Top 25 Arkansas high school football rankings (10/3/2023)

This week's Arkansas Top 25 prep football rankings

October has arrived and so has the second half of the 2023 football season as playoff seedings are beginning to take shape. 

A No. 6-vs.-No. 7 matchup between Fayetteville and Rogers took center stage in Week 5 for as far as games between Top 25 squads, while others were not so close. For the second consecutive week there is a new, but familiar, name that has made its way back into the Top 25, while the rest held onto their spot for another week.

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school football rankings for Week 6.

1. Parkview (5-0)

The Patriots made quick work of a long road trip to De Queen, taming the Leopards 55-7. Central Arkansas commit Eric McGehee completed seven of his 13 passes for 168 yards with three touchdowns, Jaden Ashford ran for 105 yards and two scores on just four carries, while Arkansas target Omarion Robinson returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. 

2. Bryant (4-1)

After overcoming a sloppy first half, but still holding a 21-14 lead, the five-time defending 7A state champion Hornets rode a defensive second half shutout to win 42-14. Quarterback Jordan Walker completed 13-of-20 passes for 214 yards and five touchdowns, one to four different receivers, as James Martin led the way with two of them. Martin also topped the team in rushing, compiling 119 of Bryant’s 231 yards and lone score on the ground. 

3. Conway (5-0)

They may have scored a season-low point total, but the Wampus Cats still won convincingly over North Little Rock (36-7), the third consecutive victory over the Charging Wildcats in lopsided fashion. Senior quarterback Donovyn Omolo completed 14-of-26 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns, while Cris O’Neal caught six of those passes for 110 yards and score, as well as returned a kickoff 95-yards touchdown.

4. Greenwood (6-0)

Heralded sophomore Kane Archer returned from injury in a rehab start and completed 10-of-15 passes for 137 yards and a score in a 35-7 win over Greenbrier. Brayeden Davis was a workhorse, rushing 29 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns, while LJ Robins led all receivers with 119 yards on 10 receptions with a touchdown. 

5. Bentonville (3-2)

Carter Nye was one of multiple 7A-West quarterbacks who went off in Week 5 and his career night led to the Tigers’ second consecutive win 50-35 over Har-Ber. Nye completed 22-of-28 passes for 481 yards and six touchdowns, while Arkansas commit C.J. Brown had another breakout performance, hauling in seven catches for 215 yards and two scores, from 75 and 66 yards out. Luke Coon also hit the century mark in receiving yards with 119 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. 

6. Fayetteville (5-0)

The Purple Dogs were pushed to the brink for the first time this season in a thrilling finish with No. 7 Rogers, but another big night from the offense secured the 49-42 win. Minnesota commit Drake Lindsey was unstoppable, completing 31-of-50 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns, while his favorite target, Arkansas baseball commit Jaison DeLamar, hauled in 13 catches for 176 yards and a score.

7. Rogers (4-1)

The Mounties went down to the wire with Fayetteville and proved they belong in the conversation for top teams in the 7A-West, despite being unable to finish off the Purple Dogs. While it was tough for the Mounties as a team, quarterback Dane Williams went toe-to-toe with Minnesota commit Drake Lindsey, completing 27 of his 49 passes for 478 yards and six touchdowns. Two of Williams’ receivers, Jacob Jenkins and Mabry Verser, eclipsed 100 yards and each hauled in a score. 

8. Benton (4-1)

This Benton squad looks scarier and scarier by the week and the offense exploded for a season-high 61 points against Marion, 51 in the first half. The Panthers have scored 100 combined points in the first halves of the past two games. In just one half of play, sophomore quarterback Drew Davis completed 15-of-18 passes for 302 yards and five touchdowns, three of those two Elias Payne who had 115 yards on just three receptions, while Arkansas commit Braylen Russell rushed 12 times for 145 yards and a score. 

9. Shiloh Christian (4-1)

To no one’s surprise, the Saints have rebounded strong from a mid-September loss to out-of-state competition and are now 2-0 in 5A-West play after outsourcing the first two league opponents 102-17. In Friday’s 53-10 win over Clarksville, Shiloh scored 29 points in the first half and Griffin Mason found the end zone three times on the ground. 

10. Little Rock Christian (4-1)

The Warriors were on a bye. They travel to Mountain Home on Friday. 

11. Pulaski Academy (4-1)

After suffering their worst loss in nearly two decades, the Bruins got back on track in a convincing 35-14 win over Mountain Home. Sophomore Will Svoboda is one of the next great wideouts for the Bruins and hauled in nine catches for 201 yards with a score. Brandon Cobb completed 36-of-56 passes for 389 yards and a touchdown, while Patton Whicker led the defense with 14 total stops.

12. Fort Smith Southside (3-2)

The Mavericks have dropped two consecutive games, albeit to squads ranked in the Top 7, they were not able to match scoring with No. 5 Bentonville. As has been the case all season, Amari Tucker was the bright spot for Southside with another 200-yard rushing performance with two scores while averaging a first down on each touch, or 10 yards per carry. 

13. West Memphis (4-1)

West Memphis took a huge step forward by earning the best win of the Robert Hooks era in a defensive 21-14 victory over previously No. 11 Catholic. Cincinnati commit Marquaze Parker wreaked havoc in the Rockets’ backfield, sacking quarterback Jackson England three times. The Blue Devils are now tied with Benton for first place in the 6A-East and are 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 2018.

14. Catholic (3-2)

A Rocket offense that hummed right along the past three games was grounded by a stiff West Memphis defense on the road in a 21-14 loss. Not much went wrong for Catholic last season and they have hit some bumps in the road during the first half of 2023, but there is still plenty of time to make up ground. 

15. Hot Springs (4-1)

The Trojans have compiled a couple of historic outings in the past two seasons and what better time to have it happen again than after coming off of a lopsided loss? In the 53-13 rout of Hope, quarterback Matt Contreras could not miss, connecting on 13-of-15 passes for 315 yards and six touchdowns, five of which were to T.J. Brogdon - all in the first half. Brogdon’s handful of scores tied teammate Octavious Rhodes for the most in a single game in state history.

16. Cabot (3-2)

While it has been a rather slow start for the Panthers, they are in good position after winning back-to-back games for the first time this season and are 2-0 in 7A-Central play following a 38-12 win over Southwest. In the offense’s best performance of the year thus far, Charlie Powell completed 9-of-13 passes for 148 yards and a score. A big one looms Friday at No. 3 Conway as the Panthers aim to notch their second consecutive win over the Wampus Cats. 

17. Pine Bluff (5-1)

A scrappy Beebe squad gave the Z’s all they wanted, but were not able to do enough as Pine Bluff clinched its fifth straight win and remained undefeated against in-state competition. Arkansas commit Courtney Crutchfield caught seven passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Julius Stribling led defensively with seven tackles, all solo, and a sack. The next two weeks are huge for Pine Bluff, beginning Friday with No. 20 Mills. 

18. Joe T. Robinson (4-1)

A dominant showing by the defense led the Senators to their fourth consecutive victory in the 36-15 rout of Vilonia. Robinson pitched a shutout through the first three quarters, led by big performances from Tank Reese (12 tackles, 11 solo, one for loss) and Ian Dietz (12 tackles, two for loss, one sack, forced fumble. Josh Smith also collected double-digit tackles with 10, including a sack, while Kevon Jones snagged an interception and returned it 22 yards. 

19. Bentonville West (3-2)

West now shifts its focus to No. 7 Rogers with hopes of a big upset and also winning consecutive contests for the first time in 2023. In Friday’s 47-22 win over Springdale, Dalton Rice completed

20. Mills (5-1)

A fourth-quarter rally for the second consecutive week came up short against Maumelle as the Comets were dealt their first loss of the season. No time to sulk as a very challenging two-game stretch awaits with back-to-back road trips to No. 17 Pine Bluff and No. 18 Robinson. 

21. Malvern (3-2)

The Leopards made quick work of Waldron in the 4A-7 opener, routing the Bulldogs 48-0. Colorado State commit Jalen Dupree ran for 230 yards and five touchdowns on just 11 carries, while Air Force commit Dyelon Caradine hauled in six catches for 85 yards and a score. 

22. Harding Academy (5-0)

It has become a trend for the Wildcats to have games well in hand by the end of the first half and they did it again in their 45-14 win over Lonoke. Quarterback Owen Miller was 8-of-13 passing for 225 yards and four touchdowns, along with an additional 77 yards and score on the ground. Luv Patel led Harding in receiving, hauling in three passes for 103 yards and two scores. 

23. Warren (5-0)

They were pushed as hard as they have been by any team in Class 4A this season, but the Lumberjacks overcame five turnovers - while forcing three of their own - to inch past Crossett 49-42. Of the 535 offensive yards compiled, freshman quarterback Jackson Denton passed for 351 and three scores, all to Neon’dre Thomas who caught 10 passes for 203 yards. Jordyn Ingram led Warren on the ground with 139 yards and a score on 13 carries. 

24. Marion (4-1)

Marion holds on to a spot in the Top 25, but still has a lot of work to do as Benton exposed the areas of opportunity for the Patriots as the game was essentially out of reach by halftime. They are back home this week, but it does not get any easier with a quality Searcy squad coming to town.

25. Valley View (4-1)

Between Valley View and Southside Batesville, the Top 25 5A-East nominee could be argued (that game will be played Oct. 20), but the Blazers get the nod having the better strength of schedule as their only loss is to No. 22 Harding Academy. Valley View’s offense is averaging 42 points per contest, led by quarterback Carson Turley who is completing 70% of his passes and thrown for over 1,000 yards with 14 touchdowns to just one interception.

–Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR