Hootens.com Rankings
Class 7A, Week 11, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Bentonville (9-1)
2. Springdale Har-Ber (9-1)
3. North LR (8-2)
4. Cabot (9-1)
5. Russellville (7-2-1)
6. Bryant (8-2)
7. Rogers Heritage (8-2)
8. Fayetteville (5-4-1)
9. FS Southside (6-4)
10. Springdale (4-6)
11. Conway (4-6)
12. LR Catholic (5-5)
13. FS Northside (3-7)
14. Rogers (2-8)
15. Van Buren (1-8-1)
16. LR Central (0-10)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Conway at No. 8 Fayetteville
Conway continues to gain confidence while Fayetteville lost the past two weeks by a combined 54 points. Conway has won three of its past five with every victory on the road, including last week at LR Catholic 35-28. "It was the first time we've been in a tight game against a good team," says Conway coach Clint Ashcraft. "Our kids didn't fold." Conway starts just two seniors on defense and four on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Xavier Acklin (5-9, 180). Acklin has completed 86 of 180 passes (48 percent) for 1,270 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions. His 177 carries have netted 1,001 yards (5.65 yards per carry) and 15 TDs. Fayetteville QB Brandon Allen and receiver Demetrius Dean, both juniors, headline a solid skill corps. "Fayetteville throws it more than anybody we've played," says Ashcraft. "We've got to knock down some of those long passes."

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football will NOT air this Saturday due to a doubleheader of SEC football on CBS. The show returns statewide 11 a.m. next Saturday on Today's THV 11 and KFSM TV 5 with highlights from the second round of the playoffs.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 5 of 8 winners (63 percent). For the season, hootens.com is 66-18-2 (78 percent).

WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
FS Southside at BRYANT (1): FS Southside's chances of an upset might be better with two experienced running backs, but Rebel coach Jeff Williams understands the importance of discipline. A suspension leaves junior Lee Hollis (34 carries for 144 yards and 3 TDs last week) and sophomore scatback Julius Jones (5-8, 185) to carry the load. Senior Chris Rycraw is Bryant's career rushing leader and also holds single-season records for rushes (284), yards (1,514) and TDs (17) in 2009. Southside is 3-0-1 against Bryant in the modern era.

LR Catholic at ROGERS HERITAGE (8): Catholic receivers' dropped passes and two turnovers led to Conway points last week. Heritage's short passing game and running attack continues to impress, but the War Eagles will be challenged by Catholic's unorthodox defense, rarely showing the same look on consecutive plays.

Conway at FAYETTEVILLE (1): Game of the Week between teams heavy on skill players but light on linemen.

Springdale at RUSSELLVILLE (10): Springdale's hard-luck season took a turn Friday when Coach Kevin Johnson returned to the sideline for the first time in a month, starting a three-week reprieve from lung and colon cancer treatment. And the Bulldogs beat Rogers to make the playoffs. Johnson will help coach linebackers on the sideline this week at Russellville, including standout Cole Sizemore. Expect a high-scoring game with Russellville's spread attack causing problems for a Springdale defense that is better against the run.

North LR, Bentonville, Cabot and Springdale Har-Ber have byes.

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