Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 0, 2020
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc. 

1. Pulaski Academy
2. LR Christian
3. Texarkana
4. Harrison
5. Wynne
6. White Hall
7. HS Lakeside
8. Camden Fairview
9. Morrilton
10. Batesville
11. Vilonia
12. Magnolia
13. Maumelle
14. Valley View
15. Nettleton
16. Greenbrier
17. Forrest City
18. Watson Chapel
19. Alma
20. Hot Springs
21. Jacksonville
22. Farmington
23. Beebe
24. Pea Ridge
25. Greene Co. Tech
26. Paragould
27. Clarksville
28. Hope
29. LR Hall
30. De Queen
31. Brookland

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 LR Christian at Class 7A No. 6 LR Central
Both enter 2020 with lofty expectations. LR Central enjoyed Class 7A's biggest turnaround last year (improve from 1-9 to 6-5) while advancing to the playoffs for the first time in five years. The Tigers surrendered too many big passes in last week's scrimmage against Marion. Senior Lawson Gunn returns for this third season at quarterback, while senior running back Sam Franklin (10 scholarship offers) returns in the backfield. Senior all-conference tackle Makilan Thomas (6-3, 300), an Arkansas State commit, and left tackle Canaan Davis (6-2, 295), who has an offer from UT-Martin present matchup problems up front for the smaller Warriors.  
LR Christian forced five turnovers and handled Benton last week in a scrimmage game 38-21. Junior Jayvean Dyer-Jones ran 18 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. “He's a difference-maker,” Coach Eric Cohu says. Senior utility player/linebacker Corey Platt didn't play last week (hamstring) but will be available for LR Central, the coach says. Junior Titus Colquitt and senior Anthony Pugh stand out at the end slots. Pugh, a Little Rock native, moved from Oregon in the summer.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 174 of 213 games (82 percent) last season. 

WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
5A CENTRAL
LR CHRISTIAN (1) at LR Central: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
Joe T. Robinson at PULASKI ACADEMY (6): Battle of defending state champs. This is the first meeting between these powers since 2011 (PA won 41-16). Robinson has won 49 games over the past four seasons and played for consecutive state titles. Senior quarterback Buddy Gaston passed for 2,890 yards and 44 touchdowns last season, while senior running back Hunter Smith dashed for 1,922 yards in 13 games. Senator linemen E'marion Harris (6-6, 305) and D.J. Withers (6-4, 245) own multiple Division 1 scholarships. 
Pulaski Academy (11 state titles game appearances since 2003, including eight wins) impressed in last week's scrimmage against Class 7A Bryant, trying the Hornets 14-14 at halftime. Junior running back Joe Himon (2,038 total yards, 21 TDs in 2019) enjoyed a solid fall camp, then caught a TD and ran for another against Bryant. Senior linebacker Futa Shinkawa paced PA in tackles, while senior safety Cameron Mercer intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Senior receivers Cooper White and Dylan Allison impressed at receiver.
Beebe at GREENBRIER (8): Greenbrier has won eight of the past 10 in the series, including the past two by a combined 33 points. Junior Cooper Wilcox returns at QB for Greenbrier (six TD passes in 2019). Beebe increased participation and strength in a good summer under second-year coach Chris Gunter.
HOPE (2) at LR Hall: LR Hall hasn't beaten a team outside of Pulaski County since Week 3, 2011. Warrior safety Kavionne Rucker and two-way lineman Darius Woodus played well in a scrimmage at Des Arc. Hope senior QB Ammorrion Dempsey runs well behind a veteran line. Both teams lack depth, so conditioning could be key. 
Sylvan Hills at MAUMELLE (4): Maumelle looked sharp in its scrimmage against Class 4A Ozark, scoring on three of its four possession in the first half. Maumelle junior defensive lineman Nico Davillier (6-5, 275) received five SEC offers in the summer, including Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia. Sylvan Hills first-year coach Chris Hill installed a Flexbone scheme in the summer. Hill coordinated Harding University's offense the past two years and took Wynne to two state title games between 2011-2016. 

Watson Chapel at PINE BLUFF (2): Pine Bluff won eight of the past 10 over Watson Chapel, but the Wildcats won 39-33 a year ago and battled to a 14-14 tie the previous year. Two projected Wildcat offensive line starters moved to Texas in the off-season.
WHITE HALL (8) at Sheridan: These teams play for the Highway 270 trophy. Sheridan focused on improving its offensive line after last week's scrimmage against Malvern, both teams scored one TD. White Hall's scrimmage with Cabot was canceled. 
JACKSONVILLE is open.

5A EAST
Blytheville at NETTLETON (2): These are former conference foes. Blytheville has won two straight in the series, but forfeited a 30-13 triumph in 2018. Nettleton's scrimmage with Osceola was canceled last week. Raider junior Cameron Scarlett looked solid at QB in fall camp after playing Wildcat QB and receiver last fall. Senior receiver Kyle Tolley and junior linebacker Koby Bradley also enjoyed good fall camps. Blytheville beat West Memphis 3-0 in a scrimmage last week.
GOSNELL (13) at Brookland: These are former conference foes. Gosnell has never lost to Brookland, but the Pirates won by only 13 points last season and the 2018 the game went into overtime. Gosnell aims for its fifth league title in nine years with a stable of possible Division I skill players, including QB Cooper Pieri (an ASU baseball commit) and running back Travelle Anderson (Kansas offer). Former Auburn and Valley View assistant Eric Munoz takes over at Brookland. 
STAR CITY (1) at Forrest City: This game has gone to the wire the past two years, with Star City winning by one point in 2018 and Forrest City outscoring the Bulldogs 20-0 in the fourth quarter last season for a 42-34 triumph. Star City lineman Kristion Everett impressed in the off-season. Forrest City's Jatavis Summage is the only Mustang to catch a varsity pass last season.  
JONESBORO WESTSIDE (2) at Greene Co. Tech: GCT won this matchup 53-52 in 2018, and Jonesboro Westside won by three points last season. Neither team scrimmaged last week. The Warrior attack revolves around senior QB River Engle and RB Tyler Ray. GCT looks for QB Storm Harris and all-state RB David Williams to make plays behind an improved offensive line.
WYNNE (1) at Marion: Wynne has won four of the past seven in the series, but five of the games were decided by six points or less (two went into overtime). Wynne senior Marterious Ross shifted from fullback to QB in fall camp. The Yellowjackets ride an improved defense in 2020 with all-conference inside LB Timmy Watson and senior OLB Cam'Ron Holmes. Junior guard/defensive end Tyrel Johnson makes plays on both sides. Athletic Marion owns team speed, a skilled QB and solid offense.
Valley View at Ozark: This game was added to the schedule last week after Ozark rescheduled Clarksville on Sept. 11, and Manila asked out of its contract against Valley View, but the game was cancelled Wednesday morning.
BATESVILLE is open. Pioneer senior quarterback Eli Livingston (4.05 GPA, 29 ACT) is the First Community Bank Scholar Athlete of the Week featured on hootens.com.
PARAGOULD is open.

5A SOUTHWEST
Arkadelphia at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (12): Camden Fairview beat Monticello 40-6 last week in a scrimmage game, despite three potential college players moving in the off-season. Senior QB Gunner Branch runs the scheme well. Arkadelphia first year coach Trey Schucker installed a new system in August. 
HARRISON (10) vs. Magnolia (at LR Christian): These teams split the five hour drive and met in West Little Rock. Harrison senior Cole Keylon takes over at QB “and could be one of the best in Class 5A,” coach Joel Wells says. Magnolia “made too many mistakes and turnovers” in its scrimmage, Coach Mark King says. Two expected Panther starters won't play this year due to Cxvid-19.
HOPE (2) at LR Hall: LR Hall hasn't beaten a team outside of Pulaski County since Week 3, 2011. Warrior safety Kavionne Rucker and two-way lineman Darius Woodus played well in a scrimmage at Des Arc. Hope senior QB Ammorrion Dempsey runs well behind a veteran line. Both teams lack depth, so conditioning could be key. 
LAKE HAMILTON (6) at HS Lakeside: This is the third meeting since the rivalry was shelved from 2000-2017. HS Lakeside expects a banner season with senior all-state QB Will Ross (1,686 yards, 24 TDs last year) and all-state linebacker Will Perrigo (113 tackles). Lake Hamilton junior tackle Chase Jessup (6-4, 282) owns offers from Kansas and Vanderbilt. All-state QB Layne Warrick won't play for at least five weeks after hurting his collarbone in last week's scrimmage. Lake Hamilton has 25 seniors and 30 juniors on its roster.
MENA (13) at De Queen: De Queen has won 11 of the past 20 in the series, but Mena has won three straight by a combined 85 points. De Queen first-year coach Brad Chesshir, former defensive coordinator at Nashville and Jonesboro, installs a fast-tempo Spread offense. 
HOT SPRINGS is open. 
TEXARKANA is open.

5A WEST
Beebe at GREENBRIER (8): Greenbrier has won eight of the past 10 in the series, including the past two by a combined 33 points. Junior Cooper Wilcox returns at QB for Greenbrier (six TD passes in 2019). Beebe increased participation and strength in a good summer under second-year coach Chris Gunter.
FARMINGTON (7) at Heritage: Farmington goes for its first win over a 7A West member. The Cardinals scrimmaged Van Buren last week, but surrendered too many big plays through the air. Heritage has gone 2-48 the past five years.
HARRISON (10) vs. Magnolia (at LR Christian): These teams split the five hour drive and met in West Little Rock. Harrison senior Cole Keylon takes over at QB “and could be one of the best in Class 5A,” coach Joel Wells says. Magnolia “made too many mistakes and turnovers” in its scrimmage, Coach Mark King says. Two expected Panther starters won't play this year due to Covid-19.
Russellville at MORRILTON (2): Russellville has won 10 of the past 14 in the series, but Morrilton crushed the Cyclones 33-17 a year ago. Morrilton may run the ball more this fall with three returning linemen and senior Jackson Moll (seven TDs in four games last year). 
Pea Ridge at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (7): These former conference foes battled for the 1-4A title the past three years. Pea Ridge, under first-year coach Jeff Williams, scored late to upend Elkins in a scrimmage last week. Shiloh Christian sophomore Eli Wisdom won the QB spot in fall camp, while junior Kaden Henley impressed at linebacker. 
ALMA is open.
CLARKSVILLE is open.
VILONIA is open.