Hootens.com Class 3A Rankings

Week 1, 2024

1. Prescott (1-0)

2. Booneville (1-0)

3. Rivercrest (0-0)

4. Walnut Ridge (1-0)

5. Charleston (0-0)

6. McGehee (0-0)

7. Newport (1-0)

8. Osceola (0-0)

9. Salem (1-0)

10. Bismarck (1-0)

11. Mansfield (0-1)

12. Fordyce (1-0)

13. Harmony Grove Ouachita County (1-0)

14. Glen Rose (0-1)

15. Dumas (0-0)

16. Melbourne (1-0)

17. Centerpoint (1-0)

18. Mayflower (1-0)

19. Atkins (1-0)

20. Perryville (0-1)

Not Ranked:

1-3A: Cedarville (1-0), Greenland (0-1), Hackett (1-0), Lavaca (0-1), West Fork (0-0).

2-3A: Episcopal (0-1), Mountain View (0-1), Quitman (0-0), Yellville-Summit (1-0).

3-3A: Harrisburg (0-1), Manila (0-1), Piggott (0-1)

4-3A: Cutter Morning Star (0-0), Danville (0-1), Jessieville (0-1), Magnet Cove (1-0), Paris (0-1), Two Rivers (0-0)

7-3A: Fouke (1-0), Horatio (0-0), Parkers Chapel (1-0), Smackover (1-0)

8-3A: Barton (0-0), Drew Central (0-1), Lake Village (1-0), Palestine-Wheatley (0-0), Rison (0-0)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 1 PRESCOTT (1-0) vs. No. 9 Salem (1-0): This game is slated for Thursday at Hendrix College. Prescott, coming off a state runner-up finish, returns talent on both sides of the ball, including senior receiver D’Wayne White (960 yards receiving, 11 TDs) and Levonte Gleason (81 tackles) on defense. Prescott senior quarterback Decari Prater is drawing interest from Division I schools. Jamarion Monk transfers from Hope to bolster the roster. The Curley Wolves opened with a 53-10 win over Class 4A Crossett behind Kj Page (10 carries, 98 yards rushing, 3 TDs), Dwayne White (2 carries, 25 yards; 1 catch, 59 yards, 1 TD) and Prater (9 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD; 5-13 passing, 125 passing yards, 2 TDs). The defense was led by Michael Brownlee, Richard Benton, Cliff Davis, Jayden Purtle and Mario Brownlee. Prater also left his mark with an 80-yard interception returned for a touchdown. Salem finished last season with an 11-1 record making it to the second round of the playoffs. The Greyhounds lose a key offensive player in Elijah Romaine, who posted a career 5,000 yards rushing. Junior running back Kaden Brink rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season. Kaiden Hollis (201 yards receiving) also returns. Salem opened its season with a 30-28 win over class 4A Pocahontas in Week 0.

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 19 of 28 games from Week 0 (68 percent).

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (Favored team highlighted and CAPS)

1-3A

Ozark (1-0) at NO. 2 BOONEVILLE (1-0): Booneville held off Poteau, Okla. 14-10 in Week 0. “Our defense played the best complete game we have played since I became the coach in 2020,” Coach Doc Crowley said. “It was an extremely physical game against a very good opponent and our kids were relentless and made enough plays to win the game.” The Bearcats have won 4 in a row against Ozark. 

No. 5 Charleston (0-0) at CLASS 4A POTTSVILLE (1-0): Charleston has won the past 4 meetings against Pottsville, but Charleston has some holes to fill as Reese Merechka, Hunter Little and Brycen Kendrix graduate from last year’s roster. Junior quarterback Carter Little (85-130 passing, 1,126 yards, 12 TDs) returns after going down with injury last season. Junior Garred Smithson (61-283 rushing, 6 TDs) returns at running back. Maddix Terry (52-460 receiving, 4 TDs) and Emiliano Gaona (35-439 receiving, 3 TDs) provide a 1-2 punch at receiver. 

Class 4A Waldron (1-0) at NO. 11 MANSFIELD (0-1): Mansfield, which lost its opener 35-31 to Bismarck, eyes its third consecutive win in the series. The Tigers return almost every key player this year, including all-state quarterback Jeremy Strozier (34-78 passing, 425 yards, 3 TDs) and all-state running back and receiver Daniel Burton (131 rushes, 1,603 yards, 19 TDs; 12 catches, 190 yards, 2 TDs). Daniel’s brother, Andrew Burton (75 rushes, 426 yards, 6 TDs) gives the Tigers an additional weapon at fullback. Seniors Trayshon Powell, Samuel Burton and Leland Powell provide additional looks on offense. Junior all-conference players Zander Walters and Ethan Martin bolster the line. Look for these players to bounce back this week against Waldron. Mansfield looks for its third in a row over Waldron.

Paris (0-1) at LAVACA (0-1): Paris opened with a 27-10 overtime loss to Waldron, but Alex Yang caught a 33-yard TD pass and kicked 2 field goals, one of which forced overtime. “We turned the ball over at critical times and couldn’t force any turnovers when on defense,” Coach Jeff Weaver said. “We will focus on improving that and cleaning up a bunch of little things.” Lavaca opened with an 8-0 loss to Class 4A Dover. Look for quarterback Cutler Winters to get Lavaca back in the swing of things this week.

West Fork (0-0) at CLASS 4A GREEN FOREST (0-1): West Fork, coming off a 3-8 season, eyes its first playoff appearance since 2021. Junior quarterback Cooper Ridenoure (45-105 passing, 657 yards) and senior running back Bryson Whitmill (88 carries, 647 yards rushing) lead the offense. West Fork has won the past 2 matchups against Green Forest.

CEDARVILLE (1-0) at Mountainburg (0-0): Cedarville opened with a 14-0 shutout win over Class 2A Magazine in Week 0. Reed Payton (4 catches, 130 yards receiving) and Daniel Ramirez (14 rushes, 69 yards) led the way for the Pirates in Week 0. Cedarville lost last year’s matchup against Mountainburg, but won the previous 2 meetings. Mountainburg posted a 3-5 record in class 2A last season.

2-3A

PRESCOTT vs. Salem (Thurs. at Hendrix): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.

Class 2A Bigelow (1-0) at MAYFLOWER (1-0): Mayflower won matchups with Bigelow in 2016 and 2017, but tackle the defending Class 2A champions here. Mayflower defeated Jessieville 34-21 behind QB Tre Cockerham (4-4 passing, 71 yards, 1 TD; 37 yards rushing, 1 TD), Tre Williams (18 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD) and Kam Willis (4 catches, 59 yards, 2 TDs).

CLASS 4A BALD KNOB (0-0) at Melbourne (1-0): Melbourne picked up a big win in week 0 49-13 over Hoxie. It was a revenge game for the Bearkatz losing to Hoxie in the first round of the playoffs last season. Quarterback Wyatt Buchanan (11-16 passing, 192 yards, 3 TDs),  running back Carson Medina (5 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD) and receiver Tanner Williams (4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD) led the way for the Melbourne offense in the win.

Dover (1-0) at ATKINS (1-0): Atkins opened with a 25-24 win over Perryville. Quarterback Cole Crawford (12-19 passing, 176 yards, 2 TDs; 28 yards rushing, 1 TD), Jaden Martin (14 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD) and Mason Martin (11 carries, 77 yards; 6 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD) led the Red Devils. “We are playing for the Rivals Cup this week against Dover,” Atkins Coach Austin Dobbs says. “Their kids will be ready to play in one of the best rivalries in the state which should have a great turnout and atmosphere this week!”

CLASS 2A CONWAY CHRISTIAN (1-0) at Quitman (0-0): Conway Christian opened with a 42-14 win over Hazen and looks for its second consecutive victory over Quitman after winning 20-13 last year. Quitman returns junior quarterback Jordon Moore-Payne (1,820 yards passing, 19 TDs; 115 carries, 610 yards, 6 TDs) and senior all-conference receiver Bryson Thacker (272 receiving yards, 4 TDs; 215 yards rushing, 6 TDs) for head coach D.J. Marrs. Mountain View (0-1) at Class 4A BERRYVILLE (0-0): Mountain View lost its opener 14-9 against Class 4A Cave City. Look for seniors Drew Isbell and Rush Sullivan to get the Yellowjackets back on track this week.

Episcopal (0-1) at CLASS 2A BEARDEN (0-0): Episcopal lost 34-0 to Smackover in the opener. Junior Turner Harbor accounted for 133 all purpose yards. Senior Todd McCormick (9 tackles, 1 sack) led Episcopal defense. Bearden won last year’s matchup.

3-3A

CLASS 4A TRUMANN (0-1) at Walnut Ridge (1-0): Walnut Ridge defeated Class 2A East Poinsett County 37-0 in its opener, with QB Jersie Cunningham (19 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD) and RB Jayden Saulsbury (9 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD) leading the way.

CLASS 4A Gosnell (1-0) at No. 3 Rivercrest (0-0): Rivercrest moves down to Class 3A after finishing last season as the Class 4A runner-up. Senior QB Cavonta Washington (2,081 yards passing, 24 TDs; 73 rushes, 359 yards, 4 TDs), RB Tekylun Sanders (13-127 rushing, 1 TD) and receiver Buddah Harris (43 catches, 691 yards, 6 TDs) all return for the Colts, who have won the past 3 meetings in the series.

Class 5A Batesville (0-1) at NEWPORT (1-0):