Week 5
Class 7A
Springdale Har-Ber (4-0)
Bryant (4-0)
North Little Rock (4-0)
Bentonville (2-2)
Fayetteville (1-3)
Bentonville West (4-0)
Springdale (4-0)
Conway (3-1)
Cabot (3-1)
Little Rock Catholic (2-2)
Rogers (3-1)
Fort Smith Northside (1-3)
Fort Smith Southside (1-3)
Little Rock Central (1-3)
Rogers Heritage (0-4)
Van Buren (0-4)
FAYETTEVILLE (3) at Bentonville West: Undefeated West has built 35-point leads or mercy-ruled all but one opponent (Muskogee, Okla.), averaging 45.25 points in just the first three quarters of games. Fayetteville, less talented than previous years and reeling on a three-game losing skid, brings arguably the best defense Bentonville West has seen. Fayetteville had more yards and first downs, fewer penalties and no turnovers in last week's 32-27 loss at Bentonville. Fayetteville junior QB Darius Bowers (6-2, 190) completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards last week.
BENTONVILLE HIGH (21) at Van Buren: Bentonville wins back-to-back games for the first time this season. "We're a very jekyll-and-hyde team right now," BHS coach Jody Grant says. "We had 10 turnovers the first three games (none last week) with 18 new (starters this year)." Van Buren gave up 300 yards (250 passing) and 36 points in the first half of last week's 43-28 loss to Bentonville West. Bentonville couldn't corral Conway (35-16) Week 3 but took down Fayetteville 32-27 last Friday for its 12th straight regular-season win over the Purple Dogs. Bentonville dandy noseguard Angel Gure (5-8, 270) looks to bottle up Van Buren standout RB Walter Green (5-8, 180; 4.5 speed), who led the conference in rushing last season.
SPROINGDALE HAR-BER (18) at Springdale: Both are 4-0 for the first time since the schools split in 2006. Springdale defensive tackle and Razorback commit Isaiah Nicholls (6-4, 275) leads a unit that forced six turnovers, scored a safety and held winless Heritage to 263 yards last week. Springdale allows just 17.7 ppg but hasn't been tested like it will in this matchup. Har-Ber has shut out its past three opponents with arguably the top defense in the state. The Wildcats have scored 11 sacks, 19 QB hurries and five interceptions this season. Har-Ber junior QB Grant Allen (1,048 yards passing) completes 69 percent of his tosses with 15 TDs and one interception.
Rogers Heritage at ROGERS HIGH (3): Young but previously-undefeated Rogers humbled at Har-Ber 49-0 last week. Cross-town rival Heritage likely needs a win to keep playoff hopes alive.
Class 6A
Greenwood (4-0)
El Dorado (4-0)
Pine Bluff (3-1)
West Memphis (4-0)
Jonesboro (3-1)
Searcy (4-0)
Benton (3-1)
Texarkana (2-2)
Lake Hamilton (2-2)
Russellville (2-2)
Marion (1-3)
Siloam Springs (2-2)
Mountain Home (0-4)
Sheridan (0-4)
Jacksonville (1-3)
LR Hall (1-3)
No. 2 El Dorado at NO. 1 GREENWOOD (10): Winner takes command of 6A West title chase. Greenwood beat El Dorado twice in 2016, 49-21 in the regular season and 20-3 in the quarterfinals. Greenwood has not lost a home game since the 2014 quarterfinals (24-14 to El Dorado).
Greenwood trailed at halftime last week for the first time this year (17-13 at Texarkana), but rallied for a 38-17 win. Senior quarterback and University of Arkansas commit Connor Noland completed 10 of 19 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Greenwood receiver Peyton Holt has emerged as a playmaker, capturing 29 passes for 423 yards and eight TDs this year. Greenwood surrenders just 13 points per game behind senior defensive tackle John Womack (12 tackles for loss with seven sacks).
El Dorado is 4-0 for the first time since 2011 and it seeks its first conference title since 2013. The Wildcats forced five turnovers last week in a 35-13 win over Lake Hamilton. Defensive end Donovan Walter returned a fumble 94 yards for a TD and safety Kameron Buie intercepted two passes. El Dorado is road-tested, having already won at Class 7A Cabot (28-24 Week 2).
BENTON (24) at Siloam Springs: Benton sophomore receiver Gavin Wells completed seven of nine passes for 111 yards and a TD in relief of injured junior QB Colin Morrow last week in a 42-20 win over Russellville. Benton produced 507 yards of offense and allowed just 279. Benton led 35-7 in the fourth quarter. Siloam Springs escaped Sheridan 31-24 last week behind QB Landon Ellis' four TD passes. Benton whipped Siloam Springs 63-0 in 2016.
Class 5A
Pulaski Academy (4-0)
Wynne (4-0)
LR Christian (4-0)
Alma (2-2)
Harrison (2-2)
Morrilton (1-3)
LR McClellan (3-1)
White Hall (4-0)
Nettleton (4-0)
Batesville (1-3)
LR Parkview (2-2)
Beebe (2-2)
Watson Chapel (2-2)
Valley View (3-1)
Sylvan Hills (2-2)
HS Lakeside (1-3)
Maumelle (2-2)
Greenbrier (1-3)
De Queen (2-2)
Blytheville (1-3)
Camden Fairview (0-4)
Farmington (2-2)
Forrest City (2-2)
Vilonia (1-3)
Magnolia (1-3)
Hot Springs (0-4)
Clarksville (1-3)
Mills (1-3)
Hope (0-4)
Greene Co. Tech (1-3)
Paragould (0-4)
LR Fair (0-4)
Farmington at ALMA (20): The Airedales began defense of the league title with a convincing 42-0 win over Vilonia. Alma senior QB Garrison Jensen has 66 carries this year for 313 yards and four TDs, and he's completed 63 of 123 passes for 921 yards and nine TDs. Farmington outscored Clarksville 61-41 last week. Senior Caleb Williams ran for 213 yards and four TDs. Williams has 398 yards and five scores in 2017.
HARRISON (18) at Clarksville: Clarksville has lost 33 of its past 37 games (including a forfeit victory last year from Maumelle). The Goblins rallied from a 21-0 deficit last week to beat Morrilton by one point. Senior QB Noah Ditmanson has passed for 729 yards and seven TDs this year, while sophomore Gabe Huskey has rushed for 552 yards and seven TDs. Clarksville outgained Farmington by 23 yards last week, but lost by 20 points. Sophomore QB Nick Buckner ran 24 times for 172 yards and two TDs and threw for a TD.
Class 4A
Warren (3-1)
Pea Ridge (4-0)
Joe T. Robinson (4-0)
Arkadelphia (4-0)
Prairie Grove (4-0)
Ashdown (4-0)
Dardanelle (3-1)
Shiloh Christian (3-1)
Mena (3-1)
Trumann (4-0)
Hamburg (2-2)
Booneville (3-1)
Nashville (2-2)
Southside Batesville (4-0)
Ozark (3-1)
Stuttgart (1-3)
Helena (4-0)
Gravette (2-2)
Heber Springs (2-2)
Pottsville (2-2)
Gosnell (1-3)
Bauxite (3-1)
Riverview (4-0)
Star City (1-3)
Dover (3-1)
Fountain Lake (2-2)
Dumas (2-2)
Monticello (2-2)
Jonesboro Westside (3-1)
Malvern (1-3)
Waldron (2-2)
Pocahontas (1-3)
Crossett (0-4)
Gentry (2-2)
Lonoke (1-3)
Harrisburg (3-1)
Highland (0-4)
Brookland (3-1)
Huntsville (1-3)
CAC (0-4)
Lincoln (1-3)
Dollarway (0-3)
DeWitt (1-3)
Berryville (1-3)
Subiaco Academy (2-2)
Cave City (0-4)
West Fork (0-4)
Baptist Prep (0-4)
4A-1
Berryville at GENTRY (20): Gentry QB Jon Faulkenberry gashed Pea Ridge early last week (47-yard run and 22-yard pass on first drive). Faulkenberry has passed for 881 yards and nine TDs this fall, and rushed for 429 yards and 11 TDs. Berryville has lost three straight games, failing to score in two of them.
PEA RIDGE (28) at Lincoln: Balanced Pea Ridge puts up 373 yards weekly (190 rushing, 183 passing). Senior Drew Winn averages seven yards per carry, while senior QB Jakota Sainsbury completes 65 percent of his passes for eight TDs and only two interceptions. Senior receivers Jordan Witcher (24 catches, 344 yards and three TDs) and Hayden Holtgrewe (23 catches, 350 yards and four TDs) form one of the better duos in the state. Holtgrewe returned one punt for a TD and had another negated by penalty in last week's 29-point win over Gentry. Lincoln has lost three straight since beating Westville, Okla., in the opener.
Gravette at PRAIRIE GROVE (16): Prairie Grove has won five straight over Gravette. The Tigers shutout Huntsville in the second half last week, winning by 27 points. They've given up just 20 points in the second half of four games this fall. Gravette rushes for 242 yards weekly. Senior Austin O'Brien paces the Lions with 67 carries for 660 yards and seven TDs.
Huntsville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (25): Shiloh Christian hasn't allowed a point the past two weeks, stomping Pottsville and Berryville by a combined 84-0. Saint senior QB Landon Brown threw four TD passes in the first half of last week's 35-0 win at Berryville. Huntsville trailed unbeaten Prairie Grove 21-14 in the second quarter last week, as junior Blake Wittington caught a pair of TD passes. But the Eagles failed to score in the final two quarters. Half of Wittington's six catches this season resulted in TDs.
4A-4
Pottsville at DARDANELLE (14): Dardanelle scored 35 points in the second quarter of last week's mercy-rule win over previously unbeaten Dover. Sand Lizard senior QB Elyas Carter completed 14 of 16 passes for 263 yards and five TDs, and ran 74 yards and two TDs. Pottsville rushes for 318 yards per game. Junior Kade England has more than 400 yards rushing. Sophomore Emiliano Torres ran three times for 82 yards against Booneville and has 186 yards this season.
Subiaco Academy at DOVER (23): Dover led Dardanelle 8-7 in the second quarter last week, but failed to score again in a 48-point setback. The Pirates average 28 ppg. Subiaco Academy's two wins this fall are as many as the Trojans won the previous two seasons combined.
BOONEVILLE (4) at Ozark: These rivals have split the past eight meetings, including Ozark's 21-point win in the 2012 playoffs. But Booneville leads the all-time series 49-26-2. Booneville has won three straight this season since losing to No. 2 Pea Ridge in the opener. Booneville QB Brandon Ulmer completed four of nine passes for 111 yards in last week's 21-point win over Pottsville, while Andrew Roberson ran for 80 yards and a pair of TDs, including a 61-yard sprint. Ozark led Waldron 35-0 last week before winning by 33 points. Hillbilly junior QB Dawson Dietz completes 40 of 68 passes this season for 806 yards and nine TDs, but he's thrown seven interceptions. Sophomore Daniel Woolsey paces Ozark with 57 carries for 339 yards and seven TDs.
WALDRON (27) at West Fork: Improved Waldron averages 27 points per game, while West Fork has scored 26 points this season. Waldron senior Trey Williams has 135 yards passing, 535 yards rushing this year, and he averages three tackles per game in the secondary.
Class 3A
Prescott (4-0)
Charleston (4-0)
Junction City (4-0)
Clinton (4-0)
Rivercrest (3-1)
Glen Rose (3-1)
Mayflower (4-0)
Harding Academy (2-2)
Smackover (2-2)
Newport (3-1)
Piggott (3-1)
Jessieville (3-1)
Greenland (3-1)
Melbourne (4-0)
Bald Knob (2-2)
Fordyce (2-2)
McGehee (2-2)
Atkins (3-1)
Osceola (3-1)
Hoxie (2-2)
Elkins (3-1)
Cedar Ridge (2-2)
H. Grove Haskell (2-2)
Fouke (3-1)
Centerpoint (3-1)
Barton (3-1)
Lamar (2-2)
Paris (2-2)
Horatio (3-1)
Walnut Ridge (2-2)
Mansfield (1-3)
Gurdon (2-2)
Perryville (3-1)
Episcopal (1-3)
Manila (1-3)
Rose Bud (3-1)
Marshall (0-4)
Lake Village (2-2)
Drew Central (2-2)
Green Forest (2-2)
Bismarck (2-2)
Mountain View (0-4)
Genoa Central (1-3)
Cedarville (1-3)
Yellville-Summit (0-4)
Corning (0-4)
Marianna (0-4)
Two Rivers (0-4)
3A-1
CLINTON (24) at Green Forest: Clinton grounded Green Forest 42-14 in 2016. Clinton did not allow a point for nine straight quarters until the second against Greenland in a 31-6 win. The Yellow Jackets collected 275 yards of offense. Green Forest completes 20 percent of its passes for 16 yards weekly. Last week, Green Forest rushed for a season-best 245 yards in a 24-16 win over Marshall.
Mountain View at ELKINS (21): Mountain View beat Elkins 30-23 last year to earn a share of the league title with the Elks and Clinton. Elkins has won four of the past seven meetings. Elkins sophomore quarterback Quinn McClain completed 10 passes for 134 yards last week, with senior Layne Evans snatching six passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Elkins limited Yellville-Summit to 24 yards on 29 carries last week in a 46-12 win, and has won three straight since losing Week 1 to Class 4A Shiloh Christian.
Yellville-Summit at GREENLAND (22): Greenland rushes for 258 yards and passes for 174 yards weekly. Senior Chandler Alaniz, a 2016 all-conference receiver, paces Greenland with 177 yards receiving and two TDs. Last week, Yellville-Summit sophomore QB Eli Cagle was seven of 12 passing for 92 yards and a TD in a 46-12 loss. Greenland downed Yellville-Summit 40-20 in 2016.
Marshall at MELBOURNE (25): Melbourne averages 40 points per game with 11 receivers catching passes. Melbourne two-way standout Alex Bray recorded 18 tackles (three for loss) and a sack last week and added nine catches for 118 yards in a 31-14 win at Mountain View. Marshall allows 37 points weekly and is 0-4 for the first time since 2013. Melbourne escaped Marshall 21-15 a year ago.
3A-4
Paris at CHARLESTON (14): Charleston looks to win its 17th straight at home. Tiger senior Mason Wisdom leads with a team-best 21 catches for 356 yards and six TDs. Paris held Mansfield to 69 yards rushing and just one of 10 on third downs in last week's 19-12 win. Charleston won at Paris 42-6 last year.
Two Rivers at ATKINS (24): Atkins dropped its opener at Class 4A Dover but has not lost since. Atkins downed Lamar 33-11 last week when QB Zack Harris completed 13 of 20 passes for 199 yards and three TDs. Two Rivers defensive lineman Eric Walton (16 tackles and two sacks) and Lance Johnson (23 tackles, 1 interception) try to slow the Red Devils. Atkins won at Two Rivers 41-0 last year.
LAMAR (3) at Mansfield: Lamar gains 5.2 yards per rush but only passes for 37.5 yards weekly. Mansfield forced three turnovers and recorded seven tackles for loss in last week's 19-12 loss to Paris. Lamar mashed Mansfield last year 49-17.
PERRYVILLE (12) at Cedarville: Perryville slipped Cedarville 29-26 a year ago. Perryville has posted consecutive shutouts in wins over Class 2A Poyen (6-0) and Two Rivers (53-0) and its only loss was against 4-0 Mayflower. Cedarville (19 points weekly) is 5-29 against Arkansas teams since 2013 (two wins over Pocola, Ok.).
Class 2A
Mount Ida (4-0)
Rison (4-0)
Hampton (3-1)
Conway Christian (4-0)
McCrory (3-1)
Bearden (2-2)
Hector (3-1)
C. Harmony Grove (1-3)
Des Arc (2-2)
Danville (4-1)
Foreman (3-0)
Earle (3-1)
Hazen (2-2)
Marked Tree (3-1)
Parkers Chapel (3-1)
Mountainburg (3-1)
E. Poinsett County (3-1)
Hackett (2-1)
Strong (3-1)
Salem (2-2)
Palestine-Wheatley (3-0)
Magnet Cove (1-3)
Poyen (0-4)
Cross County (1-3)
England (1-3)
Mineral Springs (0-4)
Lafayette County (1-3)
Mountain Pine (3-1)
Carlisle (0-3)
Lavaca (1-3)
Magazine (2-2)
Cutter M. Star (2-2)
J.C. Westside (2-1)
Clarendon (1-3)
Bigelow (1-3)
Spring Hill (1-3)
Quitman (1-3)
Murfreesboro (0-4)
Dierks (0-4)
Marvell (0-3)
Woodlawn (1-3)
Brinkley (0-4)
Decatur (0-3)
W. Yell County (1-2)
Midland (1-3)
Rector (0-2)
Hermitage (0-4)
2A-4
DANVILLE (27) at J.C. Westside: Danville's starting defense, led by junior middle linebacker J.T. Tatum's 10 tackles and three TFL, held Western Yell County to 60 yards last week. Danville's starting defense has allowed six points since the opening loss to Conway Christian. Danville junior tackle Jarrique Hinton's three pancake blocks cleared the way for junior RB Quentin Tolbert's 106 rushing yards and four TDs vs. WYC.
Decatur at MAGAZINE (16): Decatur allowed 454 yards (11.35 yards per play) last week to No. 16 Mountainburg. Magazine managed 164 yards last week against Hackett with sophomore FB Caleb Hyatt as the workhorse.
Lavaca at MOUNTAINBURG (11): Lavaca senior QB Ryan Dockery returned from an injury last week to account for more than 200 yards in a 13-point win over J.C. Westside. Junior LB Trevon Moore paces the Golden Arrows in tackles, while junior FB/DB Trey Werner leads on both sides of the ball. Mountainburg averaged 19 yards per passing play and 9.4 yards per rush last week in a blowout of Decatur. Senior QB Robert Roxin and slotback/safety Dillon Jones perform consistently for Mountainburg.
HACKETT (33) at W. Yell County: Hackett cannot afford to look ahead to the Week 7 clash at Danville, and its Week 2 loss to Mountainburg should prevent that. Hackett led Magazine 38-0 at half, and its first-team defense held the Rattlers to 67 yards for the game. Senior LB Liam Connally paced Hackett with with seven stops, and senior LB Malachi Crone returned an interception 89 yards for a TD.
Sports on 09/29/2017