Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
HOOTEN’S ARKANSAS FOOTBALL RANKINGS
CLASS 7A
1. Bryant (1-0) 2. Conway (1-0) 3. Bentonville (0-0) 4. North Little Rock (0-0) 5. Bentonville West (0-1) 6. LR Central (0-1) 7. Cabot (1-0) 8. Fayetteville (0-1) 9. FS Northside (1-0) 10. Springdale Har-Ber (0-1) 11. Springdale (0-1) 12. Rogers (1-0) 13. LR Catholic (0-1) 14. FS Southside (0-1) 15. LR Southwest (0-1) 16. Rogers Heritage (0-1)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK Bentonville at CONWAY (1): Conway trailed Fayetteville 14-0 in the first quarter last week but scored 38 unanswered points over the next two quarters for a 38-21 win. Facing 3rd-and-11 at midfield in the second quarter, Conway senior quarterback Ben Weese (5-8, 147) fired across the middle to Micah Mosby for a touchdown to spark the rally. Conwa Mosby rushed for 134 yards and Weese finished 21-of-40 passing for 291 yards and two scores. Senior receiver Bryce Bohanan caught seven passes for 136 yards. The Wampus Cats intercepted four Fayetteville passes. This is the season opener for Bentonville, winners of four straight and 12 of the past 13 West conference titles. Bentonville’s strong offensive line and linebackers could lead the Tigers on a deep playoff run this fall. The offensive line returns all-state performer Ethan Fitzgerald (6-1, 235), D-1 recruit Josh Street (6-6, 285) and all-conference standouts Jackson Caylor (6-1, 230) and Ryan Garrett (6-3, 285). Coach Jody Grant calls Cole Joyce (6-0, 200; 34-inch vertical jump) and Keegan Stinespring (5-11, 205) “the best pair of linebackers in the state.” Bentonville beat Conway 17-10 last season at Tiger Stadium.
WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS) 7A CENTRAL BRYANT (35) at Marion:
Two-time defending state champion Bryant has won 18 straight, led rival Benton 42-0 at halftime last Saturday. Coach Buck James’ Bryant teams win 84.6 percent of the time. Marion trailed Class 5A Wynne 21-10 last week at halftime of a 35-19 loss. Two-time all-state QB Daedrick Cail ran 30 yards for a TD at Wynne. Marion senior receiver Markel Wynn is out indefinitely with a leg injury, while Cail is questionable.
Har-Ber at NORTH LR (8): North LR handled El Dorado in a scrimmage last Friday while Har-Ber lost its season opener at Jenks, Okla. 31-15. Har-Ber intercepted two passes and rushed for both of its TDs. Har-Ber rushed for 161 yards while junior QB Drue McClendon completed 16 of 33 passes for 206 yards but had five interceptions. North LR, which has advanced to the state finals the past four seasons, doubled Har-Ber 42-21 in the second round of the playoffs last November. North LR’s new coach J.R. Eldridge guided Arkadelphia to 35 wins and two state titles the past three seasons. CABOT (7) at Jonesboro: Cabot threw three interceptions to trail Searcy 12-7 at halftime last week before rallying to win 35-18. Cabot used 11 ball different carriers to finish with 308 yards rushing. Jonesboro outlasted Cabot’s 7A Central rival Little Rock Catholic 28-24 last week in a game featuring four fourth-quarter lead changes. Jonesboro senior QB Cross Jumper connected with receiver Will Barre for three TDs in the fourth quarter. Barre caught the game-winning 15-yard TD with 15 seconds left in regulation.
Sylvan Hills at LR CATHOLIC (3): Class 6A Jonesboro rallied to beat Catholic 28-24 last week in a game that featured four, fourth-quarter lead changes. Catholic senior Brandon Bisceglia scored two TDs and Paul Owens booted a 38yard field goal against Jonesboro. Sylvan Hills trailed Class 5A Maumelle 27-7 in the third quarter last week but scored the final 14 points in a 27-21 loss. Emil McCoy, Matthew Spencer and Keenan Hunter scored TDs for Sylvan Hills. LR CENTRAL (31) at LR Hall: LR Central led LR Christian in the fourth quarter last week before giving up a barrage of TDs. Senior QB Lawson Gunn passed for 211 yards and three TDs and ran for 85 yards and another TD. LR Hall’s 7-0 win last week over Hope was its first against a team outside of Pulaski County since 2011. Warrior senior Kavionne Rucker ran 35 yards for the winning TD in the third quarter.
LR PARKVIEW (1) at LR Southwest: First game at the new Little Rock Southwest High. Southwest led 16-6 in the third quarter last week at West Memphis before sucumbing 36-16. Gryphon QB Markel Cartwright’s 125 yards and two TDs in the first half Parkview beat Class 5A Jacksonville 28-0 last week in one half of a scrimmage. Parkview senior QB Landon Rogers and tight end Erin Outley commited during the off-season to Arkansas.
7A WEST Muskogee, Okla. at BENTONVILLE WEST (2): West trailed Oklahoma power Broken Arrow by just six points in the third quarter before surrendering 21 unanswered in a 50-23 road loss. Muskogee (8-3 in 2019) dropped its opener at Bishop (Okla.) McGuinness 20-13. OWASSO, OKLA. (22) at Fayetteville: Fayetteville has lost 7 of its past 12 games, including 38-21 last Friday at Conway when the Purple Dogs allowed 291 yards passing and threw four interceptions. Owasso, coached by former Fayetteville High state championship coach Bill Blankenship, won its opener 48-21. Fayetteville lost at Owasso 51-19 last season.
Har-Ber at NORTH LR (8): North LR handled El Dorado in a scrimmage last Friday while Har-Ber lost its season opener at Jenks, Okla. 31-15. Har-Ber intercepted two passes and rushed for both of its TDs. Har-Ber rushed for 161 yards while junior QB Drue McClendon completed 16 of 33 passes for 206 yards but had five interceptions. North LR, which has advanced to the state finals the past four seasons, doubled Har-Ber 42-21 in the second round of the playoffs last November. North LR’s new coach J.R. Eldridge guided Arkadelphia to 35 wins and two state titles the past three seasons. Stilwell, Okla. at ROGERS (15): Rogers outscored Class 6A Siloam Springs 52-42 last Friday. Rogers senior Matt Couts returned an interception 17 yards for a TD, giving the Mounties 41-35 lead in the fourth quarter.
Springfield Central, (Mo.), at HERITAGE (1): These teams have combined to lose 92 of their past 94 games. Heritage has lost 50 of its past 52 games, including last week at Class 5A Farmington 246. Springfield Central has lost 42 in a row, including its opener 54-14 last week.
FS Southside at GREENWOOD (21): FS Southside lost the “Battle of Rogers Avenue” to rival FS Northside 35-7 last Friday. The Mavericks allowed a 95-yard drive in the third quarter and gave up a 90-yard scoop-and-score on the first play of the fourth quarter. Greenwood has won eight straight in this series, including 44-14 last season. Four Greenwood QBs took snaps during the off-season, when Luke Brewer emerged as a playmaker at receiver. Senior linebacker Jordan Hanna impressed many this off-season after moving from defensive line to linebacker.
OKC CHOCTAW (6) at Springdale: Season opener for Choctaw (90-man roster) where covid-related quarantine at Choctaw High might move the game to Saturday. Springdale opened last week with a 48-28 loss to Class 6A Van Buren.
CLASS 6A
1. Greenwood (0-0) 2. Lake Hamilton (1-0) 3. Benton (0-1) 4. West Memphis (1-0) 5. Jonesboro (1-0) 6. LR Parkview (0-0) 7. Van Buren (1-0) 8. Sylvan Hills (0-1) 9. Marion (0-1) 10. Siloam Springs (0-1) 11. Searcy (0-1) 12. El Dorado (0-0) 13. Russellville (1-0) 14. Pine Bluff (0-0) 15. Sheridan (0-1) 16. Mountain Home (0-0)
6A WEST VAN BUREN (8) at Alma: Alma has won seven of the past nine meetings in the Battle of the Bone. Van Buren pulled away from Class 7A Springdale last week for a 48-28 victory behind senior QB Gary Phillips’ 185 rushing yards and three TDs. He completed seven of 15 passes for 127 yards and a score. Senior Jaiden Henry returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD and he caught two passes for 72 yards and a score. Alma senior cornerback Joseph York stood out in summer workouts.
Mountain Home at HARRISON (6): Class 5A Harrison has won seven straight in this series. Mountain Home beat Class 4A Highland 28-8 two weeks ago in a scrimmage. Senior QB Bryce McKay completed nine of 15 passes for 199 yards and a TD against Highland. Harrison forced five turnovers last week in a 42-35 victory over Magnolia.
LR PARKVIEW (1) at LR Southwest: Parkview beat Class 5A Jacksonville 28-0 last week in one half of varsity action in a scrimmage. Parkview senior QB Landon Rogers and tight end Erin Outley committed during the off-season to Arkansas.
SILOAM SPRINGS (10) at Pea Ridge: Siloam Springs led Class 7A Rogers 3528 last week in the third quarter before surrendering 17 unanswered points in a 52-42 defeat. Rogers senior QB Chris Francisco passed for 421 yards and three TDs and ran for 89 yards and two scores. Class 5A Pea Ridge trailed Class 4A Shiloh Christian 27-7 last week at halftime in a 47-14 loss. Pea Ridge took off on a 15-yard TD drive at Shiloh in the first half, highlighted by a 35-yard completion from Logan Stewart to Zak Withrow.
CLASS 5A
1. Pulaski Academy (1-0) 2. LR Christian (1-0) 3. Texarkana (0-0) 4. Harrison (1-0) 5. Wynne (1-0) 6. White Hall (1-0) 7. Maumelle (1-0) 8. HS Lakeside (0-1) 9. Morrilton (0-1) 10. Batesville (0-0) 11. Vilonia (0-0) 12. Magnolia (0-1) 13. Greenbrier (1-0) 14. Valley View (0-0) 15. Nettleton (1-0) 16. Camden Fairview (0-1) 17. Forrest City (0-1) 18. Watson Chapel (0-0) 19. Alma (0-0) 20. Hot Springs (0-0) 21. Jacksonville (0-0) 22. Farmington (1-0) 23. Greene County Tech (1-0)
24. Pea Ridge (0-1) 25. Brookland (1-0) 26. LR Hall (1-0) 27. Paragould (0-0) 28. Clarksville (0-0) 29. Hope (0-1) 30. Beebe (0-1) 31. De Queen (0-1)
5A WEST FARMINGTON (2) at Prairie Grove:
Farmington has won two straight in the series, including 27-7 a year ago. The Cardinals scored 17 points in the fourth quarter last week to pull away from Class 7A Heritage. Prairie Grove’s scrimmage against Clarksville two weeks ago was canceled due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Tiger senior QB/linebacker Knox Laird, senior fullback/rover Foster Layman, junior twin receivers/wingbacks Kobe and Dalton Frazier, sophomore halfback Ethan Miller and sophomore OL Ryder Orr enjoyed good fall camps, Coach Danny Abshier says.
CLASS 4A
1. Joe T. Robinson (0-1) 2. Ozark (1-0) 3. Shiloh Christian (1-0) 4. Nashville (0-1) 5. Crossett (1-0) 6. Warren (0-1) 7. Arkadelphia (1-0) 8. Pocahontas (1-0) 9. Lonoke (1-0) 10. Star City (1-0) 11. Dardanelle (0-1) 12. Ashdown (1-0) 13. Mena (1-0) 14. Hamburg (0-1) 15. Stuttgart (0-0) 16. Gosnell (0-1) 17. CAC (1-0) 18. Jonesboro Westside (0-1) 19. Prairie Grove (0-0) 20. Rivercrest (0-0) 21. Malvern (0-0) 22. Southside Batesville (0-1) 23. Pottsville (1-0) 24. Blytheville (0-1) 25. Elkins (1-0) 25. Bauxite (1-0) 27. Waldron (1-0) 28. Dumas (1-0) 29. Clinton (0-1) 30. Gravette (0-1) 31. Gentry (0-1) 32. DeWitt (0-0) 33. Trumann (0-0) 34. Helena (0-0) 35. Heber Springs (0-0) 36. Monticello (1-0) 37. Mills (0-1) 38. Fountain Lake (0-0) 39. H. Grove Haskell (0-0) 40. Lamar (1-0) 41. Bald Knob (1-0) 42. Highland (0-1) 43. Cave City (0-1) 44. Huntsville (0-1) 45. Berryville (0-1) 46. Dover (0-1) 47. Green Forest (0-1)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK Class 3A No. 8 Booneville at NO. 2 OZARK (4): One of the River Valley’s fiercest rivalry’s, which Booneville has won six of the past 11 seasons and leads the alltime series 51-27-2. Booneville bolted to a 21-0 lead last week against Dardanelle and eased to a 35-14 triumph in Doc Crowley’s debut as head coach. Senior fullback Ethan Wooldridge ran for 103 yards and a TD against Dardanelle, while junior QB Randon Ray ran in three TDs. Ozark’s opener with Clarksville is rescheduled for Sept. 11 (due to Clarksville player/coaches in quarantine). They picked up Class 5A Valley View early last week, but Valley View backed out on Wednesday due to weather from Hurricane Laura. Ozark scrimmaged Maumelle two weeks ago, fumbling the ball twice in the first quarter. Senior linebacker Keystan Durning played well on both sides of the ball in the scrimmage game.
4A-1 BERRYVILLE (2) at West Fork: Berryville has 13 wins the past five years, three of them over West Fork, including last year 41-0. The Bobcats gave up 473 yards in last week’s 38-point setback to Cedarville. West Fork rallied with two second-half TDs, and the defense made a stop in the final minutes to preserve last week’s win at Green Forest.
CLINTON (7) at Huntsville: Huntsville trailed Lamar 21-14 at halftime last week, but gave up three TDs in the second half. Clinton sophomore QB Harley Tobin played well in last week’s 50-21 setback to Melbourne.
ELKINS (7) at Greenland: Greenland has won six of the past 10 in the series. Elkins tallied 464 yards in last week’s 46-8 win over Lincoln, while the D surrendered just 142 yards and forced a pair of turnovers. Three projected Greenland starters left the program in August.
FARMINGTON (2) at Prairie Grove: Farmington has won two straight in the series, including 27-7 a year ago. The Cardinals scored 17 points in the fourth quarter last week to pull away from Class 7A Heritage. Prairie Grove’s scrimmage against Clarksville two weeks ago was canceled due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Tiger senior QB/linebacker Knox Laird, senior fullback/rover Foster Layman, junior twin receivers/wingbacks Kobe and Dalton Frazier, sophomore halfback Ethan Miller and sophomore OL Ryder Orr enjoyed good fall camps, Coach Danny Abshier says.
LAMAR (6) at Gentry: Gentry couldn’t stop Waldron’s passing attack last week, but Lamar plans to keep the ball on the ground with senior Brady James, who ran for 137 yards and four TDs in last weeks 22-point win over Huntsville. Gentry’s linemen played well in last week’s 15-point loss to Waldron, especially junior tight end/defensive end Garrison Jackson (6-5, 200).
GRAVETTE (1) at Inola, Okla.: Oklahoma small-school power Vian handled Gravette 26-8 a week ago. Gravette’s defense played well despite giving up 368 yard rushing. Senior linebacker James Duncan wrapped a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble against Vian, Okla. Inola, Okla. beat Sequayah, Okla. by 28 points a week ago.
POTTSVILLE (28) at Green Forest: Green Forest led West Fork 13-6 in the third quarter last week but lost 20-14. The Tigers drove inside the 10-yard line with less than three minutes left, but turned the ball over on downs. Pottsville led EPC 30-12 at halftime last week and 52-18 in the third quarter. Pottsville senior Elijah Bradley caught three TDs and ran for one at EPC.
Poteau, Okla. at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (6): Shiloh Christian impressed in last week’s 33-point blowout over Pea Ridge. Sophomore QB Eli Wisdom ran for 131 yards and a TD, and Ben Baker returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD. Poteau, a traditional power in Oklahoma, lost to Bishop Kelly (Tulsa) by 21 points a week ago.
4A-4 Harding Academy at MENA (1): Defending Class 3A champion Harding Academy hasn’t played or scrimmaged this year due to Covid-19 quarantine. Mena led De Queen 39-0 in the second half a week ago. Mena senior QB Max Montgomery totaled three TDs. Charleston at DARDANELLE (6): Dardanelle played hard (defensive stop on 1-yard line to end first half) in last week’s 21-point loss at Booneville, but turned the ball over five times. Sand Lizard sophomore QB Drew Vega sprinted 36 yards for a TD and added a short plunge in the first half. Dover at ATKINS (15): Atkins has won two straight in the series. Atkins lost to Dardanelle by two points in a one-half scrimmage two weeks ago. Dover firstyear coach Will Cox served last year as interim coach at Heber Springs. Mansfield at WALDRON (3): Improved Waldron led Gentry by 24 points at halftime last week and eased to a 44-29 triumph. QB Braden Williams threw four TD passes and ran for one, while Isaac Villarreal caught two TD passes and senior speedster Bryson Bailey snagged one. Mansfield QB Zayne Dugan passed for 184 yards and four TDs in last week’s 41-0 win over Magazine. The Tiger D forced six turnovers.
CLASS 3A
1. Harding Academy (0-0) 2. Prescott (0-0) 3. Rison (0-1) 4. Hoxie (1-0) 5. Newport (1-0) 6. Osceola (0-1) 7. McGehee (0-0) 8. Booneville (1-0) 9. Glen Rose (0-0) 10. C. Harmony Grove (1-0) 11. Cedarville (1-0) 12. Centerpoint (0-0) 13. Harrisburg (0-0) 14. Dollarway (0-1) 15. Jessieville (0-0) 16. Melbourne (1-0) 17. Charleston (0-0) 18. Walnut Ridge (1-0) 19. Greenland (0-0) 20. Perryville (0-0) 21. Mansfield (1-0) 22. Riverview (0-1) 23. Smackover (0-0) 24. Atkins (0-0) 25. Mayflower (0-1) 26. Lincoln (0-1) 27. Baptist Prep (1-0) 28. Hackett (0-0) 29. Piggott (0-0) 30. Danville (0-0) 31. Salem (0-0) 32. Paris (1-0) 33. Barton (0-0) 34. Mountain View (1-0) 35. Drew Central (0-0) 36. Bismarck (1-0) 37. Genoa Central (0-1) 38. West Fork (1-0) 39. Corning (0-0) 40. Fouke (0-1) 41. Lake Village (0-1) 42. Manila (0-0) 43. Lavaca (0-1) 44. Palestine-Wheatley (0-1) 45. Two Rivers (0-1) 46. Horatio (0-0)
3A-1 CEDARVILLE (33) at Mountainburg: Cedarville rolled Class 4A Berryville 44-6 last week, rolling up 473 yards (333 rushing and 140 passing). Cedarville senior fullback Darryl Kattich ran 17 times for 254 yards and three scores, including a school-record 99-yard scoring sprint. Junior QB Cody Dickens completed five of seven passes for 140 yards and two scores. Mountainburg dresses 24 Dragons for this game. HACKETT (6) at Pocola, Okla.: Hackett rolled Pocola 36-0 last season. Allstate performers Avery Hester and Weston Winters power a Hackett offense that averaged 30 points per game a season ago. Senior left tackle Dylan Jetton leads the offensive line.
HAZEN (8) at West Fork: West Fork snapped a 12-game losing streak in last week’s 20-14 victory over Class 4A Green Forest. Senior Brenan Cash rushed for 46 yards and Ross Ivy darted for 87 yards and a score. Wyatt Kutz topped 100 total yards with a TD and Eli Howerton ran 52 yards for a TD.
3A-4 Dover at ATKINS (15): Atkins has won two straight in this series. Former defensive coordinator Matt Porter succeeds Tommy Cody at Atkins. Atkins boasts game-breaking skill players, including allleague receivers Kreed Stubbs (62 receptions last year or 1,413 yards and 24 TDs) and Trenton Casto (44 catches for 722 yards and nine scores) and running back Anthony Shaddon. Class 4A Dover allowed 255 rushing yards in last week’s loss to Class 2A Hector. Atkins lost 14-12 two weeks ago in a scrimmage against Class 4A Dardanelle.
CONWAY CHRISTIAN (6) at Baptist Prep: Baptist Prep senior QB Aiden Throneberry accounted for four TDs in last week’s 63-28 win over Class 2A Cedar Ridge. Jackson Mullen returned an interception 75 yards for a score and Hayden Brent returned a kickoff 70 yards for a TD. Class 2A Conway Christian dresses just 23 players for this game, with starters returning at just six positions.
J.C. Westside at PARIS (21): Paris bolted to a 32-0 lead in a 32-12 victory last week against Lavaca. Paris rushed for 248 yards against Lavaca, with QB Chase Watts rolling up more than 200 total yards and three scores. Junior Nate Henderson racked up a team-high 11 tackles against Lavaca.
CLASS 2A
1. Fordyce (1-0) 2. Junction City (0-1) 3. Gurdon (0-0) 4. Magnet Cove (1-0) 5. Foreman (0-1) 6. McCrory (1-0) 7. Des Arc (1-0) 8. Earle (0-0) 9. Poyen (1-0) 10. Clarendon (0-0) 11. Magazine (0-1) 12. Hazen (0-1) 13. E. Poinsett County (0-1) 14. Mountainburg (0-0) 15. Murfreesboro (0-1) 16. Hector (1-0) 17. Dierks (0-0) 18. Mineral Springs (1-0) 19. Carlisle (0-1) 20. Hampton (0-0) 21. Mount Ida (0-1) 22. Quitman (1-0) 23. Cutter M. Star (0-1) 24. Cross County (0-0) 25. Marked Tree (0-0) 26. Parkers Chapel (0-1) 27. Conway Christian (0-0) 28. Yellville-Summit (0-0) 29. Bigelow (1-0) 30. Bearden (0-1) 31. England (0-1) 32. Lafayette County (0-0) 33. Cedar Ridge (0-1) 34. Strong (0-0) 35. Marvell (0-0) 36. J.C. Westside (0-0)
2A-4 BIGELOW (3) at Cutter M Star: Cutter Morning Star appeared to make a two-point conversion late last week at Class 3A Bismarck, but it was negated by a holding penalty in a 27-26 loss. Bigelow posted its first victory (on the field) since Week 9, 2018 by topping Bearden 16-6. Bigelow, led by junior LB Kaden Terrell (nine tackles, three TFL, one FF), held Bearden to 43 yards on 37 rushing attempts. CONWAY CHRISTIAN (6) at Baptist Prep: Class 3A Baptist Prep dressed 19 in the opener and clubbed Cedar Ridge 63-28. Conway Christian, which did not play last week, expects to dress 23 for its opener, including senior QB Tyler Cossey, WR Jeramya Brock and DE Robert Taylor. Quitman at MELBOURNE (17): Quitman tamed Class 3A Two Rivers 59-0 last week. Senior receovers Erin Mathes and Landon Luman and sophomore slot Trevor Lock are playmakers in the passing game. Melbourne senior running back Ryan Worsham ran for three TDs against Clinton. Melbourne’s veteran offensive line paved the way for more than 200 rushing yards and protected sophomore QB Trey Wren, who proved efficient in his first start. Two Rivers at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (10): Yellville debuts as a Class 2A this week with a win over Class 3A Two Rivers, which lost 59-0 last week.