Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 1, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Monticello vs. DeQueen
The first game in the state, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, features a pair of state title contenders and multiple Division I recruits. Monticello won 10 games, the 5A Southeast title and advanced to the semifinals last season, while DeQueen won 11 games and ventured to the quarterfinals.

Monticello's Van Paschal, who coached at DeQueen from 2003-2004, revamps the Billy offense with quarterback Joe Carmical and talented running back Brishen Mathews, who has committed to Ole Miss.

DeQueen running back/defensive end Greg White committed to the University of Missouri in August. The Leopards shifted athlete Jamario Ervin from receiver to QB in the spring, and the experiment "has gone better than expected," Coach Chris Vereen said.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 79 percent of Class 5A games.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A EAST
Newport at BATESVILLE (7): Batesville returns just three starters but the Pioneers have won at least nine games four of the past five years. Newport lineman Wesley Grady (6-5, 303) could emerge as a college recruit.
Osceola at BLYTHEVILLE (6): Osceola breaks in a new QB after C.J. Jones transferred to Jonesboro in the spring. Blytheville beat the Seminoles by 15 points a year ago.
WEST MEMPHIS (18) at Forrest City: West Memphis returns no starters, but the Blue Devils have won five straight league titles. They've also blasted Forrest City by a combined 77-0 the past two years.
JONESBORO (21) vs. Nettleton: Jonesboro has won two of the three games since this rivalry was renewed three years ago. Hurricane running backs Kowan Wright and C.J. Jones form one of the better tandems in Class 6A.
GREENE CO. TECH (2) at Paragould: Tim Branum returns to Paragould where he served as coach in 1997. The Rams have defeated Greene Co. Tech four straight times by an average of 55-23.
WEST HELENA (1) at Pulaski Academy: West Helena won't drop off much after last year's 12 wins and trip to the state title game. Pulaski Academy's lone returnee on offense, tackle Parker Mack, is a major college prospect.
MARION (1) at Wynne: Marion has beaten the Yellowjackets four straight times by a combined 13 points, including 15-13 last season. Wynne won its final three games last season and returns veteran running backs.

5A SOUTHEAST
DeQueen vs. MONTICELLO (7) (Mon., at UAPB): Hootens.com Class 5A game of the week features Division I commits Brishen Mathews (Ole Miss) and Greg White (Missouri).
Malvern at SYLVAN HILLS (8): Sylvan Hills lacks depth but linebacker Juliean Broner is one of the state's top secrets. Malvern must patch its defense after giving up 31 points per game last year.
WHITE HALL (6) at HS Lakeside: White Hall has lost two straight openers against the Rams. But the Bulldogs wear down Hot Springs Lakeside with a stout running attack and massive linemen.
Greenbrier at BEEBE (7): Beebe has beaten the Panthers five straight seasons, although they had to forfeit a one-point win in 2004. The Badgers return experience in the secondary, while Greenbrier's season hinges on improvement at the skill spots.
MAGNOLIA (8) at Crossett: Greg Johnson takes over as Crossett's third coach in three years. Johnson welcomes a seasoned QB and speedy running backs. Magnolia should contend for a conference title with running backs L.J. Berry and James Cooper.
LR PARKVIEW (10) at Mills: The Comets couldn't contain LR Parkview playmakers Benjamin Anderson and Chris Giles in last year's 40-0 setback.
LR HALL (7) at LR McClellan: These teams have combined for 20 wins the past five years. LR Hall beat the Lions by a combined 52-13 the past two years.
DUMAS (18) at North Pulaski: First-year North Pulaski coach Ricky Russell tries to revive a program that has won just 10 games this decade, including three over the past five years.

5A SOUTHWEST
WEST HELENA (1) at Pulaski Academy: West Helena won't drop off much after last year's 12 wins and trip to the state title game. Pulaski Academy's lone returnee on offense, tackle Parker Mack, is a major college prospect.
MAGNOLIA (8) at Crossett: Greg Johnson takes over as Crossett's third coach in three years. Johnson welcomes a seasoned QB and speedy running backs. Magnolia should contend for a conference title with running backs L.J. Berry and James Cooper.
WHITE HALL (6) at HS Lakeside: White Hall has lost two straight openers against the Rams. But the Bulldogs wear down Hot Springs Lakeside with a stout running attack and massive linemen.
Pulaski Oak Grove vs. LR CHRISTIAN (9): Little Rock Christian rides a three-game losing streak into 2009. First-year coach Justin Kramer must locate help for running back Michael Dyer.
El Dorado at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (1): Camden Fairview lost at the eventual 6A state runner-up by four points last season. The Cardinal offense explodes with veteran QB Chase Foster (2,045 yards and 14 TDs) and running back Ryan Purifoy (765 total yards).
PULASKI ROBINSON (3) at Lonoke: Lonoke first-year coach Doug Bost inherits speed with running back Brandon Smith. But Pulaski Robinson owns an advantage up front.
NASHVILLE (10) at Hope: Hope's last win in the series came in 2005. The Scrappers have won three straight in the series by an average of 22 points.
HOT SPRINGS (7) at LR Fair: Hot Springs has won 16 games over the past three years, including a 28-point triumph over LR Fair in last year's opener. LR Fair averaged just 10 points a game last year.

5A WEST
Greenbrier at BEEBE (7): Beebe has beaten the Panthers five straight seasons, although they forfeited a one-point win in 2004. The Badgers return experience in the secondary, while Greenbrier's season hinges on improvement at the skill spots.
Greenwood at HAR-BER (3): Both teem with talent and own state title aspirations. Greenwood receiver Spencer Harris draws comparisons to former Greenwood and current University of Arkansas receiver Lucas Miller.
ALMA (10) at Van Buren: Alma reclaimed the "Bone" with last year's 21-point victory. The Airedales have won six of the past seven over their Crawford County rival.
Farmington at SILOAM SPRINGS (7): Siloam Springs has beaten the Cardinals by at least two touchdowns the past three years. First-year Panther coach Bryan Ross must find running backs and receivers.
Dollarway vs. CAC (10): Dollarway breaks in new skill players after the graduation of all-state QB Jesse Grandy and running back Michael Willingham. CAC builds its offense around highly-touted junior running back Jaalen Watkins.
RUSSELLVILLE (11) at Morrilton: New Russellville receiver Andrew Tryon faces his former team. The Cyclones have beaten Morrilton three straight years by an average of 15 points per game.
Searcy at VILONIA (4): First-year Searcy coach Tim Harper inherits a squad that has won just five games over the past five years.
Huntsville at HARRISON (25): Harrison has beaten the Eagles by at least 30 points each of the past five years. Huntsville keeps it closer as the Goblins break in a new QB and linemen.

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