10 Arkansas high school football games to watch in Week 9 (10/25/2023)
Here are 10 games to watch in Arkansas high school football for Week 9.
Note: Rankings are based on the SBLive Arkansas Top 25.
No. 6 Benton (7-1, 7-0) at No. 18 West Memphis (6-2, 6-1)
One of two premier Class 6A matchups in Week 9, West Memphis defense that has allowed just 15.6 points per contest aims to slow down a Benton offense that has averaged 57 points per game in its seven victories. These two squared off last season for the No. 2 East seed with Benton coming out on top, but the conference championship is on the line as the Blue Devils currently sit a game behind the first-place Panthers. The Blue Devils took a major blow when senior quarterback/linebacker Keland Mills went down with a season-ending leg injury, but head coach Robert Hooks mentioned he has been pleased with his team's ability to overcome adversity this year and knows his guys are ready for the challenge. Junior Drew Jenkins is now West Memphis' starting quarterback. Benton also has a new signal caller this season in sophomore Drew Davis (2,102 passing yards, 31 touchdowns) who has simply been outstanding with inly 12 incomplete passes in the past five games, alongside top targets Maddox Davis (689 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns) and Elias Payne (692 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns), as well as bruising running back in Arkansas commit Braylen Russell (830 total yards, 13 touchdowns.
Conway Christian (7-1, 3-0) at Bigelow (9-0, 4-0)
This matchup has the possibility of crowning the first undisputed 2A conference champion of the season if things go Bigelow's way. The Panthers will earn their fourth consecutive conference title, and third undefeated regular season in four years, with a victory, while Conway Christian is also aiming for that league trophy as well as to beat Bigelow for the first time since 2019. Since then, the Panthers have dominated the Eagles by a combined score of 150-42 and while Bigelow has once again hardly been challenged by 2A competition on its regular season schedule, Conway Christian is having its best season six years and focusing in on the upset. Both defenses have been two of the more impressive in 2A and allow nearly the same amount of points, as Conway Christian has surrendered 13.8 per game to Bigelow's 13.7 per contest.
No. 9 Bentonville West (6-2, 4-1) at No. 12 Fort Smith Southside (5-3, 2-3)
West enters the contest on a four-game win streak and sits in a two-way tie for second place in the 7A-West with crosstown rival No. 7 Bentonville. In their way is a much-improved Southside squad who runs the football as well as anyone in the state and is coming off of a track meet against Har-Ber where the Mavericks reached 77 points. Southside has been paced by senior Amari Tucker, who returned from injury with a force and has rushed for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging just shy of an eye-popping 12 yards per carry. West came into the season with plenty of skill players to work with, as well as a solid offensive line led by Rice commit Lane Jeffcoat, but senior quarterback Dalton Rice has really done well leading the offense after being thrust into the starting role. A win for the Wolverines likely means they play Bentonville for the No. 2 seed next week, while Southside really needs to get this one to remain in the Top 4 of the league heading into Week 10.
Clinton (6-2, 4-2) at Lamar (6-2, 4-2)
Well, the madness we have been talking about in the 4A-4 for the past couple of weeks has become a little more clear, but there is still plenty to figure out. Central Arkansas Christian currently leads the race, while Clinton, Lamar and Bauxite sit in a three-way tie for second place. If you like games that conclude early, this is the one for you as both utilize run-first offenses. The Yellowjackets were the last ones standing in their two previous contests that were decided by three and seven points, while the Warriors are also on a two-game win streak after blanking Little Rock Hall 39-0 last Thursday. Clinton senior Zane Widener (1,200 rushing yards, 27 total touchdowns) may not have had the historic game versus Lamar like he did against CAC, but still did his thing and found the end zone three different times while compiling over 150 yards of offense. Lamar is powered via a by-committee backfield that has combined for over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground, led by junior quarterback Caleb Green who has rushed for 625 yards and eight touchdowns on 63 carries, along with 354 yards and eight scores through the air.
Des Arc (6-2, 4-1) at East Poinsett County (7-1, 5-0)
Des Arc has won the past three meetings with East Poinsett County and the most recent victory, a 52-50 thriller last year, was one of three consecutive for the Eagles to end the regular season and claim the 2A-2 championship. EPC currently leads the 2A-2 race with a perfect 5-0 conference record and will win at least a share of the conference title with a victory. Des Arc would be right up there with them had it not been for Cross County last week, to whom the Eagles fell 38-22. Senior quarterback Cache Flanagan has paced the Eagles, who average 40 points per game, with over 1,000 total yards of offense, while the EPC trio of quarterback Cooper Argo (1,400 total yards, 15 touchdowns), running back Dennis Gaines (825 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) and Omar McCuiston (633 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 5 interceptions) have given defenses fits putting up 46 points per contest.
Glen Rose (6-2, 5-0) at Centerpoint (5-3, 5-0)
Glen Rose was expected to be the 3A-4 favorite prior to the season in the first season under head coach Steven Kehner and they are are in strong position with two weeks left in the regular season sitting at 5-0 in the league. In their way, and also alongside them at the top of the standings, is Centerpoint who really has been one of the more unnoticed 3A teams in the past few years. Both got off to rough starts as the Beavers began 0-2, while the Knights were 0-3, but as shown, each one of them are playing some of their best football at the right time. The Knights are currently on a five-game win streak, while the Beavers have won six consecutive.
No. 4 Greenwood (8-0, 6-0) at No. 10 Pulaski Academy (7-1, 5-1)
If you plan on coming to Joe B. Hatcher Stadium on Friday night, you better get there a couple of hours early. When these two juggernauts were paired in the 6A-West for the current cycle, it was a given that this would be one of the more highly-anticipated matchups of the entire regular season in 2022 - it was and is again. Greenwood came out on top in that one, while the Bruins paid them back in what some would call a controversial ending to the 6A state finals. Once again, both are two of the top contenders in 6A and could likely see each other again in the coming weeks. However, we will worry about that later. The Bulldogs are as talented across the board as any team in Arkansas, headlined by sophomore phenom quarterback Kane Archer, who has missed some time with a broken arm but had a huge game last week against Russellville. Archer's brother, Cash, has been virtually unblockable on defense with 13 sacks. While the Greenwood offense has been potent (50 PPG), the defense has been lock down, allowing just 11 points per game. PA has been dealt it's fair share of adversity after losing their starting quarterback and running back, as well as top receiver John Mark Charette, but junior signal caller Brandon Cobb really appears to have gotten things clicking with a new wave of reliable receivers.
Heber Springs (5-2, 4-0) at No. 23 Harding Academy (8-0, 4-0)
Let's just cut to the chase - Harding Academy, on paper, is the overwhelming favorite. They have won 10 consecutive conference games since bumping up to Class 4A, been to four consecutive state championship games and are "probably the No. 1 team in 4A" per Heber Springs head coach Van Paschal. However, essentially no one gave these Panthers a chance be in this position in late October, tied with the Wildcats for first place and the opportunity to win a 4A-2 championship. Senior Xander Lindley took over at quarterback for Heber due to an injury and performed well in the win against Stuttgart, highlighted by his successful two-point conversion pass to Parker Brown that eventually sealed the victory for the Panthers' fifth straight win. Heber's defense has pitched two shutouts during that streak. Meanwhile, Harding has continued to do what it does while the starters have hardly played past halftime. Junior quarterback and reigning SBLive Underclassman of the Year Owen Miller is completing 75% of his passes and thrown for 1,700 yards with 19 touchdowns to zero interceptions, along with 400 yards and six scores on the ground. His backfield mate, Isaac Baker, has eclipsed over 1,000 total yards of offense (709 rushing, 428 receiving) with 14 touchdowns.
No. 14 Hot Springs (7-1, 4-1) at Camden Fairview (6-2, 4-1)
Three teams are deadlocked in a tie for the 5A-South's No. 2 seed and two of them will square off in this contest as the conference will have a busy final two weeks of the regular season. The Cardinals ran away from the Trojans in last year's matchup and have fared well in the second season under Nick Vaughn after having to replace multiple starters. On the other side, Hot Springs brought back multiple players from last year's team and save for a lopsided loss to top-ranked Parkview have looked really good. It can not be said enough that senior Matt Contreras quarterback is one of the state's most underrated talents, and it really showed last week against Arkansas High when he passed for over 400 yards and six touchdowns despite his top two receivers being out. Tyrell Honey (209 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns) and Justin Washington (139 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns) stepped up big, while the solid Trojan defense forced six turnovers. Junior quarterback Darrell Atkins Jr. (2,089 total yards, 20 touchdowns) has been very impressive in his first season as the Cardinals' starter, along with junior Trent Haygood (1,257 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns) and sophomore Jayden Porchia (598 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns) have also been the top contributors offensively while the defense is surrendering just 18 points per game.
No. 24 Valley View (7-1, 5-0) at Nettleton (6-2, 4-1)
Valley View took care of its first of two big obstacles needed to secure a second consecutive 5A-East top seed over Southside (Batesville) last week, but Nettleton is now one of two final regular season opponents that stands in the Blazers' way. The Raiders rebounded from an Oct. 13 lopsided loss to Southside with a big win over Forrest City and looks to take down Valley View for the second time in the past three seasons. If the Blazers do so, it will force a three-way tie for first place assuming Southside handles its business against Batesville. Senior quarterback Carson Turley has been outstanding for the Blazers and has compiled just over 2,000 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns for an offense that is averaging 40 points per contest. while The defense is only surrendering 19 points each time out, a unit led by Missouri commit Brian Huff. While streaky at times, the Raiders are also sound offensively led by junior quarterback Maddox Hampton (1,360 total yards, 15 touchdowns), as well as receivers Q Thompson and Curtez Smith, who each have over 500 yards receiving and combined for 9 touchdowns, but sophomore TJ Brown 1,187 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) has added a whole other dimension to the Radiers' offensive attack.
--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR
Photo by Tommy Land
