Arkansas high school football rankings: Bryant headlines preseason MaxPreps Top 25

The high school football season in Arkansas kicks off in a little over a week with a full slate of games scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 26-27. After going 12-1 and outscoring Fayetteville 42-38 in the AHSAA Class 7A state title contest, Bryant carried off its fourth straight state championship trophy. The Bruins headline our look at this year's contenders in the preseason Arkansas MaxPreps Top 25.

Head coach Buck James' Hornets don't have the 2022 state title trophy on display yet. But Bryant, who Zack Poff pegs for the final spot of his expanded Top 100 rankings, has compiled a 49-3 record over the last four seasons while winning the last four Class 7A state football championships.

Riding a 10-game winning streak into 2022, Bryant is led by senior running back Chris Gannaway (5-10, 178) and Mytorian Singleton (6-0, 184), a junior wide receiver. Gannaway ran the ball for 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns on 171 carries a year ago and caught 12 balls for 170 yards and a couple more scores. Singleton, meanwhile, reeled in 64 aerials for 1,150 yards and nine touchdowns.

Conway, who fell to eventual 7A runner-up Fayetteville 29-21 in the big school semifinals last fall, takes over our No. 2 spot. The Wampus Cats are led by senior running back Jamarion Carr, who ran for 1,356 yards and nine scores on 232 carries. Junior signal caller Donovyn Omolo returns after completing 203 of 340 aerials for 2,626 yards and 27 touchdowns to just six interceptions a year ago.

Defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) debuts in the 2022 rankings at No. 3 while 2021 Class 3A champ Harding Academy (Searcy) sits No. 6. Last season's Class 6A state champion El Dorado starts out at No. 10 and Robinson (Little Rock) who claimed the Class 4A state championship hardware a year ago, takes over the No. 14 rung.

Bryant opens the season Aug. 27 against ‘Salt in the Rock' rival No. 11 Benton at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Hornets then take on Ryan (Denton, Texas) at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2. Conway opens the season at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 against No. 8 Bentonville.

Read on for a complete look at the preseason Arkansas Top 25 for 2022.
Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Bryant, 12-1 record in 2021
2. Conway, 9-3
3. Pulaski Academy (Little Rock), 13-1
4. Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, 10-3
5. North Little Rock, 10-3
6. Harding Academy (Searcy), 13-2
7. Greenwood, 9-4
8. Bentonville, 8-3
9. Parkview (Little Rock), 10-3
10. El Dorado, 11-2
11. Benton, 9-2
12. Fayetteville, 10-3
13. Arkadelphia, 10-4
14. Robinson (Little Rock), 14-1
15. Shiloh Christian (Springdale), 13-2
16. Greenbrier, 12-1
17. Prescott, 14-1
18. Cabot, 8-4
19. Magnolia, 6-6
20. Camden Fairview (Camden), 10-2
21. Lake Hamilton (Pearcy), 9-3
22. Bentonville West (Centerton), 6-5
23. White Hall, 11-3
24. Northside (Fort Smith), 7-5
25. Mountain Home, 4-8