Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 7, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Greenwood (5-1)
2. Monticello (6-0)
3. Alma (3-2-1)
4. Pulaski Academy (4-2)
5. Forrest City (5-1)
6. White Hall (5-1)
7. LR Christian (5-1)
8. Batesville (4-1-1)
9. Camden Fairview (3-3)
10. Magnolia (4-2)
11. Vilonia (4-2)
12. Greene County Tech (5-1)
13. Mills (4-2)
14. Greenbrier (4-2)
15. CAC (3-3)
16. Blytheville (2-3-1)
17. Pulaski Robinson (3-2-1)
18. Hope (3-3)
19. Beebe (2-4)
20. Wynne (2-4)
21. West Helena (2-4)
22. Morrilton (1-5)
23. Siloam Springs (3-3)
24. Harrison (2-4)
25. Sylvan Hills (1-5)
26. Crossett (2-4)
27. Paragould (2-4)
28. Hot Springs (1-5)
29. Nettleton (1-5)
30. HS Lakeside (0-6)
31. North Pulaski (1-5)
32. LR McClellan (1-5)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Monticello at No. 6 White Hall
White Hall has beaten Monticello four of the past six years, but Monticello has won two straight, including 36-14 last year. "We pulled out the film from '07, and they have the same guys playing then that are playing now," said White Hall coach Mike Vaughn. "Their seniors have never lost to us."

Monticello averages 43 points per game and features one of the better offensive backfields in the state with quarterback Joe Carmical, wingback Brishen Mathews and running back Brian Handley. Carmical ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw a 40-yard scoring strike to Handley in last week's 37-6 win over Beebe. And the Billies use speed on defense to stymie opponents. "They big-play you to death," Vaughn said. "And defensively, we are concerned about blocking them."

White Hall quarterback Matt Taylor returned from a knee injury last week "but he's only 90 percent," Vaughn said. Taylor's injury forces running backs Larry Walls and A.J. Richardson to take direct snaps. Walls has rushed for 1,281 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. He touched the ball four times but gained 95 yards in last week's win over North Pulaski. Richardson has rushed for 800 yards this fall while battling a shoulder injury. Both players might have significant roles in the secondary this week, the coach says.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 10 of 16 games (63 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 104 of 135 games (77 percent).

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 11 a.m. Saturday on Today's THV 11 in Little Rock and KFSM in Fort Smith/Fayetteville. Games scheduled to be featured this week include Monticello at White Hall, Alma at Greenbrier, Greenwood at Vilonia, Camden Fairview at LR Christian, Pulaski Academy at Pulaski Robinson, Crossett at Mills and Sylvan Hills at North Pulaski.

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A EAST
Blytheville at WEST HELENA (1): West Helena must win to stay in playoff contention. The Cougars have lost two straight games and three of their past four. Blytheville gives up just 11 points per conference game.
FORREST CITY (14) at Paragould: League-leader Forrest City has won its three conference games by a total of 18 points. Paragould QB Chance Sugg and receiver Zach Franks connected for 155 yards and three TDs in last week's 43-33 win over Nettleton.
GREENE CO. TECH (17) at Nettleton: Nettleton needs big plays from running back Andres Anceno and QB Tanner Williams. Greene County Tech's only loss was by eight points to Forrest City. GCT running back Standrick Williams has produced more than 800 all-purpose yards in 2009.
Wynne at BATESVILLE (7): This game used to serve as Batesville's measuring stick. Batesville has beaten the Yellowjackets three times in the past six years, including the past two seasons. Wynne is improved since senior all-state running back Okoye Oring returned from an ankle injury two weeks ago. Oring scored three TDs in last week's 26-0 win over West Helena.

5A SOUTHEAST
Crossett at MILLS (4): Crossett's running game makes it tough to defend on dry ground. The Eagles can cut and make moves. They fumbled on fourth-and-goal with nine seconds left in last week's 3-0 loss at Sylvan Hills, electing to go for a TD instead of kicking a field goal. Upstart Mills has won four of its past five games.
LR McClellan at BEEBE (21): LR McClellan has lost nine straight conference games and 16 of its past 17 league gamess. Beebe compensates for its lack of size with scrappy plays up front.
MONTICELLO (8) at White Hall: Hootens.com Game of the Week. Monticello has beaten White Hall the past two years by a combined 25 points.
SYLVAN HILLS (10) at North Pulaski: Sylvan Hills' defense made two fourth-down stops near the goal line against Crossett last week. North Pulaski has never beaten Sylvan Hills.

5A SOUTHWEST
CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (3) at LR Christian: These teams are among six tied for the lead in the 5A Southwest. Camden Fairview's defense has played well most of the season. The Cardinals forced eight turnovers against Magnolia a week ago. They'll crowd the line of scrimmage to slow Michael Dyer, and they have the speed to cover Little Rock Christian receivers. Dyer (6,909 career yards) needs just 213 yards to set the state's rushing record.  
HOPE (7) at HS Lakeside: These teams have split the past six meetings. But HS Lakeside hasn't won this fall and gives up 36 ppg. Hope drove the length of the field but couldn't score in the final minutes of last week's 13-9 loss to Pulaski Robinson.
Hot Springs at MAGNOLIA (10): Magnolia hasn't been the same since knocking off Pulaski Academy two weeks ago. The Panthers struggled in a 16-point win over HS Lakeside, and Camden Fairview put the 35-point sportsmanship rule on them last week.
PULASKI ACADEMY (14) at Pulaski Robinson: Pulaski Robinson's defense plays well against run-oriented teams, so the Senators may struggle to contain Pulaski Academy's passing attack. Bruin QB Wil Nicks has passed for 2,335 yards and 19 TDs, while Zac Reyna leads the state with 54 catches for 806 yards.

5A WEST
ALMA (20) at Greenbrier: Greenbrier's pass defense stuffed Greenwood a week ago. The Panthers were up on Greenwood 14-13 in the second quarter, but lost by 35 points. Alma's D held Vilonia to 89 yards and forced five turnovers a week ago.
CAC (1) at Siloam Springs: CAC workhorses Eric Simmons and Jaalen Watkins combined for 215 yards against Harrison last week. Siloam Springs must cut its turnovers. The Panthers give up 31 points per conference game.
GREENWOOD (17) at Vilonia: Greenwood couldn't pass the ball on Greenbrier a week ago, tallying just 69 yards through the air, the worst performance under fifth-year coach Rick Jones. But the Bulldogs still won 49-14. Vilonia beat Greenwood three years ago, and the past two meetings weren't decided until the fourth quarter.
MORRILTON (2) at Harrison: Morrilton kept its playoff hopes alive last week by forcing four turnovers and beating Siloam Springs 18-13. Harrison led CAC most of the game but lost in the final minutes.

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