Class 2A - Week 15 - 2009
Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 15, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Bearden (14-0)
2. Junction City (12-1)
3. Murfreesboro (9-2)
4. McCrory (11-1)
5. Magazine (11-3)
6. Spring Hill (11-3)
7. Danville (11-2)
8. Hazen (12-1)
9. Des Arc (10-2)
10. Carlisle (8-5)
11. Woodlawn (7-4)
12. Strong (6-6)
13. Mountain Pine (7-4)
14. Cross County (7-5)
15. Conway Christian (7-4)
16. Smackover (4-6)
17. Salem (6-4)
18. Augusta (6-4)
19. Walnut Ridge (7-4)
20. Mineral Springs (7-5)
21. Hampton (4-6)
22. Horatio (4-6-1)
23. Cutter M. Star (6-5)
24. Two Rivers (6-4)
25. Union Christian (6-4)
26. Dierks (3-7)
27. Marked Tree (3-6)
28. Mount Ida (4-5)
29. Clarendon (5-5)
30. E. Poinsett County (4-5)
31. Hackett (3-6)
32. Palestine-Wheatley (2-9)
33. Hermitage (3-7)
34. Bigelow (2-7)
35. Cedar Ridge (2-8)
36. Quitman (3-7)
37. Norphlet (1-9)
38. Foreman (1-8)
39. Western Yell (1-9)
40. J.C. Westside (1-8)
41. Rector (1-9)
42. Marvell (1-9)
43. Hughes (0-9)
44. Lutheran (0-8)
45. Dermott (0-10)
HOOTENS.COM 2A GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Bearden vs. No. 2 Junction City
Class 2A's heavyweights battle for the fifth time in four years, but this time it's for the state title, not just a conference title. Junction City rallied past visiting Bearden 45-36 in 2006 but lost to Jessieville (20-19) in the 2A state title. In 2007, Bearden beat visiting Junction City 28-6 but later lost its first trip to the state championship game to Mount Ida (17-16). In 2008, Junction City ripped Bearden 43-0 and later defeated Des Arc 10-8 to win the 2A state title on the last play of the game. This fall, Bearden traveled to Junction City, took a two-touchdown lead and hung on for a 14-12 victory. Junction City won state titles in 2003 and 2008 and lost in 2006.
Top-ranked Bearden goes after a school record 15 wins for a season and 51 wins over the past four seasons. Bearden's first-team defense, led by senior LB John Bradley (105 tackles) has allowed 40 points all season. Bearden has forced 33 turnovers, and its first-team offense has lost just three turnovers. Senior cornerback Jarell Moore has intercepted eight passes, including one two weeks ago in a 42-7 dismantling of McCrory. Bearden's leading rusher Ricky Brown (1,088 yds, 10 ypc, 27 TDs) has rushed 49 times for 561 yards and 13 TDs in the playoffs. Brown has scored 20 TDs over the past five games. Bearden sophomore QB Devonta Lowe has completed 50 of 83 passes for 862 yards and 10 TDs, and he's run for 704 yards and eight TDs. Bearden senior DE Davidell Collins (6-6, 245) has committed to Oklahoma State, while classmate Chris Jenkins (6-1, 250) has caught the eye of D-I recruiters.
"Bearden's offensive line does a good job to get (their backs) in position to run the way they do," Junction City coach David Carpenter said. "They're a very explosive bunch on offense and a fast bunch on defense. Lot of teams don't have the speed those guys do, and trying to block them is going to be a good challenge."
Junction City's defense allowed 2 feet per rushing attempt in 2008. This year the Dragons allow 1.5 yards per rushing attempt. Junction owns a plus-30 turnover margin. Senior DT Byran Jones (6-3, 295) paces the Dragons with 92 stops, including 23.5 tackles for loss. Junior Jacob Pumphrey has 87.5 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Dragons allow three points per game. JC running backs Kiedarian Ross (918 yards, 12 TDs) and Alan Turner (967 yards, 11 TDs) propel the Dragons' Wishbone to 297 yards (8.4 yards per rushing attempt) and 40 points per game. Ross and Turner have fielded 14 kicks and punts and returned SIX of them for TDs. Junction City's seniors are 42-4 in their varsity careers. Junction City is 112-19 this decade.
"We've got a friendly rivalry," Bearden coach Mike Cox said. "Nothing bad, we just like to play each other. Two biggest kids on the block, and it's time to fight, time to get after it. Either team could win. I've seen them play for four or five years and they're as good now as they've ever been, in my opinion."
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted both games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com is 224-53 (81 percent) for the season.
WEEK 15 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread.)
STATE FINALS
BEARDEN (6) vs. Junction City: See 2A Game of the Week.
(c) 1993-2009 Hooten Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Class 2A, Week 15, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Bearden (14-0)
2. Junction City (12-1)
3. Murfreesboro (9-2)
4. McCrory (11-1)
5. Magazine (11-3)
6. Spring Hill (11-3)
7. Danville (11-2)
8. Hazen (12-1)
9. Des Arc (10-2)
10. Carlisle (8-5)
11. Woodlawn (7-4)
12. Strong (6-6)
13. Mountain Pine (7-4)
14. Cross County (7-5)
15. Conway Christian (7-4)
16. Smackover (4-6)
17. Salem (6-4)
18. Augusta (6-4)
19. Walnut Ridge (7-4)
20. Mineral Springs (7-5)
21. Hampton (4-6)
22. Horatio (4-6-1)
23. Cutter M. Star (6-5)
24. Two Rivers (6-4)
25. Union Christian (6-4)
26. Dierks (3-7)
27. Marked Tree (3-6)
28. Mount Ida (4-5)
29. Clarendon (5-5)
30. E. Poinsett County (4-5)
31. Hackett (3-6)
32. Palestine-Wheatley (2-9)
33. Hermitage (3-7)
34. Bigelow (2-7)
35. Cedar Ridge (2-8)
36. Quitman (3-7)
37. Norphlet (1-9)
38. Foreman (1-8)
39. Western Yell (1-9)
40. J.C. Westside (1-8)
41. Rector (1-9)
42. Marvell (1-9)
43. Hughes (0-9)
44. Lutheran (0-8)
45. Dermott (0-10)
HOOTENS.COM 2A GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Bearden vs. No. 2 Junction City
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Top-ranked Bearden goes after a school record 15 wins for a season and 51 wins over the past four seasons. Bearden's first-team defense, led by senior LB John Bradley (105 tackles) has allowed 40 points all season. Bearden has forced 33 turnovers, and its first-team offense has lost just three turnovers. Senior cornerback Jarell Moore has intercepted eight passes, including one two weeks ago in a 42-7 dismantling of McCrory. Bearden's leading rusher Ricky Brown (1,088 yds, 10 ypc, 27 TDs) has rushed 49 times for 561 yards and 13 TDs in the playoffs. Brown has scored 20 TDs over the past five games. Bearden sophomore QB Devonta Lowe has completed 50 of 83 passes for 862 yards and 10 TDs, and he's run for 704 yards and eight TDs. Bearden senior DE Davidell Collins (6-6, 245) has committed to Oklahoma State, while classmate Chris Jenkins (6-1, 250) has caught the eye of D-I recruiters.
"Bearden's offensive line does a good job to get (their backs) in position to run the way they do," Junction City coach David Carpenter said. "They're a very explosive bunch on offense and a fast bunch on defense. Lot of teams don't have the speed those guys do, and trying to block them is going to be a good challenge."
Junction City's defense allowed 2 feet per rushing attempt in 2008. This year the Dragons allow 1.5 yards per rushing attempt. Junction owns a plus-30 turnover margin. Senior DT Byran Jones (6-3, 295) paces the Dragons with 92 stops, including 23.5 tackles for loss. Junior Jacob Pumphrey has 87.5 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Dragons allow three points per game. JC running backs Kiedarian Ross (918 yards, 12 TDs) and Alan Turner (967 yards, 11 TDs) propel the Dragons' Wishbone to 297 yards (8.4 yards per rushing attempt) and 40 points per game. Ross and Turner have fielded 14 kicks and punts and returned SIX of them for TDs. Junction City's seniors are 42-4 in their varsity careers. Junction City is 112-19 this decade.
"We've got a friendly rivalry," Bearden coach Mike Cox said. "Nothing bad, we just like to play each other. Two biggest kids on the block, and it's time to fight, time to get after it. Either team could win. I've seen them play for four or five years and they're as good now as they've ever been, in my opinion."
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted both games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com is 224-53 (81 percent) for the season.
WEEK 15 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread.)
STATE FINALS
BEARDEN (6) vs. Junction City: See 2A Game of the Week.
(c) 1993-2009 Hooten Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
12/7/2009
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