Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 3, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Fordyce (2-0)
2. McCrory (3-0)
3. Des Arc (2-1)
4. Junction City (2-1)
5. Bigelow (3-0)
6. Clarendon (1-1)
7. Gurdon (2-1)
8. Magnet Cove (1-2)
9. Poyen (2-1)
10. Mount Ida (1-1)
11. Quitman (1-1)
12. Hazen (2-1)
13. Hector (1-1)
14. Carlisle (0-3)
15. Hampton (0-2)
16. Earle (2-1)
17. E. Poinsett County (0-3)
18. Magazine (1-1)
19. Mountainburg (0-1)
20. Marked Tree (1-1)
21. Dierks (0-2)
22. Cross County (0-2)
23. Murfreesboro (0-3)
24. Foreman (0-3)
25. Bearden (0-3)
26. Yellville-Summit (1-2)
27. Parkers Chapel (0-1)
28. J.C. Westside (1-1)
29. Lafayette County (0-1)
30. Mineral Springs (0-1)
31. England (0-1)
32. Conway Christian (0-2)

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Fordyce at Class 4A Monticello
Fordyce has defeated Class 4A Monticello five straight times by an average of 24 points. Fordyce junior RB Kriston Belin, Jr. carried 23 times last week for 190 yards and a TD in a 22-20 win over Class 3A Camden Harmony Grove. Fordyce played without its starting right guard and tackle, but sophomore QB Trenton Gambill, subbing for injured starter Trey Merritt, completed both of his passes for 18 yards and a TD. Merritt (ankle) remains doubtful for this week. Class 4A Monticello, idle last week, lost to Class 4A Bauxite 15-13 Week 1 after a failed conversion attempt in the final seconds. Monticello senior Doerian Allen caught 11 passes for 139 yards and a TD in the loss. A year ago, Fordyce won this matchup 23-22 in a thriller. Watch extended highlights of Fordyce's win over Rison HERE and extended highlights with postgame reaction of Fordyce's win last week over CHG HERE. And extended highlights of Fordyce's win over Monticello last year HERE.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 20 of 22 games (91 percent) involving Class 2A teams. It is 57 of 65 (88 percent) for the season.

WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
Marked Tree at PIGGOTT (3): Marked Tree junior RB Willie Marshall carried 15 times last week for 165 yards in a 22-8 loss to Class 3A Manila. MT played less than two quarters in its opening 34-0 win over Class 3A Palestine-Wheatley, which lost both QBs early in the game. Class 3A Piggott trailed Class 4A Highland 34-7 at halftime and lost 46-20. Piggott senior specialist Ethan Ralph rushed for 52 yards and returned a kickoff 72 yards for a TD.
Cross County at BARTON (5): CANCELLED Class 3A Barton, which has lost 17 straight games,  is 0-2 this fall vs. Class 2A after a 34-22 loss to Clarendon and a 20-0 loss to Des Arc. Cross County, idle last week, gave up 29 completions for 323 yards and five TDs two weeks ago in a 62-18 loss to Hazen. Cross County senior RB Davie Powell, formerly of Class 3A Hoxie, played limited snaps at Hazen but scored a TD on just two touches.
MCCRORY (14) at Baptist Prep: No. 2 McCrory led Clarendon start to finish last week and won 34-26. McCrory senior QB Cason Campbell passed for 100 yards, ran for 67 yards and scored two TDs. Senior RB Reid Kennon ran for 111 yards and and two TDs. He caught passes for 73 yards and a TD. Class 3A Baptist Prep, idle last week, has shut out Yellville-Summit and Conway Christian. Watch extended highlights of McCrory's win over Des Arc HERE.
E. Poinsett County at CLARENDON (8): Clarendon lost a 34-26 shootout at No. 2 McCrory last week despite senior QB Kaleb Williams completing eight passes for 215 yards and two TDs. He ran for 79 yards and two more TDs. Junior WR Terrance Hampton caught five balls for 158 yards and two TDs. EPC's offense enduring growing pains as sophomores mature. Senior LB Candon Argo and DL Ethan Tucker pace the defense. They led EPC with seven and 10 tackles, respectively, last week in an 18-14 loss to Class 3A Walnut Ridge.
DES ARC (28) at Earle: Earle just lost big to Hazen (38-0) for the fifth time in the past four years, giving up 276 passing yards and two TDs. Third-ranked Des Arc blanked Class 3A Barton 20-0, holding the Bears to 113 yards. Watch extended highlight's of Des Arc's Week 1 loss at McCrory HERE.

4-2A
Conway Christian at PERRYVILLE (29): Class 3A Perryville bounces back from a 35-8 loss to neighbor rival Bigelow. Perryville managed one first down and allowed six sacks. Look for juniors WR/DB Daryn Hubbard and WR Matt Roberts to return this week after missing the first two games with health issues. Conway Christian junior QB Cooper Johnson carried 20 times for 109 yards in a 44-0 loss at Class 3A Atkins. Perryville won this matchup last season 45-18.
HECTOR (3) at Danville: Hector sophomore QB Jackson Taylor completed 15 of 26 passes last week for 126 yards and a TD with one INT in a 39-7 loss to Class 3A Mountain View. Senior Drake Riley caught eight of those passes for 85 yards and a TD. Class 3A Danville's game at Greenland was cancelled. The Little Johns, who topped Mount Ida 49-47 Week 0, are healthy again. They have lost 10 of their past 11 games. 
LAVACA (17) at J.C. Westside: Class 3A Lavaca led Mountainburg just 14-0 with eight minutes remaining last week when it returned a fumble 95 yards and surged to a 35-0 rout. Westside walloped Class 3A Two Rivers 40-6 by rushing for 280 yards, including 134 yards and a TD from senior RB Dakota Beavers. Senior QB Brayden Edwards ran for 76 yards and a TD. He completed five of eight passes for 63 yards and two TDs. Senior LB Brady Funk leads the Rebels in tackles this season.  
HACKETT (8) at Mountainburg: Mountainburg senior FB Gus Newton carried 23 times last week for a team-high 97 yards in a 35-0 loss to Class 3A Lavaca. Class 3A Hackett popped Pocola, Okla., (46-18) for the sixth year in a row with sophomore Cole Ketchum returning an interception 75 yards for a TD, and kickoffs of 77 and 75 yards for TDs.
Quitman at MOUNTAIN VIEW (21): Class 3A Mountain View eyes consecutive wins over Class 2A opponents after handling Hector 39-7 last week. MV senior QB Elijah Carlton led Mountain View with 201 yards and three TDs on nine carries. Quitman was idle last Friday. Two weeks ago, Quitman senior QB/LB Will Litton passed for 146 yards and recorded 10 tackles, while junior Braden Haynes returned a kickoff 74 yards for a TD in a 51-12 loss to Class 3A Melbourne.
MAGAZINE, BIGELOW and YELLVILLE-SUMMIT are open.

5-2A
Mineral Springs at GURDON (35): No. 7 Gurdon rebounded from a 50-7 loss Week 1 to Class 3A No. 1 Prescott to beat Bearden 48-6 last week. Gurdon rolled up 466 yards, and its first-team defense held Bearden to 81 yards. Gurdon senior newcomer Jamal Williams ran 30 yards for a TD, caught a 70-yard TD pass and returned an INT 36 yards for a score. Mineral Springs senior Paul Mitchell caught two TD passes last week in a 33-18 loss to Class 3A Fouke. Sophomore K.T. Thomas passed for two TDs, forced a fumble and made 5.5 tackles. Junior S Ladarius Franklin led MS with eight tackles, including two TFL.
Parkers Chapel at MAGNET COVE (6): Parkers Chapel DNP the Prescott JV last week due to covid quarantines. Magnet Cove amassed 300 yards offense in a 53-7 loss to Class 3A Glen Rose but gave up a punt return for a TD and a 95-yard interception for a TD. MC's lone score came on a 23-yard TD toss from senior QB Evin Ashcraft to classmate Brayden Campbell.
MOUNT IDA (9) at Bearden: Mount Ida's game last week with Class 3A Jessieville was cancelled. It committed six turnovers Week 1 in a 33-14 loss to Class 3A Perreyville. Bearden managed 133 yards last week in a 48-6 loss to Gurdon.
POYEN (25) at Murfreesboro: CANCELLED Murfreesboro ran for 40 yards and lost two fumbles last week in a 20-0 loss to Class 3A Horatio. MHS freshman Ja'Marion Conway recorded eight tackles and two interceptions. Poyen lost 32-14 last week at Class 3A Bismarck. Poyen relies on senior QB Colton Lowe (82 rushing yards last week) and  sophomore Jaedon Zurliene (70 yards).  

6-2A
HAZEN (2) at Stuttgart JV (Tues.): Quick turnaround for Hazen, which walloped Earle (38-0) Friday night for the fifth time in the past four years. Junior QB Luke King has attempted 74 passes over the past two weeks. He completed 25 of 40 at Earle for 276 yards and two TDs. Sophomore Braylon Anderson caught eight of those passes for 107 yards and a TD. The Stuttgart JV has not played this fall but expects to dress 20, including two seniors and seven juniors.
E. Poinsett County at CLARENDON (8): Clarendon lost a 34-26 shootout at No. 2 McCrory last week despite senior QB Kaleb Williams completing eight passes for 215 yards and two TDs. He ran for 79 yards and two more TDs. Junior WR Terrance Hampton caught five balls for 158 yards and two TDs. EPC's offense enduring growing pains as sophomores mature. Senior LB Candon Argo and DL Ethan Tucker pace the defense. They led EPC with seven and 10 tackles, respectively, last week in an 18-14 loss to Class 3A Walnut Ridge. 
Carlisle at LAMAR (25): Carlisle is 0-3 after losses to Class 4A No. 11 Lonoke and CAC and to Class 2A No. 5 Bigelow. In last week's 54-46 loss to CAC, Carlisle rushed for 423 yards with junior FB Jason Sullivan carrying 21 times for 227 yards and three TDs. Lamar will not have injured All-4-4A LB Joe Dalton (18 tackle vs. Gentry Week 1). 
DES ARC (28) at Earle: Earle just lost big to Hazen (38-0) for the fifth time in the past four years, giving up 276 passing yards and two TDs. Third-ranked Des Arc blanked Class 3A Barton 20-0, holding the Bears to 113 yards. Watch extended highlights of Des Arc's Week 1 loss at McCrory HERE.
MELBOURNE (45) at England: England, with an 18-man roster, cancelled its game last week vs. Rison on Friday when a player had covid-like symptoms. Class 3A Melbourne lost to Class 4A Cave City 32-29 in a mild upset and frustrating loss for Melbourne. 

7-2A
Dierks at JESSIEVILLE (6): Dierks, idle last week, has lost to Class 3A Bismarck (48-7) and Horatio (25-21). Dierks took the lead over Horatio 21-19 in the third quarter, but the visiting Lions scored with two second left to win. Junior LB Eli Sharp paced Dierks with 12 tackles. Jessieville lost to Class 4A Harmony Grove Haskell 35-14 Week 1 and was idle last Friday when its game with Mount Ida was cancelled. A year ago, Dierks beat Jessieville 46-28.
Foreman at HORATIO (15): Foreman fell to 0-3 last week with a 28-16 loss to Westville, Okla. Foreman junior QB Hunter Fowler passed for 165 yards and two TDs in his season debut, while senior LB DeJames Powell and junior LB Hayden Ziegler combined for 30 tackles. Class 3A Horatio (3-0) sophomore QB Grayson Porter completed eight of 12 passes for 99 yards in 22-0 win over Murfreesboro. Senior RB Tony Ramirez rushed for 81 yards and a TD, while junior WR Jace Hankins caught four passes for 56 yards.
POYEN (25) at Murfreesboro: CANCELLED Murfreesboro ran for 40 yards and lost two fumbles last week in a 20-0 loss to Class 3A Horatio. MHS freshman Ja'Marion Conway recorded eight tackles and two interceptions. Poyen lost 32-14 last week at Class 3A Bismarck. Poyen relies on senior QB Colton Lowe (82 rushing yards last week) and  sophomore Jaedon Zurliene (70 yards). 
Lafayette County at GENOA CENTRAL (10): This game was scheduled for last week by postponed. 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 Week 1 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.
Mineral Springs at GURDON (35): No. 7 Gurdon rebounded from a 50-7 loss Week 1 to Class 3A No. 1 Prescott to beat Bearden 48-6 last week. Gurdon rolled up 466 yards, and its first-team defense held Bearden to 81 yards. Gurdon senior newcomer Jamal Williams ran 30 yards for a TD, caught a 70-yard TD pass and returned an INT 36 yards for a score. Mineral Springs senior Paul Mitchell caught two TD passes last week in a 33-18 loss to Class 3A Fouke. Sophomore K.T. Thomas passed for two TDs, forced a fumble and made 5.5 tackles. Junior S Ladarius Franklin led MS with eight tackles, including two TFL. 

8-2A
FORDYCE (2) at Monticello: See Game of the Week. 
Hampton at STAR CITY (21): Hampton senior Zy Johnson carried 22 times last week for 168 of the Bulldogs' 249 rushing yards in a 28-20 loss to Class 3A Smackover. Senior LB Mi'Corree Lindsey and and junior LB Tavion Galburt led Hampton with eight tackles apiece. Class 4A Star City was tied 14-14 with Stuttgart Week 1 before a momentum-swinging blocked punt led to an easy score just before halftime for Stuttgart. Watch extended highlights of Star City's Week 0 loss at Stuttgart HERE.  
MOUNT IDA (9) at Bearden: Mount Ida's game last week with Class 3A Jessieville was cancelled. It committed six turnovers Week 1 in a 33-14 loss to Class 3A Perreyville. Bearden managed 133 yards last week in a 48-6 loss to Gurdon.
Junction City at HAYNESVILLE, LA. (10): A pair off small-school powers 31 miles apart clash for the 11th time with Hayesville (1-1) leading the series 8-2. JC has never won at Haynesville, per JC historian Wayne Pumphrey. JC defeated Class 3A Smackover and Lake Village by a combined 74-8 the past two weeks. JC averaged 8.5 yards per attempt en route to 344 rushing yards vs. Lake Village.
Parkers Chapel at MAGNET COVE (6): Parkers Chapel DNP the Prescott JV last week due to covid quarantines. Magnet Cove amassed 300 yards offense in a 53-7 loss to Class 3A Glen Rose but gave up a punt return for a TD and a 95-yard interception for a TD. MC's lone score came on a 23-yard TD toss from senior QB Evin Ashcraft to classmate Brayden Campbell.