Class 7A
7A Rankings
Week 0, 2025
1. Bryant
2. Bentonville
3. Fayetteville
4. Conway
5. Rogers
6. Cabot
7. Bentonville West
8. LR Christian
9. Pulaski Academy
10. Springdale
7A Central Unranked:
Little Rock Southwest
Little Rock Central
North Little Rock
7A West Unranked:
Rogers Heritage
Springdale Har-Ber
Fort Smith Northside
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 BENTONVILLE vs. Tulsa Union (Okla.) Bentonville looks to avenge last year’s season-opening 42-35 OT loss to Oklahoma heavyweight Tulsa Union. Both are considered top contenders for the state titles.
Jody Grant’s Tigers, picked No. 1 in the 7A‑West coaches poll, have made a habit of turning tough nonconference schedules into deep December runs. Last year’s Week 0 loss was the first of 3 to start the season, but Bentonville won 8 in a row before losing to Bryant in the state championship game.
The Tigers’ identity is clear: feed all‑state RB Chris Ficklin (1,310 rushing yards, 17 TDs) behind a rugged front and let new full‑time QB Cole Slepecki deal to Arkansas commit Blair Irvin III. The defense has star power — DL Will Neumann (multi‑event state champ in track), LB Eli Pearson, and burner CB Tristan Brown (4 INT, 4.4 speed).
STORYLINES, STAR POWER: Bentonville has had this matchup circled since the schedule was released, with senior QB Slepecki now the clear QB1; he’s accurate, steady, and keeps the chains moving. The run game is legit with all‑state back Ficklin and bruiser James Pratt. Irvin III headlines a deep WR room with Conrad Schmitz and Jack Dunn, and track-burner Kayden Brown (state indoor 60 meters/200 meters champ; 10.6 in the 100) adds real take‑the‑top‑off speed. Grant likes this group’s blend of experience and explosiveness.
TRENCHES, DEFENSE, HIDDEN YARDS: All-state wrecking ball Will Neumann (also Arkansas’ shot/discus champ) can win at nose or end, while 700‑pound squatter Kellan Wrona is a beast at the point of attack, and Julian Grundy brings edge burst — exactly the profile you need to handle Union’s tempo and physicality. All‑state outside linebacker Eli Pearson and all-conference inside linebacker Kameran Thornton‑Mead erase space. CB Tristan Brown (4.4 speed, 4 INT in 2024) plus savvy safeties Silas Brock and Mason Meyer give Bentonville matchup answers. Do not overlook the special teams: Cooper Nix has 45‑yard FG range and flips field position with 40‑yard punts — which can provide the difference in tight, possession‑limited games.
HOW TIGERS FLIP SCRIPT: Expect Bentonville to lean on Ficklin/Pratt early, forcing Tulsa Union to crowd the box, then let Slepecki hit rhythm throws and play‑action shots to Irvin and Brown. Center Jed Rasico’s command of diagnosing defensive fronts should help the Tigers stay in plus downs, and Grant can move Neumann around defensively to attack protections. The blueprint is classic Bentonville: win early downs, explosive plays, and hidden yards in special teams. Union proved last August it can finish a 4‑quarter fistfight; Bentonville’s offseason gains and veteran core give the Tigers a path to close it out this time in the final minutes.
Bentonville leans on Ficklin’s efficiency, Neumann’s disruptive defense and a strong kicking game to edge Union in what shapes up as a 1‑score thriller.
WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in red)
Class 6A Jonesboro at No. 4 CONWAY Coach Buck James’ Wampus Cats won 42-21 in Week 0 last fall and leads the all-time series 13-1. Conway averaged 46.3 points per game in 2024 and the O-line is massive with tackles Kingston Jackson and Isaiah Bowman.
6-5 QB Wesley Tapp settled in late last season (8 TD passes) and can lean on a deep backfield: Trey Harris (976 yds, 14 TDs), Kambrien Blackmon, and Amari Davis. Julian Jones and Kayleb Kern anchor Conway’s interior defensive front — and the program’s recent fast starts indicate it will be ready for the opener.
Conway wins with a balanced offense and overall physicality.
No. 10 SPRINGDALE at Little Rock Central This is a big test for both: Brett Hobbs’ Bulldogs bring explosive multipurpose ace Carson Hayter (4.4 speed) and bruiser Rancel Orellana behind a retooled OL, while Central counters with real playmakers in the front 7 and a secondary loaded with length and offers. Special teams edge? Springdale’s A.J. Woods drills 50‑yard field goals in practice and flips the field when punting.
Springdale’s defense runs through LBs Easton Hahn and Shem Paul, plus ballhawk S Rackson Rechim. Central’s offense features Ray Stewart at RB and reliable WR Phillip Brewster; the Tigers added a headline DL (Anthony Kennedy) while corners Kendell Hill and Roy Holmes give them options in man or zone.
Springdale’s special teams and Hayter’s ability to create chunk plays are the difference in a tight contest.
Class 6A El Dorado at No. 8 LR CHRISTIAN: A year ago, LR Christian won 21–14 at El Dorado; now the Warriors host with continuity and pace. Dustin Grimmett’s crew brings back 9 offensive starters and will try to put the game in space early, but Grimmett respects the job done by Coach Chris Hill at El Dorado: “We know we’ll be facing a disciplined, experienced team that plays extremely hard.”
All‑state QB Kemp Keller (2,582 yards, 27 TD) throws to Tristian Watson (1,000-plus receiving) and has wrestler‑tough RB Jackson Ward (760 rushing yards) to close drives. A clean-tackling defense is headlined by all‑state safety Gabe Schroeder (100 tackles, 3 INT) and edge D.J. Williams (6 sacks). Hill says the Warriors are solid. “They are athletic and very well coached,” he says. “Very multiple on both offense and defense. Defense is athletic and flies to the football.”
Keller’s command and a ball-hawking secondary leads the Warriors.
No. 6 Cabot at No. 3 FAYETTEVILLE: Texas move-in QB Hank Hendrix (4,200 passing yards, 52 TDs last season) now throws to all‑state WR Catavion Taylor (776 yds, 9 TD), with RB Kaleb Johnson (494 yds) providing balance for Fayetteville. CB Brody Jones (51 tackles, 4 INT) and Arkansas‑committed S Kyndrick Williams are true closers in the secondary. Cabot counters with veteran QB Maddox McCrory (1,549 yds, 16 TDs) and a massive offensive linemen (Kenny Bowers, and Caleb Roberts) plus LB Logan Jackson.
Fayetteville Coach Casey Dick and Cabot Coach Scott Reed are respectful of each other. “Coach Reed does a great job with having his guys ready to go. So we know they will be prepared,” Dick says. Fayetteville, Reed says, has defensive length on the edges and covers ground well. “Corners have the ability to play man coverage, and as a defensive unit, they have good team speed. Offensively, they are loaded with skill players. The QB is impressive, can get the ball out quickly, is accurate, and makes good decisions.” Fayetteville leads the series 5-1, and the Bulldogs won 48-13 last fall. Dick’s team slotted No. 3 in the 7A‑West coaches poll. Expect tempo with a new star under center and a defense that rallies.
Hendrix and Taylor team up to make big plays late to lead Fayetteville to victory.
North Little Rock at No. 5 ROGERS: Coach Chad Harbison’s Mounties led the West in scoring last fall (42.6 points per game) and beat NLR 43–0 last year. With Brad Bolding rebooting NLR’s culture, this game could be a gauge to see where the Charging Wildcats are — but Rogers’ continuity at the skill spots is real.
QB Jeff Regan (2,312 passing, 1,689 rushing, 55 total TDs) is a big-time performer and WR Braxton Lindsey (1,139 yds, 14 TD) stretches the field. NLR possesses blue‑chip traits on defense with DL Justin Mitchell, LB Cyntonio Dicus, and FS Dayvian Withers (multiple interceptions), plus Bolding’s structure and energy.
Rogers’ pace and Regan’s dual‑threat ability will allow the Mounties to prevail.
Broken Arrow (Okla.) at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER: New era, new opportunity. Aaron Danenhauer (longtime Bentonville OC) installed a 1‑back offense and a 3‑4 defense, and Wildcats players responded to the spring overhaul. Broken Arrow took last year’s meeting, but Har‑Ber’s trajectory is up. “Broken Arrow is a very well-coached team,” Danenhauer says. “They have some really talented players, as well.”
QB Bryce Owens possesses pocket calmness; RB Reed McAllister is a downhill finisher; and WR Treyson Reith (6‑3) can win 50-50 balls while Austin Sandoval adds a burst in the slot. LB Jake Adams leads the defense with sideline‑to‑sideline play; corners Tony Berry (10.9 100 meters) and Sion Wilson (11.4 100 meters) provide track speed on the edges.
Har-Ber’s home-field advantage, combined with energy boost provided by new‑system buy‑in, helps spring a Week 0 upset.
No. 1 BRYANT at Class 6A Benton: The Salt Bowl returns to Saline County after a 20-year run at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Bryant, ranked No. 1 in the 7A Central coaches poll, beat Benton 52-42 last fall en route to a 13‑0 season and its sixth state title in 7 seasons. Coach Quad Sanders’ team returns explosive skill talent and a defense that allowed 13.2 points per game. Sanders says beating Benton at Benton will be a tall task. “They are returning a very experienced QB [Drew Davis] who is healthy for the first time in a while.” Says Benton Coach Brad Harris: “They have no drop-off when they rotate any defensive position, RB or WR positions.”
Keep an eye on Bryant WRs Kamauri Austin (667 yards, 15 TDs) and Caleb Tucker (453 yards, 8 TDs), with RB Zach Kertis‑Jones steady in the run game. Defensively, Bryant is stacked — Matt Ferguson, Malachi McDonald, and Gavin Momon — headlining a front that rotates bodies and stays fresh.
Hornets’ efficiency wins the fourth quarter.
Fort Smith Northside at Class 6A FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE: Rivalry night with a fresh twist: New head coach Dom Mirocke has infused Northside with a college‑style structure and 160‑man program depth. Southside won 34-27 last fall; another physical 48 minutes is on tap.
Northside has size and playmaker ability at the skill spots — QB Drew Jackson (6‑4) can sling it, WR Keelan Mendoza is a matchup piece, and TE Elijah Rogers supplies a big catch radius. DE Hunter Hanson, LB Jonah Caldera, and the Chavez twins at CB give the Grizzlies speed.
Bentonville West at Class 6A GREENWOOD: Greenwood leads the series 2–0 and won 70–35 last year, but Coach Bryan Pratt’s Wolverines are more experienced and faster across the board after going with youth last fall. Expect four quarters of tempo and chunk plays. Greenwood Coach Chris Young says that Bentonville West is “very good offensively and it all goes through the QB [Tre’ Thompson]. I’ve seen them 3 times this summer and fall, twice in 7-on-7, and once in the scrimmage vs Union. Their offense has scored a TD in every possession in all 3 of those instances.”
Thompson set program records (3,134 passing yards, 29 TDs; 435 rushing, 12 TDs), RB Braden Nash (758 rush) provides balance, and WRs Will Davis and Ryan Adjam are chain‑movers. LB Quentin Lavalais (113 tackles) and S Ashton Jones headline a defense that tackles well in space.
Edge to Greenwood QB Kane Archer and the home field, but Bentonville West looks the part of a 7A contender.
Rogers Heritage at Class 6A SILOAM SPRINGS: Rogers Heritage gets a litmus test after going winless last fall. Coach Eric Muñoz’s team returns 4 OL starters and boasts legitimate speed outside; Heritage lost 17-7 in the season-opener last fall, but this group is older, stronger, and more versatile. Siloam Springs Coach Doug Loughridge says, “They do a great job getting to the ball defensively. Offensively, they do what they do and play hard.”
The War Eagles can go a few directions at QB (with Braedon Carroll, Jack Presley and Julian Castaneda competing for time). They will grind it out with RB Evan Gordon, and attack vertically with WR Jake Stout (4.6 speed). NT Sloan Hollis (500‑lb squat), middle linebacker Tyler McFann, and 3-year starting safety Mitchell Bouchet anchor the defense. K Ronald Vizuet‑Diaz has a 45‑yard range when attempting field goals.
Heritage finishes a late drive to flip last year’s script.
No. 9 PULASKI ACADEMY at Class 5A Robinson: The Bruins (No. 3 in the 7A Central coaches’ poll after averaging 43.1 points per game last fall) won 35–21 last year and arrive with their trademark tempo attack. Expect on‑schedule throws and lots of snaps. Pulaski Academy Coach Anthony Lucas says Robinson is loaded with talent. “They are very athletic as they have always been,” Lucas says. “I had a chance to see them this summer at 7-on-7, and their skill guys are very good. … Defensively, they are fast and physical, and we’re going to have to play a complete game to beat them at their place.” It’s the Will Svoboda show at QB (an all‑state WR moving behind center) for PA, with WR Mason Greathouse and RB/WR Ja’vion Walker as go‑to outlets. Defensively, S Camp Caldwell leads a group that creates advantages with speed and pursuit angles.
PA’s pitch‑and‑catch efficiency travels and wins.