Hootens.com Class 5A Rankings

Week 1, 2022

Copyright Seventy Seven's Publishing

1. LR Parkview (1-0)

2. Joe T. Robinson (0-1)

3. Shiloh Christian (0-0)

4. Wynne (1-0)

5. Harrison (1-0)

6. Farmington (1-0)

7. Camden Fairview (0-1)

8. Magnolia (1-0)

9. Nettleton (1-0)

10. Maumelle (1-0)

11. Morrilton (1-0)

12. Hot Springs (1-0)

13. Prairie Grove (0-0)

14. Vilonia (0-1)

15. Valley View (0-1)

16. Mills (1-0)

17. White Hall (1-0)

18. Batesville (1-0)

19. Pine Bluff (0-0)

20. Watson Chapel (1-0)

21. Alma (1-0)

22. HS Lakeside (0-1)

23. Brookland (1-0)

24. Beebe (1-0)

25. Texarkana (0-1)

26. Southside (0-1)

27. Clarksville (0-1)

28. Pea Ridge (1-0)

29. Dardanelle (1-0)

30. Hope (0-0)

31. De Queen (0-1)

32. Paragould (0-1)

33. Forrest City (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 12 Hot Springs at Class 4A No. 1 ARKADELPHIA (2)

Both teams won last week: Arkadelphia by 20 points at Camden Fairview; Hot Springs by 8 over Vilonia. Arkadelphia has won 14 of the past 19 meetings with Hot Springs, including 43-27 last season. Arkadelphia senior QB Donovan Whitten passed for 320 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 2 TDs in the Badgers’ 41-21 victory at Camden Fairview. “He has a cannon arm and can scramble; he's dangerous every play,” Hot Springs coach Darrell Burnett says. Senior Lantonnieo Hughes totaled 107 yards and 2 TDs, while Chase Vantilborg collected 9 tackles.

Hot Springs junior T.J. Brogden caught 5 passes for 170 yards and 2 TDs against Vilonia, while junior Perry Jones ran 19 times for 83 yards and a TD. Senior Zamarion Wilson made 8 tackles in the secondary, ran 5 times for 33 yards and 2 TDs and generated 150 yards on kick and punt returns.

LAST YEAR

Hootens.com correctly predicted 20 of 25 games (80 percent) involving 5A teams last week.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

5A CENTRAL

Batesville at MAUMELLE (2): Both teams are coming off 1-point wins over Class 6A teams (Batesville over Searcy and Maumelle in overtime at Sylvan Hills). Maumelle junior receiver/DB Alan Timmons Timmons had 138 yards and a TD. “He was a game-changer,” Coach Brian Maupin says. Senior QB Weston Pierce threw for 258 yards and 2 TDs. Batesville stuffed Searcy's potential go-ahead two-point conversion with less than five minutes left, then ran out the clock with a smash-mouth running attack.

Watson Chapel at OUACHITA CHRISTIAN, La. (15): These teams meet for the first time. Ouachita Christian lost to powerhouse Shreveport Evangel Christian 14-0 last week, while Watson Chapel beat Texarkana 48-0. It was Watson Chapel’s first win since 2020, and junior QB Akyell Madison threw 3 TD passes and ran for another. Senior DE K.J. Sims was credited with 3 sacks and 2 TFL. 

Forrest City at JOE T. ROBINSON (30): Joe T. Robinson led Pulaski Academy twice in the first half last week before losing 55-29. The Senators surrendered 672 yards. Senior Noah Freeman paced Robinson with ran 96 yards and 2 TDs.

GREENBRIER (1) at Class 5A Vilonia: These former conference foes play a nonconference game this fall after Greenbrier moved up to Class 6A. Greenbrier has won 13 of the past 21 in the series. Vilonia senior QB Wesley McKissack completed 26 of 39 passes for 373 yards and 3 TDs in last week's loss at Hot Springs. Greenbrier passed for 258 yards, but ran for only 8, in last week's loss to Farmington.

Class 7A LR Central at PINE BLUFF (6): Two of the state’s winningest programs (Central claims 32 state titles, including 7 in the playoff era; Pine bluff claims 10 state titles, with 7 of them in the playoff era) are trying to find themselves. LR Central went winless last season and has gone without a win in three of the past 14 seasons. The Tigers lost two projected starting linemen to injury in August camp. First-year Pine Bluff coach Michael Williams takes over a program that has won 15 times since the beginning of 2018. The Zebras will lean on a stout running attack in 2022.

MORRILTON (10) at Clarksville: Clarksville turned the ball over 3 times and surrounded 457 yards in last week's 21-point loss at Ozark. Senior Arthur Alvarez ran for 135 yards and 3 TDs. Morrilton gave up 12 yards rushing last week's 13-7 win at Russellville. Morrilton has beaten Clarksville 9 of the past 12 meetings.

White Hall at Class 4A WARREN (3): White Hall has beaten Warren the past two seasons, including 35-0 a year ago. White Hall's Jayden Smith ran for 163 yards and three TDs in last week's come-from-behind win at Class 6A Sheridan, while Marshon Jordan tallied 17 tackles. Warren led Stuttgart 21-0 in the second quarter last week before special teams blunders led to a 31-28 setback.

Beebe at Class 3A NEWPORT (6): Beebe senior QB Zack Grant passed for 3 TDs and ran for 2 TDs in last week's 43-6 win over Jacksonville. Newport tallied 519 yards of offense in last week's six-point win over Osceola.

Class 3A Rivercrest at MILLS (8): Mills senior Jabrae Shawn ran for 4 TDs in last week's 46-point win over Forrest City, while Caleb Sain (12 tackles) and Derrick Murdoch (3 sacks, 1 forced fumble) led the defense. Rivercrest sophomore QB Cavonta Washington passed for 146 yards and 2 TDs and ran for a TD in last week's 35-point win over Manila. Junior receiver Michael Rainer racked up 301 all-purpose yards.

5A EAST

Batesville at MAUMELLE (2): Game preview included above in 5A Central matchups.

Forrest City at JOE T. ROBINSON (30): Game preview included above in 5A Central matchups.

Gosnell at BROOKLAND (1): Gosnell has won 8 of the past 10 in the series since these former conference foes began playing in 2012. But Brookland has won two straight, including last season 7-6. The Bearcats didn't allow a point in last week's 6-0 win over Jonesboro Westside. Gosnell played its starters less than one half of last week's 44-7 win over Piggott. Cam Williams caught 2 TD passes, two 2-point conversions and returned a kick for a TD, while Tedarian Partee racked up 12 tackles.

Poplar Bluff, Mo. at VALLEY VIEW (9): This is the first meeting between these teams. Valley View's defense has struggled early this season, against Pocahontas in the scrimmage game and last week against Harding Academy (gave up 51 points).

SOUTHSIDE (13) at Bald Knob: These are former conference foes, with Bald Knob leading the all-time series 8-4. But Southside won last season's finale 37-8. Bald Knob gets solid QB play this fall. Southside tallied 400 yards offense in last week's 21-point loss to Pocahontas, but converted only one of five trips in the red zone. Colby Harris paced the Southerners with 91 yards and TD.

NETTLETON (1) at Pocahontas: This is the Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week. Nettleton's Curtez Smith did it all (9-83 rushing, 1 TD; 4-115 receiving, 2 TDs; 40-yard pass completion) in last week's 10-point win at Mountain Home.

Paragould at PIGGOTT (8): Both teams searching for their first win. Piggott senior cornerback Joe Carpenter returned an interception for a TD in last week's loss to Gosnell. Paragould failed to score in last week's game against Greene County Tech, and the Rams have been shut out in 5 of their past 10 games, dating back to last season.

OPEN Wynne

5A SOUTH

Camden Fairview at Class 6A El DORADO (3): El Dorado has won 14 of the past 21 in the series. This is the opener for defending Class 6A champion El Dorado. Camden Fairview sophomore RB/WR Trent Haygood and junior defensive tackle Khaleb Smith played well in last week's 41-21 setback to Arkadelphia, Coach Nick Vaughn says.

HS Lakeside at Class 6A RUSSELLVILLE (12): This is the first meeting between these teams. HS Lakeside junior receiver Kyler Wolf (12-146 receiving) stood out in last week's 27-point loss to Lake Hamilton. Russellville shut out Morrilton in the first half last week but lost 13-7.

Class 4A ASHDOWN (17) at De Queen: Ashdown has beaten De Queen 17 of the past 19 seasons. Ashdown senior Jayden Fricks ran for 104 yards and two TDs in last week's 15-point win over Hamburg, while middle LB Nash Brown collected 15 tackles. Improved De Queen trailed Mena 6-0 in the third quarter last week before losing 16-14.

Class 4A NASHVILLE (6) at Hope: Nashville has beaten Hope 16 of the past 21 seasons. Nashville hung with Class 5A Magnolia last week before giving up a late TD in an 8-point setback. Senior QB Sloan Perrin accounted for 296 yards (158 rushing) vs. Magnolia. Hope didn't play last week, and Coach Phillip Turner will rely on junior QB Tyler Patterson and a veteran defense in 2022.

Dollarway at TEXARKANA (6): Both team coming off of losses last week in Jefferson County (Dollarway 36-6 to Booneville, Texarkana 48-0 at Watson Chapel). Dollarway's Trevor Katowice caught a TD pass against Booneville.

Hot Springs at Class 4A ARKADELPHIA (2): See Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week, above.

MAGNOLIA (9) at Crossett: Magnolia broke open a close game last week (35-27 win over Nashville) with two big second-half drives. Coach Mark King says the offensive line blocked extremely well for senior B.J. Curry (20 carries, 252 yards and 3 TDs). The Panthers ran for 400 yards. Crossett started slow against Glen Rose a week ago (trailed 15-0 in the first quarter) before losing 38-28.

OPEN LR Parkview

5A WEST

ALMA (3) at Class 6A Siloam Springs: Alma has won 11 of the past 13 meetings. Airedales senior QB Joe Trusty ran for two TDs in last week's 20-point win over Van Buren, while junior LB Carlos Gonzales blocked two punts. Siloam Springs trailed Heritage 16-0 in the first half last week, before a rally fell two points short. Panther QB Jackson Still passed for 145 yards and ran for 109 yards.

MORRILTON (10) at Clarksville: Clarksville turned the ball over 3 times and surrendered 457 yards in last week's 21-point loss at Ozark. Senior Arthur Alvarez ran for 135 yards and 3 TDs. Morrilton gave up 12 yards rushing in last week's 13-7 win at Russellville.

Class 4A Pottsville at DARDANELLE (7): Dardanelle has beaten its former conference foe 12 of the past 15 seasons. Dardanelle senior QB Drew Vega ran 10 times for 105 yards and a TD, and completed 7 of 12 passes for 54 yards in last week's mercy-rule win at LR Hall. Zane Rose led the defense with 11 tackles, while Drake Boatright had 10 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Pottsville lost at Elkins last week by 18 points.

Class 7A Springdale at FARMINGTON (4): Farmington has beaten Springdale the past two seasons. Springdale's defense played well in last week's 10-point loss to Harrison. Farmington beat Greenbrier last week by 29 points, as its defense yielded just 8 yards. Senior receiver Peyton Funk hauled in 13 passes for 129 yards, while sophomore Russell Hodge ran 14 times for 93 yards.

Class 6A Mountain Home at HARRISON (3): Harrison senior Talon Stephens caught a 58-yard TD pass, blocked a field goal and intercepted 3 passes in his team’s win over Springdale. “He had an unreal game,” Coach Chris Keylon says. Mountain Home lost to Nettleton last week by 10 points.

LR CHRISTIAN (2) at Class 5A Shiloh Christian: Shiloh Christian has won three of its four meetings with LR Christian. But LR Christian has a game under its belt this fall (beating LR Central 41-6 last week. Shiloh senior QB Gus Wisdom, junior RB Bo Williams and a host of linemen enjoyed a good summer, Coach Jeff Conaway says.

Class 4A Huntsville at PRAIRIE GROVE (16): Prairie Grove has won 15 straight over Huntsville. Prairie Grove didn't play last week but scrimmaged Heritage and Poteau, Okla., two weeks ago. The Tigers plan to dress 50 players this week. Center/defensive end Corbin Bowlin had a good fall camp, Coach Danny Abshier says.

OPEN Pea Ridge