Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 5, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Poyen at No. 16 Dierks
A year ago, Poyen beat Dierks 21-12 in the regular season and 48-26 in the second round of the playoffs. In 2021, Poyen's offense revolves around senior Colton Lowe (6-2, 200), who completed five of 11 passes last week for 61 yards and a TD in a 34-14 loss to Class 3A Mountain View. Poyen ran for 239 yards (6.1 YPC) with Lowe carrying 22 times for 151 yards and a TD. Junior RB Jaedon Zurliene toted 14 times for 76 yards. Improving Dierks counters with senior RB Konnor Shelton and junior RB Eli Sharp who erupted for a combined 275 rushing yards two weeks ago in a 48-33 loss to Class 3A Jessieville. Shelton topped 100 yards last week in a 41-26 win over Magnet Cove.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 11 of 14 games (79 percent) involving Class 2A teams. It is 87 of 101 (86 percent) for the season.

WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
E Poinsett County at MCCRORY (17): A week ago, top-ranked McCrory fed Marked Tree a steady diet of senior RB Reid Kennon. Kennon carried 17 times for a career-high 292 yards and three TDs in a 36-16 road win. Senior LB Lathan Briley led McCrory with 11 tackles and a sack. EPC was idle last week after losing 48-0 Week 3 at third-ranked Clarendon. EPC sophomore RB Dennis Gaines ran 19 times for 89 yards in the loss.
Marked Tree at EARLE (2): MT FORFEITS. Earle amassed more than 400 rushing yards last week in a 22-19 win over Cross County. MT senior Aiden McGuire passed for 103 yards and ran for two TDs in a 36-16 loss to McCrory. Junior Willie Marshall ran for 75 yards yards. MT won this matchup 44-42 a year ago.
England at CROSS COUNTY (8): Both teams looking for their first win of the season. Missing five starters due to covid quarantines, Cross County lost to Earle 22-19 last week. CC senior QB A.J. Beale ran for 130 yards and a TD and passed for 170 yards and two TDs. Junior WR Kaiden Taylor caught passes for 120 yards and two TDs in the loss. England was idle last week.  

4-2A
BIGELOW (35) at Yellville-Summit: No. 4 Bigelow opened league play last week with a 52-14 blowout of Magazine. Bigelow senior RB Hunter Alexander (11 YPC) caught a 55-yard TD pass and forced four turnovers at linebacker. Senior LB Kaden Terrell leads Bigelow this fall with 43 tackles and six TFL. Junior Josiah Johnson has made 39 tacks with nine TFL and five sacks. Y-S rolled up more than 300 rushing yards between red zones last week in a 13-0 loss at Hector but could not overcome six holding penalties inside the Hector 35-yard line and three turnovers. Junior Jayven Keymer and sophomore Landon Keiter both topped 100 rushing yards. 
QUITMAN (16) at JC Westside: Quitman senior QB Will Litton nearly perfect last week in a 52-8 win over Conway Christian, completing eight of nine passes for 98 yards and two TDs. Junior RB Trevor Hensley carried four times for 101 yards and two TDs. JCW senior RB Dakota Beavers carried 19 times for 161 yards and caught five  passes for 61 yards in a 12-8 loss at Mountainburg. JCW could not overcome 12 penalties for 135 yards, including a holding call that negated the go-ahead TD. 
Conway Christian at HECTOR (29): Hector got past Yellville-Summit 13-0 last week when junior LB Drake Riley recorded 13 tackles and an interception. Hector forced three turnovers. Junior DE Blaze Manrique recovered a fumble and senior S Kevin Heflin intercepted two passes. CC junior QB Cooper Johnson played well in a 52-8 loss to Quitman, passing and running for a combined 116 yards and a TD.
MAGAZINE (14) at Mountainburg: Mountainburg mustered less than 200 yards last week but prevailed over JC Westside 12-8. Mountainburg senior ATH Noah Johnson punted three times for a 42-yard average. Magazine passing game was better last week in a 52-14 loss to Bigelow. James Haugh caught four passes for 100 yards in the loss.   

5-2A
DES ARC (6) at Mount Ida: Des Arc was open last week after overcoming three turnovers while holding Earle to 95 total yards Week 3 in a 12-6 win. All-state LC Cooper Childers paced DA with 10 tackles. MI led Mineral Springs 36-0 at halftime and won 42-0 with senior Baylor Bates running for 154 yards and four (first-half) TDs. Senior DB A.J. Perez intercepted and pass and recovered a fumble while sophomore DT Payton Dorrell recorded three sacks.
Magnet Cove at HAZEN (13): Hazen last played Tuesday, Sept. 14, slamming the Stuttgart JV 36-0. Hazen junior QB Luke King has completed 96 of 139 passes (69 percent) this fall for 1,138 yards and 13 TDs. Junior LB Collin Kee leads the Hornets with 40 tackles, including 13 TFL and six sacks. Magnet Cove fell behind 21-0 last week at Dierks and lost 41-26. Senior RB Brett Williams carried 16 times for 120 yards and two TDs in the loss.
POYEN (2) at Dierks: See Game of the Week.
GURDON (28) at Hampton: Hampton's 55-7 loss two weeks ago to Class 4A No. 13 Star City could look better as the weeks progress. Star City just blanked Class 4A Monticello 10-0. Hampton dressed 17 Monday night at Lafayette County. Gurdon quietly emerging as a contender in the 5-2A after coaches picked it to finish last in the preseason poll. Senior RB C.J. Dickerson (626 rushing yards) puts the go in the Go-Devils this fall. He carried 15 times last week for 200 yards and five TDs in a 49-12 win over Foreman.

6-2A
DES ARC (6) at Mount Ida: Des Arc open last week after overcoming three turnovers while holding Earle to 95 total yards Week 3 in a 12-6 win. All-state LC Cooper Childers paced DA with 10 tackles. MI led Mineral Springs 36-0 at halftime and won 42-0 with senior Baylor Bates running for 154 yards and four (first-half) TDs. Senior DB A.J. Perez intercepted and pass and recovered a fumble while sophomore DT Payton Dorrell recorded three sacks.
Magnet Cove at HAZEN (13): Hazen last played Tuesday, Sept. 14, slamming the Stuttgart JV 36-0. Hazen junior QB Luke King has completed 96 of 139 passes (69 percent) this fall for 1,138 yards and 13 TDs. Junior LB Collin Kee leads the Hornets with 40 tackles, including 13 TFL and six sacks. Magnet Cove fell behind 21-0 last week at Dierks and lost 41-26. Senior RB Brett Williams carried 16 times for 120 yards and two TDs in the loss.
Carlisle at FORDYCE (6): Carlisle, open last week, lost two weeks ago to Class 4A No. 38 CAC 55-46. Senior LB Michael Staton recorded 10 tackles, one TFL, a sack and a fumble recovery in the loss. Fordyce has lost back-to-back games for the first time since dropping three straight at the end of the 2018 regular season. The Redbugs had won 22 consecutive before losing two weeks ago to Class 4A Monticello (26-7). It lost last week to Clarendon (32-21), giving up 288 rushing yards to four different 'backs and a 35-yard TD reception to CHS senior ATH Quuncey McAdoo. A year ago, Fordyce defeated Carlisle 47-14. Watch extended highlights of Fordyce wins earlier this season over Class 3A Rison HERE and at Class 3A Camden Harmony Grove HERE.
England at CROSS COUNTY (8): Both teams looking for their first win of the season. Missing five starters due to covid quarantines, Cross County lost to Earle 22-19 last week. CC senior QB A.J. Beale ran for 130 yards and a TD and passed for 170 yards and two TDs. Junior WR Kaiden Taylor caught passes for 120 yards and two TDs in the loss. England was idle last week.
CLARENDON is open.

7-2A
POYEN (2) at Dierks: See Game of the Week.
BEARDEN (3) at Lafayette County : Neither team played last week when Lafayette County's game with visiting Hampton was postponed until Monday night. Missing its starting QB, LC led Hampton 21-8 at halftime but finished the game with 11 healthy Cougars in a 34-21 loss. Bearden was open. Common opponent: Gurdon, which beat LC 60-18 and Bearden 48-6.
FOREMAN, MINERAL SPRINGS and MURFREESBORO are open.

8-2A
Carlisle at FORDYCE (6): Carlisle, open last week, lost two weeks ago to Class 4A No. 38 CAC 55-46. Senior LB Michael Staton recorded 10 tackles, one TFL, a sack and a fumble recovery in the loss. Fordyce has lost back-to-back games for the first time since dropping three straight to end the 2018 regular season. The Redbugs had won 22 consecutive before losing two weeks ago to Class 4A Monticello (26-7). It lost last week to Clarendon (32-21), giving up 288 rushing yards to four different 'backs and a 35-yard TD reception to CHS senior ATH Quincey McAdoo. A year ago, Fordyce defeated Carlisle 47-14. Watch extended highlights of Fordyce wins earlier this season over Rison HERE and Camden Harmony Grove HERE.
GURDON (28) at Hampton: Hampton's 55-7 loss two weeks ago to Class 4A No. 13 Star City (3-1) could look better as the weeks progress. Star City just blanked Class 4A Monticello 10-0. Hampton dressed 17 Monday night at Lafayette County and trailed 21-8 at halftime but rallied for a 34-21 win. Gurdon quietly emerging as a contender in the 5-2A after coaches picked it to finish last in the preseason poll. Senior RB C.J. Dickerson (626 rushing yards) puts the go in the Go-Devils this fall. He carried 15 times last week for 200 yards and five TDs in a 49-12 win over Foreman.
BEARDEN (3) at Lafayette County:  Neither team played last week when Lafayette County's game with visiting Hampton was postponed until Monday night. Bearden was open. Common opponent: Gurdon, which beat LC 60-18 and Bearden 48-6.
PARKERS CHAPEL and JUNCTION CITY are open.