This Friday begins the journey of a new road, destiny and season for Arkansas high school football. The 2025 state football playoffs will kick off for Week 11 to start the road to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Once again, the area’s “Fab Five” football programs of Hot Spring County have made a fifth consecutive year as playoff qualifiers and contenders to battle for the state’s prestigious prize—the state title in their respective classifications.
The hometown Malvern Leopards of 4A-7, along with 3A powerhouses Bismarck Lions, Glen Rose Beavers and the Magnet Cove Panthers—and the 2A Poyen Indians all are back to ignite journeys for a challenging path to Little Rock in December.
These football programs continue to grasp the playoff madness for this season after successful years on the gridiron thus far.
This Friday night, the first round of the playoffs start and they’re all ready to go out and make some noise representing this area of the Natural State—challenging the best of the best football programs for one goal in mind.
It’s win or go home time again on the gridiron. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. for all playoff games during each round in the postseason.
Read full pregame story details and playoff match-ups in Thursday’s November 13 MDR newspaper edition.