Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 2A, Week 7, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven’s Publishing

1. Mineral Springs (7-0, 3-0)

2. Carlisle (5-1, 2-0)

3. Bigelow (7-0, 2-0)

4. Des Arc (5-1, 3-0)

5. Hazen (6-1, 3-0)

6. EPC (5-1, 3-0)

7. Murfreesboro (6-0, 2-0)

9. Conway Christian (5-1, 1-0)

9. Marked Tree (4-1, 2-1)

10. England (3-3, 1-1)

11. Hector (3-4, 1-2)

12. Earle (3-3, 1-2)

13. McCrory (3-3, 2-1)

14. Cross County (2-3, 1-2)

15. Dierks (2-5, 0-3)

16. Mountainburg (3-2, 2-1)

17. Poyen (3-4, 2-1)

18. Mount Ida (1-4, 1-1)

19. Bearden (3-4, 2-1)

20. Lafayette County (2-4, 1-2)

21. JC Westside (2-4, 1-1)

22. Baptist Prep (2-5, 1-2)

23. Clarendon (1-5, 0-3)

24. Marianna (1-5, 0-3)

25. Magazine (1-5)

26. LR Episcopal (0-5)

27. Hampton (1-5, 0-2)

28. Foreman (0-6, 0-2)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 12 of 13 games (92.3 percent) involving Class 2A teams and is 76-20 (79 percent) for the season.

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

Earle (3-3, 1-2) at No. 6 EPC (5-1, 3-0)

Earle evened its overall record to 3-3 with a 22-16 win over Marianna last week. Earle QB Taron Hurst passed for 463 yards in a 52-44 loss to Marked Tree earlier in the season.

East Poinsett County has been on a roll, the only blemish coming in a nonconference loss to Walnut Ridge. The Warriors beat Cross County 36-6 last week, led by Dennis Gaines (13-117 rushing, 2 TDs) and WR Omar McCuiston (4-122 receiving, 2 TDs) h Cooper Argo passed for 122 yards and 2 scores, and Jacob Gaines scored a touchdown on a 22-yard run.

Earle is giving up 34.3 points per game, while EPC is averaging 43 points per game. Earle won last year’s matchup 32-26. The opposite should hold true this time, with the Warriors running wild on the Bulldogs.

1-2A

Magazine (1-5, 0-2) at BIGELOW (7-0, 0-2): The building process continues for new Magazine coach Ryan Chambers. Kolton McCubbin and Ethan Vasquez each rushed for more than 100 yards in the Rattlers’ 35-13 loss to Murfreesboro. Bigelow’s defense limited Hector to 1 TD in a 21-7 win. Carter Alexander had 21 tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble. Brandt Tipton and Silas Schichtl had 17 and 14 tackles respectively. Bigelow is rolling toward a matchup with Conway Christian for the conference title.

JC Westside (2-4, 1-2) at CONWAY CHRISTIAN (5-1, 1-0): JC Westside was idle last week after beating Magazine 22-20 on Sept. 30. Kyle Wahn scored twice on pass receptions and also on a scoop score from 53 yards. Conway Christian was off last week, but the Eagles were boosted by the return of junior QB Jeryn Thomas, who scored the go-ahead TD against Hector in 21-14 victory. Brady Domokos rushed for 258 yards on 31 carries in the victory. The Eagles should run quickly and efficiently past the Rebels.

OFF Hector, Mountainburg

2-2A

Earle (3-3, 1-2) at EPC (5-1, 3-0): See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above.

MARKED TREE (4-1, 2-1) at McCrory (3-3, 2-1): Marked Tree proved its worth in a 66-64 double-overtime loss to Des Arc on Friday night. Kenyon Carter (20-24 passing, 264 yards, 4 TDs) and TJ Hodges (20-121 rushing, 2 TDs) sparked the offense in a 36-6 win over Clarendon. The defense forced 4 turnovers, including 3 interceptions. Leevi Tucker had 158 yards rushing and 3 TDs. McCrory's defense could be in for a long night Marked Tree continues doing what it did against Des Arc,

Clarendon (1-5, 0-3) at DES ARC (5-1, 3-0): Clarendon may be 1-5 but the previous two years are plenty of motivation for the Eagles. Clarendon beat Des Arc the last two years — a year ago was Des Arc’s only conference loss en route to the 2-2A title. Kylee Boose scored Clarendon’s only TD in a 36-6 loss to McCrory. Des Arc ran wild in a 66-64 2OT win over Marked Tree. Dayvion Bell (14-241 rushing, 3 TDs) and Cache Flanagan (5 TDs) combined to score 8 touchdowns.

CROSS COUNTY (2-3. 1-2) at Marianna (1-5, 0-3): Cross County has not had the season some expected coming into the year, but the Thunderbirds are still in a position to make some noise in the 2-2A. That starts with Marianna. Cross County lost to EPC 36-6 last Friday. Cardarian Washington (17-110 rushing, TD) led the Thunderbirds. Marianna played Earle tough in a 22-16 loss.

3-2A

MURFREESBORO (6-0, 2-0) at Mount Ida (1-4, 1-1): Murfreesboro is one of the surprises in Class 2A this year after going 4-6 a year ago. The Rattlers are coming off a 54-6 win over 3A Horatio. Malachi Sanders rushed for 2 TDs and returned an interception for another. Brandt Stevens and Lathan Compton each scored a rushing TD. Cash Lowery had 2 INTs as the defense forced 6 turnovers. Traditional power Mount Ida got its first win last Friday, beating Lafayette County 21-0. The Lions had 291 yards rushing and the defense contained the Cougars’ speed. Cain McCullough, Dakota Beechy, and Beau Weston each scored a TD.

Foreman (0-6, 0-2) at DIERKS (2-5, 0-3): Foreman’s DJ Anderson played well in the Gators’ 52-13 loss to Poyen. Dierks gave way grudgingly in a 42-6 loss to Mineral Springs. The Outlaws held Mineral Springs to less than 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing. Dierks’ lone TD came on a pass from Andrew Mack to Juan Salazar.

Lafayette County (2-4, 1-2) at POYEN (3-4, 1-2): Lafayette County held Mount Ida to 21 points but could not muster any offense in a 21-0 loss. QB Andrew Mack had 300 all-purpose yards, and Ricardo Wimbley had 13 tackles. Poyen has won 2 in a row after starting the season 1-4. Last week, the Indians beat Foreman 52-13. Kevin Freeman rushed 6 times for 110 yards and a TD. Austin Harness and Logan Lewis each rushed for 2 TDs. QB Colt Barnett threw a TD pass to Tayshawn Ray. The Indians are poised to even their record at 4-4.

OFF Mineral Springs

4-2A

Episcopal (0-5. 0-2) at ENGLAND (3-3, 1-2): Episcopal had its best game last Friday night, but fell to Bearden 20-14. Turner Harbour passed for 138 yards and a TD. Offensive lineman Tristen Cunningham caught a tipped pass and ran it for a 41-yard gain. Lawrence Montgomery scored the other TD on a pass. He also had 9 tackles. England played Hazen tough for a half, trailing 28-12 before the Hornets pulled away for a 53-18 win. England’s speed and big receivers should be the difference. Episcopal has lost several players since the beginning of the season.

CARLISLE (5-1, 2-1) at Hampton (0-6, 0-3): Carlisle QB Holden Jones (12-18 passing, 241 yards) led the Bison 50-0 win over Episcopal. Kaiden Clingmon caught 4 passes for 104 yards and a TD. Hampton freshman Tre Lambert (17-81 rushing, TD) made his high school debut in a 43-6 loss to Baptist Prep 43-6.

Baptist Prep (2-5, 1-2) at BEARDEN (3-4, 2-1): Baptist Prep picked up its second win, beating Hampton 43-6. Malachi Jones was 15 for 21 passing for 254 yards and 3 TDs. Titus Danger caught 3 passes for 91 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 8 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Jacob Dunn added 14 tackles. Bearden edged Episcopal 20-14 for its third win. Freshman Matthew Chambers scored a TD on his first varsity carry, going 65 yards. He finished with 134 yards. He also had 6 tackles. Marky Jimerson returned a blocked field goal 102 yards for a TD. He also returned a punt 48 yards for a TD. The long trip to south Arkansas could be an issue for the Eagles as Bearden will try to protect its home field.

OFF Hazen