Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 2, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Fordyce (1-0)
2. McCrory (2-0)
3. Des Arc (1-1)
4. Junction City (1-1)
5. Bigelow (2-0)
6. Clarendon (1-0)
7. Magnet Cove (1-1)
8. Gurdon (1-1)
9. Poyen (2-0)
10. Mount Ida (1-1)
11. Carlisle (0-2)
12. Quitman (1-1)
13. Hector (1-0)
14. Hampton (0-1)
15. Hazen (1-1)
16. Earle (2-0)
17. E. Poinsett County (0-2)
18. Magazine (0-1)
19. Mountainburg (0-0)
20. Marked Tree (1-0)
21. Dierks (0-2)
22. Cross County (0-2)
23. Murfreesboro (0-2)
24. Foreman (0-2)
25. Bearden (0-2)
26. Parkers Chapel (0-1)
27. Yellville-Summit (1-1)
28. Mineral Springs (0-0)
29. Lafayette County (0-1)
30. England (0-1)
31. J.C. Westside (0-1)
32. Conway Christian (0-1)

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 McCrory at No. 6 Clarendon
McCrory won this matchup (20-16) in 2019 by scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 20 second left in the game. Last year, Clarendon won a shootout 54-46 with current senior QB Kaleb Williams and ATH Quincey McAdoo accounting for 343 of the Lions' 547 yards. A week ago, McAdoo moved to tailback in a 34-22 win over Class 3A Barton. McAdoo carried 15 times for 110 yards and two TDs, and the Arkansas Razorback commit logged 11.5 tackles at safety. Clarendon held Barton to 192 rushing yards. McCrory rushed for 238 yards (5.6 YPC) last week in a hard-hitting 34-26 victory over then-No. 1 Des Arc. Senior QB Cason Campbell completed eight of 15 passes for 175 yards and three TDs with an interception. Senior linebackers Reid Kennon and Lathan Briley and junior LB Lacoya Tucker paced McCrory in tackles. Watch exclusive, extended highlights of McCrory's win last week at Des Arc HERE.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 16 of 21 games (76 percent) involving Class 2A teams. It is 37 of 43 (86 percent) for the season.

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
MCCRORY (9) at Clarendon: See Game of the Week.
Marked Tree at MANILA (18): Class 3A Manila rebounded from its six-turnover opening (22-14) loss to 3-2A member Earle to blow out EPC 41-14 last week. Manila rushed for 381 yards against EPC, including 125 yards (14 YPC) by All-3-3A RB Kurt Overton. Manila did not commit a turnover at EPC. Marked Tree jumped Class 3A Palestine-Wheatley 34-0 with eight minutes left in the second quarter when the game ended after P-W's starting QB and backup QB were knocked out of the game. In just 16 gameclock minutes, Marked Tree all-state TE B.J. Marshall caught two balls for 114 yards and two TDs. He also returned an interception 39 yards for a TD.
E. Poinsett County at WALNUT RIDGE (8): EPC gave up 381 rushing yards and did not force a turnover last week in a 41-14 loss to Class 3A Manila, while Walnut Ridge committed too many penalties and turnovers in a 40-22 loss to Salem. This matchup was cancelled in 2020 due to covid quarantines at Walnut Ridge, but WR has won four of the past five meetings by a combined 148-38.  
HAZEN (9) at Earle: No. 16 Earle owns a 22-14 win over Class 3A Manila and a 30-12 win over Class 4A Helena. Earle senior RB Ardell Smith carried 18 times last week for 185 yards and three TDs, while Tyrome Hurst rushed nine times for 96 yards and two TDs against Helena. Air Hazen bombed Cross County with junior QB Luke King completing 29 of 34 passes for 323 yards and five TDs. Justin Schlenker caught eight of those passes for 111 yards and three TDs. No. 15 Hazen has whipped Earle four times in the past three years: 34-12 in 2018, 40-0 and 46-0 in 2019, and 42-8 in 2020.
CROSS COUNTY is open.

4-2A
BIGELOW (12) at Perryville: Just 13 miles separate these old rivals, and the home team has won the past nine meetings. A week ago, No. 5 Bigelow's starting defense held Carlisle to one TD after giving up a score after fumbling the opening kickoff. Bigelow won 54-32. Bigelow junior LB Bennett Johnson recorded nine tackles and a forced fumble, while senior DL Joe Phillips logged eight tackles and three TFL. Bigelow all-state QB Keithlin Brown ran for 205 yards and five TDs, while all-league RB Hunter Alexander carried for 165 yards and three TDs. Class 3A Perryville took advantage of six Mount Ida turnovers in a 33-14 win.
Conway Christian at ATKINS (39): Sophomore LB Miles Dickinson paced Conway Christian last week in tackles during a 41-0 loss to Class 3A Baptist Prep. Dickinson  filled the stats sheet with 11.5 tackles, three TFL and a forced fumble. Atkins WR Devin Roberts caught six passes last week for 125 yards and two TDs as the Red Devils amassed 600 total yards in a 48-28 win over Dover. 
J.C. WESTSIDE (25) at Two Rivers: J.C. Westside has won this matchup the past three years by blowing out the Gators in 2018 and 2020 and winning a 48-46 overtime thriller in 2019. JCW is down to 17 players after senior WR Derek Brown broke a collarbone early last week in a 34-6 loss to Class 3A Paris. 
MOUNTAINBURG (6) at Lavaca: Covid quarantines resulted in the cancellation of Mountainburg's game last week vs. Class 3A rival Cedarville. Mountainburg expects to dress 27 for its opener, led by a senior backfield of QB Isaac Cowett, 220-pound FB Gus Newton and all-league ATH Noah Johnson. Class 3A Lavaca was open last Friday after losing the opener to Class 3A Paris 49-12.
Yellville-Summit at CORNING (15): Y-S piled up more than 300 rushing yards last week in a 47-14 win over Class 3A Two Rivers. Senior DB Caiden Curtis led the defense with 12 tackles and an interception. Class 3A Corning opened last week by giving up more than 400 yards in a 40-12 loss to Class 4A Cave City. Corning senior FB Rhett Eddington ran for 45 yards on three carries in the second half. Corning beat Y-S 40-0 a year ago.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (21) at Hector: Hector was idle last week after opening with a 28-6 win over Class 4A Dover. Hector ran for 269 yards at Dover, while sophomore QB Jackson Taylor completed 15 of 25 passes for 132 yards. Class 3A Mountain View boasts a 45-man roster with an athletic backfield featuring all-conference senior QB Elijah Carlton. The Yellowjackets committed two costly turnovers lost to Class 3A Hoxie 40-26 a week ago.
MAGAZINE (2) at Waldron JV: Magazine traditionally plays the Lamar JV, but the Warriors are running low on bodies. Magazine lost starting senior tackle Terrance Thurman to a season-ending knee injury in the opener. Junior guard Trace Nicholas shifts to tackle, while junior Jasper Franklin, a defensive starter, now mans an offensive guard slot, too.  
QUITMAN is open.

5-2A
Magnet Cove at GLEN ROSE (35): Magnet Cove could not overcome six turnovers and more than 100 yards in penalties last week in a 31-13 loss to Class 3A Bismarck. MC senior LB Bret Williams recorded 10 tackles and a pick-6 in the loss. GR senior Conner Taylor hauled in two TD tosses last week in a 30-20 loss to Class 4A Malvern. Class 3A Glen Rose won this matchup 35-6 a year ago.
JESSIEVILLE (4) at Mount Ida: CANCELLED. MI could not overcome six turnovers last week in a 33-14 loss to Class 3A Perryville, despite getting a 65-yard TD run from senior RB Baylor Bates and a 90-yard kickoff return for a TD from senior AJ Perez. Jessieville senior QB Carson Hair completed 16 of 24 passes for 184 yards in the 35-14 loss to Haskell. He also ran for 96 yards. Jessieville won this matchup 27-22 last season.
Poyen at BISMARCK (12): Class 3A Bismarck is 2-0 vs. Class 2A opponents, dumping Dierks 50-7 and Magnet Cove 31-13. Junior QB Ian Smith has thrown for 309 yards and rushed for 138 yards this fall, while senior WR Braden Efird has produced 216 tandem yards. Sophomore WR/DB Tony Weeks logged 83 receiving yards last week vs. Magnet Cove. He has intercepted four passes this year. Poyen, which won this matchup 49-14 in 2020, counters with senior QB Colton Lowe. Lowe ran for 129 yards and four TDs last week in a 28-8 win over Class 3A Drew Central.
Bearden at GURDON (19): A year ago, Gurdon pushed Class 3A Prescott in a 43-36 loss, but it did not last week. Class 3A No. 1 Prescott blew past its 2A neighbor 50-7. Gurdon senior RB C.J. Dickerson DNP last week due to injury but should return to 100 percent this week. Bearden lost to Class 4A Pottsville 43-12, but senior RB Kathan Emerson ripped off a 67-yard TD run and sophomore QB Hudson Young completed an 83-yard TD pass to junior Royce Cones. Cones also led the Bears with 10 tackles.

6-2A
MCCRORY (9) at Clarendon: See Game of the Week.
Barton at DES ARC (28): Class 3A Barton rushed for 192 yards, and seven different Bears caught a pass last week in a 34-22 loss to Clarendon. Des Arc's defense gave up more than 300 yards in a 34-26 loss at McCrory. Des Arc ran for 302 yards with junior slotback Trevion Reed carrying for 147 yards and two TDs. Watch exclusive, extended highlights of Des Arc's loss last week at McCrory HERE.
CAC (2) at Carlisle: Class 4A CAC, with 26 varsity players, committed three turnovers last week and fell hard in the second half to improved (Class 3A) Riverview 41-7. Carlisle gave up more than 400 yards in a 54-32 loss to Bigelow. Carlisle sophomore Luke Petrus blocked well up front, while senior RB Gage Parker returned a kickoff for a TD. CAC won this matchup 32-16 a year ago. 
HAZEN (9) at Earle: Earle owns a 22-14 win over Class 3A Manila and a 30-12 win over Class 4A Helena. Earle senior RB Ardell Smith carried 18 times last week for 185 yards and three TDs, while Tyrome Hurst rushed nine times for 96 yards and two TDs against Helena. Air Hazen bombed Cross County with junior QB Luke King completing 29 of 34 passes for 323 yards and five TDs. Justin Sclenker caught eight of those passes for 111 yards and three TDs. Hazen has whipped Earle four times in the past three years: 34-12 in 2018, 40-0 and 46-0 in 2019, 42-8 in 2020.
England at RISON (38): England senior DE Ahmad Courtney tallied six tackles and a fumble recovery last week in a 54-6 loss to Class 4A Fountain Lake. Senior TB Andre Jones caught two passes for 38 yards. Class 3A Rison ran for 259 yards in a 24-0 win over Class 4A Bald Knob. Senior lineman Dalton Riggins registered eight tackles and 13 knockdown blocks. Junior RB D.J. Kines rushed for 75 yards and a TD, and he returned an interception 75 yards for a TD. Sophomore QB Owen Morrison completed six passes (single-game high for a Rison QB since 2017) for 99 yards to four different receivers. Rison bombed England 49-6 last year.  

7-2A
Foreman at WESTVILLE, OKLA. (22): Westville (2-0), a Flexbone operator with big linemen, beat Class 3A Lincoln 30-14 last week, while Foreman lost to Class 3A Genoa Central (50-20) for the first time in the past three meetings. Foreman senior RB/LB DeJames Powell caught four passes for 80 yards, while recording eight solo tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.
Lafayette County at GENOA CENTRAL (10): LC lost to Gurdon 60-18 Week 0, but the Cougars continued to battle in the second half for first-year HC Jason Hathcock. Elusive LC junior QB K.J. Hayes broke three tackles and sprinted 73 yards for a TD. Class 3A Genoa Central beat Foreman 50-20 last week for its first win in the past three meetings of that series. GC junior guard Hilton Hackney delivered several pancake blocks, recovered two fumbles and returning one for a TD. Senior RB Ryan Braden scored a rushing TD and returned a fumble for six points. 
Murfreesboro at HORATIO (6): Class 3A Horatio slipped Dierks 25-21 a week ago by scoring with two second left in the game to end a 22-game losing streak. Horatio converted eight of 13 third-down attempts and rushed for 235 of its 267 total yards. Murfreesboro trailed Class 3A Centerpoint 35-0 at halftime and lost 35-14. Murfreesboro managed 163 total yards and converted one of nine third-down attempts.
FOUKE (23) at Mineral Springs: Mineral Springs, with its 14-man varsity roster, has yet to play a game due to covid quarantines but expects to play this week against Class 3A Fouke. Fouke was idle last week after a 32-7 opening loss to Class 3A Mountain View.
DIERKS is open.  

8-2A
Bearden at GURDON (19): A year ago, Gurdon pushed Class 3A Prescott in a 43-36 loss, but it did not last week. Class 3A No. 1 Prescott blew past its 2A neighbor 50-7. Gurdon senior RB C.J. Dickerson DNP last week due to injury but he should return to 100 percent this week. Bearden lost to Class 4A Pottsville 43-12, but senior RB Kathan Emerson ripped off a 67-yard TD run and sophomore QB Hudson Young completed an 83-yard TD pass to junior Royce Cones. Cones also led the Bears with 10 tackles.
Lake Village at JUNCTION CITY (21): No. 4 Junction City overcame eight turnovers and 15 penalties last week to defeat Smackover 20-0. Junction City rushed 44 times for 334 yards, led by senior RB Jamal Johnson and (100 yards, three TDs) and junior RB A.J. Ivory (135 yards). Lake Village had opportunities to win both of its games but lost to Dumas (27-20) and Monticello (34-20). 
PRESCOTT JV (10) at Parkers Chapel: PC's game last week at Lafayette County was cancelled due to covid quarantines. PC lost 28-0 to Class 3A Smackover in the season opener. Prescott JV has not played a game, yet, but expects to dress 11 juniors and 18 sophomores this week at PC.
C. HARMONY GROVE (18) at Fordyce: Class 3A Camden Harmony Grove already owns an impressive win over another 8-2A member, stoning Junction City 39-0 in the opener while ripping off four TD plays of more than 70 yards. Fordyce was idle last week after opening with a 20-16 win over Class 3A Rison. Fordyce also big-played Rison with scoring plays of 52, 44 and 62 yards. Its other 44 snaps totaled 99 yards. Fordyce senior QB Tre Merrit, who left the Rison game in the fourth quarter, is doubtful for Friday night.
SMACKOVER (1) at Hampton: Class 3A Smackover is 1-1 vs. the 8-2A with a 28-0 win over Parkers Chapel and a 20-0 loss last week to Junction City. Smackover managed just 32 yards on 54 plays vs. JC. Hampton, which was idle last week, got 101 yards and eight tackles from junior RB/LB Zy Johnson in a 49-0 opening loss to Class 3A Centerpoint.