Top 25 Arkansas high school football rankings (9/19/2023)

The latest SBLive Arkansas Top 25 rankings for Week 4

The halfway point of the regular season is right around the corner as conference play is now in full swing statewide. 

Top-ranked Parkview continued to look strong against North Little Rock, while Benton made a statement in a thrilling 6A-East showdown against Catholic. 

Five Top 25 matchups are on the horizon this week, headlined by top-ranked Parkview hosting a red-hot 13th-ranked Hot Springs squad, while No. 7 Rogers travels to No. 11 Fort Smith Southside and No. 8 Pulaski Academy hosts No. 10 Little Rock Christian.  

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school football rankings for Week 4. 

1. Parkview (3-0)

The Patriots capped nonconference play with a redemption victory over North Little Rock. Central Arkansas commit Eric McGehee accounted for four total touchdowns, while Cam Settles ran wild for 130 yards and two scores on just 10 carries and Arkansas target Omarion Robinson hauled in two catches for 143 yards with a touchdown. In three contests against 7A competition, including previous top-ranked Bryant, Parkview outscored the opposition 132-62.

2. Bryant (2-1)

The Hornets were on a bye. They travel to Fort Smith Northside on Friday.

3. Conway (3-0)

The Wampus Cats played an out-of-state contest for the first time in school history and took care of business, defeating Ouachita Parish (La.) 49-14. Donovyn Omolo completed 17-of-25 passes for 241 yards and five touchdowns, while Cris O'Neal also continued his hot start to the season hauling in six of those passes for 150 yards and three scores.

4. Bentonville (1-2)

A late Bentonville turnover at midfield led to a 41-yard field goal for Rockhurst (Mo.) to secure the 24-21 victory. While it is not ideal going into conference play 1-2, the Tigers were right there until the end in both defeats against quality competition, which should be added motivation as they begin another quest for a 7A-West championship. 

5. Greenwood (4-0)

Despite being extremely short-handed at quarterback, the Bulldogs handled Siloam Springs 55-14 thanks in large part to another dominant performance on the ground by Brayedan Davis who carried 19 times for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Third-string junior signal caller Scott Holland did a fine job of playing his role, connecting on 7-of-13 passes for 78 yards and three scores, two of those to Grant Karnes, who led all receivers with 61 yards on four receptions.

6. Fayetteville (3-0)

The Bulldogs were on a bye. They will take the short trip to No. 20 Bentonville West on Friday.

7. Rogers (3-0)

The Mounties were on a bye. They travel to No. 11 Fort Smith Southside on Friday.

8. Pulaski Academy (3-0)

The Bruins were on a bye. They will make the short trip to arch rival No. 10 Little Rock Christian on Friday.

9. Benton (2-1)

Sophomore sensation Drew Davis earned his first start and performed admirably in the Panthers’ 49-42 win over Catholic to start 2-0 in 6A-East play. Davis completed 21-of-33 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns, all of those scores hauled in by Maddox Davis who had 149 yards. Elias Payne was also big in his 2023 debut with seven catches for 171 yards, while Arkansas commit Braylen Russell carried 30 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

10. Little Rock Christian (3-1)

The Warriors took a narrow 12-7 lead into halftime, but Auburn commit Walker White and the Warriors offense got rolling in the second half, reeling off 28 points and advanced to 2-0 in 6A-West play heading into a Top 10 matchup with No. 8 Pulaski Academy. White completed 17-of-31 passes for 248 yards and three scores, all to Tristian Watson who finished with five receptions for 105 yards.

11. Fort Smith Southside (3-0)

The Mavericks were on a bye. They host No. 7 Rogers on Friday.

12. Catholic (2-1)

A seven-point loss to 6A-East foe Benton snapped a 12-game regular season win streak, but the Rockets still had an impressive offensive showing, headlined by the duo of quarterback Jackson England and his top target Brooks Ward. England completed 22-of-37 passes for 437 yards, while Ward caught eight of those for 179 yards and was on the receiving end for three of England’s six touchdowns. 

13. Hot Springs (3-0)

Defense, along with a bold onside kick, proved to be the difference in the Trojans' one-point win over Class 7A Little Rock Southwest. T.J. Brogden's lone score on the night following the onside kick ended up being the game-winner, while Perry Jones gashed the Gryphons' defense for 155 yards and two scores. Eli Eggleston (9 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble) and Chris Sequin (2 sacks) led the defensive charge. 

14. Mills (3-0)

The Comets have handled their business about as well as any team in Class 5A and rolled to a another win Friday, 35-0 over Watson Chapel, the second consecutive great defensive performance. Quarterback Achillies Ringo passed for 270 yards and four of Mills' five touchdowns. 

15. Shiloh Christian (2-1)

While Bo Williams has masked some of the adversity the Saints are currently dealing with at quarterback, undefeated Lincoln Christian (Okla.) centered their game plan around slowing down Williams, and it was successful. Shiloh still has all of its goals in sight, so expect them to come back strong in the 5A-West opener at Dardanelle on Friday.

16. Little Rock Southwest (1-2)

A second consecutive victory fell short by a point against Hot Springs on Friday night, but there are plenty of positives about this Gryphons squad with 7A-Central play looming. Between two road trips to Northwest Arkansas against both Rogers programs, as well as a solid Trojans' squad, Southwest did itself a favor by scheduling tough in non-conference play.

17. Pine Bluff (3-1)

The Z's 38-6 win over Vilonia put them in a three-way tie for first place in the 5A-Central. Marquez Brentley rushed for 137 yards and a score on just seven carries, while Arkansas commit Courtney Crutchfield hauled in four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

18. Cabot (1-2)

Ruston (La.) survived the visiting Panthers in the final seconds of last season's contest, but this time around the very talented Bearcats were too much for Cabot, particularly on defense in the 28-17 win. A road trip to Jonesboro looms on Friday to begin 7A-Central play. 

19. Joe T. Robinson (2-1)

As it typically happens, the Senators have rebounded strong from a season-opening loss to No. 8 Pulaski Academy. They have outscored their past two opponents 64-8, including Friday's shutout of Morrilton to open 5A-Central play. Arkansas target Quentin Murphy compiled 271 yards of offense (157 passing, 114 rushing) and three scores, while Tank Reese led defensively with 12 tackles, two for loss.

20. Bentonville West (2-1)

The Wolverines were on a bye. They host No. 6 Fayetteville on Friday.

21. Marion (3-0)

The Patriots are 3-0 for the first time since 2018, and more importantly 2-0 in 6A-East play, following a lopsided 48-13 road win over Jacksonville, led by the passing combo of quarterback Ashton Gray who compiled of 200 yards of offense (142 passing, 68 rushing) and three touchdowns. Mitrell Lewis hauled in one of those, while Christian Young caught another. 

22. Malvern (2-2)

The Leopards’ .500 record is quite misleading as their losses have both been to out-of-state competition, the most recent being Friday’s 27-14 setback to Class 7A Desoto (Miss.) Central, despite another great performance from Jalen Dupree (153 rushing yards, touchdown) and Dyleon Caradine (10 catches, 200 yards, two scores). They are off this week before hosting a favorable contest against Waldron.

23. West Memphis (2-1)

Sheridan led by a point after the first quarter and kept it close through the first half, but the Blue Devils pulled away in the third quarter to shut the Yellowjackets out in the fourth, rolling on to a 49-21 victory. West Memphis is now 2-0 in 6A-East play after falling in non-conference action to Jonesboro in the season opener. 

24. Warren (3-0)

It took overtime for the Lumberjacks to defeat Star City in 2022, but Warren made sure to not give the Bulldogs any breathing room this time around in a 44-7 rout. Junior receiver Kam Davis made the most of his two receptions, totaling 153 yards and both went for touchdowns, while freshman quarterback Jackson Denton finished 10-of-18 for 208 yards and four touchdowns. 

25. Harding Academy (3-0)

Booneville deserves a lot of credit as they took the early lead on Harding Academy and played tough per usual, but the Wildcats ended up rolling for the second consecutive season to finish up non-conference play for both teams. Mr. Consistent, also known as Owen Miller, completed 20-of-24 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, nine of those throws to Kyler Hoover who had 137 yards and three touchdowns. Isaac Baker powered the ground game with 123 yards and two scores on 10 carries.

--Kyle Sutherland