Class 6A Week 9 Rankings and Selections

Class 6A Rankings

Week 9, 2025

RK – PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 8 RESULT)

1. – 1. Greenwood (8-0; beat Van Buren 56-3)
2. – 2. Shiloh Christian (6-2; beat Siloam Springs 59-0)
3. – 3. Mountain Home (7-1; beat Lake Hamilton 42-7)
4. – 4. Sylvan Hills (7-1; beat Jonesboro 49-42)
5. – 5. Benton (6-2; beat Little Rock Catholic 63-0)
6. ↑ 7. El Dorado (5-3; beat West Memphis 51-7)
7. ↑ 8. Jonesboro (5-3; lost to Sylvan Hills 49-42)
8. ↓ 6. Van Buren (5-3; lost to Greenwood 56-3)
9. – 9. FS Southside (5-3; beat Russellville 56-15)
10. – 10. Marion (5-3; beat Sheridan 61-51)

NOT RANKED

6A EAST: LR Catholic (2-6), Sheridan (3-5), W. Memphis (0-8)

6A WEST: Lake Hamilton (2-6), Siloam Springs (2-6), Russellville (0-8)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly picked 7 of 8 games (88 percent) involving Class 6A teams and has picked 73 of 86 games (85 percent) so far in 2025.  

HOOTENS.COM CLASS 6A GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 7 Jonesboro (5-3, 3-2) at No. 6 EL DORADO (5-3, 3-2)

El Dorado has won 4 of the past 6 games against Jonesboro, including a 21-14 win last fall. This game features 2 of the 3 teams tied for fourth place with a 3-2 conference record, so a victory goes a long way toward ensuring which team hosts a first-round playoff game.

Jonesboro rolled up 406 total yards last week against Sylvan Hills before falling 49-42. Jonesboro QB Asa Myers completed 18 of 35 passes for 173 yards and a TD pass to Jacques Jordan. The Hurricane rushed for 233 yards, including 200 rushing yards and 3 TDs from senior tailback T.J. Brown; Myers rushed for 2 scores. Linebacker Noah Wendel (17 tackles) and Kenneth Douglas (10) led the defense.

El Dorado outgained West Memphis 368-105 last week in a 51-7 victory. Wildcats QB Cannon Jacobs completed 7 of 8 passes for 106 yards and 3 TDs; Jaylon Dunn rushed for more than 100 yards and 2 TDs. Jeremy Samuel and Paxton Strong also scored, and Jervalen Junior intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD.

El Dorado’s defense and the home-field advantage make the difference this week for the Wildcats.

LR Catholic (2-6, 1-4) at No. 10 MARION (5-3, 3-2): Little Rock Catholic has won all 3 meetings with Marion, including 23-14 last season at War Memorial Stadium. Catholic needs a win to stay alive in the playoff chase after losing 63-0 last week at Benton. It was the Rockets’ first shutout loss since a 42-point defeat a year ago to Benton. The Rockets play 2 QBs — Philips Blair and Hunter Markham — which could keep the Marion defense off balance. Marion trailed by 10 points or more 3 times during the first half of last week’s 61-51 victory at Sheridan. The Patriots recovered every Sheridan onside kick attempt, and held the Yellowjackets to 8 points in the second half after leading 48-43 at halftime. Marion linebacker Zadean Wilson intercepted 2 passes, returning 1 for a TD. Wilson took a direct snap for a score, and made 2 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Patriots QB Zayden Walker connected with receiver Aamoni Wren for 2 TDs. The Patriots need a victory to clinch a playoff spot and no worse than a No. 5 seed. We like Marion to come up with enough big plays to make that happen.

No. 5 BENTON (6-2, 4-1) at W. Memphis (0-8, 0-5): Benton has beaten West Memphis in 5 of the past 8 meetings, with a 49-7 victory in 2024. West Memphis needs to win its final 2 games to remain in playoff contention if Catholic loses its final 2 games. The Blue Devils got a 23-yard TD pass from Andrew Clay to Kevius Woods in last week’s 51-7 home loss to El Dorado. Benton continues to round into shape after shutting out Catholic last week. It was Coach Brad Harris’s 84th victory at Benton, making him the school’s all-time winningest head coach. QB Drew Davis threw 6 TD passes, making him Benton’s all-time leader in TD passes and passing yards. Benton led 49-0 at halftime. Will Carter (8-161 receiving, 4 TDs) and  Karson Collatt (8-101 receiving) were the top pass-catchers. West Memphis will play with desperation Friday night, but Benton is fighting for a chance to share the 6A East title, and perhaps an outright crown if Sylvan Hills drops a game.

Sheridan (3-5, 2-3) at No. 4 SYLVAN HILLS (7-1, 4-1): Sylvan Hills has won 3 of the past 5 games against Sheridan, but Sheridan won 65-41 a season ago. Sheridan led Marion for much of the first half last week before surrendering the final 14 points of the second quarter to trail 48-43 at halftime of a 61-51 loss. The Yellowjackets scored TDs on 6 of their first 8 possessions to take 3 separate leads before halftime. Sheridan got 4 first-half TDs from tailback Zay Stephens, covering 7, 58, 46, and 28 yards, while sophomore QB Easton Barksdale completed TD passes of 57 and 29 yards in the defeat. Sheridan recovered every Marion onside kick attempt last week. Sylvan Hills came from behind last week for a 49-42 win at Jonesboro. Bears QB Tyler Hampton has passed for 26 TDs and rushed for 10; Isaiah Howell needs 14 rushing yards to become Sylvan Hills’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Tavion Cunningham in 2020. Sylvan Hills trailed Jonesboro 28-14 at halftime, but fought back to tie the score at 28-28 after 3 quarters. Sheridan can clinch a playoff spot with a win, but Sylvan Hills has the inside track to the No. 1 playoff seed if it wins out, and the Bears keep the pedal to the metal again this week.

No. 7 Jonesboro (5-3, 3-2) at No. 6 EL DORADO (5-3, 3-2): See Hootens.com Class 6A Game of the Week above.

6A WEST

 No. 9 FS Southside (5-3, 2-3) at No. 1 GREENWOOD (8-0, 5-0): Greenwood has won 12 of the past 13 games against Southside, including 70-28 last fall. Southside clinches a playoff spot with a win here after beating Russellville 56-15 last week. Senior QB Blake Forsgren (9-9 passing, 138 yards, 4 TDs; 65 yards rushing, 2 TDs) led the offense. Terrell Warren rushed for 90 yards and 3 TDs and Colton Viengthong rushed for 47 yards and a TD. Wilson Key (4-60 receiving) and Peyton Zimmerman (3-56 receiving, 2 TDs) led the pass-catchers. Southside totaled 379 yards and led 14-0 after a quarter, 36-15 at halftime, and 56-15 after 3 quarters. Top-ranked Greenwood keeps rolling after adding Thursday’s 56-3 home victory over Van Buren. QB Kane Archer accounted for 434 total yards and 5 TDs against Van Buren, completing 20 of 27 passes for 313 yards and 3 TDs, and rushing for 121 yards and 2 scores. Cooper Bland (7-145 receiving, 2 TDs) and Champ Davis (7-116 receiving, TD) were Archer’s top targets. Mario Dunbar rushed for 37 yards and 2 TDs, and Wesley Raggio rushed for 28 yards and a TD. The Bulldogs yielded 73 yards and a field goal in the win. Greenwood can clinch a share of the 6A West title and the No. 1 playoff seed with a win this week, so the Bulldogs should be sufficiently motivated to play at home. 

No. 2 SHILOH CHRISTIAN (6-2, 4-1) at Lake Hamilton (2-6, 1-4): Lake Hamilton won 35-28 last year, the first meeting between the schools. Lake Hamilton clinches a playoff spot with a victory or a Siloam Springs loss this week. The Wolves lost 42-7 last Thursday night at Mountain Home, but sophomore QB Jace Bohannan completed 21 of 34 passes for 168 yards and a TD to Tyre Scott. Lake Hamilton averaged 4.6 yards per rush against Mountain Home, led by Bohannan’s 10 carries for 70 yards. Blaine Sears (7 tackles at Mountain Home), Jorden Amos (5 stops) and Fabian Garcia (5 tackles) led the Lake Hamilton defense. Shiloh Christian’s 59-0 win over Siloam Springs was its second shutout of the season. The Saints led 45-0 at halftime. Chandler Kemp tossed a 17-yard TD pass and caught a 73-yard TD toss. Griffin Mason returned to the Shiloh lineup for the first time since September and scored 3 times. Cole Creighton threw a TD pass to Zane Sluyter. Shiloh Christian remains in contention for at least a share of the league title, and maybe an outright crown if it wins out and Greenwood, which has won 34 consecutive games dating back to 2022, loses its last 2.

No. 3 MOUNTAIN HOME (7-1, 5-1) at No. 8 Van Buren (5-3, 4-1): Mountain Home is 7-1-1 over the past 9 meetings with Van Buren, including a 42-7 victory last season. Van Buren lost to Greenwood 56-3 last week, Van Buren’s first 6A West loss. Pointers QB Hayden Williford completed 9 of 20 passes for 58 yards, but they had zero yards rushing. Senior Darren Mays racked up 8 tackles; Jace Ponder, Donovan Akins, and Charlie Vaughn had 5 tackles each. Mountain Home limited Lake Hamilton to 105 rushing yards in last week’s 42-7 home victory. The Bombers got 3 TDs from senior playmaker Barrett Miller, 2 from senior QB Brantlee Philips, and a score from Connor Schulz. Miller ran 16 times for 195 yards, and Phillips racked up 164 all-purpose yards. Hunter Estes (4 tackles, fumble recovery) led the defense. The winner clinches a first-round home playoff game, but the road team wins this one behind its punishing running game and a stout defense.

RUSSELLVILLE (0-8, 0-5) at Siloam Springs (2-6, 0-5): Russellville has won 10 of its last 13 games against Siloam Springs, including 38-14 last fall. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention. Russellville gained 183 yards in last week’s 56-15 loss to Fort Smith Southside. The Cyclones lost the turnover battle 2-0. Marcellus Olson-Patton completed 2 of 3 passes for 29 yards; Edwin Castro was 1 for 3 for 1 yard. Laddereus Prince rushed 9 times for 31 yards, and Patton rushed 6 times for 71 yards and a TD.  Siloam Springs absorbed its fourth straight shutout loss last week, falling 59-0 to Shiloh Christian. The Panthers used 4 QBs — Boaz Benson, Fredy Renderos, Jack O’Brien, and Kaiden Allen. The Panthers seek their first league victory since beating Russellville 50-47 in 2020. It’s an elimination game, and it comes down to Russellville coming up with enough scoring drives to pull this one out on the road.