No. 8 Sylvan Hills (3-1) at No. 3 BENTON (3-1): Benton has won the last 3 meetings with Sylvan Hills by a combined 155-31, including 49-0 last fall.
Sylvan Hills led most of the first half last week against Marion, and had the ball with 40 seconds left in the game with a chance to tie or take the lead in an eventual 49-46 loss last week Friday night. Senior QB Tyler Hampton completed 27 of 39 passes against Marion for 285 yards and 4 TDs, and he added a rushing TD. Sylvan Hills outgained Marion 455-354, and won the turnover battle 2-1. The Bears led 7-6 after 1 quarter and 19-13 with less than 5 minutes left in the first half.
Benton outscored Jonesboro 17-0 last week in the fourth quarter to clinch a 55-24 victory behind senior QB Drew Davis’s 6 total touchdowns (4 rushing and 2 passing). Davis’ TD tosses went to Jon Curtis Barger and Karson Collatt; Sylvan Hills solidified its status as the state’s top turnaround story, and the Bears can score with anyone, but Benton continues to get injured players back at receiver and on the offensive line, giving it the edge.
Memphis (0-4) at LR CATHOLIC (1-3): These teams have split their past 4 meetings, with Little Rock Catholic winning 41-13 last fall. West Memphis led Sheridan 6-0 in the first quarter last week after a 5-yard Carlos Williams TD run, and the lead was 13-8 after Kobe Birdo returned an interception for a TD. But the Yellowjackets outscored the Blue Devils 56-7 from that point. Dallan Harris continues to play well up front, looking like one of the league’s top offensive linemen in 2024. Little Rock Catholic lost 49-31 a week ago at El Dorado despite passing for 242 yards, including big plays of 33, 24, 37, 47, 31, and 33 yards. Linkoln Perez added a 38-yard field goal. Sam Boozer intercepted a pass, leading to Ben Gassaway catching a 24-yard TD pass with 9:19 left in the second quarter to get Catholic within 14-10. Philips Blair accounted for 3 TDs, including 2 rushing. The loser of this game faces long odds to make the playoffs, and we like the Catholic Rockets’ timely offense and kicking game.
Jonesboro (1-3) at No. 7 SHERIDAN (2-2): Jonesboro has won all four meetings between the teams, including 49-28 last year. Jonesboro battled Benton in a 55-24 loss a week ago, getting 2 TD tosses from Asa Myers to Kameron Davis. Jonesboro trailed 21-10 after the first quarter, 28-17 at halftime, and 38-24 after 3 quarters. Jonesboro ran for 3.3 yards per carry against Benton. Seniors Eric Blocker (8 tackles against Benton) and Noah Wendel (6 stops) paced the Golden Hurricane defense. Sheridan blasted past West Memphis 64-20 last week, scoring 48 consecutive points. The Yellowjackets rolled up 11 more first downs than West Memphis and gained 470 yards on 58 plays (8.1 yards per play). Sheridan QBs Dax McMellon and Easton Barksdale combined to complete 29 of 46 passes for 470 yards and 6 TDs with one interception. Junior tailback Zay Stephens ran 11 times for 73 yards and 3 TDs. Receivers Walker Shields, J.P. Black, Hunter Socia, Dylan Smith, Jaden Greene, and Eli Turner each caught a TD pass. Jaxson Delk (9 tackles, four tackles for loss) led the Sheridan defense; Reid Stevens (8 tackles) and Ross Stevens (5) contributed. This game could decide which team gets a home playoff game, with the other playing on the road. Sheridan uses that same home-field advantage and a big-play offense to win.
6A WEST
No. 1 GREENWOOD (4-0) at Russellville (0-4): Greenwood has won 14 of the past 15 meetings, but the Cyclones’ victory came by a 37-23 score in the 2016 Class 6A state title game. Greenwood rolled Russellville 63-14 last fall.
Russellville came up with its best showing of the season last week, losing 49-42 at Van Buren. The Cyclones were tied at 7-7 after a quarter, trailed 22-21 at halftime, and completed 3 quarters tied at 35-35. The Cyclones rushed for 400 yards, led by Marcellus Olson-Patton (182 yards) and Sam Callahan (152 rushing, 4 TDs)/ Olson-Patton also passed for 79 yards and a TD. Greenwood survived a high-caliber slugfest last week, coming up with its best defensive effort of the
season in a 35-24 victory over No. 2 Shiloh Christian, the Bulldogs’ 72nd straight victory inside Smith-Robinson Stadium. Greenwood led 21-18 at halftime and scored on consecutive possessions in the second half to pull away. The Bulldogs rushed for 230 yards against the Saints, led by senior tailback Wesley Raggio’s 115 yards and 2 TDs, while Mario Dunbar ran for 45 yards and a TD. Senior QB Kane Archer completed 17 of 30 passes for 175 yards and a TD, and he added 45 rushing yards and another score. Brayden Renick (6-60 receiving) and Braxton Canada (3-51 receiving, TD) led the receivers. Drew Dickinson, Bryer Hackler, Cody Johnson, Travis Shelton, and Jayden Foster recorded 6 tackles apiece for the Bulldogs, while D.J. Dobbins intercepted a key pass.
Greenwood must avoid a hangover after taking control of the 6A West last week, but the Bulldogs defense continues to deliver big plays, and the offense keeps clicking this week.
No. 5 Mountain Home (4-0) at No. 2 SHILOH CHRISTIAN (2-2): See Class 6A Game of the Week for comments.
No. 9 LAKE HAMILTON (2-2) at No. 10 FS Southside (3-1): Lake Hamilton survived Fort Smith Southside last year, winning 26-24.
FS Southside trailed Mountain Home 25-21 in the fourth quarter last week, but the Bombers scored 14 unanswered points to close out a 39-21 victory. The Mavericks got 2 TD catches from all-state performer Payton Zimmerman; Blake Forsgren threw 2 TD passes.
Lake Hamilton beat Siloam Springs 53-20 last week, with the Wolves rolling up 452 yards, including 286 passing. Sophomore Jace Bohannan (19-25 passing, 2 TDs) led the offense; Hudson Davenport threw an 11-yard TD pass. Four Lake Hamilton rushers ran for 23 yards or more, led by Bohannan’s 56 yards and 3 TDs. Carson Jackson and Coy Autrey added rushing scores. Jackson (11-201 receiving, 3 TDs) led the pass catchers. Mason Peters and Blaine Sears led the defense with 7 tackles apiece.
Fort Smith Southside’s defense has allowed 200 rushing yards or more in the past 2 outings, and Lake Hamilton likes to run the football. That’s why the Wolves win this matchup.
VAN BUREN (2-2) at Siloam Springs (2-2): Van Buren has won 4 of the past 5 meetings with Siloam Springs, including 45-11 last season. Siloam Springs trailed Lake Hamilton 14-6 after the first quarter a week ago, but fell 53-20. Lake Hamilton outgained Siloam Springs 444-170, including 286 yards passing, and Lake Hamilton won the turnover battle 3-1. Freshman QB Titus Benson, senior tailback Mason Short, Boaz Benson, and Hudson Loughridge have been consistent performers for Siloam Springs this fall.
Van Buren outlasted Russellville 49-42 in a back-and-forth affair at home. The Pointers outgained the Cyclones 541-479, rolling up 314 yards passing and 227 rushing yards. QB Hayden Williford (13-24 passing, 314 yards, 3 TDs) and RB Hayden Christenberry (29-175 rushing, 3 TDs) spearheaded the offense. Austin Riggs (6-154 receiving, 2 TDs) and Toray Wilford (4-102 receiving, TD) contributed. Van Buren is 0-2 on the road, but its potent offense should be enough to get the Pointers to 2-0 in the 6A West.