hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 5, 2020
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 14 of 15 games (93 percent) involving Class 2A teams. It is 80 of 103 (78 percent) for the season.

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 7 Dierks at No. 5 Poyen
Poyen opened the season ranked No. 11; Dierks at No. 15. Both are undefeated and looking for a marquee victory. Dierks owns wins over Class 3A No. 21 Jessieville (46-28) and shorthanded Magnet Cove (36-6). Poyen pummeled Class 3A No. 26 Genoa Central (40-8) and shorthanded Murfreesboro (43-6). Dierks averages 356 rushing yards per game. It has attempted just 10 passes this fall. Senior LB Austin Hansen (28 tackles) leads a defense that has allowed 159 yards and 8.5 points per game. Poyen counters senior QB Jaxson Carter and slotback Brandon Sanchez, both of whom are producing all-state numbers. Carter has completed 69 percent of his passes for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions. He has rushed for another 268 yards and four TDs. Sanchez has turned 16 receptions into 512 yards and 10 TDs. Junior linebackers Tony Nannemann and Colton Lowe pace Poyen with 43 and 38 tackles, respectively. Watch extended highlights of Poyen's 35-0 non-conference win at Drew Central HERE.

3-2A
MCCRORY (13) at E. Poinsett County: McCrory linemen Buck Neal, Amare Smith, Clay Hollowell, Lathan Briley, Ashton Yeager and Hayden Fields cleared the way for 513 yards of offense last week in a 52-36 win over Marked Tree. But the Jaguars are looking for answers in  the secondary after Marked Tree passed for 285 yards and four TDs. Watch extended highlight's of McCrory's non-conference loss to Clarendon HERE. EPC junior free safety intercepted two passes, while senior QB Preston Rains ran for 96 yards and passed for 103 yards in a 32-12 win over Cedar Ridge.  
Earle at MARKED TREE (12): Marked Tree led McCrory 30-28 at halftime last week but lost 52-36 despite senior QB Brennon Honeycutt completing 16 of 31 passes for 285 yards and four TDs with two INTs. Junior end B.J. Marshall caught three passes for 117 yards and two TDs. Earle has dropped three straight since its 22-20 win Week 1 over Class 4A Helena. Earle managed 178 yards last week in a 20-6 loss to Cross County.
CROSS COUNTY (19) at England: Winless England was off last week when it was scheduled to play host to Junction City. Cross County just held Earle to 178 yards in a 20-6 win. CC junior A.J. Beale rushed for 133 yards and two TDs and caught a 53-yard TD pass. Senior Antoine Richardson ran for 101 yards.
CEDAR RIDGE (1) at Mineral Springs (Sat.): This game came about Thursday and is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. Cedar Ridge will make the four-hour drive to Mineral Springs, which lost 28-0 last week at Mount Ida. Cedar Ridge stayed close to EPC for a half in a 32-12 loss. Senior OLB Connor Teague forced a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a TD, while junior QB Connor Cossey ran for more than 100 yards and one TD in the loss.

4-2A
Mountainburg at MAGAZINE (6): Magazine mustered 103 yards of offense last week in a 35-0 loss to undefeated Bigelow, while Mountainburg overcame four turnovers and penalties that negated two TDs to beat J.C. Westside 20-6. Mountainburg junior QB Noah Johnson carried 14 times for 236 yards and a TD. Watch extended highlights of Magazine's 38-23, non-conference win at Cutter Morning Star HERE.
JC Westside at QUITMAN (20): Westside is improved over 2019 with junior QB Brayden Edwards surrounded by solid skill players and a junior-dominated line. Quitman crushed  Conway Christian 42-0 last week when junior QB Will Litton completed 18 of 25 passes for 290 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Trevor Locke caught 10 passes for 133 yards and three TD, and he intercepted two passes.
Yellville-Summit at BIGELOW (38): No. 8 Bigelow, picked seventh in 4-2A by league coaches and No. 36 (last) in Class 2A by hootens.com, looks like the conference favorite now at 5-0 and fresh off a 35-0 win over defending 4-2A champion Magazine. Junior QB Keithlin Brown, RB Hunter Alexander and senior TB Brayden Jones run behind a solid veteran line, and senior WR Nic Orr can snag jump balls. Brown returned a punt 99 yards for a TD on Magazine. The Bigelow defense allows 7 ppg with a different defender atop the tackle chart each week. Last week, senior TE/DE Vincent Hurtado paced the Panthers with 13 tackles, including four TFL. Jones also returned an interception 45 yards for a TD.
Hector at PARIS (10): Two Rivers canceled on Paris, while Conway Christian canceled on Hector. This game was agreed to at noon Friday. Class 3A Paris led Mayflower 28-0 at halftime of last week's 35-7 win over Mayflower. Paris leans on its big offensive line (five starters average more than 270 pounds) weekly. Junior QB Chase Watts threatens defenses via the run and the pass. Hector's lone loss came Week 2 to Class 3A Mountain View 46-27. A week ago, seniors Ty Day, Gunner Garrison and Jacob Casto and junior Mason Reid combined for 251 rushing yards and five TDs in a 43-6 win over Yellville-Summit. 

5-2A
Dierks at POYEN (8): See Game of the Week.
Hampton at GURDON (28): Second-ranked Gurdon’s first-team defense held Foreman, with its massive O line, to 13 yards last week in a game it led 35-0 at halftime and won 35-16. Senior LB Armando Harper leads the Go-Devils in tackles this season. Hampton ended a two-game losing skid with a 37-8 victory over winless Lafayette County. Watch extended highlights of Gurdon's shootout loss to Class 3A Prescott HERE. Hampton senior FB Cymeon Blair carried 20 times for 158 yards and a TD, while senior QB Ashton Rice ran for 134 yards and a TD. For the season, senior Easton Welch and sophomore Zy Johnson pace the Hampton defense with 30 tackles apiece.
Cutter M Star at MURFREESBORO (21): Murfreesboro sophomore QB Sloan Perrin (torn labrum on non-throwing shoulder) was cleared to play Friday afternoon, entered the game with Murfreesboro trailing Parkers Chapel 16-6 and proceeded to rally the Rattlers with 24 unanswered points in the second quarter. Perrin completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and a TD, and he ran four times for 12 yards and two TDs in the 36-22 win. CMS allowed 300 rushing yards to Class 3A No. 24 Mountain View in a 46-16 loss. Watch extended highlights of CMS's non-conference loss to Magazine HERE.
Mount Ida at DES ARC (22): No. 4 Des Arc was idle last week after rushing for 287 yards and leading Earle 43-6 at halftime two weeks ago. Junior DE Chance Eldridge leads Des Arc in tackles this fall. Mount Ida, one of just four 2A teams to already play five games, shut out Mineral Springs in an ugly affair where both teams combined for 60 yards and two first downs in the first half. MI junior RB Baylor Bates ended up rushing for 145 yards and three TDs, while sophomore Jack Hoeksema recorded his fifth interception of the year.
MAGNET COVE is open. Watch extended highlights of Magnet Cove's non-conference win over Murfressboro HERE.

6-2A
Mount Ida at DES ARC (22): No. 4 Des Arc was idle last week after rushing for 287 yards and leading Earle 43-6 at halftime two weeks ago. Junior DE Chance Eldridge leads Des Arc in tackles this fall. Mount Ida, one of just four 2A teams to already play five games, shut out Mineral Springs in an ugly affair where both teams combined for 60 yards and two first downs in the first half. MI junior RB Baylor Bates ended up rushing for 145 yards and three TDs, while sophomore Jack Hoeksema recorded his fifth interception of the year.
Marvell at HAZEN (15): Both teams were open last week. Marvell was last seen two weeks ago making statewide headlines by upsetting Class 3A Baptist Prep 24-20 on the road with 17 players and one coach. Hazen has not played since whipping Earle 42-8 Week 2 when it amassed 251 rushing and 154 passing yards in that rout.
FORDYCE (33) at Carlisle: Top-ranked Fordyce easily passed its last road test, 51-16 a week ago at No. 6 Clarendon with senior Ja'Quez Cross rushing for 103 yards and a TD. Leading tackler, junior Trey Merritt (31 stops), carried  twice for 58 yards and a TD and caught two passes for 36 yards and a TD. Cross averages a ridiculous 33 yards per reception this fall, catching just 12 passes for six TDs. Cross averages 10 yards per rush. Watch extended highlights of Fordyce's win over Monticello HERE and its win at Class 3A Rison HERE. Carlisle counters with a rushing attack that grinds out 300 yards per game. Senior Collin Jinks, junior Gage Parker and sophomore Jason Sullivan all topped 100 yards rushing last week in a 60-0 shutout of Strong. Sullivan and Parker ran for four and three TDs, respectively.
CROSS COUNTY (19) at England: Winless England was off last week when it was scheduled to pay host to Junction City. Cross County just held Earle to 178 yards in a 20-6 win. CC junior A.J. Beale rushed for 133 yards and two TDs and caught a 53-yard TD pass. Senior Antoine Richardson ran for 101 yards.
CLARENDON is open. Watch extended highlights of the Lion's 54-46 win at McCrory HERE.

7-2A
Dierks at POYEN (8): See Game of the Week.
CEDAR RIDGE (6) at Mineral Springs (Sat.): This game came about Thursday and is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. Cedar Ridge will make the four-hour drive to Mineral Springs, which lost 28-0 last week at Mount Ida. Cedar Ridge stayed close to EPC for a half in a 32-12 loss. Senior OLB Connor Teague forced a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a TD, while junior QB Connor Cossey ran for more than 100 yards and one TD in the loss.
Cutter M Star at MURFREESBORO (21): Murfreesboro sophomore QB Sloan Perrin (torn labrum on non-throwing shoulder) was cleared to play Friday afternoon, entered the game with Murfreesboro trailing Parkers Chapel 16-6 and proceeded to rally the Rattlers with 24 unanswered points in the second quarter. Perrin completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and a TD, and he ran four times for 12 yards and two TDs in the 36-22 win. Watch extended highlights of Murfreesboro's season-opening loss at Magnet Cove HERE. CMS allowed 300 rushing yards to Class 3A No. 24 Mountain View in a 46-16 loss. Watch extended highlights of CMS's non-conference loss to Magazine HERE.
Lafayette County at BEARDEN (4): Bearden was idle last week, while Lafayette County managed 221 yards and committed four turnovers in a 37-6 loss at Hampton.
FOREMAN is open. Watch extended highlights of Foreman's 30-12 loss at Junction City HERE.

8-2A
FORDYCE (33) at Carlisle: Top-ranked Fordyce easily passed its last road test, 51-16 last week at No. 6 Clarendon with senior Ja'Quez Cross rushing for 103 yards and a TD. Leading tackler, junior Trey Merritt (31 stops), carried  twice for 58 yards and a TD and caught two passes for 36 yards and a TD. Cross averages a ridiculous 33 yards per reception this fall, catching just 12 passes for six TDs. Cross averages 10 yards per rush. Carlisle counters with a rushing attack that grinds out 300 yards per game. Senior Collin Jinks, junior Gage Parker and sophomore Jason Sullivan all topped 100 yards rushing last week in a 60-0 shutout of Strong. Sullivan and Parker ran for four and three TDs, respectively.
Lafayette County at BEARDEN (4): Bearden was idle last week, while Lafayette County managed 221 yards and committed four turnovers in a 37-6 loss at Hampton.
Hampton at GURDON (28): Top-ranked Gurdon’s first-team defense held Foreman, with its massive O line, to 13 yards last week in a game it led 35-0 at halftime and won 35-16. Senior LB Armando Harper leads the Go-Devils in tackles this season. Hampton ended a two-game losing skid with a 37-8 victory over winless Lafayette County. Hampton senior FB Cymeon Blair carried 20 times for 158 yards and a TD, while senior QB Ashton Rice ran for 134 yards and a TD. For the season, senior Easton Welch and sophomore Zy Johnson pace the Hampton defense with 30 tackles apiece.
JUNCTION CITY is open. Watch extended highlights of Dragon's non-conference win over Foreman HERE.
PARKERS CHAPEL is open.