Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 3A, Week 5, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC

1. Booneville (2-2)
2. Prescott (4-1)
3. Harmony Grove Ouachita County (3-2)
4. Charleston (1-3)
5. Salem (5-0)
6. Hoxie (5-0)
7. Walnut Ridge (4-1)
8. Mansfield (4-0)
9. Magnet Cove (4-0)
10. Newport (2-3)
11. Bismarck (3-1)
12. Junction City (3-2)
13. Glen Rose (2-2)   
14. Hackett (2-2)
15. Fordyce  (2-3)
16. Lavaca (4-0)
17. Fouke (3-2)
18. Gurdon (2-3)
19. Perryville (3-2)
20. Yellville-Summit (3-1)
21. Barton (2-3)
22. Osceola (0-5)
23. Rison (0-4)
24. Quitman (1-3)
25. Smackover (3-2)
26. Paris (2-2)
27. West Fork (1-3)
28. Drew Central (1-4)
29. Melbourne (1-3)
30. Centerpoint (1-3)
31. Greenland (1-3)
32. Jessieville (2-2)
33. Lake Village (1-2)
34. Manila (2-2)
35. Atkins (0-5)
36. Cedarville (0-4)
37. Horatio (1-3)
38. Palestine-Wheatley (2-2)
39. Danville (0-4)
40. Piggott (0-5)
41. Two Rivers (0-4)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 18 of 19 games (95 percent) involving Class 3A teams. Hootens.com has correctly predicted 111 of 141 games (79 percent) this year.

WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (Favored team highlighted and CAPS)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 5 SALEM (5-0) at No. 10 Newport (2-3)

Both teams picked up wins last week — Salem 56-14 over Atkins and Newport 30-22 over Quitman. Elijah Romine (15-245 rushing, 3 TDs) and Kaden Brink (11-102 rushing) led Salem's attack. Newport's defense stopped Quitman 7 of 10 times on fourth down, including a goal-line stand to win the game. Newport's offense scored 3 times on plays of longer than 40 yards. Newport took last year's matchup 44-28 on Sept. 30.

3A NONCONFERENCE

2A England (3-1) at QUITMAN (1-3): Quitman, coming off a 30-22 loss to No. 10 Newport, looks to get back on track against Class 2A England. Quitman held Newport to 287 total yards. Offensively, Quitman was led by QB Jordon Payne-Moore (24-106 rushing) and Greyson Ealy (4-137 yards receiving, 1 TD).

Rison (0-4) at 2A BIGELOW (5-0): Rison looks for its first win against an undefeated 2A Bigelow team. It will be the first football matchup between the schools. Rison comes in off a 49-12 loss to No. 6 Hoxie.

No. 7 Walnut Ridge (4-1) at No. 3 HARMONY GROVE OUACHITA COUNTY (3-2):

This nonconference matchup pits 2 teams ranked among the Class 3A top 10. Walnut Ridge won its fourth consecutive game, 43-0 over Palestine-Wheatley. Enrique Perez (281 yards rushing) led the Bobcats on offense and helped them earn the shutout. Harmony Grove Ouachita County beat Drew Central 46-12 with Caleb Johnson (5-103 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and Damarion Billingly (12-106, 1 TD) leading the offense. Quentin Jones (11 tackles) and Damien Burns (9 tackles, fumble return for TD) sparked a defense that held Drew Central to 148 total yards, including 1 yard in the second half.

1-3A

No. 1 BOONEVILLE (2-2) at West Fork (1-3): Booneville, which has won the past 6 meetings between the schools, beat Hackett 46-14 last week, and Dax Goff (64-608 rushing) and Rylen Ray (59- 275 rushing) added to their season totals. The Bearcats starting defense held Hackett scoreless. West Fork lost 38-8 to No. 8 Mansfield this past week. West Fork’s last win over Booneville was 23-21 back in October of 2009.

No. 4 CHARLESTON (1-3) at Cedarville (0-4): Charleston got its first win, 51-9 over Greenland last week. QB Carter Little (9-11 passing, 143 yards, 3 TDs) connected with Eli Huck, Emiliano Gaona and Maddix Terry for scores. Terry also added 4 tackles, 1 for loss, and 2 sacks on defense for the Tigers. Cedarville, coming off a 49-0 loss to Lavaca, has lost the past 15 matchups to Charleston, dating back to September of 2006.

No. 8 MANSFIELD (4-0) at Greenland (1-3): Mansfield defeated West Fork 38-8 to remain unbeaten. Daniel Burton (8-182 rushing, 3 TDs; 11 tackles, 2 TFL) led Mansfield on both sides of the ball. Dakota Deer (11 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack) and Tyler Turnipseed (5 tackles, 2 INTs., punt return for TD) were the top performers on defense. Greenland, which beat Mansfield 19-13 last season, comes in off a 51-9 loss to Charleston.

Lavaca (4-0) at HACKETT (2-2): Lavaca continued its unbeaten streak with a 49-0 shutout last week against Cedarville. The offensive line played well protecting QB Cutler Winters (16-18 passing, 201 yards, 2 TDs). Michael Barwick (99 rushing, 2 TDs) also had a good outing for the Golden Arrows. Hackett dropped its most recent game against No. 1 Booneville 46-14. Lavaca has won the past 2 matchups in the series.

2-3A

Melbourne (1-3) at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (3-1): Melbourne, off a bye week, hasn't played since a 42-14 home loss to No. 6 Hoxie. Yellville-Summit suffered its first loss, 20-0, against Perryville. Melbourne has won the past 5 matchups, including a 44-0 shutout last season.

PERRYVILLE (3-2) at Atkins (0-5): Perryville beat Yellville-Summit 20-0 last week for its second win in a row. Atkins is still winless after Friday's 56-14 loss to No. 5 Salem. Davyn Bowden (5-58 receiving, 1 TD) was a bright spot for the Red Devils.

3-3A

No. 6 HOXIE (5-0) at Palestine-Wheatley (2-2): Hoxie continues to ride hot this season, including last week's 49-12 win over Rison. QB Kayden Glenn (8-11 passing, 158, 2 TDs; 162 rushing, 2 TDs), Camden Brooks (49 rushing, 1 TD) and Jake Jones (86 receiving, 1 TD) led the way. Palestine-Wheatley lost to No. 7 Walnut Ridge 43-0 this past weekend. Hoxie won this matchup 55-6 last year, and has won the past 3 meetings between the schools.

OSCEOLA (0-5) at Piggott (0-5): Osceola lost 48-20 to Kossuth, Miss. last week. Piggott comes off in off a 42-14 loss to Manila. Will Lucas (116 receiving, 2 TDs; 59 rushing) and Ben Latimer (18-29-199 passing, 2 TDs) led the Mohawks. Osceola has won 5 in a row in the series, including 64-0 last season.

4-3A

Jessieville (2-2) at GLEN ROSE (2-2): Jessieville lost 46-6 against Bismarck last week; Glen Rose evened its season record with a 56-6 victory over Paris. Glen Rose QB Rein Bland (6-12 passing, 102 yards, 1 TD), Draven McSpadden (1-1, 65 yards passing, 1 TD; 81 yards receiving), Paxton Long (8-108 rushing, 2 TDs) and Carson Dhane (4-74 rushing, 2 TDs) led the Beavers. Noah Draper and Hunter Chapman both had fumble recoveries.

BISMARCK (3-1) at Paris (2-2): Bismarck beat Jessieville 46-6 this past week and looks to continue holding a strong presence in the 3A classification. Paris lost 56-6 to Glen Rose. Last season, Bismarck dominated 55-0 over Paris.

Danville (0-4) at CENTERPOINT (1-3): The Little Johns, seeking their first win, will try to bounce back from a 44-0 loss against No. 9 Magnet Cove. Centerpoint dominated Two Rivers 40-6 last week for its first win. The teams have split their past 2 meetings, with Danville taking winning 48-13 last year.

No. 9 MAGNET COVE (4-0) at Two Rivers (0-4): Undefeated Magnet Cove beat Danville 44-0 last week, while winless Two Rivers comes off a 40-6 loss against Centerpoint. Magnet Cove has won the past 3 matchups between these teams, including 49-14 last year.

5-3A

No. 2 PRESCOTT (4-1) at Junction City (3-2): Prescott enters off a 52-7 win over Gurdon. QB Pierce Yates (11-11 passing, 185 yards, 4 TDs), Jah’Noah Harris (75 rushing, 1 TD), D’Wayne White (72 receiving, 2 TDs), and Jaylen Johnson (52 rushing, 1 TD) led the Curley Wolves. Junction City beat Fouke 55-20. Prescott beat Junction City by that identical score, 55-20, last season.

FOUKE (3-2) at Horatio (1-3): Fouke had a 2-game winning streak end in a 35-point loss to Junction City. Horatio's game was a 42-38 loss to 2A Lafayette County. Fouke has won 5 of the past 6 against Horatio. The Lions' last win in the series was 16-3 in October of 2007.

6-3A

FORDYCE (2-3) at Drew Central (1-4): Fordyce won its second game, beating Barton 29-28 in OT. Carmilo Allen (10 tackles), Akeem Allen (11 tackles), and Brenden Simmons (9 tackles) led the Fordyce defense. Brenton Sledge (184 rushing, 1 TD) was Fordyce's leader on offense. Drew Central lost 46-12 to Harmony Grove Ouachita County; Fordyce beat Drew Central 50-24 in last year's matchup.

Lake Village (2-2) at BARTON (2-3): Lake Village is coming off a 42-14 win against Leland, Miss. Aquavious Dunbar (10-176 rushing, 5 TDs, 2-point conversion; 5 tackles, 2 TFL) led the Beavers on both sides of the ball. Barton lost 29-28 to Fordyce in OT last week. Ne’Taveus Johnson (125 rushing, TD; 74-yard kickoff return TD) led the Bears. Terrion Davis (5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack) was the leader of a Bears defense that forced 5 Fordyce turnovers.

OPEN: Manila, Smackover, Gurdon