Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 5A, Week 6, 2023
Copyright Seventy Seven’s Publishing

1. LR Parkview (5-0)
2. Pine Bluff (5-1)
3. Shiloh Christian (4-1)
4. Valley View (4-1)
5. Joe T. Robinson (4-1)
6. Hot Springs (4-1)
7. Mills (5-1)
8. Southside (5-0)
9. White Hall (3-2)
10. Alma (4-1)
11. Nettleton (4-1)
12. HS Lakeside (3-2)
13. Camden Fairview (3-2)
14. Wynne (2-3)
15. Morrilton (4-2)
16. Texarkana (4-1)
17. Harrison (3-2)
18. Maumelle (3-2)
19. Farmington (2-3)
20. Magnolia (3-2)
21. Dardanelle (3-2)
22. Pea Ridge (4-1)
23. Brookland (2-3)
24. Prairie Grove (2-3)
25. Batesville (1-5)
26. Beebe (2-4)
27. Hope (2-3)
28. Forrest City (1-4)
29. Vilonia (0-5)
30. Watson Chapel (0-6)
31. Paragould (1-4)
32. Clarksville (0-5)
33. De Queen (0-5)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 13 of 16 games (81 percent) involving 5A teams, and for the season has correctly predicted 100 of 120 games (83 percent).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Mills (5-1; 3-1) at PINE BLUFF (5-1; 4-0): This game helps decide playoff seeding, maybe even the 5A Central championship.

Mills must shake last week's 34-28 setback at Maumelle. The Comets fell behind by 2 touchdowns early and never recovered. Senior QB Achillies Ringo threw 2 TD passes and ran for another TD at Maumelle, while big-play senior Akyell Madison hauled in 2 TDs. Dylan Parks caught a 16-yard TD pass and threw a 65-yarder to Madison on a double-pass trick play.
Pine Bluff has won 5 in a row, including last week's defensive battle at Beebe (20-14). The Zebras ran 23 times for 49 yards, but was bailed out by their defense (5 sacks, 3 turnovers on downs and 1 interception). Senior Courtney Crutchfield (8 receptions, 125 yards) scored all 3 Zebras TDs, including the winning one on 4th-and-21. Senior Austin Dendy recorded a tackle on 4th-and-goal from the 3 in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

WEEK 6 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

5A CENTRAL
Mills (5-1; 3-1) at PINE BLUFF (5-1; 4-0): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week, above.

WHITE HALL (3-2; 2-1) at Morrilton (4-2; 3-1): White Hall has spent 2 weeks recovering from a 31-27 loss at Mills. The Bulldogs were up 27-16 after Kylon Davis' 9-yard TD run with 6 minutes left. Bulldogs QB Noah Smith passed for 125 yards and 1 TD at Mills, but threw 2 interceptions, while senior Jayden Smith ran for 167 yards and 1 TD. Morrilton scored 2 defensive scores (safety and blocked punt for TD) in the first quarter of last week's 44-13 victory at Watson Chapel. Sophomore QB Maddox Berry (9-12-145-4) played well in the first half as the Devil Dogs built a 44-6 advantage.

Maumelle (3-2; 1-2) at JOE T. ROBINSON (4-1; 3-0): Maumelle sophomore QB Andrew Bjork directed an 11-play drive late in the fourth quarter last week to propel the Hornets to a 34-28 win over previously unbeaten Mills. Bjork threw 2 TD passes (including the game-winner to Elijah Newell) and ran for a TD. Joe T. Robinson has won 4 in a row since dropping the opener to Class 6A Pulaski Academy. Senior Kaleb Jones and junior Jakob Coleman each caught TD passes in last week's 36-15 victory at Vilonia, while senior Nick Abrams ran 6 times for 66 yards and 1 TD.

BEEBE (2-4; 0-4) at Vilonia (0-5; 0-3): Vilonia has won 13 of the past 18 over Beebe, but the Eagles are searching for their first victory this season. They trailed Joe T. Robinson 22-0 at halftime last week before losing 36-15. The Eagles turned the ball over 5 times, but the defense created 4 turnovers. Hunter Wells ran for a TD and threw a 20-yard TD pass vs. Joe T. Robinson. Beebe failed to score on 3 possessions inside Pine Bluff's 10-yard line in the second half of last week's 7-point loss.

OPEN Watson Chapel (0-6; 0-4)

5A EAST
VALLEY VIEW (4-1; 2-0) at Wynne (2-3; 1-1): Wynne is 7-2 all-time vs. Valley View. The Yellowjackets hung with unbeaten Southside last week (tied at 7-7 in the third quarter) before losing 28-14. Wynne's Abdul Fall earned a winning effort for his blocking from Coach Clay Totty, recording 5 knockdown blocks. Braylon McDowell (10 tackles) and Brayden Mattox (6 tackles; 2 of 2 on extra points) also played well. Valley View has won 4 in a row, and the Blazers outscored Paragould and Forrest City the past 2 weeks by a combined 96-27. Senior RB Zane Guthrie (8-41-2). sophomore Peyton Hicks (13-55) and Anthony Feliz (7-55) helped the Blazers control the clock last week vs. Forrest City.

SOUTHSIDE (5-0; 2-0) at Brookland (2-3; 0-2): Unbeaten Southside is winning with defense. The Southerners beat Wynne 28-14 last week with senior Isaac Wallis and junior LB Andrew Plummer each recording 20 tackles, while sophomore Braden Simpson logged 17 tackles. Simpson also caught a TD pass, while senior Gabe Witt ran for a TD and caught a TD pass. An improved Brookland team lost to Wynne by 4 points 2 weeks ago, and last week trailed Nettleton 14-13 in the third quarter before losing 33-19. Two-way lineman Payton Grimes played well on both sides, Coach Mark Hindsley says. Sinquan Spratt ran 18 times for 192 yards and 3 TDs.

BATESVILLE (1-5; 1-1) at Forrest City (1-4; 0-2): Batesville got its first win last week, downing Paragould 38-27. Sophomore QB Cole Bentz (5-10-141-2) provided a spark, while sophomore RB Owen McLaughlin (15-140-2) took up slack following a season-ending injury to leading rusher Dameion Nelson. Senior WR Jace Jeffrey caught 2 passes for 118 yards, both went for TDs. Senior linebackers Beau Baxter (22 tackles) and Mike Townsley (18 tackles) led the defense. Forrest City has scored 46 points in the past 2 games but has given up 113 points.

NETTLETON (4-1; 2-0) at Paragould (1-4; 0-2): Nettleton has won 16 of the past 23 over Paragould. The Raiders beat Brookland by 14 points last week. Running back TJ Brown (38-187-3) was the offensive workhorse, while senior WR Quodarius Thompson (11-90 receiving; 80-yard kickoff return for TD) provided big plays. Damin Coleman (9 tackles) and A.J. Hurston (4 tackles, 2 TFL) played well on defense. Three of Paragould's 4 losses this fall are by a combined 14 points. The Rams played well in last week's 38-27 setback vs. Batesville. Cole Chipman ran 28 times for 139 yards and 4 TDs.

5A SOUTH
HS LAKESIDE (3-2; 1-1) at Texarkana (4-1; 1-1): Both teams enter off losses last week. HS Lakeside lost at Magnolia 28-21. Senior Kyler Wolf caught 2 TD passes. Texarkana lost at Camden Fairview 28-8. Christian Roberts (10 tackles) and Rodney Kindley (8) led the Razorbacks defense. Senior Telly Wells (6-86) and Deandre Burnell (3-25-1) were the top receivers.

Magnolia (3-2; 1-1) at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (3-2; 1-1): Camden Fairview has won 15 of the past 23 in this rivalry, including last season 35-19. The Cardinals bounced back last week with a 20-point win over previously unbeaten Texarkana. Junior QB Darrell “Juney” Atkins proved a dual threat (10-16-82-1 passing; 18-132-1 rushing). DE Xzayvion Morris led the defense with 5 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 sacks. Magnolia snapped a 2-game losing streak with last week's 28-21 win over HS Lakeside. Fullback Amare Roach, finally healthy after preseason injuries, ran 27 times for 272 yards and 3 TDs, while junior QB Antonio Brooks (11-106-1 rushing) benefited from Roach's return. Magnolia's defense had 12 pass breakups and 2 interceptions.

LR PARKVIEW (5-0; 2-0) at Hope (2-3; 1-1): Unbeaten LR Parkview has won its 2 conference games against Hot Springs and De Queen by a combined 109-14. Hope trailed Hot Springs 46-7 in the first half last week before losing 53-13. Hope gave up 457 yards. Senior QB Tyler Patterson passed for 83 yards and 1 TD and ran 9 times for 29 yards and 1 TD.

De Queen (0-6; 0-2) at HOT SPRINGS (4-1; 1-1): Hot Springs senior T.J. Brogdon set a state record last week with 5 TD catches in a 40-point victory over Hope. Brogdon finished with 6 receptions for 162 yards, while senior QB Matthew Conteras (13-15-318-6) carved Hope's secondary. Senior RB Perry Jones ran 18 times for 117 yards and 1 TD. De Queen has lost 21 consecutive games.

5A WEST

Dardanelle (3-2; 1-1) at FARMINGTON (2-3; 1-1): The winner of this game takes a huge step toward the playoffs. Farmington trailed unbeaten Alma 28-14 at halftime last week before losing 56-35. Sophomore QB Ayden Lester (17-30-213-2) played well, but the Cardinals yielded 650 yards at Alma. Dardanelle shocked previously unbeaten Pea Ridge last week 48-20. Sophomore QB Creed Vega (13-18-249-3 passing; 26-247-3 rushing) and receivers Rod Chaten (6-108-1) and JJ Earnest (5-125-2) were the top playmakers. Junior Hunter Anderson (11 tackles) Vega (8 tackles) and sophomore Kentrell Diggs (6 tackles, 1 interception return for a TD) played well on defense.

ALMA (4-1; 2-0) at Pea Ridge (4-1; 1-1): Alma is 2-0 in the 5A West for the first time since 2018. The Airedales set a school record with 650 offensive yards in last week's 56-35 win over Farmington. Senior QB Jackson Daily ran 26 times for a school-record 320 yards and 6 TDs, and he completed 12 of 16 passes for 156 yards and 1 TD. Senior RB Carlos Gonzalez (14-181 rushing) and sophomore WR Samuel Schlegel (7-135 receiving) contributed. Pea Ridge gave up more than 500 yards in last week's 28-point loss to Dardanelle. The Blackhawks led 20-14 at halftime but were outscored 34-0 in the second half while turning the ball over 3 times. Junior Jaxon Stewart (12 tackles) and senior Mason Wolfenden (11 tackles) were leaders on defense.

SHILOH CHRISTIAN (4-1; 2-0) at Harrison (3-2; 1-1): Shiloh Christian has won its 2 conference games by a combined 102-17. Saints sophomore RB Griffin Mason ran 52 yards for a TD on the first play of last week's 53-10 win over Clarksville, and he ran for 2 more scores in the first quarter. Tristan Carpenter blocked and returned a punt for a TD, while Austin Evans kicked a 40-yard field goal. Harrison led Prairie Grove 38-6 at halftime last week, rolling to a 52-14 decision. The Goblins ran for 343 yards, with QB Mason Ketterman playing well.

Clarksville (0-5; 0-2) at PRAIRIE GROVE (2-3; 0-2): Both teams searching for their first 5A West win. Prairie Grove was held to 206 yards and committed 2 turnovers in last week's 40-point loss at Harrison. Clarksville trailed Shiloh Christian 39-0 in the second quarter last week before losing 53-10. Clarksville's Kaden Martinez led the Panthers' rushing attack, while Gabe Kremers was the top tackler.