It’s that time of the year, everyone. High school football games kicked off throughout the state of Arkansas Oct. 31-Nov. 2 and there was plenty of great action taking place.
The No. 1 team in the Natural State remains Bryant then followed by Conway followed by Greenwood and Little Rock Parkview.
Here’s the complete breakdown of Arkansas’ elite high school football teams, heading into Week 9 of the 2024 season, as we see it.
Bryant receiver Karter Ratliff hauls in a pass in the first quarter. / Photo by Tommy Land
Senior quarterback Jordan Walker has been arguably the state’s top passer all season long, completing 83-of-136 passes for 1,682 yards, 28 touchdowns and two interceptions.
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Trey Harris ran for more than 100 yards Friday night in Conway’s win over Bentonville. / Photo by Ted McClenning
Move over, the Wampus Cats are the state’s second ranked team as they have yet to drop a game this season. Up next is a tilt against is a showdown with No. 1 Bryant. Get your popcorn ready.
Nobody has played better under center in the state of Arkansas than Kane Archer of Greenwood. The quarterback has thrown for 2,708 yards, 43 touchdowns and one interception.
Parkview’s lone loss of the season is a 30-10 decision to No. 1 team in Bryant. The Patriots finishes up the season with Camden Fairview.
This Pulaski Academy team’s only two losses have come against Bryant and Conway. Both of those clubs are ranked 1-2 in these rankings.
The Panthers are averaging a cool 51.4 points per game through nine games played this season. Now Benton will gear up for a road date versus Marion.
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Since a Sep. 20th loss to Lee’s Summit North, Bentonville has won six straight games.
We know the Warriors have three losses, but all of them have come up against teams ahead of them in these rankings I.E. Bryant, Conway and Shiloh Christian.
The Bombers ever since losing 37-13 to Shiloh Christian have responded with a four-game winning streak. Wins have come over Russellville, Siloam Springs, Lake Hamilton and Van Buren.
The Rockets suffered their first loss of the season against a very good Benton team, 42-0. Catholic bounced back last week against Marion with a 23-14 victory.
Tyson Bradden has done a nice job taking care of the football and producing plenty of points. The senior has thrown for over 1,300 yards and 19 touchdown passes this season.
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Marion drops down a few spots after falling to Little Rock Catholic, 23-14. They’ll look to bounce back this week against No. 6 Benton.
Drew Gartman has been the team’s workhorse out of the backfield, scoring a team-high 19 rushing touchdowns along with 1,085 yards.
Another week and another Elks’ win to remain undefeated. Elkins rolled to a 35-21 victory over Gravette last week.
The Bulldogs made it two wins in a row with a 42-0 trouncing of Rogers Heritage.
We leave Hot Springs Lakeside right where they’re at after a 28-12 loss to Parkview. The Rams will finish the regular season with Hot Springs.
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Rogers bounced back from a loss to Fayetteville with a 70-42 defeat of Har-Ber last week.
Back to back losses to Greenwood and Mountain Home had us dropping Lake Hamilton down the ranks a bit. Lake Hamilton came up with a big win over Shiloh Christian last week.
The Bulldogs dropped their third game of the year in a loss to Bentonville. Springdale is another team we won’t drop as they faced one of the state’s top tier clubs.
Max Eldridge/Hudl
Griffin Mason has proven himself as one of the state’s top running backs this season, carrying the rock 213 times for 1,356 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns.
In one of the wildest games of the season the Cardinals pulled off a thrilling 78-75 victory over Morrilton a couple weeks ago.
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The Comets just keep winning and their latest victory was a 49-7 throttling of Central Arkansas Christian last week.
The Badgers make their way back into the rankings after winning six straight games, including two shutouts. Only two losses have come to Camden Fairview and Lake Hamilton.
The Lions pulling off a 33-29 upset win over Prescott last week vaults them into our rankings last week. Can Bismarck finish the season at 10-0?
With the Sand Lizards only loss of the season coming against No. 14-ranked Elkins, Dardanelle makes its debut in this week’s rankings.
Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.
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— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveark
Dylan Sherman is a business reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is based in Northwest Arkansas and focuses on Tyson Foods Inc. and the transportation industry. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he has been with the newspaper since 2023.
The Arkansas Court of Appeals released opinions Wednesday. The court’s ruling and the names of the cases are reprinted here. The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the internet at arcourts.gov.
PROCEEDINGS OF Jan. 7, 2026
CHIEF JUDGE N. MARK KLAPPENBACH
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CR-23-821. Kenneth Steward v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Brown, JJ., agree.
JUDGE ROBERT J. GLADWIN
CR-25-24. Bryce Anderson v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Virden and Harrison, JJ., agree.
JUDGE CASEY R. TUCKER
CV-24-537. Flywheel Energy Production, LLC v. Van Buren County, Arkansas; and Van Buren County Judge Dale James, in His Official Capacity as Van Buren County Judge, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Reversed and dismissed. Abramson and Harrison, JJ., agree.
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JUDGE WENDY SCHOLTENS WOOD
CV-24-209. LRS South, LLC v. Benton County Solid Waste Management District and the Benton County Solid Waste Management District Board, from Benton County Circuit Court. Reversed and remanded. Hixson and Murphy, JJ., agree.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas continued its offseason roster work by adding a transfer defensive back and securing a future offensive line piece from Texas, addressing both immediate depth and long-term development.
The Razorbacks announced the signing of Georgia State defensive back Tyler Scott, a transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining, while also landing Carey Clayton, an offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll High School, as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
Scott joins the Hogs after spending the 2025 season at Georgia State, where he appeared in two games and recorded four tackles. He arrives in Fayetteville with three years of eligibility remaining, giving Arkansas flexibility in how he’s developed and used in the secondary.
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Before his time at Georgia State, Scott spent two seasons at Auburn. One of those seasons was cut short due to an ACL injury, limiting his opportunity to contribute on the field.
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The Razorbacks now provide him with a chance to reset and compete in a defensive back room that continues to evolve.
At 6 feet tall, Scott adds experience to a secondary that has seen significant turnover through the transfer portal. His addition gives the Hogs another option at defensive back as the staff works through spring and fall evaluations.
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Clayton strengthens 2026 offensive line class
Arkansas also added a future piece up front with the commitment of Carey Clayton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll, one of Texas’ most consistent high school programs.
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Clayton helped Southlake Carroll complete an undefeated regular season last fall and reach the state semifinals. He enters college football as a consensus three-star prospect, ranked among the top offensive line recruits in Texas.
In addition to Arkansas, Clayton held offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, UAB and UTEP. He ultimately chose the Razorbacks, becoming the 16th commitment in the Hogs’ 2026 recruiting class.
Clayton is ranked around No. 251 nationally and No. 141 in Texas. While not among the highest-rated prospects in the class, his high school experience and physical development make him a long-term project for Arkansas’ offensive line.
Hogs continue roster building
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The additions of Scott and Clayton reflect the Hogs’ continued focus on roster balance. Scott becomes the 23rd transfer portal addition this offseason, reinforcing a secondary that has emphasized competition and depth.
Clayton’s commitment adds to a growing 2026 class that prioritizes size and developmental upside, particularly along the offensive line.
Arkansas has steadily worked to build future depth in the trenches while supplementing current needs through the portal.
While neither move is designed to generate immediate headlines, both fit into a broader plan aimed at improving roster stability.
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Scott offers experience and flexibility in the defensive backfield, while Clayton provides a long-term option at a position that often requires patience.
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As the Razorbacks move through the offseason, these additions help establish depth at key positions and give the coaching staff more options heading into the coming seasons.
Key takeaways
Arkansas added Georgia State transfer defensive back Tyler Scott, who brings experience and remaining eligibility to the secondary.
The Razorbacks signed 2026 Texas offensive lineman Carey Clayton, adding size and long-term depth up front.
The Hogs continue balancing immediate roster needs with long-term development through recruiting and the portal.
