SBLive Top 20 Power Rankings: Van Buren football debuts at No. 19 in 'Battle of the Bone' week
Here are SBLive's Top 20 Arkansas high school football rankings for the week of Aug. 31.
Our statewide rankings, which span all classifications, will be released every Monday throughout the 2020 high school football season. The rankings are compiled by SBLive reporters Connor Morrissette, Bodie DeSilva and Lance Smith.
SBLIVE POWER RANKINGS: ARKANSAS TOP 20
Aug. 31, 2020
1. Bryant (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 1
Bryant beat No. 10 Benton 48-7. They dominated early and often, leading 42-0 at halftime. Austin Ledbetter threw four touchdowns for the Hornets.
2. North Little Rock (0-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 2
North Little Rock opens its season against No. 11 Har-Ber this week.
3. Bentonville (0-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 3
Bentonville takes on No. 6 Conway to begin its season.
4. Pulaski Academy (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 4
PA took down No. 13 Joe T. Robinson 48-35. Jalyn Witcher caught five touchdown passes to lead Pulaski to the win.
5. Greenwood (0-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 6
Greenwood begins its 2020 season on the road against Southside.
6. Conway (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 12
Senior receiver Bryce Bohanon returned the second-half kickoff 70 yards for a TD in Conway's 38-21 upset win over Fayetteville. The win propels Conway into the Top 10.
7. Little Rock Christian Academy (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 9
Senior Arkansas State commit Corey Platt dominated in LR Christian's 57-35 win over LR Central. He had TD receptions of 67 and 45 yards and also a one-yard touchdown run.
8. Cabot (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 14
Cabot quarterback Tyler Gee had a great start to his senior year leading his team to a 35-18 win over Searcy. With the win, Cabot moves into the Top 10.
9. Bentonville West (Centerton) (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 8
Bentonville West hung tough with Oklahoma power Broken Arrow, trailing 36-23 entering the fourth quarter, but ultimately lost 50-23.
10. Benton (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 10
Garrett Brown’s fourth quarter touchdown pass to Cameron Harris was the lone score for the Panthers in their 48-7 loss to No. 1 Bryant.
11. Har-Ber (Springdale) (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 11
Har-Ber was always going to struggle with Jenks, a national power from Oklahoma, and they lost 31-15. The Wildcats wanted a challenge and that’s what they got. They’ll be battle-tested come playoff time.
12. Jonesboro (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 13
Cross Jumper threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to lead Jonesboro to a 28-24 win over Catholic (Little Rock) in their season opener. Will Barré had 9 receptions for 233 yards and 3 TDs for the Hurricanes.
13. Robinson (Little Rock) (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 7
Robinson couldn’t keep up with No. 4 Pulaski Academy’s high-powered offense on Friday in their 48-35 loss, but senior receiver Ivan Thomas did haul in an impressive 38-yard TD reception.
14. Parkview (0-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 16
Parkview plays White Hall on Sept. 10 to begin its season.
15. West Memphis (1-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 17
West Memphis scored 29 straight points to knock off LR Southwest 35-15 in their season opener.
16. Central (Little Rock) (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 15
Central led 35-30 in the second half of their loss to LR Christian before running out of gas. Central ended up losing 57-35.
17. Fayetteville (0-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 5
Turnovers were costly on Friday, leading Fayetteville to drop their opener 38-21 to No. 6 Conway. Fayetteville led 14-0 to start the game before unraveling.
18. Lake Hamilton (1-0)
Last week's ranking: NR
Lake Hamilton debuts at No. 18 after junior Tevin Woodley scored three touchdowns to lead the Wolves to a 31-17 win over Lakeside.
19. Van Buren (1-0)
Last week's ranking: NR
Van Buren debuts at No. 19 after beating Springdale 42-24 on Friday. Senior Jaiden Henry had two catches for 72 yards and a TD as well as a 98-yard kickoff return for a score in the win. The Pointers will play Alma on Friday in the annual Battle of the Bone.
20. Harding Academy (0-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 19
Harding Academy will begin its season at Mena this week after having to cancel their season opener due to COVID-19.
---
Dropped out: Harrison, Fordyce. Despite both teams winning, other teams had more impressive victories to jump ahead of Harrison and Fordyce.
Moved in: Lake Hamilton, Van Buren
Other teams we're watching: Fort Smith Northside, Little Rock Catholic, Maumelle, White Hall and Wynne.
---
2020 RANKINGS:
