Arkansas high school football Top 25 rankings (11/14/2023)
With the postseason getting kicked off, there was expected to be plenty of movement in the Top 25 — and there most certainly was.
Four teams dropped out following unexpected first-round playoff losses and of the new squads that have entered the mix, three are first-timers as Mills was the lone returnee checking at the final No. 25 spot.
The best of the best will continue to square off from now until the end, so expect even more drastic shifting as the season wraps up over the next few weeks.
Here are the SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school football rankings for Week 12.
1. Parkview (11-0)
Despite rainy conditions Parkview was its same old self in the first round of the 5A playoffs and put some hurt on visiting Alma 35-0. Of the 365 yards put up on the ground by the Patriots, Cam Settles was nearly untouchable with 161 yards and four scores on just 14 carries, while Monterrio Elston added 121 yards on 11 carries.
2. Bryant (9-1)
The Hornets were idle. They will host No. 10 Rogers on Friday in the 7A quarterfinals.
3. Conway (9-1)
The Wampus Cats were idle. They will host No. 9 Bentonville West on Friday in the 7A quarterfinals.
4. Greenwood (10-0)
The Bulldogs were idle. They will host Mountain Home on Friday in the 6A quarterfinals.
5. Fayetteville (10-0)
The Purple Dogs were idle. They will host No. 11 Fort Smith Southside on Friday in the 7A quarterfinals.
6. Bentonville (7-3)
The Tigers were idle. They will host No. 14 Cabot on Friday in the 7A quarterfinals.
7. Benton (9-1)
The Panthers were idle. They will host No. 20 Greenbrier on Friday in the 6A quarterfinals.
8. Little Rock Christian (8-2)
The Warriors were idle. They will host Van Buren on Friday in the 6A quarterfinals.
9. Bentonville West (8-3)
The Wolverines survived a Fort Smith Northside rally 38-35 to advance to the 7A quarterfinals for the second time in as many seasons. Quarterback Dalton Rice completed 22-of-36 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns, three of those scores hauled in by Jaxson Brust who finished with seven catches for 125 yards. West travels to No. 3 Conway on Friday for the 7A quarterfinals.
10. Rogers (8-3)
A huge night from Jacob Jenkins powered the Mounties to a lopsided 44-6 win over North Little Rock in the first round of Class 7A the playoffs. Jenkins compiled 208 total yards (90 rushing, 118 receiving) along with three scores that included a 99-yard receiving touchdown. A massive test awaits in Saline County in a quarterfinal matchup with five-time defending champion Bryant.
11. Fort Smith Southside (7-4)
The Mavericks made their second haul across the state to Northeast Arkansas of the season and it resulted in another big win, 53-27 over Jonesboro, as they punched their ticket to the quarterfinals. Amari Tucker (166 yards, 1 touchdown and Isaac Gregory (126 yards, 1 touchdown) showed out, again, in the ground game and will lead the Mavs into No. 5 Fayetteville for the 7A quarterfinals in an enticing matchup.
12. Shiloh Christian (9-2)
If there was any question as to whether the Saints are in playoff form, they answered it on Friday with a dominating first round win over what had been a very good Hot Springs squad all season. 51 of their 58 points were scored in the first half, while the defense pitched a shutout. Freshman Cole Creighton tossed four touchdowns, while Evan Baker paced the rushing attack with 150 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries and Bo Williams added 121 yards with two scores on 16 carries.
13. Pulaski Academy (9-2)
Following an up-and-down final two weeks of the regular season, the Bruins ran away from El Dorado 41-13 in the first round of the 6A playoffs to set up a quarterfinal showdown at No. 16 Marion. Quarterback Brandon Cobb completed 35 of his 49 passes for 355 yards and scored twice, while Nate Thomas added two touchdowns on the ground.
14. Cabot (7-4)
The Panthers nabbed five Har-Ber interceptions, three courtesy of Gunner Poe, and tamed the Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in the past three years. Most of Maddox McCrory's 210 pass yards went to Hayes Cox, who finished with 195 yards and a touchdown on six catches, while Keegan Vest added 126 yards and three scores on the ground.
15. Marion (8-2)
The Patriots were idle. They will host No. 12 Pulaski Academy on Friday in the 6A quarterfinals.
16. Pine Bluff (9-2)
For the first time since 2019 the Z's advanced past the first round of the playoffs following a 41-21 triumph over Nettleton. Djuan Hayes (150 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns) and Missouri commit Austyn Dendy (two touchdowns) shined for Pine Bluff in the victory, while Courtney Crutchfield also added an additional two scores. The Z's host No. 19 Hot Springs Lakeside in Friday's quarterfinal matchup that expects to be a dandy.
17. Harding Academy (11-0)
Gentry kept it within 14 points after a quarter, but the Wildcats pulled away and scored the rest in the second quarter to take down the Pioneers in the first round of the 4A playoffs. In the first half, quarterback Owen Miller compiled nearly 400 yards of offense and four touchdowns, three through the air, while Kyler Hoover finished with 208 receiving yards and a touchdown on just five catches. Harding will host defending state champion Malvern next week in a rematch of last year's 4A state finals.
18. Valley View (10-1)
As he has been for multiple opposing defenses, senior quarterback Carson Turley was way too much for Maumelle to contain. Turley compiled 284 yards of offense (171 passing, 113 rushing) and scored five touchdowns in the 38-14 first round playoff victory, while TJ Starks finished 113 receiving yards and a touchdown on just three catches. The Blazers host a dangerous 12th-ranked Shiloh Christian squad on Friday.
19. Hot Springs Lakeside (8-3)
An impressive offensive performance and a fourth-quarter defensive shutout were the keys to Lakeside's first playoff win since 2020 against Harrison. Senior Kyler Wolf had a breakout game, hauling in 14 catches for 264 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Jacob Hermosillo completed all 17 of his passes for 300 yards to go with three scores and Grady Ohman added 185 yards and two scores on the ground. The Rams travel to play No. 16 Pine Bluff on Friday.
20. Greenbrier (6-5)
The 6A-West flexed it muscle in a sweep over the East in first round play and the Panthers make their way into the Top 25 after being one of the teams who contributed to that. All but one of their five losses on the year came to squads that clinched a postseason berth and with Friday's 42-21 win over Searcy they head into No. 7 Benton on a two-game win streak.
21. Camden Fairview (7-4)
The Cardinals ended a two-game skid by beginning a new win streak when it needed it most as they, a four-seed, took the long trip to Northwest Arkansas a conquered 5A-West top seed Farmington. Led by an outstanding performance by the offensive line, Camden Fairview gashed Farmington for over 400 yards rushing, most of the production from Trent Haygood who went for 317 and three scores. Jabauree Lockhart added three scores and also led the team defensively with 11 tackles.
22. Southside (Batesville) (10-1)
A 35-yard field goal by sophomore Joel Busby with three seconds remaining in the game propelled the Southerners past the first round of the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons. Savion Hall rushed for 133 yards and a score, while Gabe Witt compiled over 200 all-purpose yards (107 rushing 97 return) and a score. Southside is back at home this week and will host No. 21 Camden Fairview.
23. Elkins (11-0)
Facing a quality offense in Clinton the Elks gave up more than they have been accustomed to, but the offense put on another clinic surpassing 60-plus points for the fourth time in 2023. Dizzy Dean completed 20-of-25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while Da'Shawn Chairs added 153 yards and an impressive five scores on the ground. Monticello comes to NWA for Round 2 of the 4A playoffs.
24. Warren (11-0)
The Lumberjacks remained perfect on the year with a 42-12 triumph over Trumann in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. If they continue to handle their business the Lumberjacks will have home field advantage until the final, but a tough Bauxite squad comes to Bradley County on Friday with hopes of ending Warren's run.
25. Mills (9-2)
Though it was not easy, Mills pulled away from Wynne to advance to the 5A quarterfinal round. In a season that has had no shortage of ups and downs, the Comets have a chance to make one of the more substantial statements of the season if they can shock top-ranked Parkview on Friday at War Memorial Stadium.
--Kyle Sutherland
