Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 8, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Alma at No. 10 Vilonia
Both teams are likely in the playoffs with 3-1 conference records, and both still have a chance to win the league (Alma hosts Greenbrier next week and Vilonia plays Greenbrier Week 10). Alma senior quarterback Gage Jensen completed 10 of 19 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown and ran for 92 yards in last week's 28-7 win at Huntsville before an ambulance carried him off the field with a concussion in the third quarter. Jensen must undergo further testing this week before he's cleared to play against Vilonia, Alma coach Todd Dilbeck said. Sophomore Evan Burris could start at QB if Jensen doesn't play, and the Airedales will use multiple receivers lined up at QB in the Wild Dog package. The Airedales power running attack revolves around junior Malachi White (more than 400 yards this year), while junior receiver Gage Battles (three touchdown catches at Clarksville Week 4) heads a deep group of receivers. "We've got to get more consistent on offense," Dilbeck said, "especially in the red zone." Junior inside linebacker Alex Burris tops Alma's tackle chart, while junior outside linebacker Cade Spencer makes plays.
Vilonia must quickly regroup after losing its first game last week. Vilonia officially didn't allow a point in opening three games (Week 2 game with Wynne was declared a no contest after Wynne led 14-0 in the first quarter when the game was halted because of lightening). The Eagles use seniors Michael Atkinson and Kyle Wyatt at QB. Atkinson has rushed for more than 700 yards this year. "They utilize the clock and run the Double Wing," Dilbeck says. "Then, they break into the Spread, trying to confuse the defense."
Watch highlights of Vilonia's game last week against Morrilton on hootens.com homepage.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 14 of 16 games (88 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 122 of 148 games (83 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 10:30 p.m. Sunday on KAIT 8 (ABC, Jonesboro), featuring the top players and teams from across the state. Hot Springs Lakeside tackle Kellen Davis will be featured as the Arkansas Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week.

WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A CENTRAL
LR Christian at JACKSONVILLE (18): This is the first meeting between these schools. Jacksonville led North Pulaski by a TD in the second half last week before pulling away 46-14. Little Rock Christian has lost consecutive games against Pulaski Academy and Mills by a combined 74-14.
Mills at PULASKI ACADEMY (21): The Bruins struggled early last week against Little Rock McClellan, trailing 14-6 at halftime. Bruin QB Lawson Vassar completed 37 of 58 passes for 492 yards and four TDs a week ago, and he's passed for 2,315 yards and 22 scores this fall. Mills held Little Rock Christian to just 109 yards last week.
North Pulaski at WEST HELENA (8): North Pulaski jumped on Jacksonville 7-0 early last week, but lost by 32 points. West Helena hasn't won since beating Marianna Week 2.
SYLVAN HILLS (3) at LR McClellan: Little Rock McClellan is a different team since Akee Johnson returned from a leg injury three weeks ago. The Lions scored just 20 points in four games without Johnson, but scored 87 points with him. Johnson returned an interception 66 yards for a TD in last week's 45-14 loss to top-ranked Pulaski Academy. Sylvan Hills is tied for fourth in the league.

5A EAST
Blytheville at BATESVILLE (17): Batesville must rebound after losing at Wynne 40-27 last week, its first conference loss since 2009. Batesville has beaten Blytheville four straight times by an average of 41-12.
FORREST CITY (7) at Nettleton: Forrest City controls its conference title and playoff hopes the next three weeks (at Wynne Week 9 and hosts Blytheville Week 10). Mustang junior QB Ethan Adams has passed for almost 1,000 yards and 14 TDs this year. Nettleton likely must win its final three games to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Greene County Tech at BEEBE (1): Beebe's one-point triumph at Blytheville last week was its first win of the season. Greene County Tech's Travis Ryan caught two TD passes and ran for another in last week's eight-point win over Nettleton.
WYNNE (21) at Paragould: Paragould usually plays Wynne tough, beating the Yellowjackets twice in the past five years. Undefeated Wynne ended Batesville's 17-game conference win streak last week as junior QB Reed Wingo passed for 238 yards and four TDs.

5A SOUTH
Hope at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (25): It's homecoming in Camden, and the Cardinal starters haven't played in the fourth quarter since Week 1 at El Dorado. Cardinal interior defensive linemen Mckinzie James and Draeylon Smith combined to make 19 tackles while playing just 21 snaps in last week's 56-6 win over De Queen. Hope humbled Hot Springs Lakeside 49-14 last week. Bobcat senior receiver Vincent Love has more than 200 yards receiving the past two games. The Bobcats start seven juniors on offense and nine on defense. Watch highlights of Camden Fairview's wins over El Dorado and White Hall on hootens.com homepage.
De Queen at HS LAKESIDE (3): Hot Springs Lakeside's playoff streak ends after back-to-back appearances. The Rams must win their final three games and get some help to make it this year after getting mercy-ruled at Hope a week ago. De Queen hasn't won a conference game since Week 9, 2011 in the 7-4A.
Hot Springs at WHITE HALL (17): White Hall probably finishes second in the league after beating Watson Chapel by seven points last week. Bulldog receiver Joseph Stewart, who was injured Week 1 against Hamburg, caught a TD pass and ran for a score last week. Hot Springs' Quin Coleman has rushed for more than 1,100 yards this year.
WATSON CHAPEL (31) at Magnolia: Watson Chapel can still share the league title if it wins out. Winless Magnolia played its best game of 2012 last week, trailing Hot Springs 21-14 at halftime last week before losing by 22 points.

5A WEST
ALMA (1) at Vilonia: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
HARRISON (18) at Clarksville: Harrison wins its second in a row. Goblin sophomore QB Brock Humphrey threw the game-winning TD pass with 3:44 left in last week's 14-10 triumph over Shiloh Christian. Winless Clarksville gets outscored by 22 points weekly.
Huntsville at MORRILTON (17): Morrilton's 28-point win at Vilonia last week probably helps the Devil Dogs get back in the playoffs. Huntsville hung with Alma a week ago, trailing 14-7 at halftime before losing by 21 points. Watch higlights from Morrilton's past two games on hootens.com homepage.
Shiloh Christian at GREENBRIER (21): Shiloh Christian likely misses the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and the first time under current coach Josh Floyd. The Saints led Harrison 10-7 late in the fourth quarter before surrendering a TD. Undefeated Greenbrier travels to Alma next week and hosts Faulkner County rival Vilonia in the regular-season finale.