Hootens.com Class 3A Rankings

Week 5, 2024

1. Prescott (4-0)

2. Booneville (4-0)

3. Newport (4-0)

4. Rivercrest (4-0)

5. Walnut Ridge (4-0)

6. Fordyce (4-0)

7. Bismarck (4-0)

8. Salem (2-2)

9. Charleston (2-2)

10. Rison (4-0)

11. Osceola (2-1)

12. McGehee (2-2)

13. Mansfield (2-2)

14. Centerpoint (4-0)

15. Mayflower (4-0)

16. Harmony Grove OC (2-2)

17. Glen Rose (1-3)

18. Perryville (3-1)

19. Atkins (3-1)

20. Melbourne (3-1)

Not Ranked:

1-3A: Cedarville (1-3), Greenland (2-2), Hackett (2-2), Lavaca (2-2), West Fork (0-4).

2-3A: Episcopal (0-4), Mountain View (2-2), Quitman (2-2), Yellville-Summit (2-2).

3-3A: Harrisburg (0-4), Hoxie (1-3) Manila (0-4), Piggott (0-4)

4-3A: Cutter Morning Star (0-4), Danville (1-3), Jessieville (3-1), Magnet Cove (2-2), Paris (2-2), Two Rivers (0-4)

7-3A: Fouke (3-1), Horatio (1-3), Parkers Chapel (1-3), Smackover (2-2)

8-3A: Barton (2-2), Drew Central (0-4), Lake Village (1-3), Palestine-Wheatley (2-1), Dumas(1-3)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 4 Rivercrest (4-0, 1-0) at NO. 3 NEWPORT (4-0, 1-0)

Rivercrest beat Harrisburg 40-14 to open conference play, with Jayden Young (2 TDs, including 80-yard punt return TD), Cavonta Washington (14-yard rushing TD; 38-yard passing TD) and Jakavion Williams (2 TDs; returned INT 42 yards for TD) led the the Colts. Newport beat Piggott 56-18 with QB Luke Reynolds (6-8 passing, 64 yards, 2 TDs; 11-107 rushing, 2 TDs), RB Kiandrea Barker (11-111 rushing, 1 TD) and Nemo Crite (2-53 rushing, 2 TDs) leading the offense. Jack Sampson (13 tackles), Antonio Ross (11 tackles) and Tyler Ridley (11 tackles) anchored the defense. “This game will be a great indicator of exactly where we are as a program right now,” Newport Coach Brian Reardon says. “Win or lose Friday night, I think we'll have an idea if we deserve to be in the conversation with these top teams.”

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 23 of 24 games (96 percent) involving 3A teams.

WEEK 4 PREDICTIONS (Favored team highlighted and CAPS)

1-3A

NO. 2 BOONEVILLE (3-0, 1-0) at Hackett (2-2, 0-1) Booneville started conference with a 49-0 win over Cedarville. QB Jace Washburn (3-4 passing, 83 yards, 1 TD; 4-91 rushing, 1 TD) and WR Dakota Mattson (2-60 receiving, 1 TD) led the offense. The defense forced 3 turnovers and allowed 47 total yards. Booneville is looking for its fourth win a row over Hackett, which lost to Mansfield 36-6 last Friday.

Mansfield (2-2, 1-0) at NO. 9 CHARLESTON (2-2, 1-0): Mansfield defeated Hackett 36-6 last Friday to win its conference opener. Daniel Burton (7-153 rushing, 3 TDs) led the way. LB Zander Walters (9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 2 QB hurries) anchored the defense. Charleston, which beat West Fork 36-14 last Friday, has won 4 in a row over Mansfield, which last defeated Charleston in 2019.

West Fork (0-4, 0-1) at LAVACA (2-2, 1-0): West Fork, which fell to Charleston 36-14 last week, has lost 6 of its past 7 games going back to the end of last season. Lavaca pulled off a 49-42 win over Greenland last week. The Golden Arrows blocked a punt in the fourth quarter and returned it 1 yard short of the goal line to set up a game-tying score. Then, Lavaca defense returned a fumble for the go-ahead TD to seal the win. QB Cutler Winters (21-38 passing, 392 yards, 3 TDs) led on offense.

GREENLAND (2-2, 0-1) at Cedarville (1-3, 0-1): Greenland lost 49-42 in a fourth-quarter battle with Lavaca last week. The Pirates were ahead in the final minutes before Lavaca managed to turn a blocked punt and then a strip on defense into 2 TDs. Cedarville lost 49-0 to Booneville last week. The teams have split the past 4 meetings.

2-3A

Episcopal (0-4, 0-1) at NO. 8 SALEM (2-2, 1-0): Episcopal, which hasn’t won since Oct. 27 of last fall, lost to Atkins 49-6 last Friday. Salem beat Melbourne 36-3 to break a 2-game losing streak. This will be the first Salem-Episcopal matchup.

MAYFLOWER (4-0, 1-0) at Yellville-Summit (2-2, 0-1): Mayflower beat Mountain View 42-0 last Friday behind QB Tre Cockerham (52 yards passing; 7-54 rushing, 2 TDs), Devon Davis (29 -189 rushing, 4 TDs) and Kam Willis (2-53 receiving). Teegan Adams (7 tackles) and Travis Phelps (5 tackles) led. the defense. Yellville-Summit fell to Quitman 40-14. Noah Cantrall (6-9 passing, 107 yards; 15-112 rushing) and Kyloh Koksma (22-113 rushing) led on offense.

MELBOURNE (3-1, 0-1) at Quitman (2-2, 1-0): Melbourne opened conference with a 33-point loss to Salem. Quitman beat Yellville-Summit 40-14 behind QB Jordon Moore-Payne (11-13 passing, 167 yards, 3 TDs; 18-123 rushing, 2 TDs); and Jaxon Varvil (15 tackles).

ATKINS (3-1, 1-0) at Mountain View (2-2, 0-1): Atkins opened conference with a 49-6 win over Episcopal. QB Cole Crawford (10-18 passing, 141 yards, 2 TDs; 6-43 rushing, 1 TD), Jayden Martin (15-105 rushing, 1 TD) and Mason Martin (17-159 rushing, 2 TDs) led the Red Devils. Mountain View fell to Mayflower 42-0 last week. Atkins has won the past 2 games against Mountain View.

3-3A

NO. 5 WALNUT RIDGE (4-0, 1-0) at Osceola (2-1, 1-0): Walnut Ridge scored its second shutout, beating Manila 38-0. QB Jersie Cunningham (20-230 rushing, 3 TDs) and RB Enrique Perez (8-52 rushing, 2 TDs) led. Osceola, which has won 4 of the past 5 in the series, comes in off a 44-7 win over Hoxie.

Manila (0-4, 0-1) at HOXIE (1-3, 0-1): Manila totaled 91 yards in its 38-0 loss to Walnut Ridge. Hoxie, looking to rebound from a 44-7 loss to Osceola, is off to its worst since 2016. Hoxie has defeated Manila 7 consecutive times.

HARRISBURG (0-4, 0-1) at Piggott (0-4, 0-1): Harrisburg looks to end a 21-game losing streak dating back to 2022. Piggott lost to third-ranked Newport 56-18, but it held a 12-8 lead in the first quarter. The teams have split the past 4 meetings.

4-3A

GLEN ROSE (1-3, 1-0) at Magnet Cove (2-2, 0-1): Glen Rose, off to its worst start since going 2-8 in 2014, beat Two Rivers 35-7 last week. Magnet Cove fell to Jessieville 37-30. Glen Rose has won 6 in a row over the Panthers.

PERRYVILLE (3-1, 1-0) at Danville (1-3, 0-1): Perryville held Cutter Morning Star to 57 offensive yards in a 45-0 win. Connor Frith (8-119 rushing, 1 TD) and Jacob Saugey (15-163 rushing, 3 TDs) led the offense; Noah Grisaffe (5 tackles) anchored the defense. Danville, which has yielded 40 or more points in 3 consecutive games, fell to Paris 41-13 last Friday.

JESSIEVILLE (3-1, 1-0) at Two Rivers (0-4, 0-1): QB Dalton Ellison (29 carries, 205 yards, 3 TDs) and Jacob Graves (98 yards rushing, 2 TDs) led the Lions in their 37-30 win over Magnet Cove. Jacob Marques (12 tackles) was a defensive stalwart. Two Rivers, coming off a 35-7 loss to Glen Rose, has lost 6 consecutive to Jessieville.

PARIS (2-2, 1-0) at Cutter Morning Star (0-4, 0-1): Paris produced 589 offensive yards in its 41-13 win over Danville last Friday with QB Josh Honea (12-20 passing, 175 yards, 1 TD), Jestin Churchman (18-201 rushing, 2 TDs) and Demitri Capo (12-109 rushing, 3 TDs) leading the way. Cutter Morning Star gained 57 yards in a 45-0 loss to Perryville.

7-3A
NO. 1 PRESCOTT (4-0, 1-0) at Horatio (1-3, 0-1): Prescott trailed 8-7 after 1 quarter before beating Fouke 43-8 in its 7-3A opener. QB Decari Prater (1 passing TD; 1 rushing TD), Dwayne White (1 rushing TD), KJ Page (1 rushing TD) and Javion Dixon (1 rushing TD) scored for the Curley Wolves, who held Fouke to 4 offensive yards in the second half. Horatio fell to Centerpoint 36-16..

NO. 7 BISMARCK (4-0, 1-0) at Smackover (2-2, 0-1): Bismarck, off to a 4-0 start for the second time in 18 seasons, comes in off a 55-8 win over Parkers Chapel. QB Ben Keithley (4-8 passing, 111 yards, 3 TDs), Preston Hughes (3-33 rushing, 2 TDs) and Caedmon Keithley (3-77 receiving, 3 TDs) led the offense. Keithley (6 tackles) and Blake Cranford (6 tackles) led the defense. Smackover lost its second game in a row after a 2-0 start, falling to Harmony Grove OC 50-42 last week.

HARMONY GROVE OC (2-2, 1-0) at Fouke (3-1, 0-1): Harmony Grove Ouachita County defeated Smackover 50-42 behind Damien Burns (17-155 rushing, 3 TDs), Damariyon Billingly

 (17-102 rushing, 1 TD) and Logan Nipp (7-97 rushing, 1 TD) led the offense. Keegan Jones (13 tackles) and Dannon Vint (9 tackles) fortified the defense. Fouke fell to Prescott 43-8 last week after holding an 8-7 lead over Class 3A’s No. 1 team after the first quarter.

CENTERPOINT (4-0, 1-0) at Parkers Chapel (1-3, 0-1): Beau McGough rushed for 2 TDs and had 3 tackles, including 1 for a loss, in Centerpoint’s 36-16 win over Horatio 36-16 last Friday. Centerpoint Coach Cary Rogers says Tate Spray and Braxton Drye played well on both lines. Parkers Chapel lost to Bismarck 55-8 last week. This will be the first matchup between Centerpoint and Parkers Chapel.

8-3A

MCGEHEE (2-2, 1-0) at Lake Village (1-3, 0-1): McGehee evened its record and opened conference with a 49-0 win over Drew Central 49-0. Lake Village fell to Dumas 28-6 last week. The Beavers have lost 3 in a row after opening with a win over West Bolivar (Miss.). McGehee has won 5 in a row over Lake Village.

Drew Central (0-4, 0-1) at NO. 6 FORDYCE (4-0, 1-0): Drew Central fell 49-0 to McGehee last week, and it has lost 7 in a row dating back to last fall.  Fordyce opened conference beating Barton 42-6. QB Cadillac Ellison (5-7 passing, 188 yards, 2 TDs; 1 rushing TD), Micah Gamble (3-57 rushing, 1 TD) and Jamartez Stroud (3-157 receiving, 2 TDs) led the offense. Brenden Simmons (5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT for 83-yard TD 83) was the defensive star.

Dumas (1-3, 1-0) at NO. 10 RISON (4-0, 1-0): Dumas beat Lake Village 28-6 for its first win. QB Darnail Walker (7-12 passing, 161 yards, 2 TDs; 2 rushing TDs) and WR Marcus Kilgore (4-116 receiving, 2 TDs) led the offense. Donald James (9 tackles, 1 INT) and Da'Shawn Norah (5 tackles, 4 forced fumbles) led the defense. Rison defeated Palestine-Wheatley 24-0 behind Keyshaun Haywood (17-106 rushing, 1 TD), Kyson Walker (8-96 rushing, 1 TD)  and defensive leader Thomas Wilson (12 tackles).

Palestine-Wheatley (2-1, 0-1) at BARTON (2-2, 0-1): Palestine-Wheatley will try to bounce back after its 24-0 loss to Rison. Barton comes in off a 42-6 loss to Fordyce. The Bears have won the past 5 matchups against Palestine-Wheatley and scored 60 points against them last season.