Hootens.com Rankings
Class 3A, Week 1, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Glen Rose
2. McGehee
3. Harding Academy
4. Fountain Lake
5. Prescott
6. Earle
7. Charleston
8. Paris
9. Fordyce
10. Osceola
11. Smackover
12. C. Harmony Grove
13. Yellville-Summit
14. West Fork
15. Rivercrest
16. Greenland
17. Jessieville
18. Hoxie
19. Mansfield
20. Lamar
21. Barton
22. Danville
23. Bald Knob
24. Mayflower
25. Riverview
26. Corning
27. Elkins
28. Atkins
29. Harrisburg
30. B. Harmony Grove
31. Horatio
32. Mountain View
33. Rose Bud
34. Bismarck
35. Lavaca
36. Centerpoint
37. Fouke
38. Manila
39. Piggott
40. Green Forest
41. Genoa Central
42. Melbourne
43. Episcopal
44. Perryville
45. Cedarville
46. Two Rivers
47. Drew Central

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 McGehee vs. Class 4A No. 6 Monticello
These two teams meet for the first time in 23 years on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at UA-Pine Bluff during Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Monticello beat McGehee 7-6 in 1989 before the Owls went on to win the state championship.
McGehee joins Class 3A after claiming its first league title since 2000 last fall. The Owls swept the 8-4A and reached the playoff quarterfinals. Senior fullback/defensive tackle Steven King (5-10, 265) is a one-man wrecking crew on both sides of the ball.
Monticello (2009 Class 5A state champion) drops to Class 4A after winning 48 games over the past four years. Senior running backs Diante Barnhill and Jaquarius Davis combined for more than 1,300 yards rushing last fall. Senior lineman Justin Avery (6-3, 285) leads up front.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs Saturday mornings statewide at 8:30 on Fox 24 (Fayetteville/Fort Smith) and at 9:30 on KARZ 42 (Little Rock), featuring the state's top players.

LAST SEASON
Hootens.com correctly picked 262 of 322 games (81 percent) involving 3A teams.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
1-3A
Elkins at PEA RIDGE (11): Elkins senior RB Michael Ketcher rushed for 502 yards and three TDs in 2011, while junior FB Trent Bulla averaged 9.7 yards per play. Pea Ridge beat the Elks by eight points last year, snapping a three-year losing streak against its rival. The Blackhawks return 15 starters, including all-state RB Dayton Winn (more than 1,500 yards in 2011).
Reeds Spring, Mo. at GREEN FOREST (6): Green Forest last won its season-opener in 2009 with a 35-22 victory over Reeds Spring.
GREENLAND (2) at Magazine: Greenland features five new starters on the offensive line. Magazine returns two starters on offense in right tackle Logan Blaylock and right guard Layton Robinson.
Palestine-Wheatley at MELBOURNE (12): Air Melbourne provides early test for young but speedy Patriot secondary.
Mountain View at SALEM (13): Mountain View averages 221 pounds per man on the offensive line. Salem junior QB Dillon Turner accounted for 1,458 yards and 26 TDs last year.
Gentry at WEST FORK (7): Gentry won six games and advanced to the playoffs in 2010, but won just once a year ago. West Fork senior Matthew Canfield (5-11, 240) and junior Kallin Stokes (6-1, 245) pave the way for the Tigers.
YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (6) at Piggott: Yellville-Summit can't look ahead to its rematch with Salem in Week 2 (lost to Greyhounds 21-6 in 2011). Salem beat Piggott by 16 points a week later.

2-3A
POCAHONTAS (7) at Bald Knob (Thurs.): Pocahontas beat the Bulldogs by seven points a year ago and finished with seven wins, advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Bald Knob senior QB Cordell Crisp passed for 3,790 yards and 40 TDs in 2011.
BARTON (8) at DeWitt: Barton has beaten the Dragons by a combined 44 points over the past two years. DeWitt has won 13 games in 13 years.
Episcopal at CONWAY CHRISTIAN (14): Episcopal plays on the road six times this season, including the following two weeks. Conway Christian senior QB Tanner Stevenson (3,190 total yards and 37 TDs in 2011) and senior receiver Andrew Dather (934 yards and 19 TDs) one of better scoring duos in the state.
Bauxite at HARDING ACADEMY (12): Bauxite has won two games since moving to Class 4A in 2010. Harding Academy has won 35 games over the past three years. Senior QB Will Francis (3,549 yards and 38 TDs in 2011) could emerge as one of the state's best this fall.
DUMAS (11) at Mayflower: Dumas expects to compete for the 8-4A title after losing four games by a TD or less last fall. Junior noseguard Johnny Gibson (6-5, 315) anchors Dumas' defensive front. Mayflower sophomore QB Adam Dycus led the junior Eagles to a runner-up finish in 2011.
Perryville at BIGELOW (1): Perryville has won three games over the past two years. Bigelow's seniors begin quest to finish as best in school history (16 wins from 2010-11). The Panthers have not beaten Perryville since 2006.
Cedar Ridge at RIVERVIEW (21): Both programs enter their fifth year of varsity football. Cedar Ridge held its first fall practice on July 30 at midnight. Riverview senior playmaker McKenzie Jones (678 yards rushing and six TDs in 2011; 109 tackles and five interceptions) could develop into a major college prospect.
Quitman at ROSE BUD (9): Expect a close shootout in this back-and-forth series. Quitman beat Rose Bud 48-36 last year and 20-12 in 2009. Rose Bud has beaten Quitman twice (2008 and 2010) by a combined 15 points.

3-3A
Walnut Ridge at CORNING (1): Corning edged Walnut Ridge by three points a year ago, outscoring Walnut Ridge 24-6 after trailing by 15 points in the second quarter.
JUNCTION CITY (4) at Earle: Speed all over the field but Junction City's strength will be the difference.
HARRISBURG (12) at Cross County: Harrisburg generated 403 total yards in last year's 28-14 win over Cross County.
Hoxie at TRUMANN (1): Hoxie has won 14 games over the past three years. Trumann won just two games last fall, but all-conference linebacker Josh Evans returns for his third season.
JONESBORO WESTSIDE (1) at Manila: Former Van Buren assistant Chad Mitchell takes over at Jonesboro Westside (1-19 over the past two years). Manila features a bevy of senior linemen, including offensive tackle Trey Walker and defensive end Dustin Sirmon.
OSCEOLA (1) at Blytheville: Osceola senior RBs Korliss Marshall and Jamal Jackson combined for more than 2,300 yards and 39 TDs a year ago. Blytheville interim coach Vince McCrosky assisted the Chickasaws from 1992-97 and 2004-05 before coaching at Willow Springs, Mo.
YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (6) at Piggott: Yellville-Summit can't look ahead to its rematch with Salem in Week 2 (lost to Greyhounds 21-6 in 2011). Salem beat Piggott by 16 points a week later.
Rivercrest at E. POINSETT COUNTY (1): A young Rivercrest squad with less team speed than usual struggles against EPC's talented offense and veteran defense.

4-3A
ATKINS (3) at Dover: Atkins beat Dover by 26 points last season. First-year Dover coach Greg Smith led Prescott to 86 wins over the past decade.
Cedarville at MOUNTAINBURG (6): Cedarville loses its 12th in a row. Mountainburg senior QB Nathan Jones accounted for 238 total yards and three TDs in last year's 30-0 win over Mountainburg.
CHARLESTON (7) at Clarksville: Charleston has beaten Clarksville by a total of 35 points over the past two years. The Tigers return just two seniors, but sophomore QB Ty Storey could emerge as a college prospect.
DARDANELLE (4) at Danville: This game usually goes to the wire with the past two games decided by a TD each. Dardanelle QB/cornerback Evan Carter generated more than 1,500 yards and made 38 tackles a year ago. Danville returns seven starters on defense, including senior LB Montel Jiles.
Lamar at GRAVETTE (12): Lamar replaces longtime opponent Jay, Okla. on Gravette's schedule. Lamar first-year coach Josh Jones led Class 2A Magazine to a state title, three straight league titles and 38 wins from 2009-11.
PRAIRIE GROVE (14) at Lavaca: These teams have split the past six meetings. Prairie Grove, the 1-4A favorite, returns 35 lettermen. Lavaca continues to struggle with low numbers.
Waldron at MANSFIELD (6): First-year Waldron coach Shane Davis led Strong to the Class 2A state title a year ago. Mansfield has beaten Waldron six straight times, but the past two games were decided by a total of 15 points.
J.C. Westside at PARIS (35): Westside installed a new offense (Split Back) and defense (3-3) during the off-season. Paris returns seven starters on defense (allowed nine ppg in 2011).

5-3A
Poyen at B. HARMONY GROVE (12): Poyen senior OL/LB Cody Dykes leads on both sides of the ball. Harmony Grove beat Poyen 33-22 a year ago.
MURFREESBORO (13) at Bismarck: Murfreesboro senior CB Joe Quiroz recorded 10 tackles and an interception in last year's 42-26 win over Bismarck. Bismarck senior QB Trace Pee generated 1,706 yards and 13 TDs in 2011.
DIERKS (3) at Centerpoint: Dierks junior QB Adam Bradshaw passed for more than 1,800 yards a year ago. Centerpoint has won four games over the past three years.
FOUNTAIN LAKE (6) at Maumelle: Fountain Lake has won 44 games over the past four years. The Cobras return 21 seniors, including FB Mackenzie Ross (1,158 yards and 18 TDs in 2011), receiver Jordan Stone (1,136 yards and 16 TDs) and tight end/safety Dakota Weatherford (19 yards per catch; 75 tackles and four interceptions). Maumelle won six games last year, three of them by a combined seven points.
MALVERN (3) at Glen Rose: Glen Rose won the last meeting between these teams 21-7 in 2007. Malvern won 12 games last fall, advancing to the state title game for the first time since 1993. Glen Rose senior QB Collin Hunter passed for more than 2,200 yards and 18 TDs last fall. Senior RB Dillon Coney and junior RB Clay Holicer combined for more than 1,300 yards.
HORATIO (1) at Lafayette County: Horatio plays on the road in three of its first four games to start the Mark King era. Lafayette County senior RB Randy Pickens finished second in the 100 meters (11.02 seconds) at the state track meet in May.
Mountain Pine at JESSIEVILLE (28): Mountain Pine won its last two games of 2011 after senior Austin Meeks took over at quarterback. Jessieville beat the Red Devils 31-0 last fall.
TWO RIVERS (14) at Hector: Two Rivers lost its final seven games of 2011 after defeating Hector 24-0. Hector has won three games over the past five years.

6-3A
C. Harmony Grove at BEARDEN (2): Harmony Grove must overcome its lack of depth on both lines. Bearden beat the Hornets 35-14 a year ago.
Drew Central at HAMPTON (13): Drew Central loses its 15th game in a row. Class 2A Hampton reached the playoffs last fall for the first time since 2007.
FORDYCE (6) at Rison: Fordyce senior QB Cole Johnson passed for 2,281 yards and 25 TDs in 2011. The Redbugs beat Rison 35-28 last fall.
MINERAL SPRINGS (16) at Fouke: Mineral Springs beat Fouke 42-20 last season. Fouke senior receiver Dalton Crabtree caught 49 passes for 629 yards and four TDs in 2011.
GENOA CENTRAL (13) at Foreman: Genoa Central beat Foreman 57-31 a year ago. Foreman allowed 43 points per game in 2011.
McGehee vs. MONTICELLO (4) (Tue., at UAPB): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
PRESCOTT (17) at Gurdon: Prescott senior playmaker Brandon Marks hauled in two TD passes in last year's 42-13 win over the Go-Devils. Gurdon junior QB Austin Kirkpatrick generated 2,006 yards and 26 TDs in 2011.
SMACKOVER (27) at Norphlet: Smackover beat the Leopards 47-0 last fall. Norphlet senior QB Mike Tipton accounted for 2,180 yards and 19 TDs in 2011.