Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
HOOTEN’S ARKANSAS FOOTBALL WEEK 9 RANKINGS
CLASS 7A
1. Bryant (7-1)
2. Conway (7-1)
3. Fayetteville (6-2)
4. Bentonville (6-2)
5. North Little Rock (7-1)
6. Cabot (6-2)
7. FS Northside (5-3)
8. Rogers (5-2)
9. Bentonville West (5-3)
10. Springdale Har-Ber (3-5)
11. Springdale (1-7)
12. FS Southside (1-7)
13. LR Catholic (1-7)
14. Rogers Heritage (0-8)
15. LR Central (0-8)
16. LR Southwest (1-7)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 5 NORTH LITTLE ROCK AT NO. 1 BRYANT
Bryant has dominated this series, winning five straight over North Little Rock by an average score of 34-15. The Hornets have held North Little Rock to just 7 points twice during that span and to a season-low of 17 points in last year’s state title game.
“Bryant is big and physical,” North Little Rock coach Randy Sandefur says. “It’s going to be physical on both sides of the ball.”
North Little Rock had a pick-6 and intercepted a pass in the end zone to score its marquee win of the season at Fayetteville (14-7) Week 2 before losing at home Week 5 to No. 2 Conway 38-10. Sandefur says his offensive line (407 yards) played its “best of the season” in last week’s crucial 28-21 win over FS Northside and his defense (not missing any starters) held FS Northside to 166 yards. Senior Braxton Johnson (6-0, 305), nursing a bruised MCL knee injury, stars at noseguard and sophomore linebacker Delkarai Davis (5 solo tackles and 3 assists last week) is one to watch. North Little Rock often uses talented senior wide receivers Jiquori Stewart and Johnny Lewis as DBs in passing situations.
Bryant outscores opponents 45-11 this season, losing only at Longview, Texas (24-21) Week 3 and being pushed for more than a half at FS Northside before winning 35-17. Bryant belted its other six victims by an average score of 518, including last week’s 45-20 victory at Cabot. Bryant’s OL features three, three-year starters and multiple college prospects. Senior QB Carson Burnett surpassed 1,000 yards passing in just six games and “doesn’t mind running it,” Sandefur says.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 7 of 8 winners (88 percent) in Class 7A games. For the season, hootens.com is 73-7 (91 percent) in Class 7A.
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
7A CENTRAL
North Little Rock at BRYANT (15): Game of the Week.
CONWAY (35) at LR Catholic: Conway, 55-12 winners over LR Central last week, gets another breather before playing host to Bryant for the conference title next week. LR Catholic won its first this season, topping LR Southwest 31-16 last Friday. The Rockets can make the playoffs with a home win next week over LR Central.
Cabot at FS NORTHSIDE (7): Northside too big and physical for Cabot, which has lost back OLB are good
LR Southwest at LR CENTRAL (1): LR Central down to 47 players for home games but gets its first win of the season. LR Southwest got a forfeit victory from LR Parkview but has yet to win on the field.
7A WEST
Springdale at BENTONVILLE (22): Junior Josh Ficklin carried 27 times for 233 yards and four TDs, including a 52-yard score with 1:12 remaining to lift Bentonville over Rogers 56-49 last Friday before visiting the University of Alabama on Saturday.
FAYETTEVILLE (35) at Heritage: Fayetteville wins its first league title since 2016 with victories at Heritage and next week vs. Har-Ber.
BENTONVILLE WEST (16) at FS Southside: West can finish as high as a No. 2 seed by winning out and with a Rogers loss to Har-Ber, but the Wolverines likely finish as the No. 4 seed and play host to the loser of this week’s Cabot at FS Northside in the first round.
ROGERS (3) at Har-Ber: Rogers’ balanced attack scores 36 PPG and put up more than 400 yards in the second half of last week’s 56-49 loss to rival Bentonville. Rogers completed a pass as time expired vs. Bentonville, but sophomore WR Graycen Cash’s feet were out of bounds. Rogers can finish as No. 3 playoff seed and play host to probably LR Catholic in the first round. Mathematically, Har-Ber can still finish as a No. 1 seed but likely drops to No. 4 with a loss this week and could probably play FS Northside in the first round. FS Northside won a wild 6356 matchup Week 3 at Har-Ber.
CLASS 6A
1. Lake Hamilton (8-0)
2. Benton (7-1)
3. Jonesboro (6-2)
4. LR Parkview (5-3)
5. Greenwood (5-3)
6. El Dorado (6-2)
7. Sylvan Hills (6-2)
8. Russellville (3-5)
9. Marion (4-4)
10. Mountain Home (3-5)
11. Searcy (4-4)
12. Van Buren (4-4)
13. Siloam Springs (1-7)
14. Pine Bluff (1-6)
15. West Memphis (2-6)
16. Sheridan (2-6)
HOOTEN’S.COM GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 2 BENTON AT NO. 1 LAKE HAMILTON
Expect a high-scoring shootout to likely decide the 6A West title. Both are undefeated in conference play. Benton will be favored at home next week over Van Buren while Lake Hamilton travels Week 10 to No. 5 Greenwood. Benton rallied past Greenwood 41-40 last week to set
up this showdown while Lake Hamilton cruised by Van Buren 63-33. Benton, voted by conference coaches to finish third in the league, eyes its second league title in three years and its third trip to the state finals in four seasons (Covid quarantine knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs last Nov.). Benton expects all its starters back this week after two starting linemen were suspended last Thursday. Benton was balanced, passing for 226 yards and rushing for 218 yards, in its come-from-behind win (trailed by 14 in the first quarter) over Greenwood. Benton three-year starting safety Cain Simmons (4.59 speed), an all-conference performer a year ago with 102 tackles, has totaled 92 stops this fall, including 50 solos and five TFLs.
Lake Hamilton lost to Greenwood 49-24 in last year’s state title game but hasn’t won a conference championship since 2011. Lake Hamilton dwarfs most opponents with five offensive linemen averaging 279 pounds and rushes for 83 percent of its offense, completing just 42 percent of its passes for 64 yards per game. Lake Hamilton scores 41 PPG. Bullish senior Tevin Woodley (5-9, 210) leads Lake Hamilton rushers with 976 yards (122 yards per game) and 14 TDs while speedy junior Justin Crutchmer has 711 yards and 12 TDs.
LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly predicted all 8 winners in games involving Class 6A teams, nailing the 1-point spread in West Memphis’ 21-20 win over Sheridan. For the season, hootens.com is 73-13 (85 percent) in Class 6A.
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
6A WEST Benton at LAKE HAMILTON (2): Game of the Week.
Van Buren at GREENWOOD (18): Greenwood led by two TDs in the first quarter but was outscored 20-12 in the fourth quarter of last week’s 41-40 loss at Benton. Greenwood forced three turnovers and totaled 443 yards offense. Benton finished with 444 yards. Greenwood outscores opponents by an average of 41-27. Van Buren finishes 4-6, misses the playoffs with losses this week at Greenwood and next Friday at Benton. LR PARKVIEW (20) at Siloam Springs: Siloam Springs was tied 14-14 at halftime last week at Mountain Home but remains winless in league play after a 42-21 loss. LR Parkview likely finishes as No. 3 playoff seed with win this Friday and next week at Mountain Home. Mountain Home at RUSSELLVILLE (1): Mountain Home has won two of its past four since having its QB and safety swap spots after a 36-7 loss to Lake Hamilton in the conference opener. Junior Brady Barnett (543 yards rushing and 622 yards passing) now provides the Bombers a dual-threat at QB while sophomore Cade Yates, more of a passing QB, plays well in the secondary, Bomber coach Steve Ary says. Mountain Home starts seniors at just six positions. Its junior high team is 8-0 and its seventh-graders are 6-2. Russellville, more physical this season, allows 41 points per conference game with losses the past two weeks to Greenwood and Lake Hamilton. Russellville coach Dave Wheeler was a candidate for the head coaching job at Mountain Home before Ary was hired.
CLASS 5A
1. Pulaski Academy (7-1)
2. Wynne (7-1)
3. White Hall (7-2)
4. Vilonia (8-0)
5. Greenbrier (8-0)
6. LR Christian (6-2)
7. Camden Fairview (8-1)
8. Nettleton (8-0)
9. Farmington (6-2)
10. Harrison (5-3)
11. Valley View (6-2)
12. Magnolia (3-5)
13. Maumelle (3-6)
14. HS Lakeside (4-4)
15. Hot Springs (5-3)
16. Batesville (3-5)
17. Morrilton (3-5)
18. Alma (3-5)
19. Brookland (3-5)
20. Beebe (3-4)
21. Greene Co. Tech (3-5)
22. Pea Ridge (2-5)
23. Clarksville (1-7)
24. Texarkana (1-5)
25. Jacksonville (1-6)
26. Hope (1-7)
27. Watson Chapel (0-6)
28. Forrest City (2-6)
29. De Queen (1-7)
30. Paragould (0-7)
LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly predicted 12 of 14 games (86 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has predicted 140 of 159 games (88 percent).
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
5A WEST
GREENBRIER (21) at Alma: Greenbrier impressed with last week’s 48-6 win over Farmington. The Panthers totaled almost 500 yards. Senior QB Cooper Wilcox completed 12 of 21 passes for 254 yards and a TD, and ran 11 times for 91 yards and a TD. Junior Carter McElhaney caught a 71-yard TD pass and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a TD, while senior Jacob Mathis hauled in four passes for 77 yards. Sophomore Eli Weaver ran for 110 yards, including an 81-yard TD burst. Alma junior QB Joe Trusty passed for 227 yards and two TDs and ran for 55 yards and a TD in last week’s 36-point loss at Vilonia.
HARRISON (19) at Clarksville: Harrison jumped on Morrilton 21-0 in the first quarter last week, coasting to a 42-7 decision. The Goblins gobbled up 536 yards, including 306 rushing. Senior QB Logan Plumlee completed nine of 15 passes for 230 yards and a TD. Clarksville, which was shut out the previous two games, lost a shootout last week at Pea Ridge 54-49. The Panthers tallied 465 yards.
Pea Ridge at FARMINGTON (14): Improving Pea Ridge rallied past Clarksville a week ago, 54-49. The Blackhawks amassed 510 yards. Farmington must regroup after losing last week to Greenbrier. The Cardinals tallied just 230 yards. Leading rusher Caden Elsik managed just 22 yards rushing, but senior Kayne Taylor 12 times for 90 yards. Junior LB Sam Wells paced Farmington’s D with 10 stops.
VILONIA (21) at Morrilton: Morrilton played its worst game of the season last week in a 42-7 loss at Harrison. The Devil Dogs trailed by three TDs in the first quarter “and no one played well,” Coach Cody McNabb says. Vilonia, headed to a showdown next week with Faulkner County neighbor Greenbrier for the 5A West crown, crushed Alma last week 5620. Senior QB Austin Myers completed 18 of 24 passes for 444 yards and six TDs, with senior Kannon Bartlett hauling in five balls for 237 yards and three TDs. Bartlett also ran for a TD.
CLASS 4A
1. Shiloh Christian (7-1)
2. Warren (7-1)
3. Stuttgart (7-1)
4. Joe T. Robinson (7-1)
5. Crossett (6-2)
6. Ozark (5-2)
7. Prairie Grove (6-2)
8. Arkadelphia (5-3)
9. Ashdown (7-1)
10. Rivercrest (7-1)
11. Star City (6-2)
12. Malvern (4-4)
13. Pocahontas (6-2)
14. Elkins (6-1)
15. Southside (6-2)
16. Lonoke (7-1)
17. Lamar (7-1)
18. Clinton (4-4)
19. Dardanelle (4-4)
20. Gentry (6-2)
21. Mena (5-4)
22. Trumann (5-3)
23. Fountain Lake (4-4)
24. Monticello (4-4)
25. Mills (5-3)
26. Jonesboro Westside (4-4)
27. Cave City (4-4)
28. Nashville (3-5)
29. DeWitt (4-4)
30. H. Grove Haskell (2-6)
31. Pottsville (3-6)
32. Bauxite (2-6)
33. Huntsville (3-5)
34. Dumas (2-5)
35. Blytheville (2-6)
36. Heber Springs (3-4)
37. Green Forest (2-5)
38. Waldron (2-5)
39. Highland (2-6)
40. Gravette (1-7)
41. CAC (2-6)
42. Berryville (1-5)
43. Gosnell (1-6)
44. Bald Knob (0-8)
45. Hamburg (1-6)
46. Helena (0-8)
47. Dover (0-8)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 17 LAMAR AT NO. 6 OZARK
The winner takes the 4-4A title. Ozark won league titles in 2018-19, while Lamar hasn’t won a title since sharing the 4-3A in 2008. Lamar senior Tony Balmer ran 20 times for 181 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 44-12 victory over Riverview. Junior fullback Damien Hendrix
logged 12 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Landon Harrison had 10 carries for 56 yards and a pair of TDs, and completed five of 10 passes for 47 yards and a TD. Sophomore linebacker Jarrett Dalton paced the defense with seven tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. Hendrix, at end and tackle, registered four tackles and a one sack. Senior fullback/linebacker and team leader Joe Dalton was out last week with an injury, but Coach Josh Jones believes he can play this week.
Ozark has won its four conference games by a combined 179-53. The Hillbillies led Pottsville 7-0 in the third quarter last week before pulling away 35-14. Junior running back Eli Masingale ran five times for 95 yards and one TD, while junior QB Landon Wright had 10 carries for 62 yards and a TD and completed two of three timely passes for 116 yards and a TD (58-yarder to senior Spencer Lippott). Senior linebacker Ryker Martin and sophomore LB Kyle Archer each had 10 tackles. “In the past couple of weeks, no team has come close to slowing Ozark’s offense,” Jones says. “We have to control the ball and consistently move the sticks.”
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 22 of 24 games (92 percent). Hootens.com has predicted 217 of 244 games (89 percent) correctly this season.
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
4A-1
PRAIRIE GROVE ( 25) at Berryville: Improved Berryville led Huntsville at halftime a week ago, but turned the ball over five times in a 13-point loss. Senior Jaeden Tanksley ran for 145 yards and three TDs. Prairie Grove senior halfback Colin Faulk ran 11 times for 155 yards to carry the Tigers to a 49-21 win over Gentry. Junior tight end Matt Velasco hauled in a TD pass, and paced the Tigers D in tackles with one fumble recovery to set up a TD.
GENTRY (1) at Elkins: This game is for the No. 3 playoff spot. After a 6-0 start, Gentry has dropped consecutive games to Shiloh Christian and Prairie Grove by a combined 97-41. Gentry senior safety Zach Gunneman racked up 14 tackles and forced two fumbles last week at Prairie Grove, while junior slot receiver/ QB Ty Hays ran four times for 77 yards and a TD, caught two passes for 25 yards and a TD, returned four kickoffs for 112 yards and threw a 40-yard pass. Elkins lost to Shiloh Christian last week 50-0, giving up TDs on the opening seven possessions. Sophomore running back Da’Shawn Chairs had a 42-yard TD run negated by penalty.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN (38) at Gravette: Gravette beat Shiloh Christian by five points in 2017, keeping the Saints from a conference title. The Saints can sew up their fourth straight league title with a win this week. Senior receiver Cooper Hutchinson caught five passes for 129 yards and two TDs, and made an acrobatic interception on defense in last week’s 50-0 win over Elkins. Junior QB Eli Wisdom completed 13 of 20 passes for 296 yards and four TDs in the first half. Gravette lost at Green Forest last week 33-29. Junior Joe Drake paced Gravette’s D with seven tackles, while sophomore Josiah McGee chipped in with six stops and three QB pressures. Green Forest at HUNTSVILLE (7): The winner likely gets the No. 5 playoff seed. Huntsville rallied past Berryville last week 48-35, after trailing 21-7 in the second quarter. The Eagle D forced five turnovers. Junior QB Amos Mayes completed 21 of 28 passes for 360 yards and five TDs. Green Forest beat Gravette last week by four points. Junior QB Isaiah Fraga ran 10 times for 112 yards and two TDs, while junior safety Ben Jones made 17 tackles.
4-4A
Lamar at OZARK (6): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Dover at POTTSVILLE (28): Pottsville hung with Ozark last week for three quarters before losing 35-14. Senior Landon Mahan ran 30 times for 179 yards and recorded eight tackles at linebacker. Winless Dover gets outscored by 31 points weekly.
DARDANELLE (12) at Waldron: Waldron played one of its better games of the year last week, dismantling Dover 40-6. Coach Doug Powell says “It was a great team effort.” Dardanelle’s 56-42 win over Mena last week put the Sand Lizards in position to claim at least the No. 3 playoff seed. Junior QB Drew Vega ran 19 times for 278 yards and five TDs, completed three of six passes for 48 yards and two TDs and caught a 46-yard pass against Mena. He also collected eight tackles and broke up two passes at safety. Senior Jordan Branson ran 10 times for 64 yards and a TD and racked up four tackles at linebacker, while senior cornerback Seth Harper made six tackles and two interceptions, returning them for a total of 130 yards.
Mena is open.
CLASS 3A
1. Prescott (8-0)
2. McGehee (8-0)
3. Booneville (8-1)
4. Harding Academy (6-2)
5. Osceola (6-1)
6. Charleston (8-0)
7. Paris (8-0)
8. Hoxie (8-0)
9. Glen Rose (6-1)
10. C. Harmony Grove (5-3)
11. Centerpoint (5-3)
12. Mountain View (5-3)
13. Newport (3-4)
14. Jessieville (5-2)
15. Rison (6-2)
16. Hackett (6-2)
17. Perryville (6-2)
18. Melbourne (4-3)
19. Riverview (4-5)
20. Cedarville (6-2)
21. Bismarck (5-3)
22. Salem (5-3)
23. Atkins (4-4)
24. Manila (6-2)
25. Lavaca (5-3)
26. Walnut Ridge (4-4)
27. Dollarway (4-3)
28. Baptist Prep (4-4)
29. Genoa Central (3-5)
30. West Fork (2-6)
31. Harrisburg (3-5)
32. Smackover (3-5)
33. Lincoln (2-6)
34. Greenland (2-5)
35. Fouke (2-6)
36. Mansfield (2-5)
37. Horatio (3-5)
38. Barton (1-6)
39. Lake Village (2-5)
40. Piggott (0-8)
41. Corning (2-6)
42. Mayflower (1-6)
43. Danville (2-6)
44. Drew Central (0-8)
45. Palestine-Wheatley (0-7)
46. Two Rivers (0-8)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 7 PARIS AT NO. 3 BOONEVILLE
Paris can earn the top seed in 3A-4 with a win this week after handing Perryville its first league setback last Friday, 31-6. For consecutive seasons, Paris enters this game unbeaten. Paris lost at home last season 28-20. Paris’ senior QB Chase Watts rushed for 62 yards and three TDs last week, while senior TB Duke Walker led Paris running game with 128 yards on 17 carries. Senior MLB Nate Henderson led Paris with 11 tackles, three TFL. Paris last defeated Booneville in 2015, 28-21. Booneville captures at least a share of the 4-3A title with a win Friday night, but the race could still end up in a three-way tie if Perryville wins its final two games over Baptist Prep and Booneville, which routed Atkins last week 49-0. Booneville senior QB Randon Ray scored twice on runs of 70 and 67 yards. Senior RB Rocky Ross also scored twice, while junior RB Brooks Herrera, sophomore RB Rylan Ray and junior RB Trace Hall scored once. Booneville rushed for more than 400 yards against Atkins. The Bearcats have limited opponents to a 23 percent conversion rate (21 of 91 attempts) on third down. It hasn’t given up a third down conversion in past two games against Baptist Prep and Atkins (combined 0-24).
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 21 of 23 games (91 percent) involving Class 3A teams. It is 195 of 241 for the season (81 percent).
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
3A-1
CHARLESTON (28) at West Fork: Unbeaten Charleston (8-0, 5-0) wraps up the conference championship Friday with a win after routing Lincoln last week 51-14. Defensive standouts for Charleston last week included sophomore CB Brycen Kindrix with two interceptions, two pass breakups and four tackles. Senior LB Ransom Merechka led the team with nine tackles. Junior WR/OLB/K Bryton Ketter logged three receptions for 54 yards, an interception, five of five extra points and three touchback kickoffs. West Fork’s postseason hopes survive despite losing last week to Hackett 36-13. CEDARVILLE (14) at Mansfield: Cedarville scored its first win over Greenland (48-12) since 2009 a week ago. Senior RB Darryl Kattich ran for 217 yards and two TDs on 19 carries. Kattich also caught four passes for 113 yards and three TDs. Senior FB Hayden Partain rushed for 118 yards and a TD on 16 carries. Senior QB Cody Dickens completed five of nine passes for 121 yards. West Fork lost a physical contest to Hackett 36-13. Mansfield junior QB Fisher Willsey scored three TDs, rushing for 170 yards on 23 carries. Cedarville likely clinches a playoff berth with a split in its final two games.
LAVACA (3) at Lincoln: It was Senior Night last week at Lavaca, and all eight seniors were recognized for their leadership in a 28-21 win over Mansfield. Junior RB Dakota Hartsfield and junior QB Maddox Noel led the Lavaca offense. Lavaca is in a three-way tie for second in 1-3A at 3-2. A win this week would be big since Lavaca’s final regular-season game is against No. 6 Charleston. Lincoln needs a win even more after losing last week to Charleston 51-14. Lincoln is 2-3 in conference play and ends regular season play against Cedarville. HACKETT (14) at Greenland: Hackett enhanced its playoff hopes last week by defeating West Fork 36-13. Sophomore QB Cole Ketchum, making his first start, completed 18 of 29 passes for 316 yards and six TDs. Senior WR Ethan Slavens made his starting debut at WR and caught three passes for 117 yards and two TDs. Greenland coach Lee Larkan was disappointed with a 48-12 loss to Cedarville, which Cedarville dominated the line of scrimmage. A fifth seed is a long shot for Greenland, even with wins the final two weeks of the regular season.
3A-4
Paris at BOONEVILLE (8): See Game of the Week.
Mayflower at DANVILLE (7): Mayflower might slip into the playoffs with two wins to end the regular season. Mayflower scored its first win last week over Two Rivers 49-6. Junior QB Noah Gailey passed for 232 yards and rushed for 67. Senior WR Khalil Bryant caught passes for a game-high 111 receiving yards. Danville climbed into the postseason picture by defeating Baptist Prep 22-13. Danville dressed 16 last week, but lost another player for the season. Senior QB Lawson Wilkins ran for 133 yards, while passing for 177 and two TDs. Wilkins intercepted a pass in fourth quarter, and Mayflower ran out the clock for the win. Senior WR Solomon Gilkey finished with 116 receiving yards and a TD. He also rushed for 50 yards and a TD. Senior WR Ayden Hilton scored a TD and blocked a punt for a safety.
PERRYVILLE (3) at Baptist Prep: Perryville had five athletes miss last week’s 31-6 loss to Paris because of injuries. Junior QB Tyler Givens and a two-way starter in the lines were injured last week, leaving Perryville with 22 players available. Senior WR Mason Roland caught nine passes for 97 yards, and junior LB Easton Waller paced the defense with 17 tackles. Senior QB Brandon Hoyd finished seven of 13 passing in his first extended action at quarterback. Baptist Prep senior WR Caden Jennings caught three passes for 70 yards and two TDs in the loss. He also intercepted a pass. Senior LB Cooper O’Briant and senior CB Isaac Devine led the BP defense with 11 tackles each.
ATKINS (14) at Two Rivers: Atkins (44, 2-3), with 10 seniors, must rebound from last week’s 49-0 loss to Booneville in order to claim the league’s fourth playoff seed. Two Rivers’ losing streak is 17 games after 48-6 setback to Mayflower. Atkins whipped Two Rivers last season 48-14.
CLASS 2A
1. Bigelow (8-0)
2. McCrory (7-1)
3. Des Arc (7-1)
4. Hazen (6-2)
5. Clarendon (5-2)
6. Fordyce (5-3)
7. Junction City (4-4)
8. Hector (7-1)
9. Quitman (5-3)
10. Dierks (3-4)
11. Magnet Cove (5-4)
12. Poyen (5-3)
13. Mount Ida (4-3)
14. Gurdon (6-3)
15. E. Poinsett County (2-7)
16. Earle (3-4)
17. Marked Tree (3-4)
18. Hampton (2-5)
19. Lafayette County (3-3)
20. Carlisle (0-8)
21. Mountainburg (3-4)
22. Cross County (1-6)
23. Yellville-Summit (3-5)
24. Murfreesboro (3-4)
25. Magazine (1-6)
26. J.C. Westside (2-5)
27. Parkers Chapel (1-5)
28. Foreman (0-8)
29. Bearden (0-8)
30. Mineral Springs (0-6)
31. England (0-6)
32. Conway Christian (0-8)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 1 BIGELOW AT NO. 8 HECTOR
Bigelow’s team speed and athletic playmakers overwhelmed Quitman early and often last week in a 44-14 win. Bigelow senior QB Kiethlin Brown opened the scoring with a 39-yard scramble-reverse field-sprint to the end zone TD. Brown (1,000 yards rushing in 2021) finished with 160 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Senior RB/LB Hunter Alexander (800 yards) ran 49 yards for a TD and returned an interception 40 yards for a TD. No. 8 Hector’s lone setback came Week 2 in 39-7 loss to Class 3A No. 12 Mountain View. In last week’s 44-6 rout of J.C. Westside, sophomore QB Jackson Taylor completed 13 of 21 passes for 214 yards and three TDs, two of which caught by junior WR/LB Drake Riley who added 16 tackles. Hector’s defense forced five turnovers, bringing its season total to 25.
LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly picked 13 of 14 games (93 percent) involving Class 2A teams. It is 137 of 159 (86 percent) for the season.
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS
(Favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
2A-4
BIGELOW (28) at Hector: See Game of the Week.
QUITMAN (12) at Mountainburg: Mountainburg got past Conway Christian 2812 a week ago when senior QB Noah Johnson ran for 106 yards (6.6 YPC) and completed 10 of 17 passes for 248 yards and four TDs with two INTs. Quitman lost 44-14 at No. 1 Bigelow in a game that was over by halftime. Quitman senior QB/LB Will Litton, under duress all night, completed seven of 17 passes for 134 yards and a TD with two INTS. Litton paced the Bulldogs with 10 tackles. A Quitman win at Mountainburg would set up a Week 10 showdown with visiting Hector for second place in the 4-2A.
JC Westside at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (2): Both teams battling for a playoff berth. Y-S topped Magazine 28-21 last week by rushing for 270 yards and passing for another 100 yards. JCW lost to Hector 44-6 while committing three fumbles and two interceptions, including a pick-6. JCW should be healthy for the first time in weeks, expecting to dress 17 upperclassmen and move up several freshmen. Y-S won this matchup 52-6 a year ago.
MAGAZINE (6) at Conway Christian: Both teams are winless in the league standings but continue to compete. The winner keeps slim playoff hopes alive. The CC junior high team is 8-0 with one game remaining Thursday night at Magazine. Two freshmen have already moved up to the varsity and the others will Friday night.