SBLive Arkansas high school football Power 25 rankings for Week 8
By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land
After multiple shifts in the rankings last week, there was minimal movement this time around, most notably in the Top 10, along with some from 21-25 spots. There are two Top 10 matchups this week - including No. 1-vs. No. 2 - along with crucial showdowns in the 5A-Central and 5A-West.
Here are the SBLive Arkansas Power 25 high school football rankings for Week 8.
1. Bryant (6-0)
After cruising through their past two games, the Hornets face their most important matchup thus far hosting No. 2 Cabot with a 47-game in-state winning streak on the line.
2. Cabot (6-1)
The Panthers kept rolling following a huge victory over Conway as they thrashed a struggling Little Rock Central team 49-13. They hit the road this week for a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup against top-ranked Bryant hoping to earn their first victory over the Hornets in the Scott Reed era.
3. Conway (6-1)
Following a tough road loss to Conway, the Wampus Cats looked like the team we have seen for the majority of the year in a lopsided 63-20 win over Fort Smith Northside. Quarterback Donovyn Omolo completed 21-of-29 passes for 211 yards and 3 total touchdowns, while Ouachita Baptist commit Boogie Carr ran 17 times for 136 yards and a score. The Wampus Cats head to Little Rock Central this week.
4. Pulaski Academy (7-0)
The Bruins eclipsed over 60 points for the second-consecutive week and thrashed Van Buren 69-26 on the road. Quarterback Kel Busby completed 23-of-31 passes for 351 yards and 5 touchdowns, while the great duo of Jaylin McKinney and John Mark Charette each had over 100 yards and combined for 3 scores. PA is back at home this week to host Greenbrier.
5. Greenwood (6-1)
The Bulldogs made a huge statement in a dominating 24-0 performance over what had been a hot Lake Hamilton squad, holding the Wolves to under 200 total yards. Hunter Houston had another clutch performance completing 19-of-23 passes for 255 yards and had two total touchdowns, while sophomore sensation Grant Karnes hauled in 5 of those passes for 112 yards and a 63-yard score. Greenwood plays at Russellville this week.
6. Bentonville (6-1)
The Tigers were looking for their first statement win of the year, and they got it after coming from behind to defeat arch rival Fayetteville 31-30 in overtime as the two teams combined for 700 yards passing. Carter Nye completed 16-of-29 passes for 284 yards and a score, while Illinois State commit Josh Ficklin had 129 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. CJ Brown hauled in 6 passes for 168 yards and a score. Bentonville has another big test this week as they host No. 9 Rogers.
7. Catholic (7-0)
They may not be a surprise anymore, but the Rockets continue to impress after a hard-fought victory over Sylvan Hills, 24-14. Quarterback Sam Sanders completed 11-of-13 passes with 2 touchdowns and also had 92 yards rushing. Catholic has a favorable matchup against winless Jacksonville this week.
8. Bentonville West (5-2)
The Wolverines have won three games in a row and look to keep adding to that total as they are up against their second-straight road game at Rogers Heritage this week. Dalton Rice got the job done under center against Har-Ber tossing four touchdowns, three of those to Ty Durham who had another huge night snagging 9 passes for 155 yards.
9. Rogers (6-1)
The Mounties bounced back from suffering their first loss of the season and pummeled Springdale 37-0. Junior quarterback Dane Williams was 18-of-25 passing for 185 yards and 4 touchdowns while Jacob Jenkins had over 100 yards rushing. They will play at No. 6 Bentonville on Friday.
10. Fayetteville (4-3)
The Purple Dogs have had plenty to celebrate for the second year in a row, but the losses have been brutal as they have come close to finishing but lost all three by a combined five points. A two-seed looks like a best-case scenario at this point, but they still have plenty of work to do as they host Springdale at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Friday.
11. Joe T. Robinson (6-1)
Tied with Beebe at halftime, the Senators reeled off 27 points in the third quarter that propelled them to victory with star running back Noah Freeman on the sideline dealing with a leg injury. Despite not having Freeman, the Senators used a committee that combined for over 200 yards, headlined by Brandon Greil, Malik Okuneye, and Quentin Murphy. They face No. 19 Mills this week in a huge game with major conference and playoff implications.
12. Lake Hamilton (7-1)
The Wolves came into last Friday as one of the hottest teams in the state but had a disappointing showing at Greenwood getting shut out 24-0. They have been blanked by Greenwood in the past two meetings by a combined 59-0 and have a much-needed bye this week.
13. Parkview (5-2)
Since coming off a September 30 bye, the Patriots have outscored their past two opponents 87-28 but will face a much stiffer test in another long trip to Magnolia, a squad coming off two losses and really needing a victory. In a 40-7 road victory over Arkansas High last Friday, quarterback Eric McGehee completed 9-of-11 passes for 212 yards and four scores - one score each to Monterrio Elston and Omarion Robinson, while Hunter Austin hauled in two.
14. Arkadelphia (6-0)
They may have had a week off, but it was another week of business as usual for the Badgers putting up over 50 points for the second game in a row, while the defense allowed just 6. Donovan Whitten compiled over 300 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns, while the receiving trio of Carter Babb, Tripp Cannon, and LaTonnieo Hughes combined for 4 scores. Just two games remain on the schedule, starting with Ashdown this week before the big showdown with Malvern on November 4 - both on the road.
15. Little Rock Christian (5-2)
The Warriors took a long trip to the far corner of Northwest Arkansas and earned their most lopsided win of the year, 62-7 over Siloam Springs. Highly-touted quarterback Walker White was 13-of-16 for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Ronny Anokye had three scores on ten carries. They return home to host Van Buren this week.
16. Camden Fairview (6-1)
In their ongoing quest for a 5A-South championship, the Cardinals had no issues with a struggling De Queen squad cruising to a 49-0 win. Arkansas baseball commit Martavius Thomas had a big first half completing 16-of-22 passes for 252 yards and 4 touchdowns, while AJ Alsobrook led all receivers with three touchdowns. They have another favorable matchup this week at home against Hope.
17. Benton (5-2)
The Panthers faced winless Jacksonville and though the Titans struck first, Benton put up 42 first-half points and never looked back as they held Jacksonville to just 74 total yards of offense. Braylen Russell gashed the Titan defense for 138 rushing yards on just 8 carries and had 4 total touchdowns. Benton hits the road to play Searcy this week.
18. Shiloh Christian (6-1)
After dominating their first four conference games averaging over 50 points per contest, and allowing just 9, the Saints face what should be their toughest test of 5A-West play so far as No. 20 Farmington comes to town with conference title implications at stake. In Friday’s 52-10 win over Pea Ridge, senior quarterback Eli Wisdom compiled over 300 yards of offense and a score through the air that was hauled in by Bodie Neal who had 175 yards receiving. Bo Williams also added four scores on the ground.
19. Mills (7-0)
After a bye last week, the undefeated Comets will host Robinson that should decide the 5A-Central championship.
20. Farmington (5-2)
It was not long ago the Cardinals were sitting at 2-2, but they are now on a three-game win streak averaging 57 points per contest while allowing just 12. A chance to make a huge statement, as well as give themselves a strong chance at claiming the 5A-West, looms this week as they head to No. 18 Shiloh Christian.
21. Nettleton (6-1)
Down 12-7 at the start of the second half, the Raiders pitched a shutout from that point on and Curtez Smith scored in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory on the road. A favorable matchup at home against Forrest City is up next, before a tough two-game stretch against No. 23 Valley View and No. 25 Wynne to cap the regular season.
22. Harding Academy (6-0)
After a bye last week, the Wildcats will host Riverview on Friday.
23. Valley View (6-1)
In what was an outstanding performance from Carson Turley, who was feeling under the weather, the Blazers dominated Brookland 42-7. Turley was a perfect 16-of-16 passing and compiled just under 300 offensive yards and 4 total touchdowns. The Blazers are at home against Southside Batesville this week.
24. Hot Springs (5-2)
The Trojans scored a huge win over Magnolia last week and have become one of the biggest stories in the state as they enter the Power 25 for the first time this season. Against the Panthers, Matthew Contreras completed 9-of-17 passes for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Perry Jones added 112 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Hot Springs is on the road against Arkansas High this week.
25. Wynne (5-2)
Against a stingy Batesville squad, the Yellowjackets were locked in a tight one at the break but got back to their roots of a strong ground attack and solid defense led by Rashod Conley and Allen Jones to close out the Pioneers 23-10. Offensively, Cobey Davis and John Watson paced the ground game combining for three touchdowns. The Jackets hit the road to face Paragould this week.
