Hootens.com Class 2A Rankings

Week 9, 2024

1. Carlisle (8-0)

2. Conway Christian (8-0)

3. Des Arc (7-1)

4. Marked Tree (6-2)

5. Bigelow (6-2)

6. Poyen (6-2)

7. Murfreesboro (6-2)

8. Junction City (5-3)

9. Mount Ida (5-3)

10. Mineral Springs (5-3)

11. East Poinsett County (5-3)

12. Hector (5-3)

13. McCrory (5-3)

14. Cross County (5-3)

15. Hazen (4-4)

16. Bearden (4-4)

17. Earle (3-5) 

18. Gurdon (3-5)

19. Dierks (5-3)

20. England (4-4)

Not ranked:

1-2A: Mountain Pine (2-6), JC Westside (1-6), Magazine (2-5), Mountainburg (3-5)

2-2A: Izard County Consolidated (0-8), Marianna (0-7)

3-2A: Spring Hill (2-5), Foreman (0-8), Lafayette County (3-5)

4-2A: Clarendon (0-7), Baptist Prep (3-5), Hampton (3-5)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 11 East Poinsett County (5-3, 4-1) at NO. 3 DES ARC (7-1, 5-0): This game has big playoff implications. EPC is tied for second in 2-2A with Marked Tree at 4-1. Des Arc leads the pack at 5-0. EPC and Marked Tree play each other in Week 10 while Des Arc rounds out the regular season at McCrory. An EPC victory over Des Arc could throw the standings into a three-way tie, but Marked Tree must beat Cross County for that to happen.

EPC's Eli Blagg, Tyrus Reel and Dee Buchanan each scored 2 TDs in last week's win over Marianna. 

“Des Arc is a tough place to go win football games. … They don’t lose conference games at home very often,” EPC Coach Brandon Powell said. “They are physical and well coached with playmakers in the skill positions. They want to establish the run and stay ahead of the chains, so we have to find ways to get them in some third-and-longs. Defensively, they play great bend-but-don’t-break defense.”

Des Arc rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit to beat Cross County 24-6 last week. Dayvion Bell (18-131 rushing, TD; 2 2-point conversions) led the way; Cane Childers and Hudson Goodman added TDs. 

Des Arc Coach Brandon Barbaree says he knows that this will be a tough game.

“They are the defending conference champions,” he said. “They are athletic. They will always play hard. We have to not have a letdown coming off a physical, big game, but we have a mature team that I believe is up to the challenge. We also know how big this game is for conference and playoff implications.”

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 13 of 16 games last week involving Class 2A teams and is 131 of 157 games (83 percent) for the season.

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

1-2A

NO. 2 CONWAY CHRISTIAN (8-0, 5-0) at No. 12 Hector (5-3, 3-2): Conway Christian rolled past Magazine 57-0, led by QB Jeryn Thomas (147 passing, 3 TDs). Aaron Lovelace and Brady Domokos each rushed for more than 100 yards. Hector beat JC Westside 64-32 behind Drew Newport (244 passing, 3 TDs) and Landon Darter (166 rushing, 5 TDs). “We are going to have to tackle well in space and play mistake-free football,” Hector Coach Trevor Cooper said. 

JC Westside (1-6, 0-5) at NO. 5 BIGELOW (6-2, 5-0): Westside put up 32 points in its loss to Hector last week, its highest output since beating Cedarville 36-14 in its second game. Cooper Hilton passed for 70 yards and a TD while also rushing for 130 yards and 2 TDs. Kyle Waln passed for a TD and caught a TD pass. Defending state champion Bigelow beat Mount Ida 35-21 for its fifth consecutive win after starting 1-2. Martell Macon and Jayden Dunlap each had 11 tackles. Nathan Brackets (8-71 receiving, TD) and Macon (10-106 rushing) led the offense. Bigelow is eyeing a trip to Conway Christian in Week 10 for the conference title. 

MOUNT IDA (5-3, 3-2) at Mountainburg (2-6, 1-4): Mount Ida can wrap up a playoff spot with a win after losing last week to Bigelow 35-21. Dakota Beech (97 rushing; 95-yard KO returns; 14 tackles). Mountainburg needs to win this week to have a shot at the playoffs after edging Mountain Pine 35-32 last week. Ryan Allen (199 rushing, 4 TDs; 90 passing, TD) led on offense. Bryce Beasley, Dayton Pense and Chase Post each had 8 tackles. 

MAGAZINE (3-4, 2-3) at Mountain Pine (2-6, 1-4): Magazine fell to Conway Christian 57-0 last week. The Rattlers are still vying for a playoff spot but need to beat Mountain Pine and Hector next week then have some help along the way. Mountain Pine is technically not eliminated either but it would take a lot of work. Last week, the Red Devils fell to Mountainburg 35-32. Zachary Middleton scored 2 rushing TDs. Cale Slaten rushed for 114 yards and a TD.

2-2A

NO. 4 MARKED TREE (6-2, 4-1) at No. 14 Cross County (5-3, 3-2): Marked Tree’s TJ Hodges (232 rushing, 2 TDs) led the way in the Indians’ 64-22 win over Izard County last week. Kenyon Carter completed 7 of 12 passes for 164 yards and 4 TDs. Landon Lewis and Jakaymion Williams each intercepted 2 passes with Williams returning 1 of his INTs. 93 yards for a TD. Ryan Wages had 5 pancake blocks. Cross County led Des Arc 6-0 at halftime but fell 24-6. The Thunderbirds need a victory to help secure a playoff spot. Braxton Armstrong rushed for 72 yards and a TD against Des Arc. Danny Beale and Sawyer Powell each had 9 tackles. 

EPC (5-3, 4-1) at DES ARC (7-1, 5-0): See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above

EARLE (3-5, 2-3) at Izard County (0-8, 0-5): Earle still has playoff aspirations after beating McCrory 30-20 last week. Freshman LB Tereze Jarrett had 12 tackles and a caused fumble. RB Brian Powell rushed 18 times for 145 yards and a TD. Izard County posted a season-high point total in a 64-22 loss to Marked Tree last week. Benaiah Spray caught 10 passes for 124 yards and 2 TDs. He also had an interception on defense. 

MCCRORY (5-3, 2-3) at Marianna (0-7, 0-5): McCrory should win this easily and keep its playoff hopes alive, but the Jaguars will need some help to get into the postseason after last week's 30-20 loss to Earle. Leevi Tucker and Will Rushing each had rushing TDs vs. Earle. Marianna meets Izard County, another winless team, in a Week 10 matchup that will produce a win for one of the two teams.

3-2A

NO. 8 JUNCTION CITY (5-3, 4-1) at Lafayette County (3-5, 1-4): Junction City’s 5-game winning streak  ended with a 30-16 loss to Murfreesboro last week. Dominique Grimes (92 rushing, TD; TD pass) and defenders JB Banks (8 tackles) and Jamarion Toles (7 tackles) led Junction City. Lafayette County is coming off a 28-20 loss to Mineral Springs. The Cougars need to win out and get some help to have a shot of making the playoffs. Rod Bailey (20-116 rushing, TD; TD reception); and Jordan Walters (15-118 rushing, TD) led Lafayette County.

No. 19 Dierks (5-3, 3-2) at NO. 10 MINERAL SPRINGS (5-3, 4-1): Dierks can clinch a playoff spot with wins over Mineral Springs Friday and Gurdon next week. The Outlaws beat Foreman last week behind Jordan Hill (155 rushing, 3 TDs) and Juan Salazar (124 rushing, TD). Mineral Springs edged Lafayette County 28-20 last week with Evan Erwin (17-100 rushing, 2 TDs) and Malik Matthews (52 yards rushing, TD) contributing. 

Spring Hill (2-6, 1-4) at NO. 7 MURFREESBORO (6-2, 5-0): Spring Hill fell to Gurdon 49-12 last week with Karson Hamilton catching a TD pass from Jaxon Smith, who had 77 yards rushing. Tucker Vickers ran 42 yards for a score. Murfreesboro made a major statement last week, beating No. 8 Junction City 30-16. The Rattlers had 318 yards rushing. Laytan Wilcher (12-146 rushing, 2 TDs; TD pass), RB Brody Maroon (20-98 rushing) and Lathan Compton (rushing TD, 8 tackles, INT.)  led Murfreesboro. “Spring Hill has big linemen and have some backs that hit the hole hard,” Murfreesboro Coach Brad Chessir said. “Their QB has a very good arm and can beat you when your eyes aren’t right. We need to continue to play as a disciplined football team.”

Foreman (0-8, 0-5) at NO. 18 GURDON (3-5, 2-3): Foreman fell to Dierks 45-14 last week, but they were led by Rylan Johnson (14-115 rushing, 2 TDs; 2 2-point conversions). The Gators, who played the game with only 11 healthy players, should get some of the injured guys back this week along with a moving up several ninth graders. Gurdon is fighting for a playoff spot after beating Spring Hill 49-12 last week. Xavier Laster (9-162 rushing, 3 TDs); and Rhett Ledbetter (rushing TD, passing TD) led the Go-Devils.

4-2A

No. 20 England (4-4, 3-2) at NO. 1 CARLISLE (8-0, 5-0):  The matchup of Lonoke County rivals has been dominated by Carlisle in recent years. England, which is battling for the final playoff spot with Bearden, beat Hampton 42-0 last week behind Nick Brown Jr. (115 passing, 2 TDs; 89 rushing, TD) and Trent Arnold (3-64 receiving, TD). The Bison rolled past Bearden 55-8 last week with freshman QB Ty Tanksley passing for more than 300 yards and 6 TDs. 

NO. 15 HAZEN (4-4, 4-1) at Hampton (3-5, 1-4): The Hazen Hornets routed Clarendon 53-12 last week behind JJ Pinkeny (161 rushing, 3 TDs). The Hornets still have a chance at a home playoff game but will need some help the remainder of the season. Hampton has played better this season, but the Bulldogs have won 4 in a row, including a 42-0 loss to England last week. Deondre Smith led the Bulldogs with 2 interceptions. 

NO. 6 POYEN (6-2, 4-1) at No. 16 Bearden (4-4, 3-2): Poyen bounced back from its loss to Carlisle by beating Baptist Prep 42-0 last week. QB Colt Barrett (241 passing, 3 rushing TDs).  Bearden's Marky Jimerson (117 rushing, TD) scored his team's lone touchdown in a 55-8 loss to Carlisle. 

Baptist Prep (3-5, 0-5) at CLARENDON (0-7, 0-5): Baptist Prep, which has been decimated by injuries during conference play, was eliminated from playoff contention with a 42-0 loss to Poyen last week. QB Andrew Mashburn passed for 180 yards and a TD against Poyen. Austin Herring caught 6 passes for 117 yards and a TD. Cole Hatcher led the Eagles with 11 tackles. Clarendon, in search of its first win, lost to Hazen 53-12 last week. William Wise scored a TD for the Lions.