Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 1, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Pulaski Academy
2. Camden Fairview
3. Watson Chapel
4. Morrilton
5. Alma
6. Wynne
7. Greenbrier
8. Batesville
9. Shiloh Christian
10. Jacksonville
11. White Hall
12. Beebe
13. Vilonia
14. HS Lakeside
15. Sylvan Hills
16. Harrison
17. Greene Co. Tech
18. West Helena
19. Magnolia
20. Blytheville
21. Hot Springs
22. Hope
23. Nettleton
24. Mills
25. Forrest City
26. LR Christian
27. De Queen
28. LR McClellan
29. Paragould
30. Clarksville
31. Huntsville
32. North Pulaski

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 White Hall vs. Class 4A No. 18 Hamburg (Tue., at UAPB)
The second night of Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week moves to Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff. White Hall overcame an 0-3 start last season, winning nine straight games and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in more than 20 years. Bulldog senior receiver Joseph Stewart and running back Irving Tisdale made plays in summer workouts, coach Mike Vaughn said.

Hamburg hasn't been to the playoffs since 2007, but the Lions improved last season, losing three games by a touchdown or less. Second-year coach Mike Cox cranked intensity in off-season workouts to make the Lions mentally tougher. Senior running back LaMarco Harris ran for 1,056 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. Only one Hamburg offensive lineman weighs less than 280 pounds "and we don't have anybody that big," Vaughn says. "They are a match-up problem."

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs Saturday mornings statewide at 8:30 a.m. On Fox 24 Fayetteville/Fort Smith and at 9:30 a.m. On KARZ-42 in Little Rock.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 179 of 210 (85 percent) Class 5A games.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A CENTRAL
Jacksonville vs. CABOT (12): Jacksonville hasn't beaten its rival since 2005. Cabot won its final two games last season but failed to advance to the playoffs for the second time in seven years.
LR McClellan at SEARCY (10): Searcy stomped LR McClellan by 27 points in the first round of the playoffs last season, but Searcy all-state QB Dezmond Stegall signed with Arkansas State in the spring. LR McCellan QB Akee Johnson could develop into one of the top athletes in the state.
LR Christian vs. HS LAKESIDE (4): HS Lakeside has beaten Little Rock Christian by a combined 68-14 the past two seasons, which coincide with third-year coach Jared McBride's arrival in Garland County. The Rams must find linebackers in 2012.
Mills at LR PARKVIEW (6): Mills won only two games last season and two expected starters transferred in late May. Parkview senior QB Caelon Harden accounted for13 TDs in four games last year.
NORTH PULASKI (2) at LR Fair: North Pulaski has won four games over the past seven years, while LR Fair won 10 (but only two in the past four years).
Pulaski Academy at CHAMINADE, CALIF. (11): The high-powered Bruins won 27 games over the past two years, and tight end Hunter Henry committed to Arkansas in the summer. Chaminade (West Hills) went 10-3 a year ago and the Eagles offense features highly-touted running back Terrell Newby and receiver Elijah Dunston.
VILONIA (10) at Sylvan Hills: Vilonia beat Sylvan Hills by a total of 55 points the past two years. Vilonia junior running back Houston Cotton qualified for the Meet of Champs in the spring and impressed during summer workouts.
DOLLARWAY (2) at West Helena: Dollarway could run toward the state title game this fall. The Cardinals won six games last season despite forfeiting four wins in mid October. Cardinal senior Jeremiah Young ran for more than 1,700 yards a year ago.

5A EAST
Batesville at SPRINGDALE (3): Batesville won the 5A East title and advanced to the state title game a year ago. But four expected starters transferred in the off-season. However, Coach Dave King said in early August that "the demise of the Batesville Pioneers have been great exaggerated."
VALLEY VIEW (10) at Paragould: Valley View beat Paragould by 31 points in last year's opener. The Blazers advanced to the playoffs four straight seasons since starting its program in 2005. Blazer receiver Payton Sanders tallied more than 1,000 total yards a year ago.
OSCEOLA (1) at Blytheville: Blytheville interim coach Vince McCrosky assisted the Chickasaws from 1992-1997 and 2004-2005 before coaching at Willow Springs, Mo. Osceola senior running backs Korliss Marshall and Jamal Jackson combined for more than 2,300 yards and 39 TDs a year ago.
FORREST CITY (3) at Gosnell: Former McCrory coach Gary Moody takes over at Gosnell, which returns just two seniors. Forrest City won the 5A East title in 2009, but didn't win a game last season.
Marion at WYNNE (2): Marion has beaten Wynne six of the past seven seasons, including 30-28 a year ago. But Wynne could compete for the 5A East title this season with junior QB Reed Wingo (2,735 yards) and running back Josh Selvy (more than 1,100 all-purpose yards).
Beebe at GREENBRIER (4): Greenbrier has beaten Beebe three straight seasons by a total of 39 points. Greenbrier shifted Seth Peters (1,362 yards and 14 TDs) from receiver to QB in the spring.
JONESBORO (11) vs. Greene Co. Tech: Jonesboro beat the Eagles by 44 points over the past two seasons. Greene County Tech receiver Travis Ryan (more than 1,000 all-purpose yards) could develop into a college prospect in 2012.
NETTLETON (1) at Newport: These teams play for the first time since 2001. Newport has advanced to the playoffs 25 straight seasons. Nettleton has won seven games over the past four years. The Raider running attack revolves around junior linemen Marcus Caskey (6-3, 305) and Dedrick Massey (6-2, 285).

5A SOUTH
Camden Fairview at EL DORADO (10): Camden Fairview hasn't beaten El Dorado since 2006. The Cardinals won five conference titles over the past six years, including three straight. El Dorado has won the past four meetings by an average of 16 points.
MENA (3) at De Queen: De Queen beat Mena four of the past five years. The Leopards jump to Class 5A this fall. Mena senior QB Austin Warren generated almost 1,700 yards in five games last season.
NASHVILLE (14) at Hope: Nashville coach Billy Dawson returns to the sideline after two years in the ministry. Nashville beat Hope six straight times, including a combined 93-30 the past two years.
Pulaski Robinson at HOT SPRINGS (1): Pulaski Robinson beat Hot Springs the past two years by a total of 15 points. Hot Springs relies on all-league wingback Quin Coleman (1,528 yards in 2011).
LR Christian vs. HS LAKESIDE (4): HS Lakeside has beaten Little Rock Christian by a combined 68-14 the past two seasons, which coincide with third-year coach Jared McBride's arrival in Garland County. The Rams must find linebackers in 2012.
MAGNOLIA (7) at Crossett: Magnolia has won seven straight over Crossett, including 26-6 a year ago. Mark Kelley takes over as Crossett's third coach in a year (former coach Greg Johnson resigned in September and interim coach Brad Bradshaw resigned in May). Magnolia could play 15 sophomores this season.
HAMBURG (4) vs. White Hall (Tue., at UAPB): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
Siloam Springs vs. WATSON CHAPEL (8) (Thurs., at Razorback Stadium): Watson Chapel won 26 games over the past three years. Siloam Springs jump from Class 5A into the 7A/6A West this fall.

5A WEST
WARREN (1) vs. Shiloh Christian (Mon., at UCA): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week. These heavyweights battle during Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week.
Van Buren at ALMA (7): Alma has won seven of the past 10 in the series, including 14-0 a year ago, but Van Buren holds the edge in the series 35-24-1. Alma QB Gage Jensen impressed coaches in fall camp.
Beebe at GREENBRIER (4): Greenbrier has beaten Beebe three straight seasons by a total of 39 points. Greenbrier shifted Seth Peters (1,362 yards and 14 TDs) from receiver to QB in the spring.
MORRILTON (4) at Russellville: Morrilton snapped Russellville's five-game win streak in the series with a 28-point triumph last season. Devil Dog running back Jamar Criswell performed well in the summer after recovering from an ACL injury.
OZARK, MO. (10) at Harrison: Harrison first-year offensive coordinator Adam Depriest installed a wide-open attack in the summer. More than 80 Goblins reported for fall camp in August, and second-year coach Chad Harbison expects 79 players to dress out. Ozark went 7-3 last year in Missouri's highest classification.
VILONIA (10) at Sylvan Hills: Vilonia beat Sylvan Hills by a total of 55 points the past two years. Vilonia junior running back Houston Cotton qualified for the Meet of Champs in the spring and impressed during summer workouts.
CHARLESTON (7) at Clarksville: Charleston beat Clarksville by a total of 35 points over the past two years. Defending Class 3A champ Charleston returns just two seniors, but sophomore QB Ty Storey could emerge as a college prospect.
FARMINGTON (10) at Huntsville: Farmington beat Class 5A Huntsville by a combined 50 points the past two years. Huntsville won three games over the past two years, but the Eagles return starters at 17 positions.