Hootens.com Class 5A Rankings

Week 0, 2024

1. LR Parkview

2. Harding Academy

3. Joe T. Robinson

4. Greenbrier

5. Pine Bluff

6. Valley View

7. Maumelle

8. Searcy

9. HS Lakeside

10. Camden Fairview

11. Farmington

12. Wynne

13. Hot Springs

14. Alma

15. White Hall

16. Nettleton

17. Morrilton

18. Harrison

19. Beebe

20. Magnolia

 GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 15 White Hall at Class 6A SHERIDAN

The battle for Highway 270 should gain statewide attention this fall with highly-regarded coaches (Kevin Kelley at Sheridan and Daryl Patton at White Hall) taking over both programs.

White Hall has beaten Sheridan 4 straight seasons and has won 15 of the past 23 meetings. The Bulldogs “lost” its one-half scrimmage at Stuttgart 22-14, but 7 starters were out. Six of them return to practice on Friday, Patton says. Junior QB Wyatt Golden played well in the summer.

Sheridan, which hasn't produced a winning record since going 6-5 in 2007, hung 49 points on Malvern in the first half of last week's scrimmage. Sophomore sensation RB Zay Stephens (Arkansas State offer) shows uncanny vision. Stephens ran in 4 TDs vs. Malvern. “Sheridan looks like Pulaski Academy did when Coach Kelley was there,” Patton says. “They are so good on offense and aggressive on defense.”

LAST YEAR

Hootens.com predicted 182 of 215 games (85 percent).

WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

5A CENTRAL

No. 15 White Hall at Class 6A SHERIDAN: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.

No. 3 Joe T. Robinson at Class 7A PULASKI ACADEMY: These powerhouses open the season for the fifth straight season (PA won the past 4 by a combined 96 points). PA's blitzing defense performed well in last week's scrimmage vs. Jonesboro. Tyson Braddon takes over as Joe T. Robinson's QB after starting for Class 7A North LR last season. Senior RB Nick Abrams (941 yards, 16 TDs) and senior WR Jaden Carter were playmakers in the summer.

Class 6A Sylvan Hills at No. 7 MAUMELLE: Maumelle has beaten Sylvan Hills 4 straight seasons, including 20-0 last fall. Maumelle didn't play a scrimmage game but played well in the summer, Coach Brian Maupin says. Senior linemen Konner Forte and Kayden Sherman, junior cornerback Kaiden Brooks, junior LB Jonathan Williams and junior DB Jacob Henry stood out in fall camp.

No. 8 SEARCY at Batesville: These rivals play for the 25^th consecutive season. Searcy returns to Class 5A for the first time since 2001 after winning 6 games a year ago. Senior RB Rickey Love (1,392 yards, 27 TDs) and senior WR Jesse Sumpter (43-553-9 in 6 games last year) played well in the summer. Batesville junior QB Cole Bentz (387 yards, 5 TDs) started the final 6 games last season. Senior DE Jacob Pollett (27 tackles) returns for his third season at DE.

Class 5A Jacksonville at No. 15 MALVERN: Jacksonville drops from 6A in the 5A Central after winning 5 games over the past 6 years. John Fogleman returns for his second stint as Malvern's coach (43-27 record from 2007-2013). Malvern struggled to slow Sheridan's starters in last week's scrimmage, but the Leopards scored 3 TDs in the first half.

Helena at Class 5A WATSON CHAPEL: These teams were members of the former AAA-Southeast and later AAA-Southeast from 1996-2001. Steven Heard takes over as Watson Chapel coach. Watson Chapel has 1 win over the past 3 years, while Helena has 1 win over the past 4 years.

No. 5 Pine Bluff vs. MILLWOOD, OKLA. (Sat.): Pine Bluff reached double-digit victories last fall for the first time since 2013. But they must find help at the skill positions following the graduation of SEC WR's Austyn Dendy and Courtney Crutchfield. The Zebras scrimmage LR Southwest last week. Slot WR Jason Jones and Quinton Roy each caught TD passes, while senior LB Marshon Jordan played exceptionally well, Coach Michael Williams says. Millwood won 13 games last year and finished as state runner-up.

No. 19 Beebe is open.

5A EAST

No. 8 SEARCY at Batesville: See comment in 5A Central.

No. 6 VALLEY VIEW at Poplar Bluff, Mo.: Valley View has won its 2 meetings over Poplar Bluff, including 26-14 last season. Valley View led Marion starters 10-6 after the first half of last week's scrimmage. The Blazers ran for more than 100 yards in the half and the D forced 2 turnovers.

Class 6A MARION at No. 12 Wynne: Hootens.com Class 6A Game of the Week. Wynne leads the all-time series 34-13-1, but Marion registered its most lopsided victory in series history last year in a 27-7 conquest. Marion has not won at Wynne since a 24-23 overtime victory in the 2018 season-opener. Marion trailed Valley View 10-6 at halftime of last week's scrimmage game. Wynne trailed Searcy's starters 31-21 in its scrimmage game. The Yellowjacket offensive line showed marked improvement over last season, Coach Clay Totty says.

No. 16 NETTLETON at Trumann: These teams haven't played since Nettleton's 47-0 victory Week 2, 2013. Nettleton has won 3 straight in the series, including 47-0 in Week 2, 2013 (last time these teams played). Nettleton scrimmaged Southside last week. Trumann's last win over Nettleton was 17-6 in 2010, and the Wildcats last win over a Class 5A opponent was 42-8 vs. Paragould in 2021.

Class 4A Jonesboro Westside at BROOKLAND: Jonesboro Westside has won 9 of 12 in the series, but Brookland notched a 39-0 victory in last year's opener. Brookland relies on senior 3-year starting QB Hayden Elder (1,169 yards in 2023). Senior WR/FS Caden Chambers played well in the summer and was voted as team captain. Senior RB Calvin Spearman moved from Greene County Tech in the winter and “is a great pick-up for us,” Brookland coach Mark Hindsley says. “He runs the ball hard.”

GOSNELL at Class 5A Greene Co. Tech: Gosnell led Paragould 18-0 at halftime of last week's scrimmage. Gosnell junior WR Jai Jacobs (5-105-2) and RB Marcus Arnold (13-145-1) played well, along with LB Vanterrues Lucas (9 tackles, 1 forced fumble). Greene County Tech should rely on its passing game this fall. Junior Tucker Beasley passed for 889 yards and 12 TD last year in junior varsity games.

Class 3A Manila at PARAGOULD: Randy Phillips enters his second season at Paragould. The Rams' 2 wins last year were its most since 2017. Paragould scrimmaged Gosnell last week. Ben Fisher (former Blytheville coach) went 3-8 last year in his first season at Manila.

No. 2 Harding Academy is open.

5A SOUTH

No. 1 LR PARKVIEW at Melissa, Texas: The Melissa Cardinals won 10 games last fall, finished as 5A-2 runner-up and lost to the eventual state runners-up in the playoffs. LR Parkview chases its third straight state title with a loaded roster that features at least 4 Power 4 prospects, including senior safety Omarion Robinson (Oklahoma), RB Cam Settles (Arkansas), QB Quentin Murphy (Arkansas) and Monterrio Elston (Kansas State).

Class 6A LAKE HAMILTON at No. 9 HS Lakeside: This is the seventh straight meeting between these Garland County rivals since the series resumed (was shelved from 2000-2017). HS Lakeside's 49-42 win last year was its first since the series resumed (Lake Hamilton had won the 5 consecutive by a combined 206-99). HS Lakeside performed well in summer 7-on-7 competitions.

Class 4A Arkadelphia at No. 10 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW: Camden Fairview has beaten Arkadelphia 6 of the past 8 meetings. Camden Fairview has advanced to the semifinals the past 2 seasons. Senior QB Juney Atkins (3,058 yards, 26 TDs) and RB Trent Haygood (1,971 yards and 17 TDs) spark an offense that averaged 29 ppg last fall. Arkadelphia boasts one of the state's better defensive fronts with senior tackle Nykkisson Wimberly (56 tackles) and junior end Skyler McClure (74 tackles). Arkadelphia has won consecutive conference titles.

Class 6A West Memphis at No. 13 HOT SPRINGS: Vincent Newton takes over as West Memphis' third coach in the past 6 years. Hot Springs “lost” its scrimmage vs. Lake Hamilton 28-14. Defensive lineman Zeke Contreras and FS Kyin Jamerson both played well, Coach Darrell Burnett says. QB Sean Elias had a good summer, and the receivers gets help from Shreveport, La., move-in Jamarcus Morning.

Class 6A LR CATHOLIC at Arkansas High: This is the first meeting of these schools since LR Catholic topped Texarkana 28-7 in the 1985 Class AAAA quarterfinals, en route to the Rockets' second straight state championship. LR Catholic alum and former assistant coach Richard Cochran takes over for John Fogleman (54-47 in 11 seasons). Arkansas High won 6 games last fall, more than the previous 2 years combined. Senior Will Dunbar takes over at QB after playing receiver a year ago.

Magnolia at Class 4A NASHVILLE: Both teams have new coaches. Adam Kirby takes over for Mark King (31-22 record in 5 years) at Magnolia. Panther senior RB Jameion “J2” Young ran for 438 yards last fall. Shawn Jackson succeeds Mike Volarvich (86-27 record, 1 state championship in 9 seasons) in Nashville. The Scrappers build around junior DT M.J. Johnson (41 tackles, 6 sacks) and junior DE Zaccheus Harris (62 tackles, 23 sacks).

Class 4A MENA at De Queen: Mena has won 12 of the past 23 in the series, including last year 39-7. De Queen has lost 26 consecutive games and 54 of the past 55.

Hope is open.

5A WEST

Class 6A VAN BUREN at No. 14 Alma (Thurs.): Alma has won 8 of the past 12 in the “Battle of the Bone”, but Van Buren won 51-28 a year ago. Van Buren's offense struggled in last week's scrimmage vs. Farmington. Alma beat FS Southside 23-14 in the first half of last week's scrimmage. Senior RB Israel Towns-Robinson (8-146-2) and WR Sam Schlegel (6-82) played well on offense, while senior DB Ashton Chanhnouvong registered an interception.

No. 11 Farmington at Class 6A SHILOH CHRISTIAN: These teams split a pair of conference games the past 2 years as members of the 5A West before Shiloh Christian bumped to Class 6A. Veteran coach Tommy Tice takes over for J.R. Eldridge (22-11 record in 3 years) at Farmington. Tice ranks third on the state's all-time wins list with 289. The Cardinals rely on senior RB's Luke Elsik and Russell Hodge, who combined for almost 1,600 yards last year. Shiloh Christian enters the season with 61 players on the roster, including sophomore QB Cole Creighton. The Saints advanced to the semifinals of prestigious 7-on-7 tournaments at Southern Methodist University, Oklahoma State and the Southwest Elite.

Class 4A Warren at No. 4 GREENBRIER: Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week. Warren enters the year as preseason favorites in Class 4A with WR Antonio Jordan (59-1,093-16), who committed to Arkansas in June. Greenbrier drops from Class 6A after winning 6 games last fall and advancing the quarterfinals. The expected 3-year QB moved in June.

No. 18 HARRISON at Branson, Mo.: These teams meet for the first time. Branson won 6 games last year, its most since 2015. Senior QB Luke McCormick paces the Pirates after tallying 1,656 yards and 19 TDs last fall. Harrison must replace its offensive backfield and relies on senior LB Caydem Long (89 tackles) and senior CB Jackson Criner (39 tackles). Harrison played well in its scrimmage last week vs. Ozark.

Class 6A RUSSELLVILLE at No. 17 Morrilton: Russellville leads the all-time Battle of I-40 series 58-33-3. The Cyclones have won 14 of the past 18 in the series, including last year by 12 points. Morrilton returns starters at 7 spots on offense, including junior QB Maddox Berry (1,421 yards, 19 TDs) and a stout group of receivers led by senior Andrew Rhoden (17-339-7), junior Dante Cox (46-505-7) and sophomore Champ McNabb (37-348-2).

Class 4A Gravette at PEA RIDGE: Pea Ridge has beaten Gravette by a combined 31 points the past 2 seasons. Gravette's versatile senior, Gabe Homes, settles at RB this fall. He played QB, RB and WR last year (passed for 1,014 yards, 14 TDs; ran for 1,124 yards and 19 TDs; caught 9 passes, 257 yards and 3 TDs). Pea Ridge won 5 games last season. Senior tackle Peyton Kitterman enjoyed a good summer.

Clarksville at Class 4A OZARK: Ozark has won 16 of the past 23 in the series, including the past 4 by a combined 70 points. Ozark senior QB Kolby Wilbanks ran for 1,917 yards and 27 TDs last year and passed for 1,232 yards and 27 TDs Wilbanks stood out in Ozark's scrimmage vs. Harrison. Mitchell Powers takes over for Khris Buckner as head coach after the Panthers failed to win a game the past 2 years. They've won 15 games in the past 8 years.

Vilonia is open.