Smackover tabbed to knock off Bismarck

GAME OF THE WEEK No. 1 Booneville at No. 12 Lamar

Two 8-0 teams settle the 1-3A league title and home-field advantage to the quarterfinals.

Lamar is 8-0 for the first time under coach Josh Jones. The Warriors have not won a league title since 2008. Lamar led Mansfield 7-0 last week at halftime in a 15-8 victory, when the Warriors rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Ike Pelts runs the offense efficiently, completing 57 percent of his passes for 669 yards and nine touchdowns with just three interceptions. Pelts has rushed for 325 yards and eight scores.

Junior running back Jacob Parmenter darted for 135 yards last week, highlighted by a 74-yard rush. Senior fullback Jonathan Mayes gets the tough yards. Senior linebacker Bryr Bruton (44 tackles) chases down ballcarriers.

Booneville allowed rival Charleston just 61 total yards last week in a 42-3 victory. That includes minus-9 yards rushing.

Senior linemen Noah Reyes and Marcus Nichols anchor a defense that allows 12.8 points per game.

Senior quarterback Brandon Ulmer hurt his knee in Booneville's Week 0 victory over Class 5A Clarksville and has not played since.

Junior quarterback Evan Schlinker triggers the offense and distributes the football. Senior fullback Carson Ray punishes would-be tacklers with bruising runs.

Senior slotback Andrew Robertson, a speedier option, ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and forced a fumble against Charleston.

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 22 of 23 winners (96 percent) of games involving Class 3A schools. Hootens.com has correctly picked 200 of 230 winners (87 percent) of games involving Class 3A schools for the season.

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread) 1-3A

BOONEVILLE (6) at Lamar: See Hootens.com Game of the Week.

MANSFIELD (10) at Cedarville: Cedarville is in a three-way tie (with Greenland and Charleston) for fourth place in the 1-3A and likely needs to win out to make the playoffs.

Greenland and Charleston own the tiebreaker over Cedarville. Mansfield must respond after consecutive losses, including a tight eightpoint defeat last week at home.

The Red Tigers have scored 13 points the last two weeks and last week rushed for just 55 yards (2.8 yards per carry) against Lamar.

West Fork at CHARLESTON (16): West Fork snapped a 23-game losing streak with last week's 14-13 victory over Paris. It was the first win for first-year coach Justin Smith.

Charleston has alternated wins and losses this season and last week lost by 39 points at Booneville.

The Tigers forced five Bearcat fumbles but recovered only two of them.

GREENLAND (19) at Paris: Paris must win one of its final two games to avoid its first winless season since 2003.

Greenland is one of three teams tied for the final two playoff spots and the Pirates own the tiebreaker over Charleston and Cedarville.

Greenland goes behind exciting junior Zaylen Bryant and senior Hayden Stout (158 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Cedarville).

Sophomore Gabe Wilson paces the Pirates defense with 61 tackles.

2-3A

Marshall at CLINTON (38): Marshall, playing hard under first-year coach Joseph Morse, can still qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

The Bobcats surrendered 378 yards and nine tackles for loss last week in a 41-8 defeat to Harding Academy.

Clinton clinches no worse than a share of its third straight league title, and the No. 1 playoff seed with a win.

The Yellow Jackets stung Class 2A Strong 36-0 last week, allowing just 97 yards. Clinton led 36-0 at halftime. MOUNTAIN VIEW (7) at Yellville-Summit: Mountain View lost last week at Melbourne, but owns the No. 4 playoff seed at this time.

Senior quarterback Gunner Willis and tight end Sam Treat pace a Mountain View team that averages 30 points per game in league play.

Yellville-Summit likely needs to win out to make a second straight playoff appearance, but it hosts Mountain View this week and finishes next week at Marshall. HARDING ACADEMY and MELBOURNE are open.

3-3A

Corning at OSCEOLA (42): Corning rides the state's longest losing streak (40 games) and the Bobcats have not scored in eight consecutive quarters.

Osceola pounded Piggott 49-14 last week with five Seminoles scoring. It may have been worse if not for 14 penalties for 114 yards.

Harrisburg at HOXIE (7): Harrisburg needs a win to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Hornets surrendered 302 rushing yards (5.5 yards per carry) last week in a 28-15 loss to Walnut Ridge.

Hoxie clinches a playoff berth with a win. The Mustangs mauled Manila 50-12 last week. Hoxie's offense is sparked by senior lefty quarterback Chandler Spradlin, a three-year starter.

WALNUT RIDGE (17) at Manila: Manila will miss the playoffs for the second straight season. The Lions score just 13.4 points per game in league play.

Walnut Ridge surges towards the No. 3 seed and a first-round home playoff game. The Bobcat defense recorded four sacks and forced two turnovers in last week's 13-point win at Harrisburg.

NEWPORT (10) at Piggott: Piggott is in the playoffs for the third straight season and it can finish anywhere from the No. 3 playoff seed to the No. 5 playoff seed. Piggott led Osceola 14-13 last week at halftime, but did not score in the second half of a 49-14 defeat.

Newport senior quarterback Cash Forrester has fired a touchdown pass in 14 straight games and multiple scoring strikes seven times in the past two seasons.

Newport has won seven straight games this year, but Piggott plays the Greyhounds well. Newport escaped Piggott 7-6 in 2016 and the Mohawks rolled the Greyhounds 51-12 a year ago.

4-3A

Atkins at GLEN ROSE (14): Reeling Atkins has lost two straight by a combined 78-13 to Danville and Mayflower.

The Red Devils committed four turnovers in last week's 52-6 loss to Mayflower. Glen Rose clinches a share of the league title by winning one of two games and the championship outright if it wins out.

BAPTIST PREP (24) at Two Rivers: Two Rivers misses the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Gators have lost 34 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the state.

Two Rivers has not scored in six games. Baptist Prep clinches its first playoff berth since 2015 with a win. Danville downed Baptist Prep 41-14 last week when four Baptist Prep starters missed the game due to academic issues.

Senior Robert Lewis rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown against Danville.

Jessieville at DANVILLE (10): Jessieville is tied with Baptist Prep for the last playoff spot, but Baptist Prep owns the tiebreaker and Jessieville plays Mayflower next week. Jessieville rolled up 301 yards in last weeks' 60-0 win over Two Rivers, its second-highest production this year.

The Lions also made 13 tackles for loss. Danville remains alive for the No. 2 playoff seed, but the No. 3 seed seems more likely.

The Little Johns allowed Baptist Prep just 150 yards and intercepted a pass. Senior running back Quentin Tolbert ran for three touchdowns and senior quarterback Preston Donnell fired three touchdown passes.

Perryville at MAYFLOWER (27): Perryville misses the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The Mustangs expect to return their leading passer (junior Reid Standridge), their top four rushers and top four pass-catchers in 2019.

Five of Perryville's top six tacklers are also juniors.

Mayflower is outscoring competition 135-6 during its three-game winning streak. Dynamic senior twins Keon and Deon Simmons make plays on offense and defense.

Mayflower has improved drastically in the offensive line and defensively the past month and the Eagles could make another deep playoff run.

5-3A

PRESCOTT (3) at C. Harmony Grove: Winner remains in the hunt for a share of the league title and moves into position for the No. 2 playoff seed. Harmony Grove, winners of seven straight games, downed Fouke 32-0 last week.

Junior playmaker Xaylon Falls scored two touchdowns and Jeremie Edwards also scored. The Hornets allow just 6.8 points per week in conference action.

Prescott (10 points per game against 5-3A) recorded its second shutout last week in a 49-point win at Horatio.

Senior quarterback Ryan Johnson fired two touchdown passes and sophomore running back Alex George darted for three scores.

Prescott has won two straight in the series, including 41-20 in 2017.

Horatio at CENTERPOINT (4): Big game for playoff positioning. Horatio, which currently owns the No. 5 playoff seed, likely needs one more win to clinch a second straight playoff berth.

Horatio's best win were road conquests at Genoa Central (27-17) and Bismarck (18-13).

Centerpoint also owns wins over Genoa (14-0) and Bismarck (36-0) and owns more team speed.

Bismarck at SMACKOVER (29): Bismarck missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The Lions, who have lost 29 straight league games, likely returns their leading passer and rusher (junior James Kegley), receiver (junior Collier Roberson) and second-leading tackler (junior Kadin Walker) in 2019.

Smackover, which has not lost a game on the field since last year's second-round playoff loss at Mayflower (forfeited season-opening victory over Class 2A power Foreman), clinches at least a share of the league title with win this week or next week.

The Buckaroos can win it outright if they win both. Smackover goes behind senior quarterback Roshard Boone and devastating two-headed rushing attack of senior Greg Turner and junior Dexter Crockett.

Senior Max Gathright anchors the offensive and defensive lines and rarely comes off the field.

Genoa Central at FOUKE (3): Genoa Central misses the playoffs, but Fouke maintains an outside shot at the postseason.

If Genoa Central does

not win again this year, it will be the fewest wins (one) for the school since 2013. Genoa Central likely returns promising sophomore quarterback Drew Mason, junior playmakers Dalton Savell, Zion Van Deusen and freshman Ethan Cowart in 2019.

Fouke makes the playoffs for the sixth straight year if it wins out, a school record. Fouke rushed for 41 yards (2.0 yards per carry) in last week's 32-point loss to Harmony Grove.

6-3A

RISON (15) at Barton: Teams are a combined 7-1 in league play. Barton could earn a share of the conference title with a win, but the Bears likely play this game without all-league fullback Kavein Davis, who left the McGehee game two weeks ago with a knee injury.

Rison clinches a share of the 6-3A title (first league title since 2015) and the No. 1 playoff seed with a victory.

Sophomore running back Jamarion Frye has emerged as one of the top playmakers in Class 3A the past month. The all-time series is tied 3-3 with teams splitting a pair of Class A state finals. Rison's 27-20 win over Barton in 1990 snapped the Bears' 63-game wining streak.

Barton held Rison to 175 yards in a 28-21 conquest for the 1994 state crown.

Drew Central at MCGEHEE (24): Drew Central can not qualify for the playoffs. The Pirates need to win one of their two remaining games to avoid a winless season for the sixth time in eight years.

McGehee has not won a league championship since 2012, but the Owls can clinch the No. 2 playoff seed if they win out.

The No. 2 seed hosts a first-round playoff game. Junior Caleb Woodson paces the powerful McGehee running attack.

DOLLARWAY (10) at Palestine Wheatley: Winner remains in the playoff hunt. Palestine-Wheatley is 0-4 in league play, but it travels to winless Drew Central next week.

The Patriots score five points per week in league play. Dollarway clinches its first playoff spot since 2015 with a win, but should it lose, it hosts Rison next week.

BEARDEN (10) at Lake Village: Class 3A Lake Village picked up two first downs, lost two fumbles and had two punts blocked last week in a 51-0 loss to Rison after trailing 41-0 at halftime.

Bearden managed just 77 yards last week in a 40-0 loss to Hampton.