Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 9, 2011
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Greenwood at No. 3 Greenbrier
Greenwood coach Rick Jones and Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble were roommates at Harding University more than three decades ago. "We are similar in what we do offensively and defensively," Tribble said. "We both like to run screens and use the screen to set up other plays."

Greenwood has applied the 35-point sportsmanship rule on seven of eight opponents this year. They trailed Vilonia 9-0 in the first quarter last week, their first deficit of the season, before storming to a 45-15 triumph. Senior quarterback Hayden Smith has completed 86 of 115 passes (75 percent) for 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns this year, and thrown just one interception. Senior Justin Sunde has rushed 88 times for 573 yards and 10 scores, while playing sparingly. "He still has fresh legs for the rest of the season," Jones says. Junior Drew Morgan paces the Bulldogs with 36 catches for 710 yards and 12 scores.

Greenwood's attacking defense gives up just 11 points a game. Senior Brandon Boerjan tops the tackle chart with 80 stops, while Morgan has 30 tackles at outside linebacker. "They fly around and makes big hits," Tribble said. "They try to force you into mistakes."

Greenbrier is 8-0, its best start since going 9-1 in 1977. Senior QB Neal Burcham won the ESPN Elite 11 Quarterback Challenge in the summer, and has completed 176 of 245 passes (72 percent) for 2,760 yards and 35 TDs this fall. Junior Seth Peters has caught 72 passes (second-best in the state) for 876 yards and 10 TDs this year. Junior Austin Fischer snagged seven passes for 105 yards and two scores at Alma. "Can't say enough about Burcham," Jones says. "He's infallible. Reminds me of a quarterback (Tyler Wilson) we had here a few years ago who is playing on Saturday's in the SEC."

Greenbrier's improved defense revolves around senior cornerbacks JoJo Oluokun, Reid Cone and safety Jimbo Pitts. Senior ends Ryan Alexander and Paul Easley chase the ball, while senior linebacker Blake Henderson would lead the Panthers in tackles if he hadn't missed two games with an injury. "Greenwood executes flawlessly," Tribble said. "Everything they do sets up something else."

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 15 of 16 games (94 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 136 of 163 games (83 percent).

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KARZ 42 (Z42 in Little Rock), Suddenlink Channel 22 in Northeast Arkansas, and On Demand in Northwest Arkansas (Cox Ch. 644).

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A EAST
Greene County Tech at BATESVILLE (17): The Pioneers wrap up the top playoff seed with one victory in the final two games. Pioneer junior running back Jordan Childress has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 17 TDs this year. Greene County Tech beat Beebe 54-49 last week but could miss the playoffs.
WYNNE (7) at Forrest City: The Yellowjackets need one more victory to secure at least the No. 2 playoff seed. Junior Josh Selvy scored a pair of TDs in last week's 10-point win over Paragould. Forrest City failed on a two-point conversion with 33 seconds left that would have forced overtime against Nettleton last week.
BEEBE (12) at Nettleton: The winner locks up a playoff spot, probably the third seed. Nettleton hasn't been to the playoffs since 2007. Running backs Robbie Pyle and Brysen Carter fuel Nettleton's attack. Beebe junior halfback Michael Kirby ran for three scores in last week's five-point loss at Greene County Tech.
BLYTHEVILLE (10) at Paragould: Blytheville can make the playoffs if it wins the final two games against teams who have a combined record of 1-13-1. Paragould's DeAngelo Rice has rushed for six TDs the past two weeks.

5A SOUTHEAST
MONTICELLO (14) at Crossett: Crossett has won consecutive games for the first time since mid-October, 2009. Monticello rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit, beating Sylvan Hills by 12 points last week.
MILLS (1) at North Pulaski: Mills trailed Watson Chapel 43-0 at halftime last week. North Pulaski hasn't won this year, but two of its conference losses were by two TDs or less.
WEST HELENA (1) at Sylvan Hills: The winner probably makes the playoffs. Sylvan Hills led Monticello in the fourth quarter last week before allowing two late TD runs. West Helena failed to score last week for the first time since Week 3, 2010.
White Hall at WATSON CHAPEL (6): The game of the week in Southeast Arkansas. White Hall has recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time in more than two decades. Bulldog DB Joseph Stewart returned two interceptions for TDs in last week's 42-0 win at West Helena. Watson Chapel has won its five league games by an average of 47-15. Running back Devonte Battles and Willie Sargent each rushed for two TDs in last week's 53-6 win at Mills. The game will be previewed on Hootens.com this week.

5A SOUTHWEST
Hot Springs at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (25): Camden Fairview has beaten Hot Springs by an average of 27 points over the past five years. The Cardinals need one win to earn at least a share of their fifth league title in six years. Four different Cardinals have returned kickoffs for TDs this year.
Hope at CAC (2): This could decide the fourth playoff spot. Hope trailed Camden Fairview 20-14 in the fourth quarter last week before giving up three late scores. CAC senior running back Eric Simmons has rushed for 1,188 yards and 14 TDs this fall.
Arkadelphia at HS LAKESIDE (6): The winner captures at least the second playoff seed, while Arkadelphia can win the league title with two more wins. HS Lakeside is headed to the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since 1974-1975. Senior Ajalen Holley scored four TDs (one an interception return) in last week's 30-point win at Little Rock Christian. Arkadelphia senior QB Garrett Rucker generated 226 yards in last week's 37-7 win over Magnolia.
LR Christian at MAGNOLIA (1): Magnolia committed four turnovers and gained just 183 total yards in last week's loss at Arkadelphia. Little Rock Christian committed three turnovers (two returned for TDs) against Hot Springs Lakeside last week.

5A WEST
GREENWOOD (7) at Greenbrier: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week. The Game will be previewed on Hootens.com.
Huntsville at MORRILTON (18): Morrilton must win to keep alive its playoff hopes. The Devil Dogs get production from steady senior QB David Ford. Huntsville averages seven points per league game.
ALMA (2) at Siloam Springs: The winner locks up a playoff spot. Alma must bounce back after trailing Greenbrier 35-3 last season, while Siloam Springs rallied from an 8-3 third-quarter deficit to beat Huntsville 25-8.
Harrison at VILONIA (4): Neither team can make the playoffs. Harrison averages just nine points per conference game. Vilonia led Greenwood 9-0 in the first quarter last week, but lost by 30 points.