Hootens.com Rankings
Class 7A, Week 1, 2019
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Bryant (1-0)
2. North LR (1-0)
3. Fayetteville (1-0)
4. Bentonville (1-0)
5. Conway (1-0)
6. Bentonville West (0-1)
7. FS Northside (1-0)
8. Har-Ber (0-1)
9. LR Central (1-0)
10. Cabot (0-0)
11. Rogers (0-0)
12. FS Southside (0-0)
13. Van Buren (1-0)
14. Springdale (0-1)
15. LR Catholic (0-1)
16. Heritage (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 FS Northside at Class 6A No. 1 Greenwood
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. 
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). 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.

LAST WEEK
hootens.com correctly predicted 10 of 12 winners (83 percent).

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
7A CENTRAL
FS Northside at GREENWOOD (3): See Game of the Week.
Memphis Whitehaven, Tenn. at NORTH LR (10): North LR topped Tulsa Washington, ranked No. 4 in Oklahoma, 19-0 Saturday. North LR rushed for 203 yards while limiting Washington to 99 total yards. Whitehaven has won its first two games, outscoring opponents 73-7. North LR won this matchup 46-35 last Sept.
Conway at BENTONVILLE (1): Balanced Bentonville (258 yards rushing, 221 passing) mercy-ruled Midwest City, Okla., last Saturday with 30 first downs while allowing just 11. Bentonville QB Pankau completed 9 of 12 passes for 148 yards and rushed 11 times for 90 yards. Conway rushed for almost 300 yards and won last Friday at El Dorado 37-27, benefiting from 15 El Dorado penalites, including 12 procedure flags.
BENTONVILLE WEST (1) at FS Southside: An inadvertent whistle cost West in last week's 47-34 loss to Owasso, Okla. Southside, open last week, will rely on its defense and rushing attack after graduating its top playmakers in May. Southside starts 19 juniors this fall, should be a force in 2020.
CABOT (14) at Pine Bluff: A pair of first-year coaches highlight this matchup. Coach Scott Reed succeeds Mike Malham (301-139-4 in 38 years, including state championships in 2000 and 1983) at Cabot. Reed installed the Spread this spring at Cabot, which shucked Malham's patented Dead T. Former star running back and assistant coach Rod Stinson takes over at Pine Bluff where Bobby Bolding left in the spring for White Hall.
Heritage at LR CENTRAL (35): LR Central manhandled West Memphis (68 yards rushing) and its five D-1 recruits last week. Hapless Heritage allowed three TDs on FS Northside’s first three plays last Friday.
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).
BRYANT is open.

7A WEST
Alma at VAN BUREN (7): Van Buren: Shiloh Christian transfer Jaiden Henry returned a kick 99 yards, caught a 57-yard TD pass and intercepted a pass to end a scoring threat in last week's 35-21 win at Siloam Springs. Van Buren finished with 430 yards offense, including 220 yards passing by QB Garry Phillips. Class 5A Alma has won seven of the past eight meetings in this rivalry.
Conway at BENTONVILLE (1): Balanced Bentonville (258 yards rushing, 221 passing) mercy-ruled Midwest City, Okla., last Saturday with 30 first downs while allowing just 11. Bentonville QB Pankau completed 9 of 12 passes for 148 yards and rushed 11 times for 90 yards. Conway won last Friday at El Dorado 37-27, benefiting from 15 El Dorado penalites, including 12 procedure flags.
FAYETTEVILLE (7) at Owasso, Okla.: Senior QB Hank Gibbs completed four TD passes helping Fayetteville build a 43-0 lead over Vianney, Okla. in the 1st quarter last Friday. College prospect Connor Flannigan led Fayetteville receivers with four catches for 96 yards and two TDs. Owasso scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, including a blocked punt in the end zone and recovered a fumble for a TD, to rally past Bentonville West 47-34.
Heritage at LR CENTRAL (35): LR Central manhandled West Memphis (68 yards rushing) and its five D-1 recruits last week. Hapless Heritage allowed three TDs on FS Northside’s first three plays last Friday.
JOE T. ROBINSON (6) at Rogers: Joe T. Robinson continues its tour of the 7A West. The Senators spanked Springdale last week and are 3-1 against teams from the West the past five years, including a mercy-rule win last year against Rogers. Robinson led Springdale 20-0 halftime at halftime last Friday, outgaining the Bulldogs 213-63.
LR PARKVIEW (2) at Springdale: Springdale trailed at Class 4A Joe T. Robinson 20-0 by halftime last Friday but opened the second half with 76- and 56-yard TD drives. Springdale didn't force a punt and was outgained 432-274 in total yards. Springdale senior quarterback Conner Hutchins passed for three TD passes to junior wide receiver Ladarius Wonsley.
FS Southside at BENTONVILLE WEST (1): An inadvertent whistle cost West in last week's 47-34 loss to Owasso, Okla. West led 34-25 going into the fourth quarter. Southside, open last week, will rely on its defense and rushing attack this fall after graduating its top playmakers in May. Southside plans to start 19 juniors.
Har-Ber is open.