10 Arkansas high school football games to watch in the final week of the regular season (11/1/2023)

10 games to watch in Arkansas prep football in the final week of the regular season

Here are 10 games to watch in Arkansas high school football for the final week before postseason play begins. 

Note: Rankings are based on the SBLive Arkansas Top 25.

No. 2 Bryant (8-1, 6-0) at No. 3 Conway (9-0, 6-0)

As if this matchup needed any more hype, it became a 'must-see' type of enticing way back on May 31. Buck James shocked mostly everyone and resigned as head coach of Bryant - the team he led to five consecutive 7A titles and 53 straight wins against in-state competition - to take the same job at Conway. The Hornets are in position to win their fifth straight outright 7A-Central title under new head coach Quad Sanders, James' former assistant, while the Wampus Cats are looking for their first conference title since 2014 - the last year they defeated Bryant. Jordan Walker, James Martin and Mytorian Singleton are just a few of the current Hornets who have had big games against the Wampus Cats and they lead a Bryant offense that averages 43 points per game. However, Conway three-year starting quarterback Donovyn Omolo also knows the sting of losing this game and has his offense (48 PPG) ready to go, while the Conway defense has been heavily underrated. 

No. 8 Bentonville (6-3, 5-1) at No. 9 Bentonville West (7-2, 5-1)

These crosstown rivals will battle for the 7A-West No. 2 seed at Wolverine Stadium. Bentonville, in particular, may not be quite where it expected prior to the season, but is still hanging tough despite some setbacks, including the injury of starting senior quarterback Carter Nye. Sophomore Cole Slepecki has been the Tigers' signal caller since Nye went down against Fayetteville on Oct. 13 and has helped the team to victories in their past two games while completing 13-of-24 passes for 230 yards and four scores and Slepecki has no shortage of talent to throw to that includes, but is not limited to, Arkansas commit C.J. Brown. West is looking to beat Bentonville for the first time in what will be the eighth attempt and possibly the best chance in school history up to this point. You know by now that despite senior Dalton Rice somewhat abruptly taking over at quarterback, he has performed very well in 2023 and led the Wolverines to five consecutive wins, including last Friday's after escape against Fort Smith Southside in a Top 15 matchup. 

Carlisle (8-1, 5-0) at Hazen (8-1, 6-0)

Last year, both squads came into Week 10 undefeated. While they each may have one blemish to their name, the stakes are basically the same as these Highway 70 rivals will again play for the 2A-4 championship before starting a playoff run to Little Rock where they each finished last season. Hazen, the defending Class 2A champions, have hardly skipped a beat from their first championship run in school history, minus a hiccup in Week 1 when they fell by two points in overtime to Des Arc. The Bison have continued to thrive under first year head coach Gary Wilson, a previous assistant and Bison alumnus, with their lone loss to Class 3A Junction City. While both offenses have been successful, Hazen has the edge currently averaging 47.1 points per contest to Carlisle's 39.3, but the defenses have not let much through as the Bison are surrendering 11.9 per game and Hazen is allowing 12.9.

No. 7 Little Rock Christian (8-1, 7-0) at No. 4 Greenwood (9-0, 7-0)

Along with getting to witness a Top 10 matchup for the 6A-West championship, there is no where else in Arkansas that you will have the chance to see two of the nation's top quarterbacks in their respective classes square off. Sophomore phenom Kane Archer, whom many consider the top quarterback in the 2026 class, and the Bulldogs have a 60-game win streak going at Smith Robinson stadium and hope to keep that going after snapping Pulaski Academy's decade-long home win streak last week. Archer was responsible for eight total touchdowns against PA and has played his best varsity football in the past two contests, totaling 15 touchdowns and over 700 yards of offense. Archer's surrounding cast includes running back Brayedan Davis (1,071 yards, 19 total touchdowns) along with receivers Grant Karnes and L.J. Robins, who each have over 700 yards and combined for 21 touchdowns, while the Bulldog defense is allowing just 13.2 points per game. On the other side is senior Auburn commit Walker White (2,346 total yards, 34 touchdowns), a consensus Top 15 quarterback in the 2024 class. White has a quality trio of receivers in Tate Collins (649 yards, 5 touchdowns), Cade Bowman (497 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Tristian Watson (534 yards, 10 touchdowns), while sophomore Jackson Ward leads the rushing attack (612 yards, 7 touchdowns). Since getting routed by Shiloh Christian in Week 1, the Warrior defense has been exceptional allowing an incredible 6.3 points per contest in seven games that includes two shutouts. 

No. 22 Malvern (6-2, 4-0) at Arkadelphia (5-3, 4-0)

If anything, Malvern is appreciative of Arkadelphia for the shellacking the Badgers gave them last year in Week 10, because it ultimately gave the Leopards a kickboost that led to their first state title run in nearly 30 years. The 4A-7 conference title is again on the line and while Malvern won the ultimate prize, do not think for a second they do not want redemption this time around. Arkadelphia lost a ton of offensive production and got off to an 0-3 start while facing all 5A-South competition, but has since reeled off five consecutive wins in conference play and really has not been challenged. Excluding its losses to out-of-state competition, Malvern has again been very difficult to slow down offensively led by the dominant play of Colorado State commit Jalen Dupree, who eclipsed 6,000 career rushing yards last week and passed Madre Hill as the school's all-time rushing leader. Air Force commit Dyelon Caradine has continued to be one of the top two-way players in Arkansas and has already surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as picked off eight passes on defense. 

Marked Tree (7-1, 5-1) at East Poinsett County (8-1, 6-0) (Thurs.)

Despite East Poinsett County winning the past five matchups, this is one of those rivalries you have to throw all records and statistics out of the window. That being said, it is only fitting that after all of the craziness that has occurred in the 2A-2 that the conference championship and No. 1 playoff seed all comes down to this showdown. The duo of quarterback Kenyon Carter and running back Terry Hodges have led an Indians offense that averages 45 points per game, while the defense has had its ups and downs, but played well the last two games allowing just 14 and 16 points, respectively. EPC has been about as potent offensively as Marked Tree, currently putting up 44.4 points per contest, while the defense has also been pretty good surrendering 20.1 per game. Running back Dennis Gaines, who has over 6,000 career rushing yards, has eclipsed 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground this year, while quarterback Cooper Argo (1,732 total yards, 17 touchdowns) and wide receiver Omar McCuiston (654 yards, 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions), who also has intercepted six passes, consistently give defenses headaches. 

Mineral Springs (9-0, 5-0) at Murfreesboro (9-0, 5-0) (Thurs.)

Two drastically improved programs put their perfect records on the line for the opportunity to represent the 2A-3 as its No. 1 playoff seed. Both are led by up-and-coming coaches who are each in their second season at their respective programs. Mineral Springs' Jason Hathcock took the Hornets from winless in 2021 to seven victories and a playoff berth a season ago, while Murfreesboro's Brad Chesshir has tripled the Rattlers' win total after earning three in 2022. Both offenses have scored at will, but defense has been a key strength as each have surrendered just seven points per contest. The Hornets' balanced offense averages an impressive 47 points per game, headlined by the rushing attack of KT Thomas (946 yards, 23 total touchdowns) and Malik Matthews (519 yards, 9 total touchdowns), while Murfreesboro utilizes a run-first approach and boasts three players who have surpassed 500 yards on the ground - Brandt Stevens (813 yards, 4 touchdowns), Malachi Sanders (648 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Lathan Compton (559 yards, 8 touchdowns).

No. 20 Joe T. Robinson (7-2, 6-1) at No. 21 Pine Bluff (7-2, 6-1)

When the Senators and the Z's squared off this time last year, Robinson, the eventual conference champion, was the experienced squad while Pine Bluff was continuing to instill its new culture under first year head coach Mike Williams. The Z's kept it close and fell by six, but this time around they are the team with experience while the Senators will have a lot of youth on the field. Junior quarterback Quentin Murphy (1,134 all-purpose yards, 16 touchdowns) did return for Robinson last week after missing the Mills game. Robinson has hung its hat on a by-committee rushing attack led by Murphy, as well as Nick Abrams (591 yards, 12 touchdowns), Jaylen Knowlton (405 yards, 5 touchdowns), as well as Jordan Thomas (477 yards, 3 touchdowns), and will be facing a Z's defense that allow 15.7 points per contest. The Senators' D is surrendering around the same (20.1) and will also have its hands full, starting with future Power 5 athletes in Arkansas commit Courtney Crutchfield (752 all-purpose yards, ) and Missouri commit Austyn Dendy (719 all-purpose yards, ) as well as leading rusher Marquez Brentley (650 total yards, 4 touchdowns). Mills will have to lose to Vilonia for either team to have a shot at the 5A-Central top seed, but if that does happen the winner of this contest will get it while the loser will be the No. 3 seed.

No. 14 Shiloh Christian (7-2, 5-1) at Alma (7-2, 5-1)

Maybe only one other conference statewide is as bonkers as the 5A-West, but these are two of the teams, along with Farmington, that are fighting to win the league crown. Defending champion and state runner-up Shiloh Christian rebounded from a tough loss to Farmington by routing Prairie Grove 49-0 last week. Saints star senior running back Bo Williams, who has ran for over 3,000 yards in his career and is the program's all-time leading rusher, did battle an injury around the midway point of the season but has shown all signs of being back to himself and finished with three touchdowns against Prairie Grove. Alma's defense that allows just under 20 points per game will look to slow down a Saints offense that is putting up 46. The Airedales have been somewhat of a surprise in Class 5A and, like the Saints, defeated Prairie Grove on Oct. 20 coming off of a conference loss. Alma did not play last week due to a forfeiture by Dardanelle. Senior quarterback Jackson Daily has compiled nearly 2,000 yards of total offense with 26 total touchdowns and found a suitable target in sophomore Sam Schlegel (701 yards, 3 touchdowns) to go with running backs Carlos Gonzalez and Israel Towns-Robinson, who each average over seven yards per carry. Here's how it goes - If Alma wins and Farmington beats Prairie Grove, Alma will be the No. 1 seed and Shiloh will be the three. To simplify it, the only way Shiloh gets the No. 1 seed is if they beat Alma and Prairie Grove beats Farmington.

Walnut Ridge (7-2, 4-0) at Hoxie (9-0, 4-0)

The two teams who have arguably fallen off the radar in Class 3A are featured in this contest and will battle it out for 3A-3 supremacy. While the Mustangs are looking to finish out a perfect regular season, the Bobcats' losses have been in non-conference matchups to undefeated Salem and 3A-6 No. 1 seed Harmony Grove (OC). Hoxie three-year starter Kayden Glenn has had a seamless transition to quarterback, having already compiled 1,959 yards of offense and 32 total touchdowns, while throwing only one interception. Hoxie's defense, led by seniors Ethan Dulaney and Mattheis Dobbs, is allowing just 9.2 points per game, compared to the Bobcats who have been pretty good themselves allowing just over 16 points per contest. Walnut Ridge has rushed for nearly 3,000 yards as a team, powered by junior Enrique Perez (1,156 yards, 10 touchdowns), senior Robbie Tate (685 yards, 15 touchdowns) and sophomore Jersie Cunningham (735 yards, 9 touchdowns). 

--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR

Photo by Jimmy Jones