Hootens Arkansas Football Rankings

Class 4A, Week 9, 2023

Copyright Seventy Sevens Football Publishing, LLC

1. Malvern (5-2)

2. Warren (8-0)

3. Harding Academy (8-0)

4. Elkins (8-0)

5. Rivercrest

6. Arkadelphia (4-3)

7. Ozark (6-2)

8. DeWitt (7-1)

9. Nashville (6-2)

10. Heber Springs (5-3)

11. Crossett (5-3)

12. Monticello (5-3)

13. Blytheville (6-2)

14. CAC (7-2)

15. Lamar (6-2)

16. McGehee (4-3)

17. Bauxite (5-2)

18. Stuttgart (5-3)

19. Mayflower (5-3)

20. Clinton (6-2)

21. Gravette (5-3)

22. H.G. Haskell (4-4)

23. Highland (5-3)

24. Lincoln (6-2)

25. Pottsville (5-4)

26. Dumas (4-4)

27. Gentry (5-3)

28. Ashdown (3-5)

29. Trumann (4-4)

30. Gosnell (4-4)

31. Mena (4-4)

32. Hamburg (3-6)

33. Pocahontas (3-5)

34. Bald Knob (3-4)

35. Lonoke (3-4)

36. Star City (1-8)

37. Berryville (3-5)

38. Hall Steam (2-8)

39. Green Forest (2-6)

40. Jonesboro Westside (1-8)

41. Dover (2-6)

42. Riverview (1-8)

43. Huntsville (0-8)

44. Helena (0-8)

45. Cave City (0-7)

46. Waldron (0-8)

47. Harrisburg (0-8)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 19 of 22 games (86 percent) involving 4A teams, and 198 of 235 games (84 percent) for the season.

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

2-4A

Heber Springs (5-2; 3-1) at HARDING ACADEMY (8-0; 4-0):

The winner gets the 2-4A title. These foes played as nonconference rivals for more than 2 decades (Harding won 8 of 13) before moving into the same conference last fall (Harding Academy won 39-13). The Wildcats have won 4 straight league titles.

Harding Academy hammered Riverview 45-7 a week ago. Junior Isaac Baker caught 2 TD passes and ran 50 yards for a TD against Riverview, while Endy McGalliard caught a 44-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Owen Miller. Right tackle Jack Seger and safety Alex Jones have played well all season, Coach Neil Evans says.

Heber Springs, which won 7 games combined the past 3 years, hasn't won a conference title since 2016. The Panthers beat Stuttgart 29-28 last week, scoring the winning touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final minute. Senior Parker Brown ran for more than 100 yards, while DB Weston Warden returned a fumble for a TD, intercepted 1 pass, and blocked an extra point.

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team highlighted in ALL CAPS)

1-4A

Gentry (5-3; 3-2) at ELKINS (8-0; 5-0): Elkins has won all 5 of its meetings with Gentry, including 56-14 last season. A victory gives the Elks their second consecutive league championship. Elkins blanked Ozark 40-0 last week. Senior QB Dizzy Dean (13-20-229-3 passing; 6-46-1 rushing) befuddled Ozark's defense. Senior RB Da'Shawn Chairs (14-88-1 rushing) and receivers John Townsend (3-104-2) and Landon Martin (6-49) were key cogs, along with TE Stone Dean (2 TD catches). Junior OLB Landon Neal led the defense with 4 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Ja'Quae Walden (7 tackles) and Brooks Williams (6 tackles) also played well. Gentry has lost consecutive conference games to Ozark and Lincoln. The Pioneers were without 3 starters in last week's 53-34 shootout loss to Lincoln. Senior Addison Taylor (6-36 rushing; 8-132-1 receiving) was Gentry's top playmaker.

OZARK (6-2; 4-1) at Gravette (5-3; 4-1): The winner claims the No. 2 playoff seed. Gravette has beaten Ozark 4 of the past 7 meetings, but Ozark won last season 42-7. Gravette QB Gabe Holmes hit Kayden Brown with a 68-yard TD pass on the first play of last week's 42-8 win over Green Forest. Holmes added a 53-yard TD pass and 2 TD runs, while Kyler Austin ran for 2 TDs. Ozark gained 40 yards and recorded 4 first downs in last week's 40-0 loss to Elkins. Demetrius Parish led the Hillbillies' defense with 7 tackles, while Eli Gilstrap had 8 tackles and 1 interception.

LINCOLN (6-2; 3-2) at Berryville (3-5; 1-4): Lincoln needs 1 win to guarantee itself a playoff spot. The Wolves whipped Gentry 53-34 a week ago. Senior WR Jace Birkes caught an 82-yard TD on the game's first play, then caught a 14-yard TD on the next possession. Birkes snagged a 71-yard TD later in the first half, while RB Kale Jones threw the 82-yarder to start the onslaught and added 4 TD runs. Berryville notched a 20-12 win over Huntsville last week. It was Berryville's first league victory over an opponent other than Green Forest since beating Gravette in Week 7, 2018.

Green Forest (2-6; 0-5) at HUNTSVILLE (0-8; 0-5): Huntsville has won its past 8 meetings over Green Forest, including a 46-41 nail-biter a year ago. Huntsville won the next week but hasn't won since (9-game losing streak). Green Forest senior RB Ridge Gordon Swofford (29-129-1) was a workhorse in last week's 34-point loss to Gravette.

2-4A

Lonoke (3-5; 2-3) at STUTTGART (5-3; 2-2): Stuttgart has won 9 of the past 17 meetings between these rivals, but Stuttgart has to rebound after last week's 29-28 loss to Heber Springs. Heber Springs scored and made a 2-point conversion in the final minute. “That conversion play is on me,” Coach Josh Price says. “They threw to their best player. I had our best player on the sideline.” Freshman QB Cain Price threw 2 TD passes and 2 2-point conversions, while junior WR Deontae Clark caught 10 passes for 176 yards and 1 TD. Tank Hood led the defense with 10 tackles. Lonoke trailed Bald Knob 27-7 in the third quarter last week when the game was called due to non-football related issues. The Jackrabbits have dropped 3 of their past 4 games.

BALD KNOB (4-3; 2-2) at Cave City (0-7; 0-4): Bald Knob won 20-14 in overtime last season, the first meeting between the programs. The Bulldogs are headed to the playoffs after beating Riverview and Lonoke the past 2 weeks by a combined 55-7. Cave City has lost 11 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Cavemen have been outscored 150-21 in their 4 conference games this fall.

OPEN Riverview (1-8; 1-4)

3-4A

Trumann (4-4; 2-3) at RIVERCREST (6-2; 5-0): Rivercrest has won 11 of the past 16 meetings with Trumann, including last season 42-32. The Colts have won 5 consecutive games and face Blytheville next week for the league title. The Colts held Gosnell to 255 yards in last week's 42-15 win. Junior QB Cavonta Washington (15-18-255-4 passing; 5-67 rushing), senior RB Koby Turner (3-85-1) and WR Michael Rainer (5-112-3) made big plays. Linebackers Marcus Slayton (14 tackles) and Turner (14 tackles) led the defense, along with senior end Wyatt Lancaster (10 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery). Trumann hung with Blytheville last week before losing 30-24. QB Jake Osment (26-146-3) led the rushing attack behind H-back Gavin Cubit (7 pancake blocks). Cubit (9 tackles) played well on defense.

Pocahontas (3-5; 3-2) at BLYTHEVILLE (6-2; 5-0): Blytheville has won 5 in a row, including last week 30-24 at Trumann. The Chickasaws forced 3 turnovers and limited the Wildcats to 308 yards. Pocahontas should qualify for the playoffs this fall after 3 wins in a row. Freshman Spencer James started at QB in last week's 38-7 win at Jonesboro Westside, running 6 times for 50 yards and 1 TD. RB D.J. Coffey (13-111-1 rushing) played well, while LB Rickey Regina made 11 tackles and returned a blocked punt for a TD, and DE Caleb Bettis recorded 9 stops.

Harrisburg (0-8; 0-5) at GOSNELL (4-4; 1-4): Gosnell has won 8 of the past 10 over Harrisburg. The Pirates need to win their final 2 games and get some help to make the playoffs. Gosnell junior RB Daniel Smith (30-67 rushing) was the workhorse in last week's 27-point loss to Rivercrest. Junior LB Vanterrues Lucas (14 tackles, 4 TFL), senior Carson Talley (13 tackles), and sophomore Asarias Gonzalez (12 tackles, 1 sack) led the defense. Harrisburg has lost 15 consecutive games and has been outscored by an average of 44-15 in 8 losses this fall.

Jonesboro Westside (1-7; 1-4) at HIGHLAND (5-3; 3-2): Jonesboro Westside trailed Pocahontas 30-0 at halftime last week before losing 38-7. Jonesboro Westside's Jared Garner ran 19 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter. Highland snapped a 2-game losing streak last week with a 54-14 win at Harrisburg after leading 48-0 in the second quarter. Junior QB Zac Huckabee (7-10-55-2 passing; 10-129-1 rushing) and junior RB Keagan Statler (12-132-4 rushing) led the way. Statler recorded 4 tackles and returned an interception for a TD on defense.