Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 6, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Junction City (4-1)
2. Bearden (3-2)
3. Carlisle (4-0)
4. Rison (3-2)
5. E. Poinsett County (5-0)
6. Gurdon (5-0)
7. Hackett (5-0)
8. Norphlet (4-1)
9. Mineral Springs (3-2)
10. Salem (5-0)
11. Walnut Ridge (3-1)
12. Parkers Chapel (2-3)
13. Magnet Cove (4-1)
14. McCrory (3-1)
15. Strong (3-2)
16. Conway Christian (4-1)
17. Mountainburg (4-1)
18. Dierks (4-1)
19. Bigelow (4-0)
20. Murfreesboro (3-2)
21. Quitman (3-2)
22. Foreman (3-2)
23. England (4-1)
24. Mount Ida (2-3)
25. Hazen (3-2)
26. Marked Tree (2-2)
27. Magazine (2-3)
28. Des Arc (3-2)
29. Cross County (2-2-1)
30. Augusta (2-3)
31. Clarendon (1-4)
32. Cutter M. Star (3-2)
33. Hampton (0-3)
34. Decatur (2-3)
35. Hector (2-3)
36. J.C. Westside (2-3)
37. Brinkley (0-5)
38. Spring Hill (1-4)
39. Woodlawn (0-5)
40. Poyen (0-5)
41. Union Christian (0-5)
42. Palestine-Wheatley (1-4)
43. Mountain Pine (0-5)
44. Cedar Ridge (0-5)
45. Hermitage (1-4)
46. Marvell (0-5)
47. Western Yell County (0-5)
48. Hartford (0-5)
49. Lafayette County (0-5)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Norphlet at No. 4 Rison
Tradition-rich Rison prides itself on superb defense and special teams. The Wildcats have intercepted eight passes over the past two weeks, more than they recorded all of last season. Jordan Mason has four of those interceptions, and the junior returned one for a TD two weeks ago in a 49-14 win over Parkers Chapel. All-league senior DT Terrell Gray (6-3, 265) spearheads the front, Rison's team strength. Gray has 15 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and an interception this fall. Rison QB Nathan Wilson completed six consecutive passes for TDs over three games (three vs. Woodlawn, two vs. Parkers Chapel and one vs. Hermitage). Scrappy Norphlet counters with an explosive offense that features senior QB Mike Tipton and a strong supporting cast of playmaking skill players. Tipton passed for 208 yards and four TDs last week in a 43-26 win at Murfreesboro. When a play break down, Tipton gets creative. He ran for 56 yards and a TD last week at Murfreesboro. Against Parkers Chapel, Tipton avoided a sack, scrambled and eventually completed a 23-yard pass to De'Onte Rodgers during an 11-play, 67-yard drive to secure the win. All-league WR Vincent Hegler paced the Leopards at Murfreesboro with 13 receptions for 133 yards.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs at 8:30 Saturday mornings on KARZ 42 (Little Rock) and Fox 24 (Fayetteville/Fort Smith), featuring top players and teams from across the state.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 22 of 25 games (88 percent) involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com has picked 133 of 157 (85 percent) games this season.

WEEK 6 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
E. POINSETT COUNTY (12) at McCrory: EPC rallied to beat Walnut Ridge 42-40 last week, and two defensive stands ironically decided the game. EPC held Walnut Ridge at the 1-yard line at the end of the first half and at the end of the game. EPC sophomore QB Aaron Scales has completed 31 of 54 passes for 483 yards and nine TDs with no interceptions. He has rushed for another 254 yards and seven TDs. Watch highlight's of McCrory's win over Manila now on hootens.com.
SALEM (42) at Cedar Ridge: Salem's defensive front of David Tarpley (6-0, 210), Augustus Freeman (6-2, 200), Hunter Medling (5-8, 170) and Marcus Cagle (6-3 260) are hard to block. Not as big as last year's D line but quicker, more explosive.
WALNUT RIDGE (18) at Cross County: Walnut Ridge led EPC for 46 minutes last Friday night before losing 42-40. Walnut Ridge senior QB Zach Crisler has completed 33 of 62 passes for 458 yards and seven TDs. Two-time All-3-2A linebacker Rowdy Ditto (37 tackles) paces the defense.
Augusta at MARKED TREE (6): Marked Tree won this matchup 48-7 in 2011. Marked Tree topped Cedar Ridge 42-12 last week and rushed for 209 yards two weeks ago in a 42-point loss to Salem.

4-2A
Hartford at J.C. WESTSIDE (35): J.C. Westside rebounds from 13-point loss at Decatur.
Hector at MOUTAINBURG (21): Mountainburg just too big and physical up front with behemoth Stephen Stearman (6-5, 305) leading the way.
MAGAZINE (35) at Western Yell County: Magazine wins third straight after an 0-3 start.
HACKETT (38) at Union Christian: Hackett cruising through the 4-2A with showdown next week against Mountainburg for league title. Last week, Hackett junior QB William Thomas completed nine of nine passes for 277 yards and three TDs in a 46-0 blowout of Western Yell. The Hackett defense, paced by senior LB Aaron Ramey, forced five turnovers.
McDonald County, Mo. JV at DECATUR (1): Decatur flying high after beating J.C. Westside 41-28 last week in its first step to reaching playoffs for the first time since 1997. Decatur sophomore QB Victor Urquidi ran for 213 yards and four TDs and passed for another TD last week against the Rebels.

5-2A
Mountain Pine at BIGELOW (35): No. 19 Bigelow's defense has allowed 27 points this fall. Bigelow travels to Magnet Cove in two weeks.
MT IDA (2) at Conway Christian: Mount Ida senior RB/LB Josh Hall (ankle) tries to run at a Conway Christian defense that does not defend the run real well. Mount Ida failed to convert in the red zone last week in a 20-6 loss to Bigelow. Senior center Matt Austin spearheads a Conway Christian line that has allowed all-league QB Tanner Stevenson to complete 72 of 117 passes for 1,129 yards and 14 TDs.
Quitman at MAGNET COVE (10): No. 13 Magnet Cove averaged just 18 ppg its first three games. The Panthers are up and running again the past two weeks with the return of senior Pearson Wade (shoulder) to center and DT. His return allowed Zach Garrett to go back to left guard. Junior right tackle Forest Irons (knee) is healthy again. As a result, Magnet Cove has averaged 42 ppg and 380 yards the past two weeks. No. 21 Quitman's Spread features all-state RB Allen Mannon, who rushed for 237 yards and five TDs last week in a 40-30 win over upstart Cutter Morning Star.
Poyen at CUTTER M. STAR (8): Cutter Morning Star is the most improved team in the 5-2A, could earn its first playoff berth in three years.

6-2A
CARLISLE (56) at Brinkley: No. 3 Carlisle has not been tested since winning Week 3 at Class 3A Osceola 22-18. Rival Hazen visits Fred Hardke Field next week.
ENGLAND (48) at Marvell: England sophomore QB Tyrik Harris improves weekly. England coach Terry Farmer defeated his former team Palestine-Wheatley (20 wins and quarterfinal appearances in 2003-2004), 50-30 last week.
HAZEN (10) at Clarendon: Clarendon tries avenge last year's 58-14 loss at Hazen. Hazen torched Brinkley 64-0 last week.
Palestine-Wheatley at DES ARC (18): Des Arc stays in the race for second place in the 6-2A.

7-2A
Dikers at MINERAL SPRINGS (2): No. 9 Mineral Springs did not play well last week in a 46-20 loss to Gurdon. (See highlights now on hootens.com). Mineral senior TB Rashad Williams left the game with an injured ankle, forcing QB Kendrick Langston to running back and sophomore Tyler Villegas to QB. Villegas responded by completing 12 of 17 passes for 122 yards and a TD. Dierks QB Adam Bradshaw triggers an explosive offense that also features downhill runners all-league RB Remington Jester (328 yards, six TDs vs. Foreman) and junior Andy Tedder. Mineral Springs has outscored Dierks 86-25 over the past two season.
JUNCTION CITY (35) at Spring Hill: Senior QB Shaq Hunter completed five of eight passes last week for 131 yards and two TDs in a 62-0 romp over winless Hampton. No. 1 Junction City has won 13 straight conference games. Senior LBs Hayden Smith and Will Houston pace the Dragons with 45 tackles apiece. Sophomore playmaker Jamario Bell has four receptions for 95 yards and three TDs, 34 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack.
Murfreesboro at GURDON (18): Gurdon is the most physical team in the 7-2A, and junior QB Austin Kirkpatrick runs the offense like a senior. Kirkpatrick has completed 40 of 62 passes (65 percent) for 667 yards and nine TDs with two interceptions. He's rushed for another 450 yards and six TDs. Highlights of Gurdon's win last week at Mineral Springs can be seen now on hootens.com.
Lafayette County forfeits to FOREMAN (2).

8-2A
Norphlet at RISON (13): See Game of the Week.
JUNCTION CITY (35) at Spring Hill: Senior QB Shaq Hunter completed five of eight passes last week for 131 yards and two TDs in a 62-0 romp over winless Hampton. No. 1 Junction City has won 13 straight conference games. Senior LBs Hayden Smith and Will Houston pace the Dragons with 45 tackles apiece. Sophomore playmaker Jamario Bell has four receptions for 95 yards and three TDs, 34 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack.
Hermitage at BEARDEN (42): Tip of the hat to the Hermits who are playing with just 11 players. No. 2 Bearden pulled away from Parkers Chapel last week by turning five second-half Trojan turnovers into 31 unanswered points and a 51-14 victory.
PARKERS CHAPEL (4) at Strong: In 2011, Parkers Chapel was the last team to beat Strong (19-14) before Strong and Kenneth Dixon ripped off seven straight to capture the school's first state title. Parkers Chapel RB Philip Hay ran 37 times for 147 yards in that win. A week ago, Hay rushed 24 times for 189 yards and two TDs in a 37-point loss to Bearden.
WOODLAWN (2) at Hampton: Teams are combined 0-8 and were shut out by a combined 101-0 last week.