Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 5A, Week 2, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, LLC.

1. LR Parkview (6-0)

2. Shiloh Christian (5-1)

3. Valley View (5-1)

4. Joe T. Robinson (5-1)

5. Mills (6-1)

6. Pine Bluff (5-2)

7. Hot Springs (5-1)

8. Southside (6-0)

9. Alma (5-1)

10. Morrilton (5-2)

11. Nettleton (5-1)

12. HS Lakeside (4-2)

13. Camden Fairview (4-2)

14. White Hall (3-3)

15. Maumelle (3-3)

16. Farmington (3-3)

17. Wynne (2-4)

18. Texarkana (4-2)

19. Harrison (3-3)

20. Magnolia (3-3)

21. Dardanelle (3-3)

22. Pea Ridge (4-2)

23. Beebe (3-4)

24. Prairie Grove (3-3)

25. Batesville (2-5)

26. Brookland (2-4)

27. Hope (2-4)

28. Forrest City (1-5)

29. Vilonia (0-6)

30. Watson Chapel (0-6)

31. Paragould (1-5)

32. Clarksville (0-6)

33. De Queen (0-6)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 14 of 16 games (88 percent) involving 5A teams. Hootens.com has correctly predicted 114 of 136 games (84 percent) for the season.

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 8 SOUTHSIDE at No. 11 Nettleton

The winner moves into prime contention to play Valley View for the league title (Southside plays Valley View in Week 8, Nettleton in Week 9).

Southside coach Kenny Simpson praised his defense after last week's 38-0 win over Brookland. Sophomore Braden Simpson and Trey Allen each returned interceptions for TDs, and Simpson added a fumble recovery. Defensive linemen Isaac Wallis, Brady Wood and Jackson Wammack “were dominant,” Kenny Simpson says. Running backs Seth Case and Gabe Witt combined for 224 yards and 3 TDs.

Nettleton slipped past improved Paragould 27-21 a week ago, but the Raiders were missing senior playmaker Curtez Smith and a few other starters, most of whom are expected to return this week. Junior QB Maddox Hampton (13-20-150-3 passing; 2-27 rushing) and sophomore RB T.J. Brown (23-138-2 rushing) sparked the offense, along with senior WR Quadarius Thompson (10-107 receiving).

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

5A CENTRAL

PINE BLUFF (5-2; 4-1) at White Hall (3-3; 2-2): A crucial game for playoff seeding. Pine Bluff must rebound from last week's 24-21 double-overtime loss to Mills. Pine Bluff playmakers Courtney Crutchfield (3-48-1 receiving) and Austyn Dendy (2-20 receiving, 11-46-1 rushing) also played extensively on defense. Pine Bluff QB Landon Holcomb (8-18-113-1) and RB Marquez Brentley (18-64) also played well. White Hall must regroup after last week's 28-25 loss at Morrilton. Bulldogs senior QB Noah Smith (16-31-200-2) threw the ball well, and the defense forced 2 turnovers.

JOE T. ROBINSON (5-1; 4-0) at Beebe (3-4; 1-4): Beebe rolled up 474 yards in last week's 39-7 win at Vilonia. Ty McCormick ran in 2 TDs and threw a 65-yard TD pass to Kaleb O'Neill. Joe T. Robinson, winners of 5 straight games, downed Maumelle by 10 points last week. Junior QB Quentin Murphy, Jr., ran 12 times for 187 yards and 3 TDs, and threw a TD pass to junior Nick Abrams.

MORRILTON (5-2; 4-1) at Maumelle (3-3; 1-3): Maumelle failed on 5 two-point conversion attempts and was twice stopped on down on its end of the field in last week's 10-point loss at Joe T. Robinson. RB Jaiden Worsham ran for 2 TDs, including an 80-yarder, and sophomore QB Andrew Bjork threw 3 TD passes. Morrilton junior Andrew Rhoden caught 3 TD passes from sophomore QB Maddox Berry and recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the Devil Dogs' other TD in last week's 28-25 win over White Hall. RB Destin Tate rushed 30 times for 99 yards.

VILONIA (0-6; 0-4) at Watson Chapel (0-6; 0-4): A battle of winless teams: Vilonia has been outscored 215-68 this fall; Watson Chapel has been outscored 270-50.

OPEN Mills

5A EAST

Brookland (2-4; 0-3) at VALLEY VIEW (5-1; 3-0): Valley View leads the series 4-1. The Blazers impressed in last week's 35-3 win over Wynne. Senior T.J. Starks returned a punt 55 yards for a  TD and caught 6 passes for 106 yards and 2 TDs, while Jamarion Davis recorded 8 tackles, including 6 TFL. Brookland QB Hayden Elder (9-18-103 passing) played well in last week's 38-0 loss to Southside, while safety Barrett Cunningham racked up 8 tackles.

SOUTHSIDE (6-0; 3-0) at Nettleton (5-1; 3-0): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week, above

Forrest City (1-5; 0-3) at PARAGOULD (1-5; 0-3): Both teams are coming off close losses last week (Forrest City 17-12 vs. Batesville, Paragould 27-20 vs. Nettleton). Forrest City junior QB Dakwon Scott (8-20-211-1 passing, 4-21 rushing) and junior WR Roshawd Washington (4-104-1) sparked the Mustangs. Paragould's Cole Chipman ran 33 times for 178 yards and 2 TDs, while LB Kaden Calhoun made 14 tackles and Sam Hunt had 9 stops.

WYNNE (2-4; 1-2) at Batesville (2-5; 2-1): These teams have combined to win or share 16 of the past 21 5A East titles, and they've split the past 22 meetings between the teams. This year, it's not for a conference title, but possibly for the No. 4 playoff seed. Wynne has dropped consecutive games to Southside and Valley View by a combined 46 points. Sy Mars (12 tackles) and Braylon McDowell (10 tackles) played well in last week's 35-3 setback at Valley View, while Christian Wren returned a kickoff 50 yards for a TD and blocked a PAT. Batesville has beaten Forrest City and Paragould the past 2 weeks by a combined 14 points. Sophomore tailback Owen McLaughlin ran for 186 yards and 2 TDs last week vs. Forrest City, while senior Beau Baxter had 19 tackles and 2 interceptions.

5A SOUTH

Texarkana (4-2; 1-2) at LR PARKVIEW (6-0; 3-0): Texarkana has lost consecutive games after starting the season 4-0. Razorbacks QB Nate Wall (18-33-276-3 passing; 10-95-2 rushing) provided the offense in last week's 34-31 loss to HS Lakeside, while junior CB Malek Dangerfield made 10 tackles, 2 TFL and broke up 2 passes. Unbeaten LR Parkview has won its 3 conference games by a combined 165-20. Two-way lineman Alex Martin earned an 87 percent grade on the DL and an 88 percent blocking grade on the OL in last week's 56-6 win at Hope. Junior Omarion Robinson returned 4 punts for 185 yards and 1 TD and had another TD return negated by penalty. Sophomore LB Jakore Smith, who picked up an Arkansas offer last week, made 10 tackles, blocked a punt and returned a fumble for a TD.

HOT SPRINGS (5-1; 2-1) at Magnolia (3-3; 1-2): Hot Springs jumped on De Queen 39-0 at halftime last week (neither team scored in the second half). Senior QB Matt Contreras (4-7-84-2 passing; 2 rushing TDs) and WR TJ Brogden (1-40-1 receiving; 54-yard punt return for TD) led the offense, while senior DL Kendall Williams made 11 tackles and Jayden Meadows had 8 stops. Magnolia committed 5 turnovers in last week's 40-14 loss to Camden Fairview (trailed 28-14 with 7 minutes left in game). Fullback Amare Roach ran 10 times for 55 yards and 1 TD before leaving the game with an injury in the second quarter. “Our defense played well last week and will be up to the task (vs. Hot Springs),” Coach Mark King says.

CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (4-2; 2-1) at De Queen (0-6; 0-3): Camden Fairview has won 12 of the 13 meetings since De Queen joined the league in 2010. The Cardinals forced 5 turnovers (returned interception and blocked punt for TDs) in last week's 26-point win over Magnolia. Junior QB Darrell Atkins (10-18-136-1 passing; 8-41 rushing) and RB Jaden Porchia (17-183-2) led the Cardinals offense, while junior LBs Maliq Musa Dennis (17 tackles) and Jerome Williams (13 tackles) and senior DB JaBauree Lockhart (13 tackles; 3 interceptions) led the defense.

Hope (2-4; 1-2) at HS LAKESIDE (4-2; 2-1): Hope trailed top-ranked LR Parkview 56-0 at halftime last week. The Bobcats totaled 160 yards and didn't score until the fourth quarter. HS Lakeside controlled the clock behind junior RB Grady Ohman (25-75-2 rushing) and edged Texarkana last week 34-31. Senior WR Kyler Wolf caught 2 passes for 43 yards and 1 TD in the first half before getting injured. Wolf is expected to return this week, Coach Garren Rockwell says.

5A WEST

Pea Ridge (5-1; 1-2) at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (5-1; 3-0): Shiloh Christian QB Evan Baker threw 3 TD passes and ran for 1 TD in last week's 55-25 victory at Harrison. The Saints scored TDs on their first  4 possessions, including a 69-yard TD run from Bo Williams. Griffin Mason caught 2 TDs (14 and 47 yards). Pea Ridge trailed Alma 20-13 late in the fourth quarter last week after QB Gavin Dixon's 14-yard TD pass to Austin James.

Harrison (3-3; 1-2) at ALMA (5-1; 3-0): Alma was won 14 of the past 22 meetings. The Airedales are 3-0 in the 5A West for the first time since 2018. Alma's Isreal Towns Robinson (10 tackles, 2 TFL), Ashton Chanhnouvong (10 tackles) and Jackson Mitchell (10 tackles, 1 sack) led the defense, while senior QB Jackson Daily ran for 3 TDs in the second half of last week's 27-13 victory at Pea Ridge. Harrison trailed Shiloh Christian 28-17 in the third quarter last week before losing 55-25. OL Brock Simmons and Ben Estes played well, while senior Braden Long ran for 194 yards. Tag Glidewell racked up 12 tackles.

FARMINGTON (3-3; 2-1) at Clarksville (0-6; 0-3): Farmington has won 12 of the past 14 matchups with Clarksville. The Cardinals pulled away from Dardanelle in the second half last week, turning a 28-21 advantage into 56-21 decision. Juniors Russell Hodge and Luke Elsik each ran for 2 TDs, and sophomore QB Ayden Lester added a 38-yard TD run. Clarksville trailed Prairie Grove 21-14 late in the second quarter last week before losing 36-14.

PRAIRIE GROVE (3-3; 1-2) at Dardanelle (3-3; 1-2): These teams have split the past 4 meetings. Prairie Grove snapped a 3-game losing streak last week, beating Clarksville 36-14. Asher Linn's interception and 42-yard return to set up a TD sparked the victory. Conner Hubbs ran for 2 TDs and caught an 8-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Alex Abshier. Dardanelle sophomore QB Creed Vega (21-176-3 rushing, 8-13-77 passing) and sophomore WR Rod Chaten (6-67 receiving) were leaders on offense, while J.J. Earnest racked up 10 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.