Top 25 Arkansas high school football rankings (10/17/2023)

This week's SBLive Arkansas Top 25 prep football rankings

Just three weeks remain in the 2023 regular season and Week 8 features three Top 25 contests, but the great matchups do not stop there. 

In the 7A-Central, No. 2 Bryant will travel to No. 16 Cabot, while No. 7 Bentonville at No. 12 Rogers is the headliner in the 7A-West. A short-handed No. 19 Mills squad will make the quick trip to No. 20 Joe T. Robinson for a matchup that has big implications on the 5A-Central standings and if last season's finish was any sign, a great game is in store. 

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school football rankings for Week 8. 

1. Parkview (7-0) 

Continuing their tear through the 5A-South, the Patriots had the game in hand against Arkansas High with a 50-6 halftime lead that led to a 64-6 win as the clock rolled through the second half via the sportsmanship rule. Central Arkansas commit Eric McGehee and Monterrio Elston each scored twice, while Arkansas target Omarion Robinson returned a punt for a score. Parkview has scored no less than 52 points in its past five games. 

2. Bryant (6-1)

Bryant alum Daryl Patton and Little Rock Southwest matched touchdowns with the Hornets in the first quarter before Bryant exploded for 49 combined points in the second and third quarters to run past the Gryphons 59-33. Junior Myron Thrash stepped up in the backfield and gashed Southwest for 300 total yards (215 rushing) and three touchdowns, as did sophomore Zekariah Kertis-Jones, who rushed four 122 yards and four scores. 

3. Conway (7-0)

The dominant Wampus Cat offense put up 28 points in the first half and took down Fort Smith Northside on the road 48-17. Running Back Desmond Davidson found the end zone three times, while Donovyn Omolo completed 19-of-32 passes for 283 yards and a score that was hauled in by Jackson Anderson.

4. Greenwood (7-0)

The second shutout of the season by the Greenwood offense came by way of a 42-0 rout of Lake Hamilton. In three quarters of play, quarterback Kane Archer completed 18-of-20 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns, along with an additional 50 yards and a score on the ground. Grant Karnes led all Bulldog receivers with 101 yards and two scores on six receptions.

5. Fayetteville (7-0)

Following a heartbreaking loss to arch rival Bentonville by a single point in last season’s matchup, the Purple Dogs got their redemption and won 42-21 to take full control of the 7A-West. Minnesota commit Drake Lindsey went 17-of-30 for 261 yards and five touchdowns, all to different receivers - Arkansas baseball commit Jaison DeLamar, Mason Spencer, Kaleb Johnson, Christian Setzer and Charlie Graves.

6. Benton (6-1)

There is not an offense in Class 6A clicking at the level the Panthers are after hanging 70 on Jacksonville, which followed games they scored 63 and 61, respectively. Sophomore quarterback Drew Davis was nearly perfect in one half of play, going 13-of-14 passing for 240 yards and five touchdowns, while Arkansas commit Braylen Russell rushed 12 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Karson Collatt led all Benton receivers with three catches for 117 yards and three scores.

7. Bentonville (4-3)

A tough night for the Tigers got even tougher when they lost starting quarterback Carter Nye - who had a good night, completing 18-of-23 passes for 240 yards and a score - to injury in the third quarter already down 28-14. Cole Slepecki finished the game, but Bentonville was already in too deep as they suffered their third loss of the season. It does not get easier for the remainder of the season with two of Bentonville’s final three regular season games featuring road trips to No. 12 Rogers and No. 10 Bentonville West.

8. Shiloh Christian (6-1)

Shiloh eclipsed 50 points for the third consecutive week and star running back Bo Williams went over 3,000 rushing yards for his career in the rout of Pea Ridge. Williams finished the night will 280 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. With three games left in the regular season, all signs point to the Saints sweeping the conference in dominant fashion for the second straight year. 

9. Little Rock Christian (6-1)

It would be hard to ask for a better showing from the Warriors than what they have displayed in the past two games, as they pitched back-to-back shoutouts by a combined score of 107-0. Auburn commit Walker White tossed two touchdowns in Friday's win over Siloam Springs, while Jackson Ward rushed for two scores. 

10. Bentonville West (5-2)

West made sure to put the huge Top-10 win over Rogers last week behind them and now have themselves in a tie for second place in the 7A-West following a 44-14 win over Har-Ber. Quarterback Dalton Rice had another quality outing, completing 21-of-25 passes for 310 yards and five touchdowns, three to Jaxson Brust who finished with six catches for 140 yards, while Harris Vinson hauled in seven passes for 100 yards and a score. Ethan Grigg filled the stat sheet, collecting 10 tackles, forced two fumbles, nipped an interception, blocked a point after attempt and also connected of 6-of-6 extra point attempts.

11. Pulaski Academy (6-1)

Brandon Cobb's 478 yards through the air and eight touchdowns led the Bruins to their third consecutive win in a lopsided victory over Van Buren. Multiple Bruin wide receivers have been asked to step up this season, as Andrew Fiser (9 receptions, 142 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Walden Culpepper (7 catches, 166 yards, 4 touchdowns) have been two who have shined, and that did not change against the Pointers. 

12. Rogers (5-2)

The Mounties rebounded from back-to-back frustrating losses and took all of it out on Springdale in a 52-12 win. Quarterback Dane Williams passed for five touchdowns, while Graycen Cash led all receivers with 159 yards and a score. Jacob Jenkins rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown, as well as hauled in two receiving scores.

13. Fort Smith Southside (4-3)

Very much in need of a victory riding a three-game skid, the Mavericks came through and got one on the road, 42-12, over a struggling Rogers Heritage squad. The rushing tandem of Amari Tucker and Isaac Gregory combined for 150 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback George Zimmerman completed 10-of-11 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown to Jackson Davis. 

14. Catholic (5-2)

Catholic’s defense pitched its second shutout of the year in a road victory over Sylvan Hills while holding the Bears to just 56 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jackson England compiled 120 yards offensively and two total touchdowns in one half. Cody Fogleman hauled in England's passing touchdown, while Cooper Nannen carried 14 times for 76 yards and a score.

15. Hot Springs (6-1)

A high-scoring affair ended up going in the Trojans' favor as they took care of Magnolia to notch their third consecutive victory. Perry Jones rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while the QB-WR duo of Matt Contreras (18-26 passing, 213 yards, two touchdowns) and T.J. Brogdon (7 receptions, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns) showed out again. 

16. Cabot (4-3)

The Panthers bounced back after taking one on the chin to No. 3 Conway and blanked Central 27-0, led by the rushing trio of Cooper Powell, Keegan Vest and Amari Criner. A big opportunity is on the horizon for Friday at home against five-time defending 7A champion No. 2 Bryant. Cabot took the Hornets all the way to the final few minutes in last season's contest and the Panthers have an upset on their mind. 

17. Marion (6-1)

Quarterback Ashton Gray put the team on his back and refused to lose in a Top 25 showdown with rival West Memphis as the Patriots prevailed 20-14. Gray scored all of Marion’s touchdowns and totaled 315 yards (101 passing, 214 rushing). Marion is currently in great position as they sit just a game behind first-place Benton in the 6A-East standings.

18. West Memphis (5-2)

The Blue Devils lost quarterback Keland Mills during Friday's competitive matchup against arch rival Marion, but still gave the Patriots all they wanted before ultimately coming up short by six points. The defeat snapped a five-game win streak, but West Memphis has a favorable matchup this week at Greene County Tech. 

19. Mills (6-1)

The Comets were on a bye. They will make the short trip to No. 20 Joe T. Robinson on Friday. 

20. Joe T. Robinson (6-1)

Despite a strong push from Beebe, who led 27-26 heading into the fourth quarter, the Senators reeled off 17 fourth quarter points, while the defense pitched a shutout in that frame to secure Robinson’s sixth consecutive victory. Nick Abrams found the end zone four times, three on the ground and once through the air, while Josh Smith led defensively with nine total stops.

21. Pine Bluff (6-2)

Down two key starters, the Z's escaped White Hall 20-14 led by an impressive evening from Missouri commit Austyn Dendy, who compiled over 100 yards of total offense and rushed for two touchdowns, along with logging four tackles and he nipped an interception. 

22. Malvern (5-2)

To no one's surprise, Colorado State commit Jalen Dupree (15 carries, 216 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Dyleon Caradine (6 receptions, 192 yards, 2 touchdowns) had another outstanding combined performance in front of a homecoming crowd at David Alpe Field. A win next week against Nashville likely sets up a 4A-7 conference championship matchup in Week 10 against Arkadelphia.

23. Harding Academy (7-0)

A road trip to Hyatt Field in Monticello set up a neutral matchup against Louisiana Class 1A power Ouachita Christian. Tied at halftime, the Wildcats ran away with it as the defense pitched a second half shutout. Quarterback Owen Miller completed 21-of-26 passes for 259 yards and threw for two touchdowns, along with another on the ground. Both of Miller’s touchdowns were to Endy McGalliard, while Isaac Baker compiled 176 yards of offense and a score.

24. Warren (7-0)

Warren has been pushed more than some expected in 4A-8 play and an undefeated DeWitt squad gave the Lumberjacks all they wanted and more, but Bo Hembree and Co. came through again to remain in the driver’s seat for the conference's top seed. Trey Jackson rushed 19 times for 221 yards and a touchdown, while Arkansas target Antonio Jordan hauled in six catches for 123 yards and two scores.

25. Valley View (6-1)

A 41-3 rout over Brookland was a tune-up for a highly anticipated showdown against undefeated Southside with major 5A-East implications on the line this Friday. Carson Turley compiled 209 yards of offense (81 passing, 128 rushing) with three total touchdowns, while Anthony Feliz found the end zone twice on the ground and Laird Cullen led the Blazer defense with two interceptions. 

–Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR