ARPreps.com Rankings for Week 5

David Harten
October 1, 2011

LITTLE ROCK — ARPreps.com Rankings for Week 5, Sept 30:

Class 7A

1.) Bentonville (5-0) — Crushed Fort Smith Southside, seems like a repeat in 7A is imminent.

2.) Conway (4-1) — Down 17-3 to North Little Rock, the Wampus Cats made a case for no. 2 with a comeback win, and it was granted.

3.) Har-Ber (4-1) — Won a shootout with Fort Smith Northside, movin' on up.

4.) West Memphis (5-0) — Dispatched Class 6A no. 4 Marion. The Blue Devils are legit and told the whole state that tonight.

5.) Fayetteville (4-1) — Only loss to Bentonville and with a new QB (albeit an Allen) this team has surprised. Welcome to the rankings.

Class 6A

1.) El Dorado (5-0) — Made early, easy work of Texarkana in a 6A South match-up. Good enough to keep the top spot.

2.) Lake Hamilton (4-1) — Took care of Benton and with their only loss to Pulaski Academy. They are a legit 6A contender, as expected.

3.) Searcy (4-1) — Won a high-scoring affair over Little Rock Parkview at home.

4.) Marion (4-1) — First defeat of the season to 7A no. 4 West Memphis? Even with only six points scored, not a terrible loss allowing 20.

5.) Pine Bluff (3-2) — This Zebras team is looking like the 2009 team that bloomed late and made a state title game run. Jordan Humphrey = another Claude Johnson? Also the only two-loss team in the rankings.

Class 5A

1.) Greenwood (5-0) — Rolled Morrilton on the road, can't say this team isn't still making it look easy like last year.

2.) Greenbrier (5-0) — The "Greens" stay up after the Panthers whip Huntsville.

3.) Alma (4-1) — Beat Vilonia easily and make it a top-3 trio of 5A-West teams for the third straight week.

4.) Camden Fairview (4-1) — Handled CAC 48-20 and made way for a move up. Another season that looks like the Cardinals are the 5A-Southwest favorite.

5.) Monticello (4-0-1) — Yes, it was a win, but it was also a two-point win over a struggling Helena-West Helena team. That'll get you demoted.

Class 4A

1.) Pulaski Academy (5-0) — Struggled (by their standards) at Nashville this week. But a 19-point road win will keep them on top.

2.) Heber Springs (5-0) — Held on on the road at Stuttgart for a 28-21 win. The Ricebirds are a solid enough team — probably a playoff squad — to make that a good win.

3.) Ashdown (5-0) — Did away with Bauxite 35-14. Though the 14 points are uncharacteristic for a stingy Panthers defense.

4.) Ozark (5-0) — Thrashed Perryville, has to get them into the rankings with a bunch of great wins.

5.) Pottsville (4-0-1) — Got a big win over Booneville (49-21). Keeps them at no. 5,. The tie with a now 4-0-1 Atkins team in their season opener keeps looking better, too.

Class 3A

1.) Harding Academy (4-1) — When you beat a team ranked in your class, like their 31-14 victory at no. 5 Arkansas Baptist, the rankings notices.

2.) Earle (5-0) — Another huge week for the Bulldogs, beating Harrisburg 60-0. While normally the rankings doesn't jump for beatdowns you expect, the rest of the top 5 lacked some firepower, so they boost.

3.) Fordyce (5-0) — Ran all over Fouke and are increasing their prospects in the 3A playoffs daily.

4.) Lincoln (5-0) — It really was a toss-up between them and Greenland, but how can one lead their conference and have second place be ranked?

5.) Arkansas Baptist (4-1) — Lost what will probably turn out to be the 3A-2 Conference title game to no. 1 Harding Academy. But it was close for most of the game, even when Eagles QB Jack Easby-Smith went down.

Class 2A

1.) Magazine (5-0) — Beat the previous no. 2 in 2A, Danville, 35-28. Good win, great team.

2.) East Poinsett County (5-0) — Slapped Augusta with a 63-3 blasting. Fits rather well in the no. 2, don't you think?

3.) Bearden (4-0) — Ran Marvell off with a 63-6 tagging. The rankings wonders if it Defonta Lowe made most of the plays in that game?

4.) Carlisle (5-0) — A 60-6 thrashing of Clarendon? It's starting to become apparent which teams are great in each class, and Carlisle is one of those in 2A.

5.) Danville (4-1) — Remember when we said that the Little Johns were prime for the no. 1 spot? Had to beat no. 1, didn't do it. But a seven point loss to the no. 1 team in 2A won't get you completely marooned by the rankings.