Arkansas high school football Top 25 rankings (10/31/2023)

This week's SBLive Arkansas Top 25 prep football rankings

The final week of the regular season has arrived and so have the fall-like temperatures. Some postseason seeds have already been decided, but the complete playoff picture will be crystal clear before midnight Friday. 

Greenwood dominated a Top 10 matchup on the road against Pulaski Academy in the SBLive Top 25 Week 9 headliner, while Bentonville West edged Fort Smith Southside in a Top 15 showdown. 

The only surprise of the week was previously No. 13 Catholic losing to El Dorado 22-21, but with one final opportunity for teams to compete for a postseason positions, there could be plenty more surprises in store. 

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school football rankings for Week 10.

1. Parkview (9-0) 

Another week, another dominant performance from the top-ranked Patriots who all but finished the rout of Hot Springs Lakeside in the first half. Monterrio Elston compiled 243 total yards (126 rushing, 117 receiving) and averaged an incredible 30 yards per touch, while Central Arkansas commit Eric McGehee completed nine of his 12 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns and Arkansas target Omarion Robinson threw a 26-yard touchdown as well as snagged two interceptions. 

2. Bryant (8-1)

Bryant was not about to overlook rival North Little Rock with a huge Week 10 contest on the horizon as the Hornets were way too much for the struggling Charing Wildcats. They have now shifted their full focus on No. 3 Conway, whom they have not lost to since 2014. Hornets quarterback Jordan Walker passed for two touchdowns, both to Mytorian Singleton, who had 138 yards on just four receptions. Another win over the Wampus Cats on Friday will clinch Bryant's fifth straight outright 7A-Central title. 

3. Conway (9-0)

A dominating win over Jonesboro in which the Wampus Cats put up 42 points in the first half sets up the most highly-anticipated regular season game of the year with No. 2 Bryant. Donovyn Omolo threw three touchdowns to as many different receivers against the Hurricane and head coach Buck James will see his former team for all of the marbles in the 7A-Central on Friday. 

4. Greenwood (9-0)

They trailed, briefly by a point, for the first time this season but the Bulldogs fought off a couple of Pulaski Academy rallies and pulled away in the third quarter to snap the Bruins' decade-long win streak at Rector Field. Sophomore quarterback Kane Archer was exceptional for the second consecutive week, compiling over 300 yards of offense and eight total touchdowns. Greenwood welcomes No. 7 Little Rock Christian to Smith Robinson Stadium on Friday with the 6A-West championship on the line. 

5. Fayetteville (9-0)

After handling a struggling Rogers Heritage squad, the Purple Dogs are off to their best start in two decades and a senior night win over Har-Ber away from a perfect regular season. Against the War Eagles, Minnesota commit Drake Lindsey threw three touchdowns, two of 53 and 80 yards to Mason Spencer, while Christian Setzer added 128 rushing yards and two scores on 13 carries. 

6. Benton (8-1)

They may not have had the same type of first half dominance as the previous five weeks, but the Panthers were still unstoppable as they put up 35 first half points, 28 in the first quarter, to take down West Memphis and secure the 6A-East No. 1 seed. Sophomore quarterback Drew Davis completed 18-of-29 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns, while Arkansas commit Braylen Russell went over 100 yards both through the air and on the ground, along with four trips to the end zone. 

7. Little Rock Christian (8-1)

None of the Warriors' 6A-West opponents have been able to hang with them thus far and that did not change against a quality Greenbrier squad last week. LRCA surpassed 50 points for the fifth consecutive game and now face a tall task on the road against No. 4 Greenwood at Smith Robinson Stadium for the conference title where the Bulldogs have not lost in 60 games. 

8. Bentonville (6-3)

Following a convincing 51-10 victory over Springdale, the Tigers will make the 13 minute trip to Centerton and take on rival Bentonville West with the 7A-West No. 2 seed on the line. A 100-yard return for a score on the opening kickoff by Arkansas commit C.J. Brown set the tone against the Bulldogs.

9. Bentonville West (7-2)

Heach coach Bryan Pratt returned to the sideline after serving his first half suspension due to last week's ejection and helped the Wolverines squeak past Fort Smith Southside 24-21 in a Top 15 matchup. Senior quarterback Dalton Rice threw for 216 yards and found the end zone twice and West will host rival No. 7 Bentonville for the 7A-West No. 2 seed on Friday. 

10. Rogers (6-3)

They needed a victory after dropping two of their previous three contests and the Mounties put on one of their better offensive performances of the season against an improving Har-Ber squad, scoring 63 points. Sophomore Jeff Regan seems to make his presence felt every week and he did so again as he was responsible for four total touchdowns. Rogers closes out the regular season at home in a favorable matchup against Rogers Heritage.

11. Fort Smith Southside (5-4)

It is easy to look at the record and wonder how the Mavericks are still this high. However, when you consider their losses are all to Top 10 teams, two by a combined nine points, it becomes more clear and they were as close to getting their statement victory as they have been all season last Friday against Bentonville West in the three-point loss. Senior Amari Tucker put together another impressive outing in the defeat, rushing for 137 yards and a score on 21 carries. 

12. Pulaski Academy (7-2)

The Brandon Cobb-to-Andrew Fisher connection was on point for the Bruins in the first half and kept them in the game, but the offsensive firepower of Kane Archer and Greenwood was too much for PA in the third quarter. While the season is far from over, the Bruins are in unfamiliar territory as they have dropped two games against in-state completion in a season for the first time since 2012. 

13. Hot Springs (8-1)

Friday's win over Camden Fairview put the Cardinals in the driver's seat for the 5A-South No. 2 seed and they will secure it with a victory over nearby foe Lakeside on Friday. Sophomore Kenyon Woods stepped up against the Cardinals, rushing for 111 yards and a score, while junior Braylan Young led the Trojans with 17 total tackles and also nabbed an interception. 

14. Shiloh Christian (7-2)

The Saints bounced back strong from last week's loss to Farmington by routing Prairie Grove 49-0. Now that this part was settled, the wild 5A-West still has to be decided as the Saints sit in a three-way tie for first place with Farmington and Alma, which is where they will travel to this week. If the Saints defeat the Airedales and Prairie Grove is able to slip past Farmington then Shiloh will secure the conference's top seed.

15.  Cabot (5-4)

Cabot's defense clamped down to hold Fort Smith Northside to just 16 yards rushing and Keegan Vest gashed the Grizzly defense for 155 yards and two scores to put the Panthers in strong position to solidify the 7A-Central No. 3 seed. They wrap up the regular season against North Little Rock at home on Friday.

16. Marion (8-1)

Look out, the Patriots have won their past four contests heading into their home regular season finale against No. 19 Catholic. Senior quarterback Ashton Gray continued his tear, compiling 252 yards of offense (127 passing, 125 rushing) and seven total touchdowns.

17. Mills (8-1)

The Comets rolled to a 39-7 win over Morrilton and are just a victory over Vilonia away from wrapping the 5A-Central No. 1 seed and an outright conference championship. They currently sit in a three-way tie for first place with Joe T. Robinson and Pine Bluff, but own the tiebreaker. 

18. West Memphis (6-3)

A date with No. 6 Benton did not go well as the Blue Devils' vaunted defense could not contain the red hot Panthers offense. West Memphis now looks to finish the season strong on the road against a stingy Searcy squad while hoping to avoid dropping three of the final four regular season games before postseason play starts.

19. Catholic (6-3)

A 21-0 first half lead slipped away from the Rockets as El Dorado reeled off 22 unanswered points and stunned Catholic at War Memorial Stadium. The loss essentially cemented the Rockets as the 6A-East No. 4 seed as they finish up the regular season with a long road trip to No. 16 Marion on Friday.

20. Joe T. Robinson (7-2)

Arkansas target Quentin Murphy returned for the Senators after sitting out last week and had a fine outing in a lopsided victory over White Hall, finishing with over 200 yards of total offense and passed for three touchdowns to three different receivers. Kaleb Jones was Murphy's leading receiver with four receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. Robinson takes on No. 21 Pine Bluff at home to close out the regular season and also get the Top 3 spots of the 5A-Central worked out.  

21. Pine Bluff (7-2)

The Zebras were on a bye. They will host No. 20 Joe T. Robinson on Friday, whom they currently sit in a three-way tie with for first place in the 5A-Central.  

22. Malvern (6-2)

Malvern's 35-21 win over Nashville may have been the Leopards' closest margin of victory in 4A-7 play, but the Scrappers had no chance at stopping Jalen Dupree. The Colorado State commit ran 33 times for 333 yards and two touchdowns while surpassing the legend Madre Hill's school rushing record that stood for three decades, as well as eclipsed 6,000 career rushing yards. Romero Bennett led the Leopards on defense with 11 solo tackles and they will travel to Arkadelphia on Friday with hopes of wrapping up an undefeated conference slate. 

23. Harding Academy (9-0)

The Wildcats rolled Heber Springs 41-14 to clinch their second consecutive 4A-2 championship and eleventh straight conference game dating back to their move up to Class 4A last year. What more is there to say about standout junior quarterback Owen Miller, who completed 15 of his 17 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns while adding another two on the ground. 

24. Valley View (8-1)

Carson Turley probably has not been talked about enough statewide and that needs to change. The sensational senior compiled 327 yards of total offense (101 passing, 226 rushing) and 6 touchdowns in Valley View's win over Nettleton, a physical matchup that had four lead changes. The Blazers have already locked up the 5A-East top seed and will claim the conference title outright, as well as finish undefeated in league play, with a victory over Batesville, who upset them 16-7 last season.

25. Warren (9-0)

Unlike the past four games, the Lumberjacks dominated from beginning to end in a shutout win over Helena to secure the 4A-8 No. 1 seed. In limited time, freshman quarterback Jackson Denton completed 4-of-6 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, while Jakendric Burks returned a fumble for a touchdown early to help set the tone. 

–Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR