Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 4, 2011
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Magazine (3-0)
2. Danville (2-1)
3. Junction City (2-1)
4. Bearden (2-0)
5. Strong (2-0)
6. Mineral Springs (3-0)
7. Carlisle (3-0)
8. E. Poinsett County (3-0)
9. Spring Hill (3-0)
10. Magnet Cove (3-0)
11. Hackett (1-2)
12. Horatio (2-1)
13. Hazen (2-0-1)
14. England (2-1)
15. Bigelow (1-1-1)
16. McCrory (1-2)
17. Salem (3-0)
18. Parkers Chapel (1-2)
19. Walnut Ridge (1-2)
20. Mountainburg (3-0)
21. Des Arc (1-2)
22. Cross County (2-1)
23. Augusta (1-1-1)
24. Clarendon (1-2)
25. Hampton (2-1)
26. Murfreesboro (2-1)
27. Marked Tree (2-1)
28. Gurdon (2-1)
29. Quitman (2-1)
30. Conway Christian (1-2)
31. Mount Ida (1-2)
32. Dierks (2-1)
33. Woodlawn (0-3)
34. Norphlet (1-2)
35. Union Christian (1-2)
36. Cedar Ridge (0-3)
37. Mountain Pine (0-3)
38. J.C. Westside (1-2)
39. Two Rivers (2-1)
40. Foreman (0-3)
41. Palestine-Wheatley (0-2)
42. Poyen (1-2)
43. Hector (1-2)
44. Decatur (1-2)
45. Western Yell County (0-3)
46. Marvell (0-3)
47. Hartford (0-3)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Bearden at No. 5 Strong
This early-season 8-2A showdown features Strong QB Kenneth Dixon (5-11, 205) and Bearden QB Defonta Lowe (6-3, 190). Dixon is a horse who carried 28 times for 296 yards and three TDs last week in a 26-20 win over Smackover. Dixon runs behind a super-sized line that averages 260 pounds. Bearden counters with Lowe, a University of Arkansas commit, who has rushed for 272 yards and four TDs in two games. Bearden was idle last week. Senior strongside LB Blaine Word paces Bearden with 22 tackles, followed by senior weakside LB Tyler Crouse (20 tackles) and senior end C.J. Reynolds (three sacks). Bearden leads the overall series 36-16, according to Bearden historian Jackie Bevill. Bearden jumped Strong early last year and blew out the Bulldogs 55-6.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KARZ (Z42 in Little Rock), Suddenlink Cable 22 in Northeast Arkansas and On Demand in Northwest Arkansas (Cox Ch. 644).

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 24 of 30 (80 percent) games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com is 79-23 (77 percent) for the season.

WEEK 4 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
MARKED TREE (5) at Augusta: Augusta's team speed did not help it much last week against Cross County's massive front in a 16-14 loss. Marked Tree is not as big as Cross County but the Indians have more team speed. Cross County's defense stopped Marked Tree just one time Week 2, securing a 38-36 victory with 10 seconds in the game.
Walnut Ridge at MCCRORY (4): McCrory has dropped back-to-back tough losses to league favorite EPC (34-14) and No. 13 Hazen (14-6). Starting quarterback Collin Campbell (shoulder) and tackle Jemar Clark (knee) missed the Hazen game, severely limiting the McCrory offense. Both should be ready to go ready to go this week. Junior RB Logan Best paces McCrory with more than 500 rushing yards.
E. POINSETT COUNTY (15) at Cross County: Cross County tries to shorten this game with its ball-control Power I attack, featuring four linemen who average 290 pounds. EPC allows just 250 yards and 15 points per game. Senior linebacker A.J. Turner leads the EPC defense with 63 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, and an interception. The EPC running game averages 8.9 yards per carry.
Cedar Ridge at SALEM (15): Salem climbs to No. 17 in the 2A rankings after taking down Class 4A Jonesboro Westside and 3A Yellville-Summit and Piggott. Salem's improved team speed shows on a defense that has allowed 25 total points in three weeks. Salem sophomore QB Dillon Turner works behind a big, strong line and distributes the football to playmakers: senior halfback Nick Gaskins, junior Blake Hensley and sophomore J.J. Gray.

4-2A
DANVILLE (39) at Western Yell: Second-ranked Danville just trying to get healthy before No. 1 Magazine comes to town next week for a rematch of last year's state title game won by Magazine 48-20.
HACKETT (35) at Decatur: No one could blame No. 11 Hackett for venting Friday night after enduring a 56-0 beating last week from top-ranked Magazine. Magazine held Hackett to 152 yards, while it rushed for 489 yards on the Hornets.
J.C. Westside at MOUNTAINBURG (20): Mountainburg starts 3-0 again this year. The Dragons ran to a 5-0 start in 2010 before losing four of six to end the season. The Dragons play at Danville a week after the Little Johns play No. 1 Magazine. Hackett visits Mountainburg the following Week 7. Hackett defeated Mountainburg 26-20 a year ago.
Union Christian at MAGAZINE (42): No. 1 Magazine averages 459 yards and 49 points per game. Its defense has been just as impressive, holding Subiaco Academy to negative 5 yards rushing and Hackett to 152 total yards.

5-2A
CONWAY CHRISTIAN (10) at Two Rivers: Conway Christian moved the football well and scored in a 49-20 loss at 2-3A member Arkansas Baptist, a 46-43 loss to Quitman and a 46-6 win over 5-3A Cutter M. Star. No. 30 Conway Christian outscores No. 39 Two Rivers this week.
Poyen at BIGELOW (28): No. 15 Bigelow getting healthy again for first time since the first half of Week 1 tie (14-14) with rival Perryville. Poyen trailed No. 10 Magnet Cove 40-0 at halftime last week. Bigelow ran for 285 yards a week ago in an impressive 43-15 victory at Quitman.
QUITMAN (15) at Mountain Pine: Quitman put up 46 points two weeks ago on Conway Christian, but bogged down last week in a 43-15 loss to Bigelow.
Parkers Chapel at MAGNET COVE (6): Magnet Cove has not been tested this fall, running roughshod over Mount Ida 34-13, Mountain Pine 40-6 and Poyen 53-8. Senior all-state running back Jeff Pinkston runs behind a pair of quick guards and large tackles Blake Bratton (6-2, 285) and Forest Irons (6-1, 245). Magnet Cove may find the going more difficult against a Parkers Chapel defense anchored by senior tackle Randy Taylor (30 tackles, nine sacks) and junior LB Evan McKinnon (35 tackles). Parkers Chapel just endured the Class 2A Upset of the Week, losing at Hampton 34-21. Parkers Chapel starting TE/DE Eric White (6-3, 200), QB/S Craig Rich (back), WR/CB Ryan Fitzpatrick and a linebacker missed most or all of the game. They should return this week.

6-2A
HAZEN (10) at Des Arc: Hazen jumps up to No. 13 after winning last week at hobbled McCrory, which was missing its starting QB and left tackle. Hazen senior running backs Matt Tenison and Cameron Vail combined for 207 rushing yards at McCrory.
Marvell at CARLISLE (35): Carlisle sophomore sensations Deron Ricks and Bo Weddle combined for 159 yards and three TDs last week in a 31-8 blowout of 2-3A member Barton. Marvell dresses just 14 players, but sophomore QB Roosevelt Johnson (6-4, 200) could play for the better programs in the state.
Palestine-Wheatley at ENGLAND (48): No. 14 England on collision course with No. 8 Carlisle Week 6 at England.
CLARENDON (13) at Woodlawn: Clarendon got its first win of 2011 last week over winless Drew Central 47-13. Woodlawn slips to 0-4.

7-2A
Foreman at SPRING HILL (22): No. 9 Spring Hill quietly 3-0 with wins over three 7-3A teams with a combined record of 1-8. Foreman sophomore Ty Bates leads the Gators in tackles and is the second leading rusher behind junior fullback Eddie Batey (5-9, 230).
MINERAL SPRINGS (22) at Mount Ida: Mount Ida stormed Class 3A No. 38 Lavaca 38-7 last week for its first win of the season. Mineral Springs' explosive offense averages 55 points per game.
MURFREESBORO (6) at Dierks: Murfreesboro missed three key (injured) players last week in a 22-19 loss to 5-3A Centerpoint, including leading rusher Brannon Buck (ankle). Senior QB Tyler Krumnow was limited passing, completing two of four attempts for 20 yards and a TD with an interception. Both should play this week at Dierks.
HORATIO (1) at Gurdon: No. 12 Horatio fell to Idabel, Okla., last week 24-14 (after leading 14-0 in the second quarter) in its first test of the fall. Gurdon compares favorably to Idabel in size and talent.

8-2A
BEARDEN (3) at Strong: See 2A Game of the Week.
HAMPTON (8) at Norphlet: Hampton took a big step toward the playoffs last week by upsetting Parkers Chapel 34-21 behind a sterling performance by all-conference QB Justin Calcote. The senior completed eight of 16 passes for 159 and three TDs and ran for 133 yards and a TD. "He could play for a lot of teams," PC coach Mark King says. "He throws and runs well, cuts well. He hurt us." Hampton seniors Mikey Garcia and Zach Jernigan had 75 and 76 yards in receptions, respectively. Senior Mark Sumler intercepted two passes.
CLARENDON (13) at Woodlawn: Clarendon got its first win of 2011 last week over winless Drew Central 47-13. Woodlawn slips to 0-4.
Parkers Chapel at MAGNET COVE (6): Magnet Cove has not been tested this fall, running roughshod over Mount Ida 34-13, Mountain Pine 40-6 and Poyen 53-8. Senior all-state running back Jeff Pinkston runs behind a pair of quick guards and large tackles Blake Bratton (6-2, 285) and Forest Irons (6-1, 245). Magnet Cove may find the going more difficult against a Parkers Chapel defense anchored by senior tackle Randy Taylor (30 tackles, nine sacks) and junior LB Evan McKinnon (35 tackles). Parkers Chapel just endured the Class 2A Upset of the Week, losing at Hampton 34-21. Parkers Chapel starting TE/DE Eric White (6-3, 200), QB/S Craig Rich (back), WR/CB Ryan Fitzpatrick and a linebacker missed most or all of the game. They should return this week.
JUNCTION CITY is open.