Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 1, 2011
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Watson Chapel vs. Dumas
Simmons First / Hootens.com Kickoff Week starts Monday, Aug. 29 at UAPB's Golden Lion Stadium with defending 5A Southeast champ Watson Chapel and 8-4A favorite Dumas. Watson Chapel advanced to the semifinals three straight seasons. Senior quarterback Jerome Eason owns 4.6 speed and throws the ball accurately moving in the pocket. "He's going to surprise a lot of people," Coach George Shelton says.

Dumas won nine games last year. Senior QB Trey Winchester (4.4 speed) generated almost 1,200 all-purpose yards a year ago, while the Bobcat defense yielded two TDs or less in six games. "We've got talent, but we've still got a long way to go," Coach Mark Courtney says.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KARZ (Z42 in Little Rock), Suddenlink Cable 22 in Northeast Arkansas and On Demand in Northwest Arkansas (Cox Ch. 644).

LAST SEASON
Hootens.com correctly predicted 178 of 212 (84 percent) Class 5A games.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A EAST
Newport at BATESVILLE (17): Batesville beat Newport by 27 points a year ago and the Pioneers feature a one of the stoutest running attacks in Class 5A with juniors Jordan Childress (1,958 yards and 20 TDs) and Daron Stigger (900 yards and eight TDs). Newport first-year coach Jeromy Poole coordinated Greenwood's defense last year, which held Batesville to 13 points in the semifinals.
Paragould at VALLEY VIEW (2): Valley View won nine games last year and its first league title since the program started in 2006. Blazer junior running back Kadin Hydrick ran for more than 500 yards a year ago. Paragould won two games last year and just nine over the past three years.
Blytheville at OSCEOLA (2): Osceola went winless in September last season, but the seasoned Seminoles return starters at 14 positions, including running backs Korliss Marshall (973 yards and 12 TDs) and Jamal Jackson.
WEST MEMPHIS (14) at Forrest City: Forrest City usually plays its rival close. The Mustangs led West Memphis 14-13 in the third quarter last season before losing by 21 points. West Memphis all-state receiver/linebacker Cody Dauksch gained 440 yards and racked up 60 tackles last season.
Wynne at MARION (7): Wynne could struggle early while adjusting to first-year coach Chris Hill's passing scheme. Wynne snapped a five-game losing streak to Marion with a three-point victory last fall.
GREENBRIER (6) at Beebe: Greenbrier has won 18 games over the past two seasons, including consecutive wins over Beebe by a total of 35 points. Panther QB Neal Burcham passed for almost 3,000 yards and 31 TDs a year ago and impressed college recruiting analyst with a strong performance at the Nike Elite 11 QB Camp in July.
Greene Co. Tech vs. JONESBORO (7): Jonesboro beat the Eagles by five points a year ago. Greene County Tech QB Cody Davis and receiver Nathan Summit (659 yards, seven TDs) spark the Spread attack.
MOUNTAIN HOME (1) at Nettleton: Nettleton finished last season winless and won just one game in 2009. The Raiders return starters at 17 spots and could contend for a playoff berth if they win some games early.

5A SOUTHEAST
WATSON CHAPEL (2) vs. Dumas (Mon., at UAPB): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week. Watson Chapel could start seven sophomores on defense and the Wildcats will peak in November, not September. Dumas' three losses last year were by a total of eight points.
MONTICELLO (8) at Hamburg: Hamburg first-year coach Mike Cox won 61 games in five years as head coach at Bearden. Monticello beat the Lions by 30 points in last year's opener, and the Billies rely on three-year linebacker Troy Brunson.
WHITE HALL (4) at HS Lakeside: White Hall has won four of the past seven games since the series renewed in 2004. But Hot Springs Lakeside has three of the past four, including 22-15 a year ago when the Rams overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half.
MILLS (1) vs. LR Parkview: Mills won 10 games last year, including its first in the post-season in 20 years. But most of the skill players graduated, while Little Rock Parkview returns all-conference QB Caelon Harden and running back Rashad Earls.
Crossett at MAGNOLIA (10): Magnolia has won six straight over Crossett, including 35-7 a year ago. Crossett QB/running back Orlando Robinson returned in the spring after missed 2010 with an ACL injury.
VILONIA (14) vs. Sylvan Hills: Vilonia beat Sylvan Hills by 28 points in last year's opener, and the Eagles may contend for the 5A West title this season. Three-year starters James Sax and Jacob Wiedmaier spark a strong backfield. Sylvan Hills missed the playoffs last fall for the first time since 2000.
SEARCY (28) at North Pulaski: North Pulaski beat Searcy by six points three years ago. But the Falcon coaching carousel continued in the spring when Teodis Ingram became the fourth coach in four years.

5A SOUTHWEST
CAC vs. PULASKI ACADEMY (16): Pulaski Academy handles its former conference foe. The Bruins averaged 46 points per game last season and scored a season-high 59 points in last year's opening win over CAC.
Hope at NASHVILLE (18): Hope has lost five straight to the Scrappers, including a 45-9 decision a year ago. Nashville QB Joel Hendry gained valuable experience with two starts last season. Hope won only once last season and its defense must improve in 2011.
HOT SPRINGS (1) at Pulaski Robinson: Hot Springs has won just four games over the past two years, but the Trojans bet LR Christian and Magnolia last October. Pulaski Robinson returns just two starters (both on defense) after winning 11 games and advancing to the semifinals a year ago.
Malvern at ARKADELPHIA (1): Former Ouachita Baptist University defensive coordinator J.R. Eldridge takes over at Arkadelphia. The Badgers won seven games last season, advancing to the playoffs for the second straight year. Malvern beat the Badgers by eight points a year ago.
Maumelle at LR CHRISTIAN (3): Maumelle High (formerly Pulaski Oak Grove) debuts against an opponent it whipped by 42 points last fall. LR Christian averaged just 11 points per game last fall, but return veteran receivers.
EL DORADO (2) at Camden Fairview: Two-time defending Class 6A champ El Dorado returns some of the better defensive backs in the state, while two-time Class 5A runner-up Camden Fairview features some of the state's top receivers (Derek Keaton and Dominique Reed).
Crossett at MAGNOLIA (10): Magnolia has won six straight over Crossett, including 35-7 a year ago. Crossett QB/running back Orlando Robinson returned in the spring after missed 2010 with an ACL injury.
WHITE HALL (4) at HS Lakeside: White Hall has won four of the past seven games since the series renewed in 2004. But Hot Springs Lakeside has three of the past four, including 22-15 a year ago when the Rams overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half.
West Helena is open.

5A WEST
GREENBRIER (6) at Beebe: Greenbrier has won 18 games over the past two seasons, including consecutive wins over Beebe by a total of 35 points. Panther QB Neal Burcham passed for almost 3,000 yards and 31 TDs a year ago and impressed college recruiting analyst with a strong performance at the Nike Elite 11 QB Camp in July.
GREENWOOD (10) at Sallisaw, Okla.: Greenwood has won four state titles over the past six years, including a one-point triumph over Camden Fairview last season. The top-ranked Bulldogs rely on a solid defensive front in 2011.
ALMA (3) at Van Buren: Alma has beaten Van Buren six of the past nine years, but the Airedales lost by 31 points in last year's opener. Alma QB Brady Bradley started four games last fall and the Airedales feature one of the bigger offensive lines in Class 5A.
VILONIA (14) vs. Sylvan Hills: Vilonia beat Sylvan Hills by 28 points in last year's opener, and the Eagles may contend for the 5A West title this season. Three-year starters James Sax and Jacob Wiedmaier spark a strong backfield. Sylvan Hills missed the playoffs last fall for the first time since 2000.
Harrison at SHERIDAN (4): Sheridan breaks in its new turf in style, ruining the debut of first-year Harrison coach Chad Harbison. The Yellowjackets feature a stout running attack and aggressive college prospect linebacker Bailey McIver.
RUSSELLVILLE (8) at Morrilton: Russellville has won five straight games over Morrilton by an average of 18 points. Morrilton junior running back Jamar Criswell rushed for 1,078 yards and tallied 683 yards receiving last year.
Claremore (Okla.) Sequoyah at SILOAM SPRINGS (16): Siloam Springs smashed Claremore Sequoyah by 34 points last season. Senior QB Braden Pippen amassed more than 2,000 yards a year ago.
Huntsville at FARMINGTON (14): Huntsville went through spring and summer workouts without a head coach following Ken Harriman's resignation in April. Farmington beat Huntsville by 20 points a year ago when Jared Martin ran for 137 yards and two TDs.