hootens.com Rankings
Class 6A, Week 1, 2019
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Greenwood (0-0)
2. Benton (0-1)
3. West Memphis (0-1)
4. El Dorado (0-1)
5. Russellville (0-0)
6. Marion (1-0)
7. Jonesboro (1-0)
8. Pine Bluff (0-0)
9. Searcy (1-0)
10. Sylvan Hills (0-1)
11. Siloam Springs (0-1)
12. Lake Hamilton (0-0)
13. Sheridan (1-0)
14. Mountain Home (0-1)
15. Jacksonville (0-0)
16. LR Hall (0-0)

HOOTEN'S.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Class 5A No. 6 Wynne at No. 6 Marion
These teams have met annually since 1991, including non-conference games every year since 2006. Four of the past six have been decided by four points or less. Marion dominated the second half last week against Class 5A Blytheville in a 30-point romp. Steve Landers Superteam senior running back Anthony Price darted for 215 yards and three TDs while classmate Slade Webb snagged 12 passes for 194 yards and three TDs and intercepted one pass. Webb broke his collarbone late in the game and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Marion totaled 500 yards last week against Blytheville. Wynne, which has won or shared four consecutive 5A East titles, was open last week. 

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com last week correctly picked eight out of nine games (89 percent) of games involving Class 6A teams.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in CAPS followed by point spread)
6A EAST
Wynne at MARION (3): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
JONESBORO (13) at Batesville: Jonesboro committed three turnovers in last week's five-point victory over Class 7A Little Rock Catholic. Junior Albert George sparked a punishing Jonesboro running attack with 107 yards and a TD. Arkansas defensive line commit Jashaud Stewart recorded a team-high 11 tackles, four for losses. Batesville trailed defending Class 5A Champion Little Rock Christian 52-7 in the fourth quarter last week.
CABOT (14) at Pine Bluff: A pair of first-year coaches highlight this matchup. Coach Scott Reed succeeds Mike Malham (301-139-4, including state championships in 2000 and 1983) at Cabot. Reed installed the Spread this spring at Cabot, which shucked Malham's patented Dead T. Rod Stinson enters his first year at Pine Bluff after the departure of Bobby Bolding, who left for White Hall. 
JACKSONVILLE (7) at Mills: Jacksonville has won eight of 12, including 28-13 in 2018. Interim coach Jordan Johnston, a Bald Knob graduate, leads Jacksonville this fall. The Titans return just six starters from last season's 3-7 team. Mills was open last week.
Sylvan Hills at LR CATHOLIC (1): Sylvan Hills surrendered 388 rushing yards in last week's 57-22 loss to two-time defending Class 4A state champion Arkadelphia. Emil McCoy and Taevion Cunningham scored TDs for Sylvan Hills and Logan Riley added a 26-yard field goal. Class 7A LR Catholic stuffed Sylvan Hills last fall 20-2, but the Rockets miss running back Samy Johnson (now at Arkansas State). Watch highlights of Sylvan Hill's loss last Friday to Arkadelphia HERE.
HARRISON (42) at Mountain Home: Mountain Home trailed Sheridan by 13 points early in the third period last week before a drive stalled out deep in Sheridan territory. Sheridan would score the final 13 points of the game to pull away for a 33-7 win.
Harrison has won six straight over Mountain Home and 10 of the past 13. Harrison all-state running Gabe Huskey ran for 97 yards in last week's 35-point win at Pea Ridge, only the third time in his career Huskey failed to gain at least 100 yards (Mountain Home held him under 100 yards in 2017 and 2018). Mountain Home tallied 153 yards last week against Sheridan.
SEARCY (21) at Sheridan: Searcy outlasted Class 5A Morrilton 44-42 last week in a game that featured three fourth-quarter lead changes. Dynamic Searcy senior QB Bryce Dixon passed for 287 yards and three TDs while senior running back Damien Young bolted for 207 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Marlon Crockett snagged 10 passes for 157 yards and a score. Sheridan racked up 448 yards and did not allow an offensive score in a 33-7 victory last week over Mountain Home. Sheridan senior Alden Lucas rushed for 189 yards and a TD against Mountain Home. For more on Sheridan watch Coach Parker's preseason interview HERE.
West Memphis is open.

6A WEST
EL DORADO (8) at Camden Fairview: El Dorado committed 15 penalties for 90 yards, including 12 for illegal procedure, in last week's 37-27 loss to Class 7A Conway. The penalties resulted in 90 lost yards. El Dorado QB Eli Shepherd completed 22 of 31 passes for 295 yards and two scores. Camden Fairview was open.
ARKADELPHIA (1) at Benton: Benton wiped out Class 4A Arkadelphia 56-17 a year ago. Benton trailed Saline County rival Bryant 21-0 in the first quarter last week in a 42-14 defeat. Bryant outgained Benton 371-112 in the first half. Benton played QBs Garrett Brown and Peyton Hudgins against Bryant. Arkadelphia led Sylvan Hills 19-0 in the first quarter of last week's 57-22 win. Watch highlights of Arkadelphia's win last week at Sylvan Hills HERE.
FS Northside at GREENWOOD (3): Northside dealt Greenwood its only loss (31-16) a season ago, when the Grizzlies advanced to their first semifinal since 2005 and the Bulldogs won their second straight Class 6A state title and eighth in 15 years. Greenwood senior QB Jace Presley passed well in Greenwood's 21-17 scrimmage victory over Class 7A Fayetteville. Key defenders return on a Greenwood defense that allowed 13.4 points per game last season. However, Greenwood likely plays Friday without leading returning receiver Treyton Dawson (58 catches for 855 yards in 2018) and projected starting defensive lineman Jordan Hanna.
FS Northside scored three touchdowns on its first three offensive plays in last Friday’s 36-7 win at Heritage. Northside junior QB Dreyden Norwood accounted for the first three scores, passing for two TDs and running for another to start the game. Northside finished with 410 yards total offense and allowed just 190 yards (54 in the first half).
LR HALL (6) at Fair: Fair won this game 36-26 last year. Hall boasts speedy skill players in Dontevious Patterson (4.7 speed) and Wa-Li Johnson (4.6 speed). 
HS Lakeside at LAKE HAMILTON (6): Lake Hamilton beat HS Lakeside 31-27 a year ago, the first meeting of the schools since 1999. Senior Braden Braughton (4.5 speed) sparks Lake Hamilton on offense (375 rushing yards in 2018) and defense (51 stops and an interception return for a TD). Hamilton's strength this year could be its offensive line, with two starters returning and four others who have rotated heavily. Lakeside was open last week, but its defense struggled against Sheridan in a preseason scrimmage. 
RUSSELLVILLE (2) at Morrilton: Russellville has won 10 of the past 13 in this series, including 28-23 last year. The Cyclones boast one of the better receiving corps in Class 6A with seniors T.J. Holt, Liam Nobles and Marquis Peter. Senior defensive end Kobe Curtis could develop into a college prospect after an industrious summer. Morrilton lost last Friday at Searcy 44-42.
SEARCY (21) at Sheridan: Searcy outlasted Class 5A Morrilton 44-42 last week in a game that featured three fourth-quarter lead changes. Dynamic Searcy senior QB Bryce Dixon passed for 287 yards and three TDs while senior running back Damien Young bolted for 207 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Marlon Crockett snagged 10 passes for 157 yards and a score. Sheridan racked up 448 yards and did not allow an offensive score in a 33-7 victory last week over Mountain Home. Sheridan senior Alden Lucas rushed for 189 yards and a TD against Mountain Home. 
Pryor, Okla. at SILOAM SPRINGS (6): Siloam Springs won this game 38-21 last fall. Class 7A Van Buren slipped Siloam 35-21 last week, despite 360 yards of offense. Van Buren logged 426 yards. Senior Siloam Springs QB Taylor Pool passed for 177 yards and ran for 102. This will be the season opener for Pryor (3-7 in 2018).