Class 5A - Week 7 - 2012

Class 5A - Week 7 - 2012

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 7, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Pulaski Academy (4-2)
2. Camden Fairview (6-0)
3. Wynne (5-0)
4. Greenbrier (6-0)
5. Watson Chapel (5-1)
6. Batesville (4-2)
7. Morrilton (3-2)
8. Alma (4-2)
9. Vilonia (5-0)
10. White Hall (4-1)
11. Jacksonville (4-2)
12. Hot Springs (4-2)
13. HS Lakeside (3-3)
14. Blytheville (3-3)
15. LR Christian (2-2)
16. Sylvan Hills (2-4)
17. Mills (4-2)
18. Shiloh Christian (2-4)
19. Forrest City (4-2)
20. Hope (2-4)
21. Nettleton (3-3)
22. Harrison (0-6)
23. Greene County Tech (1-5)
24. Huntsville (3-3)
25. Paragould (2-4)
26. Beebe (0-6)
27. De Queen (1-5)
28. LR McClellan (1-5)
29. West Helena (1-5)
30. Magnolia (0-6)
31. Clarksville (0-6)
32. North Pulaski (1-4)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 6 Batesville at No. 3 Wynne

This game has decided the league title eight of the past 12 seasons, with the teams splitting those games. Batesville has won four of the past five in the series, including the past two at Yellowjacket Stadium, highlighted by a remarkable 98 yard fumble return in the final seconds for a 17-14 win in 2010.

Batesville finished as state runner-up a year ago, but the Pioneers started slow in 2012, sandwiching a 24-21 win at Searcy around losses to Springdale and Jonesboro. The Pioneers haven't lost a conference game since 2009, and they've won three 5A East games this fall by a combined 121-24. Senior tight end John Hendrix, senior strong tackle James Trotter and strong guard Jacob Lawrence "are the best we've ever had," Coach Dave King said. Senior quarterback Jacob Hardin "played his best game of the year last week (in a 45-6 win over Forrest City)," King said. Senior running back Phillip Archuleta missed four games with an injury but logged 12 carries against Forrest City.

The Pioneer defense returned five interceptions for touchdowns this season, including two each by cornerback Jared May and safety Wesley Rudd. The brother tandem of linebackers Javier and Joey Rodriguez top Batesville's tackle chart, while all-state tackle Drew Moore and noseguard Luis Guzman control the line. "They are a good football program, and good teams make things happen," Wynne coach Chris Hill said. "They know how to win."

Undefeated Wynne counters with a quick-strike offense averaging six TDs per game. The Yellowjackets run the ball from the Spread formation 61 percent of the time and pass it 39 percent. Alternating quarterbacks Reed Wingo, a junior, and Ross Trail, a sophomore, complete 67 percent of their passes. Senior Josh Selvy has touched the ball just 26 times this season, but rushed for 327 yards and seven TDs and has 233 yards receiving and three scores. He ran nine times for 271 yards and four TDs in last week's 56-28 win at Beebe. Senior receiver/cornerback Joe Stampley (15 catches, 300 yards and three TDs) started catching the ball better during the past month, Hill says. On defense, Stampley usually lines up against the opponent's top receiver. Sophomore linebacker Roy Like paces Wynne with 45 tackles, while sophomore noseguard DeAndre McGill has 35 stops. "They have speed on defense," King said. "They limit your big plays and make you drive the ball."

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 13 of 16 games (81 percent), nailing the point spread of Camden Fairview by 42 points over Magnolia. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 108 of 132 games (82 percent).

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 8:30 a.m. Saturdays on KARZ 42 (Little Rock) and Fox 24 (Fayetteville/Fort Smith) and 11 p.m. Sundays on KAIT 8 (ABC, Jonesboro), featuring the top players and teams from across the state.

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A CENTRAL
West Helena at SYLVAN HILLS (10): Sylvan Hills must win to keep alive its playoff hopes. West Helena turned the ball over on downs on its final two possessions in last week's eight-point loss to previously winless Little Rock McClellan.
JACKSONVILLE (35) at North Pulaski: Jacksonville has never lost to its city rival. Jacksonville forced five turnovers in last week's 35-point win over Sylvan Hills.
MILLS (1) at LR Christian: Little Rock Christian trailed Pulaski Academy 35-0 in the first half last week. Mills' four victories are against teams with a combined record of 5-17.
PULASKI ACADEMY (38) at LR McClellan: Pulaski Academy adds another 35-point sportsmanship victory, which the Bruins have applied in every conference game this season. Bruin senior receiver L.J. Wallace, who has committed to UCA, has 3,010 career receiving yards, while classmate Hunter Henry, who has committed to Arkansas, has at least one TD in the past 17 games in which he's played. LR McClellan's Akee Johnson scored five TDs against West Helena, helping the Crimson Lions to beat a team outside of Pulaski County for the first time since 2006.

5A EAST
Batesville at WYNNE (2): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
Beebe at BLYTHEVILLE (4): Winless Beebe was tied with undefeated Wynne in the third quarter last week before losing by 28 points. Blytheville's Shawn Rainer ran for 118 yards in last week's four-point win at Greene County Tech.
NETTLETON (1) at Greene County Tech: Nettleton's 40-34 win over Greene County Tech last year was its first in the series since 2007. Nettleton rallied from an 8-0 first quarter deficit to beat Paragould by 29 points last week. Greene County Tech hasn't won since beating Class 3A Rivercrest 41-23 Week 2.
Paragould at FORREST CITY (10): Forrest City turned the ball over five times in last week's 39-point loss at Batesville. Paragould trailed Nettleton by 22 points at halftime last week after leading 8-0 early.

5A SOUTH
De Queen at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (38): Camden Fairview has beaten De Queen by a combined 96-26 in nonconference games the past two years. De Queen hasn't beaten a Class 5A opponent this season, but the Leopards lost by 13 points to Hot Springs a week ago.
HS Lakeside at HOPE (1): These teams split their past 12 meetings, with Hot Springs Lakeside winning three straight in the series, including 35-10 a year ago. Hope played well in last week's five-point loss at Watson Chapel.
Magnolia at HOT SPRINGS (11): Magnolia hasn't won this season, but the Panthers have beaten Hot Springs 13 of the past 14 seasons. Hot Springs running back Quinn Coleman ran for 223 yards and a pair of TDs in last week's 27-14 triumph at De Queen.
Watson Chapel at WHITE HALL (1): The winner takes at least the No. 2 playoff seed. White Hall's 32-20 win over the Wildcats last year was its first in the series since 2006 (the teams tied 14-14 in 2008). White Hall junior running back Irving Tisdale and sophomore Kendrick Edgerson combined for 16 carries for 312 yards and three TDs in last week's 29-point win at Hot Springs Lakeside. Watson Chapel cornerback Jordan Stargell swiped two key interceptions in last week's five-point win over Hope.

5A WEST
ALMA (17) at Huntsville: Arguably, Huntsville's best game as members of Class 5A came two years ago in a 28-14 loss against Alma. The Eagles held Shiloh Christian to 16 points last week. Alma limited Harrison to 163 yards in last week's 16-point triumph.
Clarksville at GREENBRIER (28): Greenbrier can't get too emotional after mauling Morrilton 49-13 last week. The Panthers haven't won an outright conference title since 1977, and they must face Alma and Vilonia in the final two regular-season games. The Panthers scored on their first five possessions at Morrilton and clamped the explosive Devil Dog offense.
MORRILTON (4) at Vilonia: Undefeated Vilonia gives up 170 yards and 11 points per game this season. Vilonia QB Michael Atkinson ran for two TDs and returned an interception for another in last week's 31-point win at Clarksville. Greenbrier held Morrilton running back Jamar Criswell to 15 carries for 43 yards a week ago.
Shiloh Christian at HARRISON (1): Harrison lost to Greenbrier by 10 points two weeks ago and the winless Goblins were tied with Alma 7-7 at halftime last week. Harrison's Trevor Boyd returned an interceptions 100 yards for a TD last week and another 80 yards to set up the Goblins other TD. Shiloh Christian's 16-7 win over Huntsville last week was its first conference victory as 5A West members.

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