Hootens.com Rankings
Class 3A, Week 1, 2010
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1.  Fountain Lake
2.  Charleston
3.  Prescott
4.  Rivercrest
5.  Mansfield
6.  West Fork
7.  Rison
8.  Harding Academy
9.  Bald Knob
10.  Fordyce
11.  Barton
12.  Earle
13.  Glen Rose
14.  C. Harmony Grove
15.  Atkins
16.  Harrisburg
17.  Paris
18.  Yellville-Summit
19.  Episcopal
20.  Elkins
21.  Lavaca
22.  Hoxie
23.  Arkansas Baptist
24.  Jessieville
25.  Riverview
26.  Mayflower
27.  Perryville
28.  Lamar
29.  Greenland
30.  Green Forest
31.  Cedarville
32.  Smackover
33.  Piggott
34.  Lafayette County
35.  Brinkley
36.  Drew Central
37.  Bismarck
38.  Rose Bud
39.  Centerpoint
40.  Lincoln
41.  Genoa Central
42.  Manila
43.  Mountain View
44.  Marshall
45.  Corning
46.  Cutter M. Star
47.  B. Harmony Grove
48.  Fouke

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Fountain Lake at No. 8 Harding Academy
Fountain Lake has won 31 of its last 34 games and enters 2010 with a 13-game winning streak. Senior all-state RB Mark Makin rushed for 2,177 yards and 28 TDs a year ago. The Cobras return eight starters on offense but just three on defense. Fountain Lake whipped Harding Academy 42-10 in the 2009 semifinals. Senior all-state QB Seth Keese (2,480 yards and 22 TDs) tore his ACL early against Fountain Lake and completed 17 passes for 243 yards and a TD. Junior linebackers Jace Davis (73 tackles) and Seth Ransom (team-high eight tackles for loss and four sacks) pace the Harding defense.

HOOTENS TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show airs at 11 a.m. Saturdays on Fox 16 in Little Rock and KFSM in Fort Smith/Fayetteville, featuring Fountain Lake at Harding Academy, Carlisle at Riverview and Elkins at Pea Ridge.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly picked 239 of 293 games (82 percent) involving 3A teams.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
1-3A
Berryville at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (6): Berryville has won seven games over the past three years. First-year coach Eric Daniel installed the Split Back Veer scheme in spring practice. Yellville-Summit has beaten the Bobcats by a combined 26 points the past two seasons.
Marshall at CLINTON (25): Clinton defeated Marshall by 34 points last season. The Yellow Jacket seniors and juniors went a combined 13-5 in their final junior high seasons.
Elkins at PEA RIDGE (1): Pea Ridge has won just three games over the past two years while losing to Elkins twice by a total of 15 points. Pea Ridge's improved secondary slows Elkins' passing attack.
GREENLAND (7) at Union Christian: After winning seven games per season from 2006-2008, Greenland posted its worst record last fall since 1995. Union Christian enjoyed its best season in school history a year ago and returns starters at 16 positions.
Green Forest at PARIS (24): Both teams feature young linemen, but Paris' talented backfield overwhelms the Tigers.
Mountain View at HEBER SPRINGS (24): These former conference foes meet for the first time in three years. Mountain View last beat the Panthers in 2004 by 33 points.
Westville, Okla. at LINCOLN (3): Westville finished seventh in their conference and allowed 20 points per game a year ago. Lincoln beat Westville last year for its first win since 2005.
Magazine at WEST FORK (14): Magazine graduated 12 seniors, including three all-state performers, after capturing its first league title (4-2A) in 2009. West Fork enters 2010 hungry after losing three of its last four games in 2009.

2-3A
ARKANSAS BAPTIST (6) at Conway Christian: These former sister schools meet for the first time on Friday night. With both operating the Spread, it could come down to the final possession.
BARTON (4) at DeWitt: Former Monticello coach Van Paschal installed the Double Slot offense during summer workouts. DeWitt has won 10 times in the past six years.
Clarendon at BRINKLEY (2): Clarendon beat Brinkley a year ago, but the Tigers were without senior QB A.J. Harris. Brinkley coach Perry Goodell calls junior Ethan Roberts (118 tackles) one of the best linebackers in the state.
CARLISLE (6) at Riverview: Carlisle lost by eight points to the Raiders last year. The Bison return starters at 17 positions, including two Sonic Super Team members in senior FB/LB Caleb Carpenter and senior OL/DL Phillip Lightsey. Riverview's sophomore class went undefeated in junior high.
HOXIE (1) at Episcopal: Hoxie returns its leading rusher from last fall, junior Sebastian Irvin (805 yards and nine TDs), but graduated its top receiver and tackler. Despite low numbers, Episcopal will compete well with team speed.
Mayflower at DUMAS (17): Dumas coach Mark Courtney raves about the Bobcats' recently completed indoor workout facility. Bobcat senior QB Darion Griswold has helped Dumas win 12 of its past 14 regular-season games.
FOUNTAIN LAKE (6) at Harding Academy: See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
Rose Bud at QUITMAN (1): Rose Bud junior QB Nick Cartwright passed for more than 1,700 yards and 17 TDs a year ago, while Quitman senior QB Aaron Parker threw for almost 1,500 yards and 10 TDs.

3-3A
Pocahontas at BALD KNOB (7): Pocahontas has won just five games over the past two years. Bald Knob won a school-record 13 games a year ago, but the top playmakers graduated.
WALNUT RIDGE (8) at Corning: Walnut Ridge won five of its last six regular-season games in 2009 before losing at Woodlawn by five points in the first round of the playoffs. Corning returns starters at 16 positions, including senior OL/DL Luke McDonald (6-4, 300).
HARRISBURG (12) at Cross County: Harrisburg whipped the Thunderbirds 52-8 last fall, but returns just five starters on both sides of the ball. Cross County features one of the better backfields in Class 2A led by senior and Sonic Super Team member Blake Veasley (2,057 yards and 29 TDs).
LR FAIR (14) at Earle: Little Rock Fair has won just four games over the past four seasons. After playing three Class 2A schools to start last season, Earle elevates its non-conference competition this fall. The Bulldogs travel to Class 4A Lake Village Week 2 and play host to 3-4A favorite Osceola on Sept. 17.
HOXIE (1) at Episcopal: Hoxie returns its leading rusher from last fall, junior Sebastian Irvin (805 yards and nine TDs), but graduated its top receiver and tackler. Despite low numbers, Episcopal will be able to compete well with its team speed.
Manila: Open
Marked Tree at PIGGOTT (14): After claiming three straight league titles, Marked Tree won just three games a year ago. Piggott returns all but two starters, including senior RB/LB Alec Samples, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards and led the team in tackles.
RIVERCREST (17) at Trumann: Rivercrest romped past Trumann by 26 points a year ago, and the Colts return starters at 16 positions. Trumann has won 12 games over the past three years.

4-3A
ATKINS (1) at Pottsville: This matchup has been decided by a TD each of the past three seasons. Atkins' juniors went undefeated in junior high, while Pottsville's sophomores went 10-0 last fall.
PERRYVILLE (14) at Bigelow: Perryville returns just nine starters after dominating the 4-3A last fall. Bigelow returns all of its starters after winning just two games last year.
Cedarville at MOUNTAINBURG (7): Cedarville first-year coach Kenneth Moore inherits a young squad that lost to Mountainburg by six points a year ago.
Clarksville vs. CHARLESTON (7) (Thurs., at Razorback Stadium): The second night of Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week features Clarksville's speedy Division I recruit Wesleigh Foster (more than 1,400 total yards a year ago). Charleston has outscored Clarksville 73-28 the past two years.
Green Forest at PARIS (24): Both teams feature young linemen, but Paris' talented backfield overwhelms the Tigers.
Waldron at MANSFIELD (7): Mansfield scored in the final minute to beat Waldron by one point last season. Waldron has won nine games over the past six years. Mansfield has beaten Waldron four consecutive seasons by an average of 17 points.
PRAIRIE GROVE (3) at Lavaca: Lavaca has beaten Prairie Grove three of the past four seasons by an average of 12 points. But Prairie Grove's influx of junior high talent pays immediate dividends.
SUBIACO ACADEMY (2) at Lamar: Lamar has won a school-best 21 games over the past two seasons. Subiaco Academy won six games and went to the playoffs for the first time in school history last season.

5-3A
Bauxite at GLEN ROSE (1): Bauxite first-year coach Shane Clancy debuts against the Miners' top rival, which they beat 28-27 a year ago. Glen Rose senior running back Steven Kehner has rushed for almost 3,800 yards and 49 TDs over the past two years.
Poyen at B. HARMONY GOVE (12): Separated by 15 miles, these first-year programs begin a local rivalry.
Murfreesboro at BISMARCK (1): After graduating 96 percent of its offense from a year ago, Murfreesboro's defense will keep it close. But a seasoned and stronger Bismarck squad builds on its recent success under second-year coach Jeff McBride.
Dierks at CENTERPOINT (2): Dierks won three games a year ago and continues to struggle with a lack of numbers. Centerpoint returns starters at 13 positions and should compete for its first playoff berth in three years.
CUTTER M. STAR (12) at W. Yell County: The Eagles defeated Western Yell County 28-0 a year ago. The Wolverines are more experienced this fall and feature solid skill players.
FOUNTAIN LAKE (6) at Harding Academy: See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
Mountain Pine at JESSIEVILLE (6): Mountain Pine lost to Jessieville by two points last year and return just eight starters. Although still acclimating to Class 3A, Jessieville begins its trek to a repeat appearance in the postseason.
PRESCOTT (28) at Gurdon: Prescott has owned the Go-Devils recently, beating them by a combined 107-0 over the past two seasons. Gurdon has won just three games since claiming a league title in 2007.

6-3A
C. Harmony Grove at BEARDEN (8): Harmony Grove returns 19 starters from a squad that lost to Bearden by 20 points last fall during Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Despite question marks on both lines, the Bears are poised to win their first modern-era state title.
DREW CENTRAL (14) at Hermitage: Drew Central senior TE/DE Matt McKeown averages 14 yards per catch and led the Pirates with 32 tackles a year ago. Matt McBride, Hermitage's third coach in as many years, inherits a senior-laden squad led by QB Jacob Ferrell (1,268 yards and 11 TDs).
WARREN (7) at Fordyce: Warren first-year defensive coordinator Clark Watkins spent the previous three years as Fordyce's head coach. The Lumberjacks lack linemen but feature some of the better skill players in South Arkansas.
GENOA CENTRAL (12) at Foreman: More than 50 players drilled in the spring at Genoa Central, including junior QB Derek Cherry and senior LB Wes Harvin. Foreman has won just two games over the past three seasons.
MINERAL SPRINGS (24) at Fouke: Mineral Springs first-year coach Vince Perrin installed the Spread in the spring. Fouke promoted Ryan Tuckett to head coach this summer after serving as junior high coach since 2001.
Junction City at RISON (1): Junction City returns just two starters (senior OL/DL Walker Cannon and senior RB/DB Rodney Larry) from last year's state championship team. Rison is favored to win the 6-3A and could evolve into a state title contender with starters returning at 15 positions.
SMACKOVER (27) at Norphlet: Smackover first-year coach Brian Strickland increased participation in the spring as the Buckaroos enter Class 3A competition. Norphlet also hired a new coach during the off-season. Former Woodland (Stockbridge), Ga. coach Doug Means inherits a sophomore class that went undefeated in junior high.
SPRING HILL (17) at Lafayette County: Spring Hill defeated the Cougars by 23 points a year ago on its way to a school-record 11 wins. Lafayette County returns starters at 13 positions, including senior TE/DE Daniel Carter (team-high 62 tackles).