Hootens.com Class 2A Rankings

Week 7, 2024

1. Carlisle (6-0)

2. Conway Christian (6-0)

3. Junction City (4-2)

4. Des Arc (5-1)

5. Marked Tree (4-2)

6. Bigelow (4-2)

7. Poyen (5-1)

8. McCrory (5-1)

9. Mineral Springs (3-3)

10. Hector (4-2)

11. Murfreesboro (4-2)

12. Mount Ida (4-2)

13. Cross County (4-2)

14. East Poinsett County (3-3)

15. Gurdon (2-4)

16. Dierks (4-2)

17. Earle (2-4) 

18. Hampton (3-3)

19. Hazen (2-4)

20. Bearden (3-3)

Not ranked:

1-2A: Mountain Pine (2-4), JC Westside (1-4), Magazine (1-4), Mountainburg (2-4)

2-2A: Izard County Consolidated (0-6), Marianna (0-5)

3-2A: Spring Hill (1-4), Foreman (0-6), Lafayette County (3-3)

4-2A: Clarendon (0-5), England (2-4), Baptist Prep (3-3)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 13 of 16 games involving Class 2A teams. For the season, Hooten’s has correctly predicted 105 of 125 games (84 percent).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 8 McCrory (5-1, 2-1) at NO. 5 MARKED TREE (4-2, 2-1): The McCrory Jaguars are playing like a team that can make a run in the playoffs, similar to their state-title run a few years back. They are led by running back Leevi Tucker, who had 2 rushing TDs in the Jaguars’ 52-14 win over Izard County. Trey Kittrell scored twice. Will Rushing rushed and passed for TDs, and turned a blocked FG into another. 

McCrory Coach Cade Campell knows his team will be in for a dogfight against Coach Waylon Dunn's Marked Tree Indians.

“We will have to try to contain their speed and play disciplined defense if we want to get a road win this week,” Campbell says.

Marked Tree continued to put up stats last week but fell to Des Arc 58-44. 

TJ Hodges (136 rushing, TD; 100 receiving, TD), QB Kenyon Carter threw for 270 yards. JJ Risper had 96 receiving yards. 

“This is another tough conference matchup,” Marked Tree Coach Waylon Dunn said. “They have a really good running back and some big linemen. We will have to be good tacklers on defense. Offensively, we need to take care of the football, cut down on penalties and execute.”

The team that makes the fewest mistakes should come out on top. Marked Tree, playing at home, has the slight advantage. McCrory’s lone loss came on the road 2 weeks ago at EPC. 

1-2A

Mountain Pine (2-4, 1-2) at NO. 2 CONWAY CHRISTIAN (6-0, 3-0): Mountain Pine is coming off a 19-0 loss to defending champion Bigelow, which held the Red Devils to 75 yards. Aidan Pitman caught 3 passes for 30 yards to lead the Red Devils. Conway Christian continued to roll with a 48-8 win over JC Westside. RB Aaron Lovelace scored 4 TDs. 

Mountainburg (1-5, 0-3) at NO. 6 BIGELOW (4-2, 3-0): Mountainburg fell to Hector 47-7 last week despite the efforts of Ryan Allen (141 rushing, TD; 80 passing) and Hayden McGill (13 tackles). Bigelow is starting to round into form, possibly setting up a battle for the conference title with Conway Christian in Week 10. The Panthers beat Mountain Pine 19-0. Braeden Winningham scored 2 rushing TDs. Landon Edwards caught a 40-yard TD pass. Johnathan Nunez led the defense with 10 tackles and an INT. Edwards and Hill also had picks. 

No. 12 Mount Ida (4-2, 2-1) at NO. 10 HECTOR (4-2, 2-1): This is a battle for playoff position. Mount Ida beat Magazine 39-7 last week behind Ben Woodfield (13-136 rushing) and Beau Weston (3 rushing TDs). Chris Dorrell (11 tackles) and Kaceston Phimvongsa (9) led the defense. Hector QB Drew Newport (205 passing, 2 TDs), RB Landon Darter (20-157 rushing, 4 TDs) and Kenton Storey (5-70 receiving, rushing TD, INT.) led the way. “We are going to have to play very disciplined on defense. Mount Ida is really good at what they do,” Hector Coach Trevor Cooper said. 

JC Westside (1-4, 0-3) at MAGAZINE (1-4, 0-3): One of these teams will gain its first conference win. JC Westside is coming off a 48-8 loss to Conway Christian. Preston Pelts caught a 60-yard TD pass for the only points. Magazine fell to Mount Ida 39-7. Kolton McCubbin scored the Rattlers’ TD. 

2-2A

McCrory (5-1, 2-1) at MARKED TREE (4-2, 2-1): See Hootens.com Game of the Week. 

NO. 4 DES ARC (5-1, 3-0) at ICC (0-6, 0-3): Des Arc beat Marked Tree 58-44 last week behind RB Dayvion Bell (181 rushing, 3 TDs) and Hudson Goodman (2 TD passes). ICC fell to 0-6 in its first year of 11-man ball with a 42-14 loss to McCrory. Benaiah Spray had 4 catches for 84 yards and a TD. 

NO. 14 EPC (3-3, 2-1) at No. 17 Earle (2-4, 1-2): EPC fell to Cross County 36-28, but QB Eli Blagg (170 passing, 2 TDs; 32 rushing, TD), Jacob Gaines (104 rushing, TD; receiving TD) supplied the scoring.

Earle erupted for 379 total yards in a 62-0 win over Marianna, with WR Jaylen Robinson (4-97 receiving, 2 TDs), James Jarrett (2 INTs. for TDs) and Clifton Wren playing key roles.

Marianna (0-5, 0-3) at NO. 13 CROSS COUNTY (4-2, 2-1): Marianna fell to Earle 62-0 the week after forfeiting to Des Arc. Cross County knocked off EPC 36-28 behind Caden Crawford (231 rushing, 3 TDs; 7 tackles), Braxton Armstrong (18-119 rushing) and Gunner Land (19 tackles, INT.)

3-2A

NO. 3 JUNCTION CITY (4-2, 3-0) at No. 16 Dierks (4-2, 2-1): The Dragons, who beat Gurdon 41-6 last week have won 4 in a row after starting 0-2. QB Dakorey Larry (110 rushing, 57 passing) had a hand in 4 of the team's 6 TDs. Brennan returned an INT for a TD, had 6 1/2 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss. “It’s another conference tilt at their place where we will have hostile conditions,” Junction City Coach Devin Ball said. “We will need to play our best.” Dierks suffered its first conference loss, 28-16 to Murfreesboro. Jordan Hill (26-157 rushing, 2 TDs) and Grayson Kersey (6-63 rushing) contributed on offense.

No. 15 Gurdon (2-4, 1-2) at NO. 9 MINERAL SPRINGS (3-3, 2-1): Gurdon QB Rhett Ledbetter passed for 100 yards and Jamari Williams scored a second-quarter TD in the Go-Devils' 41-6 loss. Mineral Springs routed Foreman 48-24 behind Amarion Maxwell (2 rushing TDs) and Malik Matthews (rushing TD, 75-yard punt return TD).

Lafayette County (3-3, 1-2) at NO. 11 MURFREESBORO (4-2, 3-0): Lafayette County beat Spring Hill 43-36 win to end a 2-game skid behind Rod Bailey (4 TDs, game-sealing fourth-quarter INT.) and Tasean Gulley's 2 forced fumbles. “We get to play the defending conference champions, so that’s always exciting,” Coach Adrain Ivory said. “We have to find a way to stop their potent offense and score on their stingy defense. It should be a good one.” Murfreesboro has won 4 in a row, including 28-16 at Dierks last week. Brody Maroon (102 rushing, 3 TDs) and Laytan Wilcher (TD) accounted for the scoring. 

SPRING HILL (1-5, 0-3) at Foreman (0-6, 0-3): Spring Hill fell to Lafayette Country 43-36, but QB Jaxon Smith (143 passing, 4 TDs; 7-86 rushing); Karson Hamilton (4 TD receptions) and kicker Luis Vandenberghe was 4 for 4 on PAT attempts.  Foreman's 48-24 loss to Mineral Springs represented its highest point total of the season. DJ Anderson (8-145 rushing, 2 TDs), Kaylon Easter and Brody Bearden accounted for the TDs. 

4-2A

NO. 1 CARLISLE (6-0, 3-0) at No. 7 Poyen (5-1, 3-0): Carlisle travels to Poyen for a game that will likely decide the conference title. Carlisle averages 45 points and comes off a 54-20 win over Hampton. QB Ty Tanksley (7-7 passing, 175 yards, 3 TDs) and 3 TDs from Lawson Petrus (rushing, passing, INT return) led the way. Poyen QB Colt Barrett (403 passing, 6 TDs) and Gage Brewer (12-166 receiving) led the Indians’ 42-20 win over Hazen.

ENGLAND (2-4, 1-2) at Clarendon (0-5, 0-3): England QB Nick Brown Jr. (203 passing, 3 TDs; rushing TD) helped end a 3-game skid for the Lions, who beat Baptist Prep 46-14 behind Joe’l Miller 11-152 rushing, TD) and Trent Arnold (4-93 receiving, TD). Clarendon could not keep up with Bearden in a 57-20 loss Friday. QB Ky-Mani Fluker (246 passing, 2 TDs; 103 rushing) and Roderick Stewart (2 TD receptions) led on offense.

Hazen (2-4, 2-1) at BAPTIST PREP (3-3, 0-3): Hazen’s JJ Pinkney rushed for 127 yards and 2 TDs and threw a TD pass to Hunter Pardin in the Hornets’ home loss to Poyen. Hazen Coach Joe Besancon is focused on tightening up the pass defense, which yielded 403 yards last week to Poyen. Baptist Prep, which fell to England 46-14 for its third consecutive loss, was led by QB Nick Cummings (211 passing and TD passes to Neal Priddy and Aaron Fielder each caught TD passes. 

No. 20 Bearden (3-3, 2-1) at HAMPTON (3-3, 1-2): Bearden and Hampton each need wins as they battle for playoff position behind Carlisle and Poyen. The Bears are coming off a 57-20 win over Clarendon when Matthew Chambers rushed for 178 yards and 4 TDs and returned an interception 55 yards for a fifth TD. Marky Jimerson rushed for 202 yards and 3 TDs. “It’s always a game when Bearden and Hampton play,” Bearden Coach Brandon Austin says. “We’ll need to be great defensively and play complementary football to keep up with them.” Hampton ran into No. 1 Carlisle, falling 54-20 last week. Deondre Smith had 3 TDs. “Carlisle is the best team in the state,” Hampton Coach Chris Morphis said.