Hootens.com Class 4A Rankings
Week 1, 2023
Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, Inc.

1. Malvern (2-2)
2. Warren (3-0)
3. Harding Academy (3-0)
4. Elkins (3-0)
5. Rivercrest (1-2)
6. Nashville (3-1)
7. Arkadelphia (0-3)
8. Gosnell (3-0)
9. Ozark (2-1)
10. Stuttgart (3-1)
11. DeWitt (4-0)
12. H.G. Haskell (2-2)
13. CAC (3-1)
14. Monticello (2-2)
15. McGhee (2-1)
16. Crossett (3-1)
17. Bauxite (2-2)
18. Lamar (3-1)
19. Pottsville (3-1)
20. Ashdown (2-2)
21. Blytheville (1-2)
22. Gentry (2-1)
23. Mayflower (3-0)
24. Lincoln (3-0)
25. Clinton (3-1)
26. Lonoke (1-2)
27. Mena (3-1)
28. Star City (0-4)
29. Trumann (2-1)
30. Hamburg (0-4)
31. Dumas (3-1)
32. Gravette (1-2)
33. Pocahontas (0-3)
34. Heber Springs (1-2)
35. Bald Knob (2-2)
36. Highland (2-1)
37. Huntsville (0-3)
38. Hall Steam (0-3)
39. Green Forest (2-1)
40. Berryville (2-1)
41. Dover (2-1)
42. Riverview (0-4)
43. Jonesboro Westside (0-3)
44. Cave City (0-4)
45. Helena (0-4)
46. Waldron (0-4)
47. Harrisburg (0-3)

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 18 of 22 games (82 percent) involving 4A last week, and for the season has picked 102 of 124 games (83 percent).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 HARDING ACADEMY (3-0) at No. 10 Stuttgart (3-1):
This could decide the league championship. Stuttgart has won conference titles 5 of the 7 years, while Harding Academy has won 4 consecutive league titles (3 in the 2-3A and last year in 2-4A). Harding Academy has won 74 of its past 76 games against in-state opponents. Harding Academy beat Class 3A No. 1 Booneville 51-27 last week after jumping to a 37-13 halftime advantage. Junior QB Owen Miller (19-23 passing, 270 yards, 4 TDs; 5-37 rushing) and junior RB Isaac Baker (10-123 rushing, 2 TDs) led the offense.
Stuttgart has won 3 consecutive games this season after losing to No. 2 Warren in the opener. The Ricebirds ripped Forrest City 27-12 a week ago. RB Matthew Luster (13-104 rushing, 2 TDs) and WR De'Ontae Clark (6-141 receiving, 1) played well on offense, while Kemarion Pickett (10 tackles), Dylan Duncan (7 TFL, 1 fumble recovery) and Demari McKinney (3 TFL, 1 sack) led the defense.

WEEK 4 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

1-4A
ELKINS (3-0) at Gravette (1-2): Elkins has beaten Gravette the past 3 years (by 4 points in 2021 and 14 points in 2022). The Elks are unbeaten and averaging 51 points per game. Senior QB Dizzy Dean (11-14 passing, 236 yards, 3 TD) sparked the 51-10 victory over Class 5A Clarksville 2 weeks ago, while senior RB Da'Shawn Chairs (8-141 rushing, 2 TDs) ran the ball well and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a TD. Gravette lost to Class 5A Prairie Grove by 22 points 2 weeks ago after falling behind 24-0 in the first quarter. Gabriel Holmes ran in 2 TDs and a 2-point conversion.

OZARK (2-1) at Berryville (2-1): Ozark senior QB Koby Wilbanks, a converted receiver, has been the surprise of the conference so far with 8 TDs (5 passing, 3 rushing). WR MJ Parker has 4 TD catches, while LB Eli Gilstrap has 26 tackles. Gavin Gilbreth has 5 sacks on defense, while Parker has 3 interceptions. Berryville's 2 wins this fall equal the win totals from 2021 and 2022. The Bobcats' only loss was by 7 points to Class 3A Greenland in Week 2.

GENTRY (2-1) at Huntsville (0-3): Gentry has won 8 of the past 14 in the series. The Pioneers rolled up 639 yards 2 weeks ago in 23-point win over Class 3A Quitman. Sophomore Talan Williams (16-25 passing, 276, 1 TD; 6-56 rushing) made his first start at QB vs. Quitman. RB Caydon Koons (11-114 rushing, 2 TDs) and Addison Taylor (8-71 rushing, 2 TDs) led a ground attack that piled up 363 yards. Huntsville surrendered more than 400 yards 2 weeks ago in a 38-point loss to Class 5A Pea Ridge.

LINCOLN (3-0) at Green Forest (2-1): Unbeaten Lincoln hasn't played in 2 weeks, since knocking off Mena 45-42. QB Drew Moore threw 3 TD passes (Trace Wallace for 44 yards; Caden Brewer for 17 and 42 yards) in the victory. Green Forest (7 combined wins the past 5 seasons) has beaten Greenland and Cedarville its past 2 games. Senior RB Ridge Gordon-Swofford (28-154 rushing, 3 TDs) and DE Colton Fancher (10 tackles, 1 sack) were vital in last week's 24-8 decision over Cedarville.

2-4A
HARDING ACADEMY (3-0) at Stuttgart (3-1): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.

Riverview (0-4) at LONOKE (1-2): Lonoke must bounce back from a 14-point loss to Forrest City 2 weeks ago. The Jackrabbits surrendered 269 yards rushing. Lonoke RB/WR Jaxson Ingle (a UCA baseball commit) tore his ACL vs. Forrest City and will miss the rest of the season. Winless Riverview lost at Mena last week 45-21, after trailing 38-7 in the third quarter.

HEBER SPRINGS (1-2) at Cave City (0-3): Heber Springs has won all 3 of its previous meetings vs. Cave City, including last season 50-22. Heber Springs ran for 7 TDs (4 different players scored) in last week's 42-8 win at Jonesboro Westside. Westin Warden (4-165, 2 TDs) and Liam Buffalo (4-113, 2 TDs) were Heber Springs' leading rushers. Winless Cave City gave up 373 yards 2 weeks ago in a 42-13 setback to Class 3A H.G. Ouachita County.

OPEN Bald Knob.

3-4A
Pocahontas (0-3) at RIVERCREST (1-2): This will go a long way in determining the conference champion. Rivercrest has won 6 of the past 8 titles, and Pocahontas won conference titles in 2015 and 2021-2022. Both teams are looking to break losing streaks this week. Rivercrest comes in off losses to Class 5A Mills and Valley View by a combined 106-59. Senior Michael Rainer 25-141 rushing, 2 TDs; 10-182 receiving, 3 TDs) is Rivercrest's top offensive performer. Pocahontas has lost to three 5A teams — Southside, Nettleton and Brookland — by a combined 96-35.

Harrisburg (0-3) at BLYTHEVILLE (1-2): Blytheville won 38-0 last season, the first meeting between these programs. That defeat started Harrisburg's current 10-game losing skid. Junior QB Jontavious Johnson (20-48 passing, 404 yards, 2 TDs; 23-240 rushing, 4 TDs) has developed into Blytheville's top playmaker. Senior receivers Tyrin Walker (8-183 receiving, 3 TDs) and Ingram Battles (3-95 receiving) are weapons on the perimeter.

Highland (2-1) at GOSNELL (3-0): Highland has won 2 in a row (beating Riverview and Piggott by a combined 63-24) after losing to Class 3A Walnut Ridge 28-27 in OT in the opener. Junior QB Zac Huckabee has 42 carries for 200 yards and 6 TDs this fall. Gosnell's defense has allowed an average of 10 points per game. Junior LB Vanterrues Lucas has 26 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.

Jonesboro Westside (0-3) at TRUMANN (2-1): Jonesboro Westside has been outscored 123-14 in losses to Class 5A Brookland, Class 3A Hoxie and Heber Springs. Trumann QB Jake Osment has rushed for 361 yards and 4 TDs and passed for 127 yards and 2 TDs this fall, while RB Cade Hatton has rushed for 239 yards and 3 TDs in 2 games; he has 4 interceptions on defense.

4-4A
Hall Steam (0-3) at CAC (3-1): Hall showed improvement in last week's 30-12 setback to Pottsville, a game which was halted in the fourth quarter after an on-field altercation. CAC suffered its first loss, falling 43-42 at H.G. Haskell. Mustangs junior QB Greyson Wilson passed for 266 yards, but CAC yielded 341 yards rushing.

H.G. HASKELL (2-2) at Clinton (3-1): H.G. Haskell rallied past CAC last week 43-42. Senior QB Lane Richardson (7-10 passing, 145 yards, 2 TDs; 2 rushing TDs) played well, Coach Mike Guthrie says. Senior RB Peyton Potter (22-137 rushing, 1 TD) and Maddox Moore (16-96 rushing, 1 TD) banged out tough yards in the Diamond T scheme. Clinton must rebound from last week's 42-35 setback at Mayflower. Sophomore QB Brodie Dufrene passed for 137 yards and 2 TDs, while Zane Widener led the ground attack with 7 carries, 75 yards and 1 TD.

BAUXITE (2-2) at Dover (2-1): Bauxite snapped a 2-game skid with last week's 34-33 win at Lamar. Bauxite threw the winning 55-yard TD pass with less than 2 minutes left, then had a goal line stand at the 1 on the final play. Freshman QB Eli Perry threw the TD pass and also rushed 8 times for 82 yards and 1 TD, while Marcus Wimberly logged 6 carries for 58 yards and 3 TDs. Dover has wins over J.C. Westside (forfeit) and Atkins (28-16), but lost 2 weeks ago to Lamar by 29 points.

Mayflower (3-0) at POTTSVILLE (3-1): Unbeaten Mayflower has been the surprise team in the 4-4A. The Eagles ran for 335 yards in last week's 7-point win over Clinton. QB Frankie Fennell (148 rushing, 3 TDs,) and Arturo Acosta (14-114, 1) led the rushing attack. Pottsville's Miller Mahan scored 2 TDs in last week's 18-point win at Hall Steam, which was halted with less than 8 minutes left in the game after an altercation.

OPEN Lamar

7-4A
NASHVILLE (3-1) at Arkadelphia (0-3): Nashville has won 12 of the past 18 over Arkadelphia, but the Badgers blasted the Scrappers by 37 points a year ago. Both teams eventually advanced to the semifinals. Nashville senior OL Kason Willard has 56 pancake blocks this fall, while senior RB Tre Hopkins has rushed for 339 yards and 4 TDs in 3 games. Zaccheus Harris (26 tackles, 7 sacks) and Omari Benson (28 tackles, 5 sacks) lead Nashville's defense. Arkadelphia is 0-3 for the first time since 2018, but all the losses are to Class 5A teams — Camden Fairview, Hot Springs and Texarkana. Coach Trey Schucker has been disappointed in his offense so far, but senior safety Nick Williams, LB Chase Vantilborg, sophomore LB Quintavion Morris, junior DL Nykkisson Wimberly and sophomore DL Skyler McClure and Whit Alderson have stood out.

ASHDOWN (2-2) at Waldron (0-4): Waldron is on a 10-game losing streak dating back to last fall, and Ashdown has lost 2 in a row after a 2-0 start. Mansfield returned 2 fumbles and an interception for TDs in a 5-minute span to pull away from Waldron 48-6 a week ago. Waldron pulled within 21-6 on Robert Rhinehart's run in the third quarter before the barrage of mistakes. Ashdown has lost its past 2 games — to Hope and Idabel, Okla. by a combined 29 points.

OPEN Malvern, Mena


8-4A

McGehee (2-1) at WARREN (3-0): McGehee must regroup after last week's 21-12 loss to Monticello, when the Owls committed 2 turnovers that led to Monticello TDs. Coach Marcus Haddock says DE Cateryun Harmlo played well. Warren whipped Star City 44-7 a week ago. Sophomore QB Jackson Denton (10-18 passing, 308, 4 TDs) made big plays, along with WR Cam Davis (2-153 receiving, 2 TDs).

DEWITT (4-0) at Star City (0-4): Star City has beaten DeWitt 18 of the 20 times they've played. But Star City is winless and allowing 37 points per game this fall. DeWitt dumped Helena last week 49-20 after jumping to a 42-6 advantage in the second quarter. Dragons RBs Korri Graham (8-73 rushing, 3 TDs) and Jarrod Daniels (6-28 rushing, 2) were workhorses in the backfield.

Dumas (3-1) at HAMBURG (0-4): Hamburg has won 12 of the past 21 meetings, but Dumas has won 3 consecutive games this fall, including 34-12 last week over Class 3A Lake Village. Senior QB Joseph Jones ran for 3 TDs, while junior Tylan Bell ran in 2 TDs. Junior FS Chancey Dale intercepted 1 pass and recovered 1 fumble. Senior LB Jerry McGehee registered 8 tackles. Hamburg is winless this fall after last week's 41-20 loss to Ashley County rival Crossett. The Lions gave up 413 yards. Peyton Sellers (11.5 tackles) led the defense, while RB Willis Robinson (19-160-2) paced Hamburg's offense.

Helena (0-4) at MONTICELLO (2-2): Monticello has won 11 of the past 15 over the Cougars. Monticello used 2 second-half turnovers last week to stop McGehee 21-12. Tejon Tensley made 12 tackles, recovered 1 fumble and swiped 1 crucial interception in the fourth quarter. Laytn Nichols (15 tackles) and Blaine Hayden (9 tackles) were key to the Billies defense, while senior QB Brooks Bowman (10-15 passing, 199 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Evan Bealer (5-106 receiving, 1) sparked the offense.

OPEN Crossett