Hootens.com Class 4A Rankings

Week 9, 2024

1. Elkins (8-0)

2. Arkadelphia (6-2)

3. Warren (6-2)

4. Mills (8-0)

5. Malvern (8-0)

6. Gravette (8-0)

7. DeWitt (6-2)

8. Southside (8-0)

9. Dardanelle (7-1)

10. Mena (8-0)

11. Highland (6-1)

12. Prairie Grove (5-3)

13. Clinton (7-1)

14. Monticello (5-3)

15. Hamburg (6-2)

16. Gentry (7-1)

17. Nashville (5-3)

18. Heber Springs (5-3)

19. Helena (5-3)

20. Lamar (4-4)

Not Ranked

1-4A: Berryville (1-7), Green Forest (2-6), Huntsville (1-6), Lincoln (4-4)

 2-4A: Bald Knob (0-7), CAC (3-5), Forrest City (3-5), Hall Steam (2-6), Lonoke (4-4), Riverview (0-7)

 3-4A: Blytheville (3-4), Cave City (3-5), Gosnell (4-4), Jonesboro Westside (1-7), Pocahontas (5-3), Trumann (2-6)

 4-4A: Dover (1-7), Ozark (3-5), Pottsville (5-3), Waldron (2-6)

 7-4A: Ashdown (3-5), Bauxite (3-5), Fountain Lake (2-6), HG Haskell (1-7)

 8-4A: Crossett (0-8), Star City (4-4)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 6 Gravette (8-0, 5-0) at NO. 1 ELKINS (8-0, 5-0): A battle of unbeatens, and the winner takes the 1-4A title. Elkins has won consecutive conference titles, while Gravette hasn't won it since 2007.

Elkins outscores opponents by an average of 51-7 this season. The Elks have allowed 6 points over the past month. Junior quarterback Ben Napier (20-24-252) threw 2 touchdown passes in the first half of last week's 48-0 win over Green Forest. Junior Brad Walker (8-81) and Pucci Townsend (3-38-1) were the top receivers. Junior linebacker Brook Williams and senior Davion Hall each recorded 7 tackles.

Gravette outscores its opponents by an average of 46-11 this fall. The Lions led Prairie Grove 35-8 in the second quarter last week before easing to a 42-16 victory. Senior Gabe Holmes took most of the snaps at Wildcat QB, running for 121 yards and 4 TDs. He's scored 27 TDs this fall. Senior safety Eric Vogt (13 tackles) and junior Logan Wolf (12 tackles) paced a defense that had 6 players record double-digit tackles. Sophomore cornerback Joseph Beem finished with 10 tackles and his interception in the first quarter set up an easy Lions TD. Sophomore OLB Austin Wolf had 10 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com predicted 23 of 24 games (96 percent), and for the season has predicted 210 of 245 games (86 percent).

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

1-4A
No. 6 Gravette (8-0, 5-0) at NO. 1 ELKINS (8-0, 5-0): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.

No. 16 Gentry (7-1, 4-1) at NO. 12 PRAIRIE GROVE (5-3, 3-2): The winner gets the No. 3 playoff seed. Prairie Grove fell behind Gravette 21-0 in the first quarter last week and never recovered in a 42-16 setback. The Tigers had a bad snap on a punt, threw an interception and had a runner fall in the backfield on a fake-punt attempt. Blake Coughran's TD run and 2-point conversion cut Gravette's advantage to 21-8 in the second quarter. Jace Edwards scored Prairie Grove's final TD. Gentry senior RB/LB Bennett Roberts ran for 92 yards, 1 TD and made 10 tackles, including 4 TFL, 1 sack and recorded a safety in last week's 55-14 win over Berryville. Dalton Richardson (6 tackles and 1 interception) and Ezekiel Strong (5 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble) played well on defense, while WR Caydon Koons (3-87-2) was a force on offense.

LINCOLN (4-4, 1-4) at Berryville (1-7, 1-4): Lincoln can still make the playoffs, but the Wolves must build off of last week's 48-6 win over Huntsville. Senior Kale Jones ran for 190 yards and 2 TDs and caught 2 passes for 30 yards and 1 TD. QB Kayden Job (11-21-187 passing, 3 TDs; 10-47 rushing) and senior WR Caden Brewer (5-99-2) helped the offense, while Ty Moss led the defense with 2 sacks and 1 interception that he returned 60 yards for a TD. Berryville has scored 23 points in the past 4 games.

GREEN FOREST (2-6, 1-4) at Huntsville (1-6, 0-5): Green Forest will make the playoffs if it wins out. QB Mason Meador completed 11 of 23 passes in last week's loss to Elkins. The Tigers have scored 8 points in their 4 conference losses. Huntsville has scored 20 points in 5 conference losses.

2-4A

NO. 4 MILLS (8-0, 5-0) at Central Arkansas Christian (3-5, 3-2): Mills has given up 25 points this season and appears headed to a Week 10 showdown with Lonoke for the league title. Senior WR Chauncey Haynes (3-78-2) and DB Azayvonne Stribling (3 tackles, 2 interceptions) played well in last week's 47-0 win over Hall Steam. The Comets were up 34-0 in the second quarter. CAC likely makes the playoffs after last week's 49-14 win at Bald Knob. Freshman QB Jackson Plumlee passed for 139 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 1 TD in the first half, while Gus Smith ran for 100 yards and 2 TDs and made 6 tackles. Damian Wicker had 8 tackles and 1 sack.

NO. 18 HEBER SPRINGS (5-3, 4-1) at Forrest City (3-5, 3-2): Forrest City secured its playoff spot with last week's 43-34 win over Riverview. Jabaree Williams ran 8 times for 94 yards and1 TD, while Adrian Reyes had 5 tackles and a sack when playing his first game in almost 2 months (hand injury). Heber Springs gets the No. 2 seed with 1 more victory after beating Lonoke 33-14 a week ago. QB Liam Buffalo (11-20-121 passing, 2 TDs; 14-195-3 rushing) and Logan Rutledge (7-87-1 receiving) led the offense. Eli Buffalo (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception) was a defensive stalwart.

Hall Steam (2-6, 1-4) at LONOKE (4-4, 4-1): Hall Steam, which has been decimated by injuries, fell to Mills 47-0 last week. DE Kordai Akins and LB Rico Baker finished as the Hall's top tacklers. Lonoke must bounce back after last week's 19-point loss at Heber Springs. Sophomore RB/LB Ryder Ingle led the Jackrabbits with 5 carries, 31 yards and 7 tackles. LB Collins Gentry (14 tackles) and sophomore D'Mareon Eason (3 catches, 74 yards) played well.

RIVERVIEW (0-7, 0-5) at Bald Knob (0-8, 0-5): A battle of winless teams. Riverview gets outscored by an average of 44-15, while Bald Knob gets beaten by an average of 41-7.

3-4A

Trumann (2-6, 1-4) at NO. 8 SOUTHSIDE (8-0, 5-0): Southside needs 1 victory to secure the league title and No. 1 playoff seed after last week's 50-22 win at Gosnell. Senior RB Owen McLaughlin scored for 5 TDs, while QB Trey Allen threw 2 TDs. Allen also intercepted a pass at safety. Trumann needs to win out and get some help to make the playoffs. Tony Postell, Jr., ran for 228 yards and 1 TD, completed an 18-yard pass and made 6 tackles in last week's 26-20 loss to Blytheville. Bradon Whitsett recorded 10 tackles.

HIGHLAND (6-1, 4-1) at Jonesboro Westside (1-7, 0-5): Highland likely plays next week for the No. 2 playoff seed. Senior RB Keagan Statler (10-191-4 rushing; 1-18-1 receiving) led the charge in last week's 49-0 win over Cave City. Sophomore QB Austin Christy passed for 115 yards and 2 TDs. Wade Munroe (5 tackles, 2 sacks), Cole Boyer (6 tackles), Zac Huckabee (7 tackles) and DL Kalei Tokanang (5 tackles) led the defense.

Blytheville (3-4, 3-2) at POCAHONTAS (5-3, 4-1): The winner likely gets either the No. 2 or No. 3 playoff seed. Pocahontas QB D.J. Coffey (8-12-143-2 passing, 12-199-4 rushing) was the workhorse in last week's 44-20 win over Jonesboro Westside. Xavyer Ballard ran for 90 yards and Brendyn Arnold caught 5 passes for 93 yards. Ty Menard and Jared Mitchell each caught TDs. Blytheville WRs Eugene Williams and Derick King and RB Courtney Rogers played well in last week's 26-20 win over Trumann.

GOSNELL (3-5, 2-3) at Cave City (3-5, 1-4): Gosnell clinches a playoff spot with a victory. Kylan Young ran for 143 yards and 1 TD in last week's 50-22 loss to Southside, while Jai Jacobs caught 7 passes for 60 yards and 1 TD. Cave City can keep its playoff hopes alive with a win. RB Matt King and DE Chris Robinson played well in last week's 49-0 loss to Highland.

4-4A

NO. 9 DARDANELLE (7-1, 5-0) at Pottsville (5-3, 2-3): Dardanelle beat Ozark 42-0 a week ago, and plays Mena next week for at least a share of the league title. Junior QB Creed Vega ran for 103 yards and 1 TD, and hit 10 of 11 passes for 211 yards and 3 TDs vs. Ozark. RB Ian Branson averaged 7 yards per carry and returned a punt 41 yards for a TD. Rod Chaten (5-97-2) and Eddie Moore (3-91-1 receiving, 68-yard TD run) were the top receivers. Hunter Anderson (10 tackles), Jace Finkenbinder (9 tackles) and Latrevious Robinson (9 tackles, including 5 TFL and 2 sacks) were the top defensive performers. Pottsville needs at least 1 win to make the playoffs. The Apaches trailed Lamar 17-14 at halftime last week before losing 24-17.

No. 10 Mena (8-0, 5-0) at NO. 13 CLINTON (7-1, 4-1): The winner likely finishes no worse than the No. 2 seed and both have paths to the No. 1 playoff seed. Mena's Brody Peters had more than 200 yards, including 157 rushing and 4 TDs. Ryder House ran for a TD and recorded 11 tackles, while Tripp Hensley made 6 stops and 1 interception. “Clinton is the best team we've played to date,” Mena Coach Craig Bentley says. Clinton's first-team defense yielded 20 yards rushing in last week's 51-14 win over Waldron. Harold McNabb led the Yellow Jackets with 6 stops, while Cort Alexander forced a fumble. Kaleb McCarver ran for 160 yards and 3 TDs; Bryson Littrell had 4 carries, 115 yards and 2 TDs.

NO. 20 LAMAR (4-4, 2-3) at Ozark (4-4, 1-4): Lamar makes the playoffs with 1 more victory. The Warriors beat Pottsville 24-17 a week ago. Senior QB Caleb Green returned from injury, passing for 224 yards and 2 TDs and running for 29 yards. Junior RB Zedyn Rodgers had 6 carries, 57 yards and caught a 30-yard pass. He also averaged 40 yards per punt. Sophomore Kendrick Carr (4-107-2) and juniors Kaz Crotts (5-44) and Eli Jones (5-35) were the top receivers.

WALDRON (2-6, 1-4) at Dover (1-7, 0-5): Dover has won 9 of the past 16 in the series. Waldron's Jaxson Brown ran for 94 yards and 2 TDs in last week's 51-14 loss to Clinton, while Phiser Brown caught 8 passes for 54 yards. Brown and Sam Ehler each made 8 tackles. Dover has lost 7 consecutive games this season, including 42-8 last week to Mena.

7-4A

Genoa Central (0-8, 0-5) at NO. 2 ARKADELPHIA (6-2, 5-0): Arkadelphia has won its 5 conference games by a combined 266-36, while Genoa Central has lost its 5 league games by a combined 209-37. Arkadelphia has shut out 2 of its past 3 opponents, including last week's 49-0 win over Ashdown. Senior DL Nykkisson Wimberly made 5 tackles with 1 sack, while DE Skyler McClure had 3 tackles, including 2 sacks. Quentavion Morris had 7 tackles and 1 sack, while Brayden Wagner returned a fumble for a TD. Wagner caught 2 TD passes from QB Bryston McCoy, who finished 8 of 9 for 211 yards and 3 TDs.

NO. 5 MALVERN (8-0, 5-0) at No. 17 Nashville (5-3, 4-1): The winner gets at least he No. 2 playoff seed. Nashville's Kason Morgan caught 2 TD passes, including a 66-yarder, in last week's 42-9 win over HG Haskell. QB Karson Chambers passed for 226 yards and 4 TDs, while WR/QB D.J. Jefferson caught a 29-yard TD. Malvern beat Fountain Lake 42-22 last week. QB Bishop Allen (10-15-192-4 passing; 2-50-1 rushing) led the offense. Allen threw first-half TDs to Luey Jaime, Kahlen Cooper, Jeremiah Creggett and Tavien Clegg.

 Ashdown (3-5, 2-3) at BAUXITE (3-5, 2-3): The winner secures a playoff spot. Ashdown has lost 3 consecutive games to league leaders Malvern, Nashville and Arkadelphia by a combined 154-25. The Panthers trailed Arkadelphia 42-0 in the second quarter last week, before losing 49-0. Bauxite lost to the 3 league leaders by a combined 127-47. The Miners beat Genoa Central 41-7 a week ago. Austin Hastings returned a punt for aTD, while Austin Glover intercepted a pass.

H.G. Haskell (1-7, 1-4) at FOUNTAIN LAKE (1-7, 0-5): The winner of this game stays alive for a possible No. 5 playoff seed. Fountain Lake has won 8 of the 10 games in this series. Cobras WR Peyton Harwood caught 18 passes for 231 yards and 3 TDs in last week's 42-22 loss to Fountain Lake. Haskell's Jackson Estes recorded 10 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in last week's 42-9 loss to Nashville. Brayden Belk ran 16 times for 91 yards and James Foster ran for 85 yards and 1 TD.

8-4A

NO. 3 WARREN (6-2, 5-0) at No. 19 Helena (5-3, 2-3): Warren has beaten Helena 5 of the past 6 meetings. The Lumberjacks stomped Stuttgart 55-20 a week ago, using 7 different players to rush for 247 yards and 5 TDs. QB Cam Burks passed for 211 yards and 3 TDs. Tramond Miller (2-84-1) and Neon'dre Thomas (3-58) were Warren's top receivers. Helena has lost 3 of its past 4 games, including consecutive setbacks to DeWitt and Monticello by a combined 43 points.

NO. 7 DEWITT (6-2, 4-1) at No. 15 Hamburg (7-1, 3-2): Hamburg has won 11 of the past 15 in the series, and a winner this year moves close to locking a No. 2 seed. DeWitt QB Justin Ross passed for 183 yards and 3 TDs in last week's 48-14 win over Crossett. RB Korri Graham (7-153-2) led the rushing attack, while Phoenix Randall caught a 73-yard TD pass. Hamburg RB Nikel Lewis (31-260-4 rushing; 1 TD receiving) dominated in last week's 49-33 win at Star City. Senior Peyton Sellers registered 14 tackles and caught 4 passes for 60 yards and ran for a TD.

Star City (5-3, 2-3) at STUTTGART (4-4, 2-3): Stuttgart has won 5 of the 7 in the series. Star City totaled 510 yards in last week's 49-33 loss to Hamburg. QB Jacob Boothe (14-23-298-1), RB Peyton Taylor (21-148-1) and WR Zairen Beene (7-204-1) led on offense. Stuttgart lost at Warren 35-22 a week ago. “We didn't compete at all at Warren,” Stuttgart Coach Josh Price says. “Star City will give us problems with their scheme and running game.”

NO. 14 MONTICELLO (5-3, 3-2) at Crossett (0-8, 0-5): Monticello's Joseph Accelus ran for 3 TDs, including a 66-yarder in the first quarter, to spark last week's 48-26 win over Helena. Joseph Rojas caught a 15-yard TD pass from QB Tye Guthrie, and kicked 2 field goals. Senior Trey Riley led the defense with 6 tackles, and the Billies intercepted 2 passes. Crossett gets outscored 44-9 weekly.