hootens.com Rankings
Class 7A, Week 2, 2018
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. North LR (1-0)
2. Bryant (1-0)
3. Fayetteville (2-0)
4. Cabot (1-0)
5. Conway (2-0)
6. FS Southside (1-0)
7. Springdale (2-0)
8. Bentonville (0-2)
9. FS Northside (2-0)
10. Bentonville West (0-2)
11. Springdale Har-Ber (0-1)
12. LR Catholic (1-0)
13. Van Buren (1-0)
14. LR Central (1-1)
15. Rogers (0-1)
16. Rogers Heritage (0-2)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 5 Conway at Class 6A Jonesboro.

Cardiac Conway has rallied for dramatic back-to-back wins, beating El Dorado  in double overtime Week 0 and Bentonville with 14 points in the final nine minutes last week. Conway used QB Jovoni Johnson’s 50-yard double reverse pass to spark last week’s rally. Johnson (34 ACT), an Arkansas Air Guard Scholar Athlete, has completed 23 of 43 passes this season for 317 yards. Class 6A Jonesboro's 2018 debut included three turnovers in the first quarter last week before belting Class 5A Batesville 48-13. Jonesboro finished with 253 yards (9 yards per carry) rushing against Batesville. Conway has won seven of eight in this series, jumping Jonesboro 49-18 a year ago. This is Conway's first road game of the season.

LAST WEEK
For the second consecutive week, hootens.com correctly predicted just 6 of 10 winners in games involving Class 7A teams. For the season, hootens.com is 12-8 (60 percent) predicting 7A games.

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by points spread)
7A CENTRAL
CONWAY (7) at Jonesboro. See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
NORTH LR (1) vs. Shreveport (La.) Evangel: This game kicks off 7 p.m. Friday at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. North LR rallied to win its opener, barely getting an extra point through in a 29-28 decision over Tulsa (Okla.) Washington. Evangel, considered a Top 10 team in Louisiana, lost its opener at home to Dallas Bishop Dunne 23-14 last week. Bishop Dunne is considered a Top 5 team in Texas. Evangel is led by Oklahoma State commit Na’Drian Dizadare (6-2, 200) at linebacker while defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (5-11, 260) has committed to SMU.
Rogers at LR CENTRAL (10): LR Central wasn’t able to invoke the sportsmanship rule (35-point lead) in last week’s 43-15 win at hapless Rogers Heritage but gained much needed confidence. Rogers High is better than Heritage but not good enough to win at historic, and sometimes intimidating, Quigley Stadium. Rogers trailed at Class 4A Joe T. Robinson 28-0 at halftime last week.
BRYANT (18) at Bentonville West: No. 2 ranked Bryant enjoys 13 days of preparation for this matchup after doubling Benton 28-14 on Saturday, Aug. 25. West is winless with injuries mounting. West gained 25 more yards in the first half but trailed FS Southside 23-14 at the break in last week’s 44-31 loss. West, voted by league coaches to win the 7A West, lost all-state QB Will Jarrett Week 0 and top recruit Jaden Jackson (offers from most SEC colleges) hobbled off the field in the third quarter last Friday.
Van Buren at FS NORTHSIDE (7): Van Buren looks to equal its highest win total since 2014 after knocking off rival Alma 48-33 last Tuesday for the first time in eight years. The Pointers scored on their first four possessions at Alma and finished with 456 yards and 33 first downs. Van Buren senior Christian Morrow completed 64 percent of his 33 passes for 220 yards while Brayden Rivas carried 20 times for 163 yards (8.1 yards per carry) at Alma. Northside outgained Class 6A Greenwood 352-311 yards in last week’s 31-16 win.
GREENWOOD (1) at FS Southside: Southside won its season opener for the first time since 2015, spoiling the grand opening of Bentonville West’s stadium with a 44-31 victory. Southside senior QB Taye Gatewood totaled 210 yards of offense, completing 75 percent of his passes for 170 yards. Ricardo Savoy scored four TDs, rushing for 242 yards (14.2 yards per carry) and catching a 76-yard TD pass last week. Class 6A Greenwood lost at FS Northside 31-16 last week but was outgained only 352-311 yards. Greenwood was sacked six times last week and managed just three field goals in the second half. Greenwood gutted FS Southside 49-0 last September.
CABOT (10) at El Dorado: Cabot ran for 377 yards in last week's 35-14 win over Class 6A No. 1 Pine Bluff. Senior T.J. Rogers and junior Graham Turner teamed up for 266 yards rushing in Coach Mike Malham’s 298th victory at Cabot. The Panthers limited Pine Bluff to 54 yards in the second half. El Dorado rushed for five TDs in a 40-22 win over Class 5A rival Camden Fairview last week. Cabot won this matchup two years ago, but lost at home last season, 28-24.
Jacksonville at LR CATHOLIC (17): Class 7A Catholic has downed Jacksonville the past two years by a combined 42 points. Catholic's three-year starting linebackers Trevor Karther (5-10, 205) and Nick Gonzales (6-1, 210) along with junior middle linebacker Lance Hockersmith (5-11, 215; 270-pound power clean) helped the Rockets smother Sylvan Hills 20-2 in its opener. Jacksonville QB Shavarris Curley fired TD passes to Tre Newsome and Sacorey Allen in last week's win over Class 4A Mills.

7A WEST
Van Buren at FS NORTHSIDE (7): Van Buren looks to equal its highest win total since 2014 after knocking off rival Alma 48-33 last Tuesday for the first time in eight years. The Pointers scored on their first four possessions at Alma and finished with 456 yards and 33 first downs. Van Buren senior Christian Morrow completed 64 percent of his 33 passes for 220 yards while Brayden Rivas carried 20 times for 163 yards (8.1 yards per carry) at Alma. Northside outgained Class 6A Greenwood 352-311 yards in last week’s 31-16 win.
BRYANT (18) at Bentonville West: No. 2 ranked Bryant enjoys 13 days of preparation for this matchup after doubling Benton 28-14 on Saturday, Aug. 25. West is winless with injuries mounting. West gained 25 more yards in the first half but trailed FS Southside 23-14 at the break in last week’s 44-31 loss. West, voted by league coaches to win the 7A West, lost all-state QB Will Jarrett Week 0 and top recruit Jaden Jackson (offers from most SEC colleges) hobbled off the field in the third quarter last Friday.
Rogers at LR CENTRAL (10): LR Central wasn’t able to invoke the sportsmanship rule (35-point lead) in last week’s 43-15 win at hapless Rogers Heritage but gained much needed confidence. Rogers High is better than Heritage but not good enough to win at historic, and sometimes intimidating, Quigley Stadium. Rogers trailed at Class 4A Joe T. Robinson 28-0 at halftime last week.
Bentonville vs. ALEDO, TEXAS (18): This game kicks off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Bentonville blew a 21-3 lead and finished with 1 less yard than Conway in last week’s 24-21 loss on the road. Aledo (15-1 in 2017) is considered a Top 10 team in Texas this fall. Aledo has won a mind-boggling 75 games over the past five seasons (15 wins per year). The Bearcats beat Guyer, Texas 40-0 last Friday.
Alma at SPRINGDALE (15): The Bulldogs start 3-0 for the second consecutive season. Springdale QB Grant Allen passed for three TDs in the second half of last week’s 35-24 win at Class 5A LR Parkview. Class 5A Alma allowed 456 yards and 30 first downs in last week's 15-point loss to rival Van Buren. It was Alma’s first loss to Van Buren in eight years. Springdale beat Alma 34-19 last season.
Har-Ber at RUSSELLVILLE (1): This is the first meeting of these teams. Har-Ber has lost five of its last seven games dating to last year, including a 50-14 loss to defending Class 5A champion Pulaski Academy Week 0. Har-Ber junior safety Griffin Clapit (4.6 speed) played well in the opener and is one to watch while sophomore tight end Errington McRae (6-3, 230) was invited by the University of Arkansas to last Saturday’s Razorback game. Class 6A Russellville beat rival Class 5A Morrilton 28-23 last Friday. Russellville rushed for 200 yards (6.3 YPC) while sophomore standout Caleb Gray intercepted two passes and senior Titus Riley intercepted another.
HERITAGE, which has been outscored 122-15, is open. The War Eagles play host to FS Southside next Friday.
FAYETTEVILLE is open, plays next Friday at Bryant. Fayetteville rolled up 574 yards, including 376 passing and no turnovers in last week’s 45-31 win over Owasso, Okla. Fayetteville senior QB Darius Bowers completed 73- and 76-yard TD passes in the second quarter to junior Beau Stuckey.