Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 2, 2020
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Fordyce (1-0)
2. Gurdon (1-0)
3. Junction City (1-1)
4. Des Arc (2-0)
5. Poyen (2-0)
6. Magnet Cove (2-0)
7. McCrory (1-1)
8. Clarendon (1-0)
9. Earle (1-0)
10. Hampton (1-0)
11. Foreman (0-2)
12. Magazine (0-1)
13. E. Poinsett County (1-1)
14. Hazen (0-2)
15. Murfreesboro (0-2)
16. Hector (1-0)
17. Dierks (1-0)
18. Bigelow (2-0)
19. Mount Ida (0-2)
20. Quitman (1-1)
21. Mountainburg (0-1)
22. Carlisle (0-1)
23. Bearden (1-1)
24. Mineral Springs (1-1)
25. Marked Tree (1-0
26. Parkers Chapel (1-1)
27. Yellville-Summit (1-0)
28. Cutter M. Star (0-2)
29. Cross County (0-0)
30. Conway Christian (0-1)
31. England (0-2)
32. Lafayette County (0-1)
33. Marvell (0-0)
34. Strong (0-0)
35. J.C. Westside (0-1)
36. Cedar Ridge (0-2)

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Clarendon at No. 7 McCrory
McCrory won this matchup (20-16) a year ago by scoring on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 20 second left in the game. A week ago, McCrory trailed Des Arc 28-24 at halftime but lost 44-24 while getting shredded for 374 rushing yards by Des Arc's option offense.  Clarendon bombed Class 3A Barton 65-22. Junior QB Kaleb Williams completed five passes for 90 yards and four TDs with junior Quincey McAdoo catching four passes for 88 yards and four TDs. Clarendon held Barton to 54 first-half yards and played reserves in the second half. 

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly picked 17 of 23 (74 percent) of games involving Class 2A teams. It is 30 of 43 (70 percent) for the season. 

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
CLARENDON (8) at McCrory: See Game of the Week.
EARLE (4) at Hazen: Earle dressed 25 for its opener and knocked off Class 4A Helena 22-20 to end Helena’s four-game winning streak in the series. Senior QB Nick Mathis and sophomore RB Shaw Davis fueled the Earle offense. Hazen expects to dress 16 after losing at Class 3A West Fork 19-12. Hazen whipped Earle three times in the past two years: 34-12 in 2018, 40-0 and 46-0 in 2019.
Walnut Ridge at E. Poinsett County: Cancelled due to covid quarantines at Walnut Ridge. 
Manila at MARKED TREE (2): MT opened with a 28-27 win last week at Class 3A Palestine-Wheatley. Senior QB Brennon Honeycutt completed six of eight passes for 81 yards, and BJ Marshall caught four balls for 45 yards. Honeycutt ran for another 115 yards and a TD. Class 3A Manila mauled Marked Tree last year, 44-22.
HAMPTON (16) at Cross County: Game scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Cross County trying to get as many players cleared from covid quarantines as possible for its season opener. Hampton last played Monday, Aug. 31 and topped Class 3A Centerpoint 12-10. Senior QB Ashton Rice completed 12 of 22 passes for 167 yards and one TD, a 40-yarder to senior slotback Easton Welch. Garrett Clontz paced Hampton with nine tackles.  
CEDAR RIDGE is open.

4-2A
MAGAZINE (10) at Lamar JV: Magazine was idle Week 1 after suffering a 41-0 whipping Week 0 to Class 3A Mansfield. Magazine defeated the Lamar JV, coached since 2012 by former Magazine HC Josh Jones, in 2016 and 2017.
Lavaca at MOUNTAINBURG (6): Mountainburg managed less than 100 yards last week in a 34-6 loss to Class 3A No. 11 Cedarville. A year ago, Mountainburg defeated former 4-2A member Lavaca 40-19.
HECTOR (4) at Mountain View: Hector was open last week after dumping Class 4A Dover 30-8 Week 0. All-4-2A RB Ty Day rushed 22 times for 156 yards and a TD. Mountain View sophomore QB Elijah Carlton bolted 46 yards for a TD in last week's 47-16 loss at Hoxie.
ATKINS (35) at Conway Christian: Conway Christian threw an interception and muffed a punt returned for TDs last week in a 48-14 loss to Class 3A Baptist Prep. CC junior Robert Taylor recorded more than 100 all-purpose yards, while seniors Jace Kramer and Jeramya Brock averaged more than 10 yards per reception. Class 3A No. 16 Atkins won the Rivals Cup for the third straight season with a 48-14 victory over Class 4A Dover.
Perryville at BIGELOW (1): Just 13 miles separate these old rivals, and the home team has won the past eight meetings. Bigelow senior Brayden Jones and junior Hunter Alexander fueled a rushing attack last week that netted 420 yards in a 48-14 win over Cutter Morning Star. Class 3A Perryville overcame multiple penalties and three turnovers to beat Mount Ida late 17-14 with a 23-yard FG.
Corning at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (1): Y-S junior Aaron Robinson ran for a TD, returned an interception 52 yards for a TD and returned kicks and punts for another 92 yards last week in a 42-6 blowout of Class 3A Two Rivers. Class 3A Corning drags a six-game losing streak into this game after Class 4A Cave City beat it 34-2 a week ago.
Two Rivers at J.C. WESTSIDE (2): J.C. Westside has won three games over the past two years, including two victories over Class 3A Two Rivers. JC won 48-6 in 2018 and 48-46 in OT in 2019.   
QUITMAN is open.

5-2A
GURDON (32) at Bearden: No. 2 Gurdon traded haymakers with Class 3A No. 2 Prescott last week before losing 42-36 with under two minutes to play. Gurdon ran 71 times for 408 yards with senior TB Jameson Threadgill carrying 29 times for 225 yards and two TDs. Bearden stunned Mineral Springs 24-20 behind junior Jake Strickland's 12 carries for 114 yards. Senior RB Kendrick Juniel added two receptions for 105 yards and a TD. Senior LB Jamalachai Hartley blocked a punt and made seven tackles.
GLEN ROSE (14) at Magnet Cove: Magnet Cove got out of Class 3A Bismarck with a 28-20 win last week when junior QB Evan Ashcraft hit freshman Luke Harper with a 6-yard TD toss with 30 second left in the game. Class 3A No. 10 Glen Rose led rival (Class 4A) Malvern at halftime before giving up 19 unanswered points to lose 33-27.
Bismarck at POYEN (25): Poyen drilled Class 3A Drew Central 35-0 last week with ultra-sharp senior QB Jaxson Carter completing five of seven passes for 199 yards and three TDs without an interception, while rushing 11 times for 116 yards and a TD. Senior slotback Brandon Sanchez big-played DC with a 43-yard rushing TD and receiving TDs of 44, 50 and 80 yards. Poyen held DC to 52 yards and six first downs. Poyen beat Bismarck 30-14 a year ago.
Mount Ida at JESSIEVILLE (10): Missing its left tackle, Mount Ida mustered just 7 yards in the second half last week at Perryville and lost 17-14 on a 23-yard FG with five seconds left. MI sophomore Jack Hoeksema intercepted two passes and junior Connor Sigman picked off another.
Cutter M Star at DIERKS (33): Dierks hammered Horatio 42-0 last week in its opener, while CMS dropped to 0-2 by giving up 420 rushing yards to Bigelow in a 48-14 loss. Five Dierks runners combined for 47 carries, 263 yards and six TDs. Senior Austin Hansen recorded a team-high 10 tackles for the Outlaws, who held Horatio to 55 total yards.

6-2A
CLARENDON (8) at McCrory: See Game of the Week.
DES ARC (34) at Barton: No. 4 Des Arc ran wild the past two weeks in wins over P-W (292 rushing yards) and McCrory (374 rushing yards). Barton offered little resistance last week, trailing Clarendon 59-14 at halftime while mustering 54 yards.
Carlisle at CAC (25): Carlisle (20-man roster) did not play last week after losing to Class 4A Lonoke 49-6 in the opener. Carlisle expects  junior guard Fletcher Stivers, junior QB/S Mikey Freeby and senior RB/S Collin Jinks, who emerged in preseason camp, to further progress. CAC senior RB Tyler Williams has carried 36 times this fall for 290 yards and five TDs.
RISON (40) at England: England is 0-2 after losing by a combined 111-38 to Mineral Springs and Class 4A Fountain Lake. Class 3A No. 3 Rison was idle last week after losing to top-ranked Fordyce 29-28 in the opener. Rison doubled Fordyce in time of possession and ran 64 plays to Fordyce's 36.
EARLE (4) at Hazen: Earle dressed 25 for its opener and knocked off Class 4A Helena 22-20 to end Helena’s four-game winning streak in the series. Senior QB Nick Mathis and sophomore RB Shaw Davis fueled the Earle offense. Hazen expects to dress 16 after losing at Class 3A West Fork 19-12. Hazen whipped Earle three times in the past two years: 34-12 in 2018, 40-0 and 46-0 in 2019.
Marvell at PALESTINE-WHEATLEY (1): Marvell, which expects to dress 18 in its opener, won this matchup 20-8 a year ago. P-W (0-2) scored late last week in a 28-27 loss to Marked Tree.

7-2A
Cutter M Star at DIERKS (33): Dierks hammered Horatio 42-0 last week in its opener, while CMS dropped to 0-2 by giving up 420 rushing yards to Bigelow in a 48-14 loss. Five Dierks runners combined for 47 carries, 263 yards and six TDs. Senior Austin Hansen recorded a team-high 10 tackles for the Outlaws, who held Horatio to 55 total yards.
MURFREESBORO (8) at Horatio: Murfreesboro led Class 3A Centerpoint 14-7 last week but did not produce any points in four second-half possessions. Senior Jared Taylor led Murfreesboro with seven tackles. Class 3A Horatio lost five fumbles and generated more penalty yards (59) than total yards (55) in a 42-0 loss to Dierks.
Mineral Springs at FOUKE (8): Mineral Springs trailed Bearden 24-6 at halftime last week and lost 24-20 despite 413 yards from senior QB Terrell Fricks. Fricks ran for 220 and passed for 193 and a TD. Mineral Springs muffed a punt and allowed two blocked punts. Fouke was idle last week after losing 36-7 Week 0 at Mountain View where FHS surrendered 374 rushing yards.
GENOA CENTRAL (28) at Lafayette County: Class 3A GC just whipped 7-2A favorite Foreman 28-6, while LC dropped to 0-2 with a 28-16 loss to Parkers Chapel.
Foreman at JUNCTION CITY (21): Foreman’s offensive woes continued last week in a 28-6 loss to Class 3A Genoa Central with more botched snaps and two interceptions. Foreman senior defenders Daylon Haley, Chris Haywood and Quincy Robinson combined for 22 tackles, three sacks and an interception. The return of all-state RB Keontae Oglesby (1,308 yards in 2019) from injury should help.  No. 3 Junction City destroyed Class 3A neighbor Smackover 41-6, the most dominant win over the Buckaroos since a 48-0 shutout in 2009. JC defense forced three turnovers and held Snackover to 48 total yards with senior DE Tate Barnett recording two TFL, one FR and a sack. JC leads the series with Foreman 4-0, per JC historian Wayne Pumphrey.

8-2A
Foreman at JUNCTION CITY (21): Foreman’s offensive woes continued last week in a 28-6 loss to Class 3A Genoa Central with more botched snaps and two interceptions. Senior defenders Daylon Haley, Chris Haywood and Quincy Robinson combined for 22 tackles, three sacks and an interception. The return of all-state RB Keontae Oglesby (1,308 yards in 2019) from injury should help. No. 3 Junction City destroyed Class 3A neighbor Smackover 41-6, the most dominant win over the Buckaroos since 48-0 shutout in 2009. JC defense forced three turnovers and held Snackover to 48 total yards with senior DE Tate Barnett recording two TFL, one FR and a sack. JC leads the series with Foreman 4-0, per JC historian Wayne Pumphrey.
HAMPTON (16) at Cross County: Game scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Cross County trying to get as many players cleared from covid quarantines as possible for its season opener. Hampton last played Monday, Aug. 31 and topped Class 3A Centerpoint 12-10. Senior QB Ashton Rice completed 12 of 22 passes for 167 yards and one TD, a 40-yarder to senior slotback Easton Welch. Garrett Clontz paced Hampton with nine tackles. 
FORDYCE (7) at C. Harmony Grove: Both teams come off bye weeks and big Week 0 wins. Top-ranked Fordyce trimmed Class 3A Rison 29-28 with senior Ja'Quez Cross rushing for 132 yards and a TD, catching TD passes for 72 and 44 yards and sealing the win late with an interception. Camden Harmony Grove took down Junction City 20-14 when senior Mecca Arnold rushed for 96 yards and three TDs and recorded a team-high 11 tackles.
LAKE VILLAGE (8) at Strong: This will be the season-opener for Strong. Class 3A Lake Village was open last week after losing the opener to Class 4A Monticello 46-6. LV beat Strong 48-28 a year ago.
GURDON (32) at Bearden: No. 2 Gurdon traded haymakers with Class 3A No. 2 Prescott last week before losing 42-36 with under two minutes to play. Gurdon ran 71 times for 408 yards with senior TB Jameson Threadgill carrying 29 times for 225 yards and two TDs. Bearden stunned Mineral Springs 24-20 behind junior Jake Strickland's 12 carries for 114 yards. Senior RB Kendrick Juniel added two receptions for 105 yards and a TD. Senior LB Jamalachai Hartley blocked a punt and made seven tackles.
Parkers Chapel at PRESCOTT (36): PC was scheduled to play at River Oaks, La., this week but now travels to Class 3A No. 2 Prescott. Prescott survived a shootout with Gurdon last week by scoring with 1:45 left to win 42-36. PC got past Lafayette County 28-16 with senior QB Trace Shoup accounting for 175 yards and three TDs. Peyton Thompson led PC in tackles and tackles for loss.