Class 7A
North Little Rock (7-0)
Bentonville High (4-3)
Bryant (6-1)
Conway (6-1)
Bentonville West (4-3)
Fayetteville (5-2)
FS Northside (5-2)
Springdale High (6-1)
FS Southside (3-4)
LR Catholic (4-3)
Cabot (2-5)
Springdale Har-Ber (3-4)
Van Buren (3-4)
LR Central (1-5)
Rogers High (1-5)
Rogers Heritage (0-7)
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Springdale High at NO. 6 FAYETTEVILLE (7): The 119th Battle of the Bulldogs might be the most competitive in a decade. The addition of a second high school in Springdale (Har-Ber) in 2006 made this less of a rivalry but historical it’s one of the better in Arkansas. Fayetteville (2-2 in conference play) missed two field goals and gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 56-yard TD pass in the final minute of last week’s 24-20 loss at Bentonville. Fayetteville senior QB Darius Bowers returned from injury to complete 18 of 30 passes for 293 yards and two TDs. Fayetteville has won four of the past seven state titles, including rings in 2015 and 2016 before finishing 7-4 a year ago. Springdale’s rise back to relevance has been methodical under fourth-year coach Zak Clark, a former Fayetteville QB standout. Springdale finished 0-10 in 2014 before Clark took it to a 2-8 finish in 2015, four wins in 2016 and six wins a year ago. A win this week would give Springdale seven in a season for the first time since Coach Gus Malzahn’s record-shattering squad finished 14-0 in 2005.
FS SOUTHSIDE (1) at LR Catholic: FS Southside’s Mason Gregory intercepted two passes in the first quarter of last week’s 31-14 loss to Bryant. The Mavericks have a plus-2 turnover margin this fall and average 372 yards (194 rushing) weekly.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK (18) at FS Northside: Northside led 21-7 in the third quarter last week before losing 35-21 at Conway. Northside likely has to win two of its final three games to play at home in the first round of the playoffs. Since Week 1, North LR has won all its games by double digits and is outscoring league opponents by average score of 43-17. North LR likely plays for the league title next Friday when it plays host to No. 3 Bryant.
Rogers High at BENTONVILLE (35): Bentonville rallied past Fayetteville 24-20 last week with a 56-yard TD pass in the final minute to win. The Tigers are headed for a Week 10 showdown with crosstown rival Bentonville West that likely decides the league crown. Rogers remains winless in conference play, likely needs to beat Har-Ber and Heritage the next two Fridays to make the playoffs.
BENTONVILLE WEST (35) at Rogers Heritage: Bentonville West led Springdale Har-Ber 35-0 by halftime and recorded its first shutout (45-0) in school history last Friday. Winless Heritage completed five passes (14 yards) and had five penalties (46 yards) in last week’s 38-0 loss at Van Buren.
VAN BUREN (8) at Springdale Har-Ber: Van Buren likely secured a playoff berth last week, rolling up 453 yards (6.9 yards per play), including junior Gary Phillips’ 195 yards rushing in last week’s 38-0 win over hapless Heritage. Har-Ber averages 331 yards offense weekly but totaled just 170 yards in last week’s mercy-rule loss at Bentonville West, completing 10 of 31 passes with three interceptions and rushing for just 31 yards on 23 carries.
Class 6A
Greenwood (6-1)
Benton (6-1)
West Memphis (7-0)
Searcy (6-1)
Jonesboro (4-3)
El Dorado (3-4)
Pine Bluff (2-4-1)
Russellville (4-3)
Marion (5-2)
Siloam Springs (4-3)
Lake Hamilton (4-3)
Sheridan (2-5)
Sylvan Hills (2-5)
Jacksonville (3-4)
LR Hall (1-6)
Mountain Home (0-7)
No. 2 Benton at NO. 1 GREENWOOD (10): Winner likely earns the 6A West title, No. 1 playoff seed and home-field advantage through the playoffs. Each team has won six straight following season-opening losses. Greenwood has beaten Benton the past two seasons and last year’s 33-17 win at Benton was the Bulldogs’ closest outcome. Greenwood has won 11 conference championships in 14 years under coach Rick Jones, including the last three 6A West titles. Benton last won a conference title in 2014, when it was state runner-up.
Benton, which outscores opponents 105-7 this year in the first quarter, is the top scoring team in Class 6A (45.4 points per game), but it likely starts sophomore quarterback Garrett Brown this week. Brown has started the previous two weeks and last week completed 14 of 21 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns in a 62-35 win over El Dorado. Benton’s bellcow on offense is senior running back Zak Wallace, who has rushed for 3,124 yards in his career. Wallace ran 20 times for 271 yards and two scores against El Dorado. “He hurts you because he’s tough to tackle in the first place and if you don’t get him down then he can run away from you,” Jones says. Benton junior Gavin Wells ran for a TD and passed for one last week. UCA commit Joshua George and senior left tackle Jenson White anchor a big, powerful offensive line.
Greenwood is 6-1 despite replacing Division 1 players from last year’s Class 6A state champion at QB (Connor Noland, Arkansas) and running back (Kenny Wood, Central Arkansas). Greenwood moved its top receiver, senior Peyton Holt, to QB in the preseason. Holt earned all-state honors last year when he caught 101 passes for 1,354 yards and 17 TDs. Greenwood’s second-leading returning receiver (Josh Barlow), tore an ACL in August. “We had no other choice than to progress,” Jones says. “We were looking for some other guys to step up, and luckily they have.” Senior Luke Leonard (47 catches for 55 yards and four TDs) and junior Treyton Dawson (39 receptions for 572 yards and four scores) have emerged at inside and outside receivers, respectively. Another standout who’s emerged for Greenwood is junior Logan Workman, who leads the team in tackles (56). Senior linebacker Travis Cox has pinned ball-carriers 52 times. Seniors Austin Archer and Morgan Hanna have made 49 tackles apiece.
EL DORADO (2) at Siloam Springs: Crucial game between 2-2 teams for playoff positioning. Siloam Springs knocked off Lake Hamilton 21-14 last week behind Kaiden Thrailkill’s 140 rushing yards and two TDs. Receiver Primo Agbehi caught three passes for 113 yards and a score. A Siloam win would give it tiebreakers over El Dorado and Lake Hamilton and the Panthers finish at LR Hall and home for Russellville. El Dorado has alternated losses and wins this year, having lost last week at Benton by 27 points. The Wildcats racked up 351 yards but committed turnovers and permitted Benton 649 yards (10.5 yards per play).
Class 5A
Pulaski Academy (6-1)
LR Christian (6-1)
Texarkana (6-1)
Harrison (7-0)
LR McClellan (6-1)
Blytheville (5-2)
Nettleton (6-1)
Alma (4-3)
Morrilton (3-4)
White Hall (5-1)
Greenbrier (4-3)
Camden Fairview (4-3)
LR Parkview (3-4)
Forrest City (4-3)
HS Lakeside (3-4)
Batesville (2-5)
Wynne (3-4)
Valley View (4-3)
Maumelle (4-3)
Vilonia (2-4)
Magnolia (4-3)
Farmington (3-4)
Beebe (2-5)
Watson Chapel (1-4-1)
Greene County Tech (2-5)
Clarksville (2-5)
Huntsville (2-5)
Hot Springs (1-6)
De Queen (1-6)
Hope (1-6)
Paragould (0-7)
LR Fair (1-6)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 4 HARRISON (3) at No. 8 Alma: It’s senior night at Alma, and the winner gets the 5A West title and a nice playoff draw, on the opposite side of the bracket from Pulaski Academy.
Alma has won 14 of the past 19 in the series. The Airedales captured/shared back-to-back 5A West titles, but the started 2018 with losses in their three nonconference games, falling to Class 7A Van Buren and Springdale and Class 6A Russellville. “Harrison is the best 5A team we’ve seen,” Alma coach Doug Loughridge says.
Alma senior safety Coltin Bowerman paces the defense with 90 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries, while sophomore middle linebacker Logan Chronister has 57 stops and one sack. Senior tackle Zac Henson (10 tackles) and junior end Carston Beneux (43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks) get tested by Harrison’s big offensive line. Alma senior running back Keegan Rosebeary has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the past four games. Rosebeary has 85 carries this fall for 508 yards and six TDs.
Goblin senior Hayden Vanderpool (6-3, 290) and junior Trey Stith (5-10, 225) form a tough guard tandem. Junior Gabe Huskey paces Class 5A with 134 carries for 1,061 yards and 17 touchdowns this fall, despite not playing in the fourth quarter of most blowout victories. Huskey has at least 121 yards in six games this season, highlighted by 30 carries for 230 yards and a pair of TDs in a downpour Week 4 at Morrilton. He also has 19 catches for 483 yards and five TDs. Junior QB Ben Johnson compliments Huskey, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,003 yards and 13 TDs, with only one interception. Vanderpool paces the defensive line with 21 stops, while junior linebacker Brooks Both has 64 tackles and a pair of sacks..
FARMINGTON (14) at Huntsville: Farmington likely out of the playoff chase after last week’s three-point loss at Vilonia. The Cardinals drove to the 41-yard line in the final minutes before turning the ball over on downs. Senior QB Eric Hill threw a pair of TD passes, a two-point conversion and ran for a TD. Huntsville has lost five straight games.
GREENBRIER (12) at Clarksville: Clarksville beat Greenbrier in 2013 (won just one league game since). The Panthers put up 24 points and 376 yards per game. Junior linebacker Eduardo Almaraz has 55 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery this fall. Greenbrier jumped on Harrison 7-0 last week, when senior QB Andrew Johnson threw a 10-yard TD strike to Ryan Barnard on the first possession, but the Panthers failed to score again. They’ve have dropped two of their past three conference games.
Class 4A
Warren (6-0)
Joe T. Robinson (6-1)
Nashville (6-1)
Rivercrest (7-0)
Shiloh Christian (6-1)
Ozark (5-2)
Hamburg (6-1)
Dumas (6-1)
Dardanelle (6-1)
Arkadelphia (2-5)
Stuttgart (5-1)
Bauxite (7-0)
Pea Ridge (5-2)
Jonesboro Westside (6-1)
Lincoln (6-1)
Heber Springs (3-4)
Helena (5-2)
Lonoke (4-3)
Pottsville (3-4)
Southside Batesville (4-3)
Mena (4-3)
Elkins (6-1)
Prairie Grove (3-4)
Trumann (4-3)
Harmony Grove Haskell (4-3)
Pocahontas (3-4)
Gosnell (3-4)
CAC (3-4)
Ashdown (3-4)
Bald Knob (3-4)
Fountain Lake (3-4)
Star City (2-5)
Crossett (2-4)
DeWitt (3-4)
Gentry (2-5)
Riverview (2-5)
Berryville (3-4)
Waldron (2-5)
Monticello (0-7)
Mills (0-7)
Cave City (1-6)
Highland (1-6)
Malvern (0-7)
Dover (1-6)
Gravette (0-7)
Brookland (0-7)
Green Forest (1-6)
Subiaco Academy (1-6)
4A-1
Berryville at PEA RIDGE (25): Pea Ridge has beaten Berryville eight of the past 14 years. The Blackhawks generate almost 350 yards weekly. Senior Carson Rhine played QB in last week’s nine-point win over Prairie Grove, giving the Blackhawks another running threat. Rhine threw a TD pass and ran 21 times for 144 yards and three TDs in his first start at QB since junior high. Pea Ridge Luis Reyes flips field position with long field goals and impact punts.
PRAIRIE GROVE (14) at Gentry: Prairie Grove likely plays Lincoln Week 10 for the No. 3 playoff spot. Tiger sophomore Cade Grant ran for a pair of second-half TDs in last week’s loss to Pea Ridge. Gentry junior QB Brandon Atwood has passed for 1,001 yards and eight TDs this season. The Pioneers are likely in the playoffs with one more win.
Green Forest at GRAVETTE (1): Gravette has scored just 26 points this season (3.7 ppg), while Green Forest has been outscored 206-0 in its four conference games.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN (17) at Lincoln: Shiloh Christian has won 10 straight over Lincoln. Saint senior Micah Button returned the opening kickoff for a TD, added a pair of TD runs and intercepted a pass in the first half of last week’s 35-0 win over Gentry. Lincoln rolled up almost 400 yards in last week’s 50-0 win at Green Forest. The Wolf D held five opponents to a TD or less this season. Junior linebacker Blake Arnold returned a punt and an interception for TDs at Green Forest.
4A-4
Dover at OZARK (35): Ozark led Pottsville 35-0 at halftime last week and 41-0 after the opening drive of the second half. Senior Hayden Sanders caught six passes for 108 yards and a TD. Sanders has 27 catches this fall for 382 yards and four TDs, while junior Bryant Burns has 20 catches for 439 yards and five TDs.
Subiaco Academy at DARDANELLE (32): It’s homecoming in Dardanelle, and the Sand Lizards are primed for at least a No. 2 playoff seed after last week’s 42-9 win over Dover. Junior QB Jordan Metcalf tallied four TDs (two rushing, two passing). Subiaco Academy puts up 187 yards weekly.
POTTSVILLE (2) at Elkins: First meeting between these schools. Pottsville must regroup after last week’s mercy-rule setback to Ozark, while Elkins needs to recover following a last-minute four-point loss at Mena. The Apaches rush for 234 yards a game. Senior Kurtis Kemp has 138 carries for 779 yards and five TDs this fall, while junior tight end Drew Rust has five TD grabs. Elkins led Mena 25-12 at halftime but turned the ball over twice in the second half.
Waldron at MENA (17): Mena has beaten Waldron 16 of the past 17 years. The Bearcats intercepted three passes in last week’s four-point win over previously unbeaten Elkins. Junior Zane Stephens ran 14 times for 141 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards on offense, then totaled an interception and knocked down two other passes against Elkins. Waldron sophomore QB Braden Williams passed for 231 yards and two TDs in last week’s seven-point triumph over Subiaco Academy. Williams has five TD passes and three TD runs this fall.
Class 3A
Booneville (7-0)
Smackover (6-1)
Clinton (7-0)
Newport (6-1)
Prescott (6-1)
Glen Rose (6-1)
Osceola (5-2)
Mayflower (6-1)
Rison (7-0)
C. Harmony Grove (6-1)
Harding Academy (5-2)
Atkins (6-1)
Lamar (7-0)
Danville (4-3)
Walnut Ridge (5-2)
Mansfield (6-1)
McGehee (4-3)
Charleston (4-3)
Piggott (5-2)
Hoxie (3-4)
Melbourne (4-3)
Barton (3-3)
Centerpoint (4-3)
Greenland (3-4)
Harrisburg (3-4)
Baptist Prep (3-3-1)
Jessieville (3-4)
Fouke (2-5)
Dollarway (2-5)
Cedarville (3-4)
Palestine-Wheatley (3-3)
Lake Village (4-3)
Mountain View (2-4)
Perryville (2-5)
Horatio (2-5)
Manila (2-5)
Yellville-Summit (1-6)
Bismarck (1-6)
Marshall (1-6)
Drew Central (0-6)
West Fork (0-7)
Genoa Central (1-6)
Corning (0-7)
Paris (0-7)
Two Rivers (0-7)
Cedar Ridge (1-4)
Rose Bud (0-3)
3A-1
Charleston at BOONEVILLE (14): A big rivalry game that is important for playoff positioning. Charleston likely needs to win out to earn a first-round home playoff game with remaining games at unbeaten schools Booneville and Lamar. Charleston junior Brayden Ross has started the past three weeks at QB and completed 44 of 70 passes for 452 yards and three TDs. Booneville’s postseason fate will be decided Friday and next week when it travels to 7-0 Lamar. Charleston pounded Paris 50-0 last week, holding the Eagles to 101 yards. The Booneville offense has gained confidence each week since losing senior QB Brandon Ulmer Week 0 to a knee injury, scoring 62 and 55 points the past two weeks.
Cedarville at GREENLAND (6): Loser likely misses the playoffs. Cedarville rushed for 515 yards in last week’s 56-0 win against West Fork. It was Cedarville’s second shutout this year. Greenland is 1-3 in the league, but it finishes with Cedarville, at Paris and home for West Fork. This is the Pirates’ first home game since Week 4. Greenland forced two turnovers last week in a 33-27 loss at 7-0 Lamar.
Lamar at MANSFIELD (1): Winner likely earns No. 2 playoff seed and contends for at least a share of the league title. Lamar is 7-0 with quality wins over Danville, Cedarville and Greenland. Lamar outlasted Greenland last week 33-27, rushing for 341 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and three TDs. Mansfield absorbed its first loss, 55-6, at Booneville. The 55 points were the most Mansfield has surrendered since Week 8 2017.
Paris at WEST FORK (3): Best chance for either team to avoid a winless season. Paris has lost nine straight games dating to last year. Its closest game this year was an eight-point loss Week 0 to Perryville. West Fork totes a 23-game losing skid but lost by 14 Week 1 to Berryville and by one point Week 3 at Green Forest.
Class 2A
Foreman (7-0)
Mount Ida (6-1)
Junction City (4-2)
Hazen (6-0)
Conway Christian (5-2)
Earle (6-1)
Hampton (3-2)
Fordyce (5-2)
Salem (5-1)
Gurdon (5-1)
Des Arc (4-3)
Mineral Springs (5-2)
E. Poinsett County (6-1)
Mountainburg (5-1)
Mountain Pine (4-3)
England (3-4)
Poyen (5-2)
Hector (5-2)
Magnet Cove (3-4)
Lavaca (4-3)
Quitman (5-2)
Rector (3-3)
Bigelow (3-4)
Magazine (3-3)
Cross County (2-5)
Bearden (2-4)
Marked Tree (1-6)
McCrory (4-3)
Hackett (2-3)
Parkers Chapel (1-5)
Murfreesboro (2-5)
Carlisle (2-4-1)
Clarendon (2-4)
Strong (1-6)
Brinkley (1-6)
W. Yell County (2-5)
Marianna (1-5)
Cutter M. Star (1-6)
Spring Hill (1-5)
Lafayette County (1-6)
Dierks (1-6)
J.C. Westside (1-6)
Midland (0-6)
Marvell (0-7)
2A-4
MOUNTAINBURG (8) at Hackett: Mountainburg, with the meat of its schedule coming up, sits atop the 4-2A standings in position to capture the first conference crown in school history. Mountainburg beat Hackett twice in 2017. Hackett has endured multiple injuries and heartbreaks this fall, losing to Mansfield by two points, Panama, Okla., by by eight points and twice in overtime, including 48-42 last week to Hector.
Lavaca at HECTOR (2): Lavaca racked up 373 balanced yards last week in a 10-point win over Magazine, which ran away from Hector 39-21 two weeks ago. Lavaca senior RB Jimmy Hall carried for 105 of the Golden Arrows’ 199 rushing yards last week, when Hector senior Cody Day posted his best night as a first-year QB. Day carried 30 times for 204 yards and five TDs, while completing 19 of 30 passes for 283 yards and two TDs in a 48-42 OT win over Hackett. Hector junior Caleb Profitt caught nine balls for 150 yards, while senior LB Ethan Church amassed 16 tackles.
J.C. Westside at MAGAZINE (35): Magazine scored quickly but not often enough last week in a 34-24 loss to Lavaca. J.C. Westside fell hard at Strong 42-6.