Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 1, 2020
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc. 
1. Joe T. Robinson (0-1)
2. Ozark (1-0)
3. Shiloh Christian (1-0)
4. Nashville (0-1)
5. Crossett (1-0)
6. Warren (0-1)
7. Arkadelphia (1-0)
8. Pocahontas (1-0)
9. Lonoke (1-0)
10. Star City (1-0)
11. Dardanelle (0-1)
12. Ashdown (1-0)
13. Mena (1-0)
14. Hamburg (0-1)
15. Stuttgart (0-0)
16. Gosnell (0-1)
17. CAC (1-0)
18. Jonesboro Westside (0-1)
19. Prairie Grove (0-0)
20. Rivercrest (0-0)
21. Malvern (0-0)
22. Southside Batesville (0-1)
23. Pottsville (1-0)
24. Blytheville (0-1)
25. Elkins (1-0)
25. Bauxite (1-0)
27. Waldron (1-0)
28. Dumas (1-0)
29. Clinton (0-1)
30. Gravette (0-1)
31. Gentry (0-1)
32. DeWitt (0-0)
33. Trumann (0-0)
34. Helena (0-0)
35. Heber Springs (0-0)
36. Monticello (1-0)
37. Mills (0-1)
38. Fountain Lake (0-0)
39. H. Grove Haskell (0-0)
40. Lamar (1-0)
41. Bald Knob (1-0)
42. Highland (0-1)
43. Cave City (0-1)
44. Huntsville (0-1)
45. Berryville (0-1)
46. Dover (0-1)
47. Green Forest (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Class 3A No. 8 Booneville at No. 2 Ozark.
One of the River Valley's fiercest rivalry's, which Booneville has won six of the past 11 seasons and leads the all-time series 51-27-2. Booneville bolted to a 21-0 lead last week against Dardanelle and eased to a 35-14 triumph in Doc Crowley's debut as head coach. Senior fullback Ethan Wooldridge ran for 103 yards and a TD against Dardanelle, while junior QB Randon Ray ran in three TDs.  Ozark's opener with Clarksville is rescheduled for Sept. 11 (due to Clarksville player/coaches in quarantine). They picked up Class 5A Valley View early last week, but Valley View backed out on Wednesday due to weather from Hurricane Laura. Ozark scrimmaged Maumelle two weeks ago, fumbling the ball twice in the first quarter. Senior linebacker Keystan Durning played well on both sides of the ball in the scrimmage game. 

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 25 of 31 games (81 percent) last week.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
1-4A
BERRYVILLE (2) at West Fork: Berryville has 13 wins the past five years, three of them over West Fork, including last year 41-0. The Bobcats gave up 473 yards in last week's 38-point setback to Cedarville. West Fork rallied with two second-half TDs, and the defense made a stop in the final minutes to preserve last week's win at Green Forest.
CLINTON (7) at Huntsville: Huntsville trailed Lamar 21-14 at halftime last week, but gave up three TDs in the second half. Clinton sophomore QB Harley Tobin played well in last week's 50-21 setback to Melbourne. 
ELKINS (7) at Greenland: Greenland has won six of the past 10 in the series. Elkins tallied 464 yards in last week's 46-8 win over Lincoln, while the D surrendered just 142 yards and forced a pair of turnovers. Three projected Greenland starters left the program in August.
FARMINGTON (2) at Prairie Grove: Farmington has won two straight in the series, including 27-7 a year ago. The Cardinals scored 17 points in the fourth quarter last week to pull away from Class 7A Heritage. Prairie Grove's scrimmage against Clarksville two weeks ago was canceled due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Tiger senior QB/linebacker Knox Laird, senior fullback/rover Foster Layman, junior twin receivers/wingbacks Kobe and Dalton Frazier, sophomore halfback Ethan Miller and sophomore OL Ryder Orr enjoyed good fall camps, Coach Danny Abshier says.
LAMAR (6) at Gentry: Gentry couldn't stop Waldron's passing attack last week, but Lamar plans to keep the ball on the ground with senior Brady James, who ran for 137 yards and four TDs in last weeks 22-point win over Huntsville. Gentry's linemen played well in last week's 15-point loss to Waldron, especially junior tight end/defensive end Garrison Jackson (6-5, 200). 
GRAVETTE (1) at Inola, Okla.: Oklahoma small-school power Vian handled Gravette 26-8 a week ago. Gravette's defense played well despite giving up 368 yard rushing. Senior linebacker James Duncan wrapped a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble against Vian, Okla. Inola, Okla. beat Sequayah, Okla. by 28 points a week ago.
POTTSVILLE (28) at Green Forest: Green Forest led West Fork 13-6 in the third quarter last week but lost 20-14. The Tigers drove inside the 10-yard line with less than three minutes left, but turned the ball over on downs. Pottsville led EPC 30-12 at halftime last week and 52-18 in the third quarter. Pottsville senior Elijah Bradley caught three TDs and ran for one at EPC.
Poteau, Okla. at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (6): Shiloh Christian impressed in last week's 33-point blowout over Pea Ridge. Sophomore QB Eli Wisdom ran for 131 yards and a TD, and Ben Baker returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD. Poteau, a traditional power in Oklahoma, lost to Bishop Kelly (Tulsa) by 21 points a week ago.

2-4A
BALD KNOB (38) at Cedar Ridge: Bald Knob handled Carlisle in its preseason scrimmage and blasted Mount Ida 42-6 a week ago. The Bulldog D held Mount Ida to 152 yards. Cedar Ridge gave up 63 points last week to Class 3A Baptist Prep. Baptist Prep scored a pair of defensive TDs and another on special teams. Cedar Ridge's scored 28-points at Baptist Prep, it's most since 2017.
CAC (25) at Riverview: CAC pulled away from Mayflower in the second half last week for a 15-point win. Junior Tyler Williams ran for 182 yards and four TDs against Mayflower. Riverview failed to score last week at Bauxite.
CLINTON (7) at Huntsville: Huntsville trailed Lamar 21-14 at halftime last week, but gave up three TDs in the second half. Clinton sophomore QB Harley Tobin played well in last week's 50-21 setback to Melbourne.  
NEWPORT (12) at Heber Springs: Newport upended Mills 47-22 last week, rallying from a 16-14 second quarter deficit. Senior Tharon Davis ran for a pair of TDs. Heber Springs first-year coach Todd Wood installed a fast-paced offense and aggressive D in August drills.
JACKSONVILLE (10) at Mills: Jacksonville has won nine of the past 13 in the series (received a forfeit W last season). Mills led Newport 16-14 in the second quarter a week ago before losing by 25 points. Jacksonville lost its scrimmage last week against LR Parkview 41-0. Titan junior QB Deborius “Buck” Cobbs and sophomore Darrien Bennett performed well in fall camp.
Stuttgart at STAR CITY (4): Star City led Forrest City 28-6 at halftime and won by 36 points. The Bulldogs ran for five TDs and returned a kickoff for another. Stuttgart manhandled Beebe in a scrimmage game two weeks, but its scheduled opener last week against DeWitt was postponed due to heavy rain (rescheduled for Sept. 18). 
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE (7) at Mayflower: Southside Batesville's offensive line controlled tempo and impressed in last week's 16-point setback vs. Pocahontas. Mayflower tied CAC 7-7 in the third quarter last week before surrendering four second-half scores.
LONOKE is open.

3-4A
Osceola at BLYTHEVILLE (1): Osceola's 15-point decision last year snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. The Seminoles hung with talented Crossett last week (six-point loss), giving up a special teams score that proved to be the difference. Blytheville led Nettleton last week before giving up the decisive TD in the fourth quarter. Blytheville junior QB Jeremiah Northern ran for a TD. 
Blytheville held Class 6A West Memphis scoreless in a scrimmage game two weeks ago.
Jonesboro Westside at BROOKLAND (2): Brookland rallied from a 16-6 third-quarter deficit last week to nip Gosnell 36-32. Blazer sophomore Joseph Wright scored four TDs in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter. Senior end/noseguard Bentley Hart impressed opposing coaches against Gosnell. Jonesboro Westside surrendered 368 yards in last week's 20-0 loss to GCT. Jonesboro Westside QB River Engle, slot receiver/defensive back Kesler Engle and left tackle Kaleb Porter played well against GCT.
CAVE CITY (10) at Corning: Upstart Cave City ran for 453 yards in last week's double overtime loss to highly-touted Hoxie. Cave City has a 1-30 record in its past 31 games. Corning snapped a 42-game losing streak last year.
VALLEY VIEW (4) at Gosnell: These former conference foes haven't played since Week 10, 2013, when Gosnell won by four points after stuffing Valley View on the 4-yard line late in the game. Gosnell hasn't beaten an in-state non conference opponent since Week 2, 2016. Gosnell fumbled eight times, losing four of them, in last week's four-point loss at Brookland. The Pirates led Brookland by 10 points at halftime last week but struggled to stop Brookland's power running attack in the second half. Valley View's game last week at Ozark was canceled due to weather. 
THAYER, MO. (9) at Highland: Highland failed to score in the second half and allowed 26 first downs in last week's six-point loss to Walnut Ridge. Thayer, Mo., won 11 games last year, advancing to the quarterfinals. 
NETTLETON (4) at Pocahontas: Nettleton has won four straight since the series renewed in 2016. Sophomore QB Cameron Scarlett and junior RB Orion Pugh each ran for two TDs in last week's 27-20 win over Blytheville. Pocahontas senior DB C.J. Palmer intercepted two passes in last week's 49-33 win over Southside Batesville, returning one for a TD. Sophomore Connor Baker ran 149 yards and the offensive line controlled the game, coach Charles Baty says.
RIVERCREST (6) at Paragould: Rivercrest has won four of the past six in the series, including the past two years by a combined 46 points. The Colts' scrimmage game was canceled. Senior QB Kamron Turner, senior RB Keshawn Scott and junior WR Clay Burks performed well in fall camp. 
HARRISBURG (1) at Trumann: Harrisburg beat Class 4A Brookland two weeks ago in a scrimmage game, and its opener against Cross County last week was canceled. Truman first-year coach Randy Phillips builds around senior QB Connor McClain.

4-4A
Booneville at OZARK (4): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Harding Academy at MENA (1): Defending Class 3A champion Harding Academy hasn't played or scrimmaged this year due to Covid-19 quarantine. Mena led De Queen 39-0 in the second half a week ago. Mena senior QB Max Montgomery totaled three TDs. 
Charleston at DARDANELLE (6): Dardanelle played hard (defensive stop on 1-yard line to end first half) in last week's 21-point loss at Booneville, but turned the ball over five times. Sand Lizard sophomore QB Drew Vega sprinted 36 yards for a TD and added a short plunge in the first half.
Dover at ATKINS (15): Atkins has won two straight in the series. Atkins lost to Dardanelle by two points in a one-half scrimmage two weeks ago. Dover first-year coach Will Cox served last year as interim coach at Heber Springs.
LAMAR (6) at Gentry: Gentry couldn't stop Waldron's passing attack last week, but Lamar plans to keep the ball on the ground with senior Brady James, who ran for 137 yards and four TDs in last weeks' 22-point win over Huntsville. Gentry linemen played well in last week's 15-point loss to Waldron, especially junior tight end/defensive end Garrison Jackson (6-5, 200). 
POTTSVILLE (28) at Green Forest: Green Forest led West Fork 13-6 in the third quarter last week but lost 20-14. The Tigers drove inside the 10-yard line with less than three minutes left, but turned the ball over on downs. Pottsville led EPC 30-12 at halftime last week and 52-18 in the third quarter. Pottsville senior Elijah Bradley caught three TDs and ran for one at EPC. 
Mansfield at WALDRON (3): Improved Waldron led Gentry by 24 points at halftime last week and eased to a 44-29 triumph. QB Braden Williams threw four TD passes and ran for one, while Isaac Villarreal caught two TD passes and senior speedster Bryson Bailey snagged one. Mansfield QB Zayne Dugan passed for 184 yards and four TDs in last week's 41-0 win over Magazine. The Tiger D forced six turnovers.

7-4A
Maumelle at JOE T. ROBINSON (6): Joe T. Robinson led Pulaski Academy 21-20 at halftime last week and 28-20 in the third quarter before losing by 13 points. Senior QB Buddy Gaston passed for 282 yards and four TDs. Maumelle led Class 6A Sylvan Hills 27-7 in the third quarter last week and held on for a 27-21 triumph. Junior Jalen Waits sprinted 47 yards for a TD and caught a 25-yard TD pass in the first quarter.
Hot Springs at ARKADELPHIA (4): Arkadelphia rallied from a 6-0 third-quarter deficit last week to down Camden Fairview 21-20 in double overtime. Senior QB Braden “Buster” Thomas passed for 230 yards and two TDs and ran for another. Junior Alex Loy (six catches, 84 yards) caught the tying pass in the second overtime, then senior Eric Cervantes nailed his third straight extra point for the win. Sophomore Braylon Bailey tallied 89 yards and a TD. Junior inside linebacker Alex Turley paced the Badgers with 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and senior noseguard Elijah Wheeler tallied 11 stops. Hot Springs' game with Fountain Lake last week was canceled due to Covid-19.
ASHDOWN (21) at De Queen: Ashdown has won 15 of the past 17 in the series. The Panthers beat Hamburg 28-20 a week ago. Panther senior playmaker Jacolby Williams returned two punts for TDs (one negated by penalty) intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and took a bubble screen 60 yards for another TD. De Queen trailed Mena 39-0 at halftime a week ago. 
BAUXITE (8) at Monticello: Bauxite throttled Riverview 42-0 last week in coach Caleb Perry's debut. The Miners tallied 462 yards, while holding Riverview to 108 yards. Monticello rebounded from a dismal scrimmage game against Class 5A Camden Fairview to down Lake Village 46-6 a week ago. The Billies led 33-0 in the first half.
England at FOUNTAIN LAKE (14): Fountain Lake's game last week with Hot Springs was canceled due to a Covid-19 outbreak. England couldn't slow H.G. Haskell's running attack in a scrimmage game two weeks ago, and the Lions gave up 440 yards last week against Mineral Springs.
H.G. HASKELL (7) at Jessieville: H.G. Haskell has 29 kids in its program. Jessieville struggled two weeks ago in its scrimmage game against Class 2A Poyen, giving up 32 points in the first half. Haskell's running game thrived two weeks ago in a scrimmage against Class 2A England.
NASHVILLE (25) at Hope: Nashville has won 13 of the past 14 in the series, including the past four by a combined 200 points. The Scrappers led the all-time series 50-43-4. The Scrappers trailed Texas 4A power Pleasant Grove 48-7 at halftime a week ago. Senior cornerback L.D. Hendrix paced Nashville last week with 10 tackles. Hope managed just 49 total yards last week at LR Hall, but the Bobcats were tied 0-0 in the third quarter before giving up the game's only TD. 
Malvern at GLEN ROSE (1): Malvern battled Class 6A Sheridan to a tie in a scrimmage game two weeks ago. Leopard sophomore QB Ced Simmons 1,542 yards a year ago. Malvern's 20-7 win last week was its first in the series since 2015. Glen Rose returns its top passer, rusher and top three offensive linemen from last year's 9-3 conference championship team.

8-4A
WHITE HALL (4) at Warren: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week. White Hall rallied from a 10-deficit last week to down Sheridan 35-17 and claim the the Battle of Highway 270 trophy. Senior Kam Robinson sprinted 23 yards for the momentum shifting TD late in the second quarter. Warren scrimmaged Class 3A McGehee last week “and we have a long way to go,” Hembree says. “We are young, but have a year under our belts.” Lumberjack junior QB Riley Cornish passed for almost 2,000 yards a year ago.
Forrest City at HAMBURG (3): This game was a late addition to the schedule. Forrest City struggled to slow Hamburg's rushing attack last week. Hamburg gave up a blocked punt for a TD and allowed Ashdown to return another for a TD in last week's eight-point loss. Senior Gavin Harrod ran for a TD and caught a TD pass against Ashdown.
BAUXITE (8) at Monticello: Bauxite throttled Riverview 42-0 last week in coach Caleb Perry's debut. The Miners tallied 462 yards, while holding Riverview to 108 yards. Monticello rebounded from a dismal scrimmage game against Class 5A Camden Fairview to down Lake Village 46-6 a week ago. The Billies led 33-0 in the first half.
MAGNOLIA (2) at Crossett: Magnolia played eight sophomores last week, and four other first-year varsity players, in a seven-point loss to Harrison. Sophomore Garion Curry ran for 160 yards and two TDs and returned a punt 67 yards for another score. Crossett slipped past Osceola 26-20 a week ago after jumping to a 20-0 advantage. Crossett junior QB Tyrique Jones ran for a pair of TDs and threw a TD pass.
DeWitt at MCGEHEE (3): McGehee forced two turnovers in last week's scrimmage against Warren, returning a fumble more than 90 yards for a TD. DeWitt's game last week against Stuttgart was postponed until Sept. 18 due to flooding. The Dragons scrimmaged Barton two weeks ago “and made too many mistakes,” Coach Mark Courtney says. “We have some things to clean up.”
Earle at HELENA (4): Helena has won four consecutive over Earle, including the past two by a combined 32 points. Earle lost its scrimmage against Clarendon 6-0. Helena gets solid play from its linemen.
Stuttgart at STAR CITY (4): Star City led Forrest City 28-6 at halftime and won by 36 points. The Bulldogs ran for five TDs and returned a kickoff for another. Stuttgart manhandled Beebe in a scrimmage game two weeks, but its scheduled opener last week against DeWitt was postponed due to heavy rain (rescheduled for Sept. 18).  
DUMAS is open.