Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Wk 9, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Shiloh Christian (7-1)
2. Warren (7-1)
3. Stuttgart (7-1)
4. Joe T. Robinson (7-1)
5. Crossett (6-2)
6. Ozark (5-2)
7. Prairie Grove (6-2)
8. Arkadelphia (5-3)
9. Ashdown (7-1)
10. Rivercrest (7-1)
11. Star City (6-2)
12. Malvern (4-4)
13. Pocahontas (6-2)
14. Elkins (6-1)
15. Southside (6-2)
16. Lonoke (7-1)
17. Lamar (7-1)
18. Clinton (4-4)
19. Dardanelle (4-4)
20. Gentry (6-2)
21. Mena (5-4)
22. Trumann (6-2)
23. Fountain Lake (4-4)
24. Monticello (4-4)
25. Mills (5-3)
26. Jonesboro Westside (4-4)
27. Cave City (4-4)
28. Nashville (3-5)
29. DeWitt (4-4)
30. H. Grove Haskell (2-6)
31. Pottsville (3-6)
32. Bauxite (2-6)
33. Huntsville (3-5)
34. Dumas (2-5)
35. Blytheville (2-6)
36. Heber Springs (3-4)
37. Green Forest (2-5)
38. Waldron (2-5)
39. Highland (2-6)
40. Gravette (1-7)
41. CAC (2-6)
42. Berryville (1-5)
43. Gosnell (1-6)
44. Bald Knob (0-8)
45. Hamburg (1-6)
46. Helena (0-8)
47. Dover (0-8)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 17 Lamar at No. 6 Ozark
The winner takes the 4-4A title. Ozark won league titles in 2018-2019, while Lamar hasn't won a title since sharing the 4-3A in 2008. Lamar senior Tony Balmer ran 20 times for 181 yards and a touchdown in last week's 44-12 victory over Riverview. Junior fullback Damien Hendrix logged 12 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Landon Harrison had 10 carries for 56 yards and a pair of TDs, and completed five of 10 passes for 47 yards and a TD. Sophomore linebacker Jarrett Dalton paced the defense with seven tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. Hendrix, at end and tackle, registered four tackles and a one sack. Senior fullback/linebacker and team leader Joe Dalton was out last week with an injury, but Coach Josh Jones believes he can play this week.
Ozark has won its four conference games by a combined 179-53. The Hillbillies led Pottsville 7-0 in the third quarter last week before pulling away 35-14. Junior running back Eli Masingale ran five times for 95 yards and one TD, while junior QB Landon Wright had 10 carries for 62 yards and a TD and completed two of three timely passes for 116 yards and a TD (58-yarder to senior Spencer Lippott).  Senior linebacker Ryker Martin and sophomore LB Kyle Archer each had 10 tackles. “In the past couple of weeks, no team has come close to slowing Ozark's offense,” Jones says. “We have to control the ball and consistently move the sticks.”

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 22 of 24 games (92 percent). Hootens.com has predicted 217 of 244 games (89 percent) correctly this season.

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
1-4A
PRAIRIE GROVE (25) at Berryville: Improved Berryville led Huntsville at halftime a week ago, but turned the ball over five times in a 13-point loss. Senior Jaeden Tanksley ran for 145 yards and three TDs. Prairie Grove senior halfback Colin Faulk ran 11 times for 155 yards to carry the Tigers to a 49-21 win over Gentry. Junior tight end Matt Velasco hauled in a TD pass, and paced the Tigers D in tackles with one fumble recovery to set up a TD.
GENTRY (1) at Elkins: This game is the for the No. 3 playoff spot. After a 6-0 start, Gentry has dropped consecutive games to Shiloh Christian and Prairie Grove by a combined 97-41. Gentry senior safety Zach Gunneman racked up 14 tackles and forced two fumbles last week at Prairie Grove, while junior slot receiver/QB Ty Hays ran four times for 77 yards and a TD, caught two passes for 25 yards and a TD, returned four kickoffs for 112 yards and threw a 40-yard pass. Elkins lost to Shiloh Christian last week 50-0, giving up TDs on the opening seven possessions. Sophomore running back Da'Shawn Chairs had a 42-yard TD run negated by penalty.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN (38) at Gravette: Gravette beat Shiloh Christian by five points in 2017, keeping the Saints from a conference title. The Saints can sew up their fourth straight league title with a win this week. Senior receiver Cooper Hutchinson caught five passes for 129 yards and two TDs, and made an acrobatic interception on defense in last week's 50-0 win over Elkins. Junior QB Eli Wisdom completed 13 of 20 passes for 296 yards and four TDs in the first half. Gravette lost at Green Forest last week 33-29. Junior Joe Drake paced Gravette's D with seven tackles, while sophomore Josiah Mcgee chipped in with six stops and three QB pressures. Watch extended highlights of Shiloh Christian’s 58-12 win over Green Forest earlier this year.  Watch extended highlights of Green Forest’s 58-12 loss to Shiloh Christian earlier this year.
Green Forest at HUNTSVILLE (7): The winner likely gets the No. 5 playoff seed. Huntsville rallied past Berryville last week 48-35, after trailing 21-7 in the second quarter. The Eagle D forced five turnovers. Junior QB Amos Mayes completed 21 of 28 passes for 360 yards and five TDs. Green Forest beat Gravette last week by four points. Junior QB Isaiah Fraga ran 10 times for 112 yards and two TDs, while junior safety Ben Jones made 17 tackles. 

2-4A
Mills at SOUTHSIDE (6): Mills hung with Stuttgart for one half last week before losing 63-28. Junior Jabrae Shaw didn't play last week and was hampered the previous two games with an ankle injury. Shaw has rushed for 767 yards and 12 TDs this fall. Southside beat Heber Springs last week 35-7. Junior Adam Dennison changed momentum in the first half by blocking a punt inside Heber Springs' 20-yard line to set up an easy Southerner TD. Sophomore running back Seth Case logged eight carries for 132 yards and a TD, while senior QB Landen Haas bolted seven times for 105 yards and a TD. Haas also threw a TD pass. Junior safety Jonathan Strother led the D with eight tackles.
Bald Knob at CAC (1): Winless Bald Knob surrendered almost 500 yards and 56 points last week to Clinton. Senior Elijah Bradley hauled in a pair of TD passes. CAC lost at Lonoke last week 42-13. The Mustangs rely on senior QB Tyler Williams, who ran 16 times for 151 yards and two TDs. Sophomore Vance Strange paced the D with 12 tackles.
CLINTON (8) at Heber Springs: Clinton leads this rivalry series 41-38-5. Heber Springs continues struggling on offense without sophomore QB Xander Lindley (out for the season). Panther junior Chris Edwards caught three passes for 44 yards and Heber Springs' only TD in last week's 28-point loss at Southside, and he registered 12 tackles at safety. Clinton put up 493 yards in last week's 56-28 win over Bald Knob. Sophomore Zane Widener ran for 95 yards and two TDs, and caught a TD pass from junior QB Harley Tobin, who completed 11 of 13 attempts for 191 yards and three TDs.Watch extended highlights of Clinton’s 43-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Heber Springs’ 42-0 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.
STUTTGART (10) at Lonoke: These rivals have split the past 14 meetings, and this game could decide the league championship. Stuttgart stormed by Mills last week 63-28. Ricebird senior QB Tymir Coppins ran 12 times for 157 yards and two TDs, completed nine of 12 passes for 203 yards and two TDs, and on defense intercepted one pass. Senior short-yardage specialist Daniel Poole bulled in three TDs, and paced Stuttgart with 10 tackles. Junior Cedric Hawkins ran for 108 yards and a TD and caught two passes for 60 yards. The Ricebird D collected five sacks. Lonoke trailed CAC 6-0 early last week before running away to a 42-13 decision. Jackrabbit sophomore QB Bradon Allen completed eight of 10 passes for 163 yards and three TDs, and ran for 72 yards and two TDs against CAC, while junior Landon Jones caught five passes for 116 yards and two TDs. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 47-27 loss to Warren earlier this year.Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 42-0 win over Heber Springs earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 35-14 win over Star City earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Stuttgart’s 43-14 win over Clinton earlier this year.

3-4A
POCAHONTAS (22) at Blytheville: Blytheville's two-game win streak was snapped last week by Trumann 43-27. The Chickasaws surrendered almost 300 yards rushing. Pocahontas gets the No. 2 seed with two more wins. The Redskin defense didn't allow a TD in last week's 31-7 win over Jonesboro Westside. Junior inside linebackers Connor Baker (11 tackles) and Reed Bigger (six tackles), and sophomore outside linebacker Reagan Womack (10 tackles) “were outstanding,” Pocahontas coach Charles Baty says. Baker, at QB, ran for 119 yards and two TDs and threw a TD pass. Junior Harrison Carter caught five balls for 51 yards and a TD.
CAVE CITY (12) at Gosnell: Gosnell, which lost three key starters before the season started, is without QB Floyd Williams and sophomore running back Cam Williams for the season due to injuries. Coach Lewis Earnest and several starters were quarantined during last week's 42-0 loss to Rivercrest. Cave City is still in contention for its first playoff berth since 2014. Junior fullback Bryce Walling, who was quarantined Weeks 5 and 6 and didn't play much in Week 7, exploded last week with 18 carries for 188 yards and one TD, giving Cave City a 35-20 win over Highland and the Sharp County Showdown Trophy. Junior QB Jacob Moore passed for 179 yards and three TDs, while senior Jacob Jones hauled in two TDs. Senior DL Jacob Korkis, safety Maddox Moreland and LB Tyler Martin played well on defense, Coach Danny Brustrom says. Watch extended highlights of Cave City’s 46-28 loss to Hoxie earlier this year.
JONESBORO WESTSIDE (10) at Highland: Jonesboro Westside's defense scored a TD in last week's 24-point loss to Pocahontas. Junior fullback/linebacker Darvin Fowler, junior receiver Montana Neely and senior center Edward Wilson played well, Coach Bobby Engle says. Highland led Cave City by 13 points in the third quarter last week before allowing 29 unanswered points. Highland junior QB Wyatt Goodman threw a pair of first half TDs, ran for a TD and threw a two-point conversion.
RIVERCREST (14) at Trumann: Rivercrest led depleted Gosnell 33-0 in the second quarter last week before winning 42-0. Senior QB Mike Sharp completed 11 of 15 passes for 127 yards and three TDs, with sophomore Michael Rainer hauling in four for 60 yards and two TDs. Senior Lath Latham registered four tackles and returned an interception 56 yards. Trumann junior QB Murphy Williams ran 12 times for 71 yards and completed five of seven passes for 57 yards and a TD in last week's 16-point win at Blytheville. Senior Rian King bolted 12 times for 64 yards and a pair of TDs.

4-4A
Lamar at OZARK (6): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Dover at POTTSVILLE (28): Pottsville hung with Ozark last week for three quarters before losing 35-14. Senior Landon Mahan ran 30 times for 179 yards and recorded eight tackles at linebacker. Winless Dover gets outscored by 31 points weekly.
DARDANELLE (12) at Waldron: Waldron played one of its better games of the year last week, dismantling Dover 40-6. Coach Doug Powell says “It was a great team effort.” Dardanelle's 56-42 win over Mena last week put the Sand Lizards in position to claim at least the No. 3 playoff seed. Junior QB Drew Vega ran 19 times for 278 yards and five TDs, completed three of six passes for 48 yards and two TDs and caught a 46-yard pass against Mena. He also collected eight tackles and broke up two passes at safety. Senior Jordan Branson ran 10 times for 64 yards and a TD and racked up four tackles at linebacker, while senior cornerback Seth Harper made six tackles and two interceptions, returning them for a total of 130 yards.
Mena is open.

7-4A
JOE T. ROBINSON (7) at Ashdown: Joe T. Robinson claims at least a share of the league title and the No. 1 playoff seed with a win. Coach Todd Eskola says his offensive line played well in the first half of last week's 56-12 win over Bauxite. Senior QB Jack Cleveland completed all 12 pass attempts for 193 yards and three TDs. Ashdown committed five turnovers and fell behind Arkadelphia 28-0 early in the second quarter last week before rallying within 33-27. Senior QB Alex Keilbach passed for 226 yards and three TDs, while Kaiden Winfrey caught 12 passes for 235 yards and three TDs. Watch extended highlights of Joe T. Robinson's 56-32 win over Arkadelphia earlier this year.
ARKADELPHIA (25) at Bauxite: Arkadelphia forced five turnovers, including a scoop-and-score by LB Alex Turley, in last week's six-point win over Ashdown. Turley finished with 10 tackles. Junior QB Donovan Whitten passed for 160 yards and a TD, while senior Jaishon Davis ran for 83 yards and a TD. Bauxite trailed Joe T. Robinson 56-7 in the second quarter last week. Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 55-47 loss to Greenbrier earlier this year.Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 48-14 win over Fountain Lake earlier this year.Watch extended highlights of Arkadelphia’s 56-32 loss to Joe T. Robinson earlier this year. FOUNTAIN LAKE (1) at H. Grove Haskell: Fountain Lake dressed 16 players in last week's 54-22 loss to Malvern. An opposing coach says: “They might win the conference if they had 36 guys. The players they've lost are that good, and they play so hard.” Cobra senior Steven DeArmon ran 14 times for 91 yards against Malvern. Haskell ran more plays than Nashville last week, surrendered just 317 yards, but lost 28-21. 
Nashville at MALVERN (8): Nashville snapped a four-game losing streak with last week's seven-point win over H.G. Haskell. Scrapper junior Sloan Perrin recorded six tackles and ran 11 times for 79 yards against Haskell, his first game back from injury in one month. Sophomore Tre Hopkins ran for 147 yards and two TDs, and senior QB Ethan Gunter passed for 85 yards against Haskell. Malvern likely gets the No. 4 playoff seed with a win. Sophomores JaNoah Harris and Jalen Dupree combined last week for 40 carries, 389 yards and six TDs in a 32-point win at Fountain Lake. Sophomore LB Hunter Adams made 11 tackles. Malvern fullback Jon Moorhouse and middle linebacker Romere Bennett are out for the season with injuries. Watch extended highlights of Malvern’s 35-12 loss to Lake Hamilton earlier this year.

8-4A
MONTICELLO (14) at Dumas: Dumas has won six of the past 11 meetings. Dumas sophomore Jospeh Jones threw a 94-yard TD pass in last week's 29-point loss at DeWitt. He has passed for 831 yards and 10 TDs this fall. Monticello senior Doerian Allen caught four balls for 58 yards in last week's 35-point loss at Warren, while Evan Bealer snagged five passes for 74 yards. Senior LB Cade Piggot made six tackles, while Jordan Light had five stops.
WARREN (37) at Hamburg: Warren has beaten Hamburg 19 of the past 20 seasons since Bo Hembree took over as head coach in 2000. Warren needs one more win to get its seventh conference title in nine years (17th since Hembree took over). Warren senior Cedric Calbert ran 14 times for 105 yards and a pair of TDs in last week's 41-6 win over Monticello, while playmaker senior Jacari Lee had four carries for 76 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards. Junior end Landon Wolfe logged eight tackles, six QB hurries and 3.5 sacks. Hamburg has scored a TD or less in seven games this fall. Watch extended highlights of Hamburg's 42-3 loss to Rison earlier this year.Watch extended highlights of Warren’s 47-27 win over Stuttgart earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Warren’s 35-0 loss to White Hall earlier this year. DeWitt at STAR CITY (10): The Bulldogs have outscored their past three opponents by a combined 148-39. Star City led Helena 42-0 in the second quarter last week. Senior RB Javeon Turner ran four times for 69 yards and three TDs in the first quarter against Helena, while senior Cole Branson logged seven totes for 97 yards and two TDs. DeWitt led Dumas 43-0 in the first half last week before winning 43-14. Junior Eli Ashcraft completed seven of 11 passes for 143 yards and a TD in the first half, while senior Xander Bohner logged seven carries for 100 yards, including a 73-yard TD dash. Senior Ben Hackney caught four passes for 79 yards, while senior Owen Luebke caught a 36-yard TD. Watch extended highlights of Star City’s 35-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.

CROSSETT 13, Helena 0. FORFEIT