Hootens.com Class 5A Rankings

Week 8, 2024

1. LR Parkview (6-1)

2. Joe T. Robinson (6-1)

3. Valley View (7-0)

4. HS Lakeside (6-1)

5. Morrilton (7-0)

6. Searcy (6-1)

7. Harding Academy (4-3)

8. Camden Fairview (5-2)

9. Farmington (6-1)

10. Wynne (5-2)

11. Vilonia (5-2)

12. Greenbrier (4-3)

13. Nettleton (6-1)

14. Beebe (4-3)

15. Maumelle (5-2)

16. Alma (3-4)

17. Hot Springs (4-3)

18. Magnolia (3-4)

19. Brookland (4-3)

20. White Hall (2-5)

Not Ranked

5A Central: Jacksonville (1-6), Pine Bluff (1-6), Watson Chapel (1-6)

5A East: Batesville (1-6), Greene Co. Tech (0-7), Paragould (3-4)

5A South: Arkansas High (0-7), De Queen (3-4), Hope (0-7)

5A West: Clarksville (1-6), Harrison (1-5), Pea Ridge (1-6)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 9 Farmington (6-1) at NO. 5 MORRILTON (7-0): The winner takes over as the sole leader in the 5A West. Farmington hasn't lost since receiving a forfeit from Class 7A Har-Ber in Week 1. The Cardinals' past 3 conference games were decided by a combined 44 points. Farmington's Dustin Haffelder ran for a 1-yard TD late in the first half last week to help the Cardinals pull away from Vilonia 27-14. Haffelder added a second TD in the second half, then quarterback Ayden Lester hit Akin Johnson with a 3-yard TD pass to seal the win. Senior Luke Elsik caught a 2-point conversion.

Undefeated Morrilton escaped Greenbrier by 3 points in Week 4 and Alma by 1 point in Week 5, but the Devil Dogs have beaten Pea Ridge and Harrison by a combined 105-53 over the past 2 weeks. Senior receiver Andrew Rhoden caught 11 passes for 199 yards and a school-record 4 TDs in last week's 49-26 victory over Harrison. Junior Jamarcus Sandidge (3-61-1), sophomore Champ McNabb (3-54) and junior Dante Cox (3-54) all caught passes from junior QB Maddox Berry (20-30-368-5). Senior Raylen Thomas (7-111 rushing, 2 TDs) led the ground game.

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com predicted all 16 games, and for the season has predicted 123 of 144 games (85 percent).

WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

5A CENTRAL

No. 6 Searcy (6-1, 4-0) at NO. 2 JOE T. ROBINSON (6-1, 4-0): This likely decides the 5A Central title. Joe T. Robinson overcame adversity in a 26-16 comeback win over Beebe last week. The Senators trailed 9-6 in the third quarter after missing 2 field goals and turning the ball over twice, but senior WR Malachi Muhammed ran for a TD and caught a TD pass to spark the win. Searcy trailed Pine Bluff 21-3 in the fourth quarter last week before ripping off 25 unanswered points in a 28-21 victory. Cooper Jones scored the winning TD with 22 seconds remaining. Safety Deandre Shockley led Searcy with 2 interceptions, including a momentum-changing 60-yard Pick-6 on the first play of the fourth quarter. WR Jessie Sumpter led the offense with 7 catches, 101 yards.

No. 20 White Hall (2-5, 2-2) at NO. 15 MAUMELLE (5-2, 3-1): White Hall junior QB Wyatt Golden (15-25-207 4 TDs) sparked last week's Homecoming win over Watson Chapel, while sophomore WR Kel McEntire and senior Chris Joe combined for 3 TDs. Maumelle's Jonathan Willams (45-yard TD run) sparked last week's 17-0 win at Jacksonville. QB Josiah Warrior-Benson threw the clinching fourth-quarter TD to Jacob Henry. OL Drake Lussier played his best game, Coach Brian Maupin says. Junior DL Anthony Kennedy recorded multiple sacks, while senior Jaden Gabriel recorded double-digit tackles and forced 2 fumbles.

PINE BLUFF (1-6, 1-3) at Watson Chapel (1-6, 0-4): Watson Chapel faces its second consecutive Jefferson County rival after losing to White Hall 42-12 last week. Senior Kameron Hobbs ran for a TD, while senior Kassius Hollins hit senior Jabaree Smith on a 45-yard TD pass. Pine Bluff has given up double-digit advantages the past 2 weeks, losing to Beebe 34-12 and at Searcy 28-21. QB Davonte Wallace threw a 99-yard TD pass to Tristan Helloms at Searcy.

Jacksonville (1-6, 0-4) at NO. 14 BEEBE (4-3, 2-2): Beebe jumped on Joe T. Robinson 9-0 last week before losing 26-16. Senior QB Mason Harbin ran for 65 yards in the first half and threw a TD pass to sophomore Laselle Langston. Jacksonville has scored 1 TD in 4 conference games.

5A EAST

Greene County Tech (0-7, 0-4) at NO. 3 VALLEY VIEW (7-0, 4-0): Winless Greene County Tech averages 11.6 points per game, while undefeated Valley View yields 11 points per game.Valley View senior QB Drew Gartman went 9 of 10 for 170 yards and 3 TDS, while Andrew Jones caught 3 passes for 85 yards and 1 TD in a 44-16 win over Brookland.

 NO. 7 HARDING ACADEMY (4-3, 3-1) at No. 13 Nettleton (6-1, 4-0): Harding Academy senior QB Owen Miller threw 2 TD passes and ran for 1 in last week's 49-14 win over Paragould. The Wildcats also scored on Tanner Simmons' interception return. “Our offensive line has found a rhythm the past couple of weeks,” Harding Academy Coach Neil Evans says. Nettleton has 5 consecutive victories, but the Raiders play their toughest games the final 3 weeks against teams with a combined record of 16-5. Junior Xavier Harrell ran for 105 yards and 3 TDs in last week's 42-7 win over Greene County Tech. Senior DL Keon Stallings (3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and junior LB Damien Coleman (14 tackles, 1 forced fumble) led on defense.

NO. 10 WYNNE (5-2, 3-1) at Paragould (3-4, 0-4): Wynne was without 3 starters, and another was injured during last week's 31-10 victory over Batesville. Coach Clay Totty says he hopes 3 of the injured players can return next week. Christian Wren ran for 140 yards and 3 TDs vs. Batesville, while Cameron Smith ran for 113 yards and 1 TD. Sy Mars (12 tackles, 1 forced fumble) amd Braylan McDowell (7 tackles, 1 INT.) led the defense.

NO. 19 BROOKLAND (4-3, 1-3) at Batesville (1-6, 1-3): Batesville totaled 81 yards in last week's 31-10 loss to Wynne,  but sophomore LB Rourke Sevier (15 tackles) led the defense. Brookland trailed Valley View 23-7 in the third quarter last week before losing 44-16. Junior RB Gabe Carter ran 8 times for 94 yards and caught 8 passes.

5A SOUTH

NO. 1 LR PARKVIEW (6-1, 4-0) at No. 18 Magnolia (3-4, 1-3): Top-ranked LR Parkview, yielding 12 points per game, held Arkansas High of Texarkana to 154 yards in last week's 57-7 win. Senior S Omarion Robinson, senior LB Kevin Ellis, TE Jermaine Conway and senior Jermaine Penny played well. Magnolia ran for 217 yards in last week's 17-10 loss to Hot Springs, including 146 yards for senior Jameion Young. Junior LB Carmelo McDonald (13 tackles) and senior LB Chevis Johnson (11 tackles) led on defense.

Hope (0-7, 0-4) at NO. 8 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (5-2, 3-1): Sophomore QB Austin Courtney threw a TD pass in last week's 63-7 loss to HS Lakeside for Hope, which averages 7.5 points per game. Camden Fairview has won 3 consecutive games, and outscored Magnolia and De Queen the past 2 weeks by a combined 96-14. The Cardinals led De Queen 49-0 in the first half last week before winning 63-7. QB Darrell Atkins (11-11 passing, 229 yards, 4 TDs; 3-47 rushing, TD) while seniors Trent Haygood (4-116 receiving, 2 TDs) and Will Henton (2 TDs) contributed.

De Queen (3-4, 1-3) at NO. 4 HS LAKESIDE (6-1, 4-0): De Queen trailed Camden Fairview 49-0 in the second quarter last week and lost 63-7. The Leopards have scored 30 points total in the past 3 games. HS Lakeside has allowed 21 points the past 3 weeks. The Rams held Hope to 76 yards in last week's 63-7 win. Senior Grady Ohman (161 rushing, 4 TDs) and Ryan Ballard (1-54 receiving, TD)  sparked the offense. The Rams forced 2 turnovers, had 27 TFL and 4 sacks.

NO. 17 HOT SPRINGS (4-3, 3-1) at Arkansas High (0-7, 0-4): Hot Springs moved into playoff contention with last week's 17-10 win over Magnolia. Junior Demond Hicks (4-113-2), senior T.J. Ellis (6-70) and senior Jamarcis Morning (6-64-1) were Hot Springs' top receivers. Chris Sequin (20 tackles, 1 INT.), Shawn Amos (15 tackles) and Colby Holder (15 tackles) led the defense. Winless Arkansas High ran 18 times for 24 yards in last week's 57-7 loss to LR Parkview. Senior WR Christian Roberts caught 4 passes for 109 yards and the team's only TD.

5A WEST

No. 9 Farmington (6-1, 4-0) at NO. 5 MORRILTON (7-0, 4-0): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week, above.

NO. 12 GREENBRIER (4-3, 2-2) at Pea Ridge (1-6, 1-3): Greenbrier rallied from a 13-7 third-quarter deficit to beat Alma last week 30-16. Junior workhorse Enoch Assan (33-259 rushing, 3 TDs), and junior QB Jack Palmer (153 passing, 1 TD) sparked the offense. Senior center Asher Ruple graded out as the top lineman, while senior LB Mathis Polk (7 tackles, 2 TFL) paced the defense. Pea Ridge scored 3 TDs in the final 15 minutes last week to pull away from Clarksville 55-44.

NO. 11 VILONIA (5-2, 3-1) at Harrison (1-5, 1-3): Vilonia QB Skyler Cole threw 2 TD passes in last week's 27-14 loss to Farmington. Hunter Wells caught a TD pass and threw a 64-yard pass on a trick play that set up the first Eagles TD. Harrison hung with Morrilton, trailing 21-19 in the second quarter before losing 49-26. QB Peyton Reese ran in 3 TDs, and Jaxon Ramsey ran for 131 yards and 1 TD.

NO. 16 ALMA (4-3, 1-3) at Clarksville (1-6, 0-4): Alma led Greenbrier 13-7 in the second half last week but lost 30-16. Daniel Rodriguez kicked 3 field goals, while Caleb Parker made 12 tackles. Clarksville hung with Pea Ridge before losing 55-44 last week. QB Angel Alvarez (3 TD passes, 3 rushing TDs) threw a 63-yard TD pass to Cyprus Tuck, who caught 11 passes for 198 yards. Alvarez, Tuck, Ryder Miranda, Ryland Melson and Denver Pickartz led Clarksville's defense.