Class 4A Week 10 Rankings, Notes & Picks
Hootenm Rankings
Class 4A, Wk 10, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Shiloh Christian (8-1)
2. Warren (8-1)
3. Stuttgart (8-1)
4. Joe T. Robinson (8-1)
5. Crossett (7-2)
6. Ozark (6-2)
7. Prairie Grove (7-2)
8. Arkadelphia (6-3)
9. Ashdown (7-2)
10. Malvern (5-4)
11. Elkins (7-1)
12. Rivercrest (7-2)
13. Pocahontas (7-2)
14. Southside (7-2)
15. Trumann (7-2)
16. Lonoke (7-2)
17. Lamar (7-2)
18. Clinton (5-4)
19. Dardanelle (5-4)
20. DeWitt (5-4)
21. Mena (5-4)
22. Star City (6-3)
23. Fountain Lake (5-4)
24. Monticello (5-4)
25. Gentry (6-3)
26. Jonesboro Westside (5-4)
27. Cave City (5-4)
28. Mills (5-4)
29. Nashville (3-6)
30. H. Grove Haskell (2-7)
31. Pottsville (3-7)
32. Huntsville (4-5)
33. Bauxite (2-7)
34. Dumas (2-6)
35. Heber Springs (3-5)
36. Blytheville (2-7)
37. Highland (2-7)
38. Green Forest (2-6)
39. Waldron (2-6)
40. Gravette (1-8)
41. Bald Knob (1-8)
42. Berryville (1-6)
43. CAC (2-7)
44. Gosnell (1-7)
45. Hamburg (1-7)
46. Dover (0-9)
47. Helena (0-9)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Elkins at No. 7 Prairie Grove
The winner gets the No. 2 seed from the 1-4A. Prairie Grove's only conference loss was Week 6 to Shiloh Christian 42-14, while Elkins' only loss of the season was 50-0 at Shiloh Christian in Week 8.
Elkins jumped to a 21-0 halftime advantage last week on its way to hammering favored Gentry 42-7. The Elk D held Gentry to 178 yards. Elkins sophomore running back Da'Shawn Chairs has rushed for more than 1,300 yards this fall. “Chairs is a speedster who can scoot,” Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier says. “Hemming him up is the key.” Chairs usually finds open lanes behind a veteran offensive line. Senior center Brannon Bargsley also doubles as one of Elkins leading tacklers on defense.
Prairie Grove ran for 224 yards in last week's 34-21 win over Berryville. The Tigers continue alternating senior Paytin Higgins and junior Camden Patterson at quarterback. Senior Landon Semrad has emerged as the Tigers top receiver, while junior Ethan Miller and senior Colin Faulk pace the rushing attack.
An opposing coach says: “Prairie Grove's strength on offense is the ability to run the ball and throw to Semrad when needed. They force you to choose to to stop the run with numbers or defend Semrad with two players. Elkins' strength is they have the most athletic player on the field (Chairs). He can score from anywhere.”
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 19 of 23 games (83 percent). Hootens.com has predicted 236 of 267 games (88 percent) correctly this season.
WEEK 10 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
1-4A
Elkins at PRAIRIE GROVE (2): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Berryville at GREEN FOREST (1): Berryville has won 13 of the past 20 Carroll County Feuds. Berryville led Prairie Grove 14-7 at halftime last week before losing 34-21. Senior Jaeden Tanksley has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this fall. Green Forest lost at Huntsville last week 17-8. Senior LB Bryan Soto blocked a punt and recorded 13 tackles, while junior LB Ryan Bruegel paced the Tigers with 17 tackles. Watch extended highlights of Green Forest’s 58-12 loss to Shiloh Christian earlier this year. Gravette at GENTRY (14): Gentry gets the No. 4 seed with a victory or Huntsville loss. After starting the season 6-0, the Pioneers have dropped three straight by a combined 139-48. Junior Ty Hayes ran seven times for 40 yards and a TD in last week's 35-point setback to Elkins. Gravette's only win this fall was 44-27 over Berryville in Week 7. Gravette junior Rhett Hilger has thrown 10 TD passes this fall.
Huntsville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (35): Shiloh Christian secures its fourth straight outright conference title before bumping up in classification next season. Senior QB Eli Wisdom completed 13 of 16 passes for 163 yards and three TDs, and ran for a TD in last week's 62-12 triumph over Gravette. Sophomore Bo Williams paced the ground game with six carries for 73 yards and a pair of TDs, while junior Bodie Neal caught four passes for 55 yards. Senior receivers Cooper Hutchinson, Ben Baker and Jacob Solomon also snagged TDs. Huntsville likely finishes as the No. 5 seed and travels to Ozark in the first round. The Eagle D gave up just 169 yards, forced two turnovers and didn't allow a point in last week's nine-point win over Green Forest (GF's score came on special teams). Watch extended highlights of Shiloh Christian’s 58-12 win over Green Forest earlier this year.
2-4A
Bald Knob at SOUTHSIDE (21): This game has developed into a rivalry, with Bald Knob winning eight of the 11 meetings, including last fall 27-24. The Bulldogs won their first game of 2021 last week, downing CAC 39-21. Senior Elijah Bradley hauled in four passes for 112 yards and two TDs. Southside is the No. 2 seed and hosts either DeWitt, Star City or Monticello next week. Senior Jacob Dunne ran for 137 and a school-record six TDs in last week's 64-20 win over Mills, while senior QB Landon Haas tallied 300 yards and two TDs. Defensively, senior LB Austin Mathis and junior Jonathon Strother each recorded seven tackles.
CAC at STUTTGART (25): Stuttgart is the No. 1 seed and has won back-to-back league titles after going 1-9 in 2019. The Ricebirds host either DeWitt, Monticello or Star City in the first round. Stuttgart senior QB Tymir Coppins ran for 108 yards and passed for 92 yards in last week's 45-28 win at Lonoke, while junior Cedric Hawkins ran for 165 yards and three TDs. Senior LB Bryer West and sophomore OLB Landon Melnychuk each recorded 13 stops. CAC senior QB Tyler Williams has rushed for 1,233 yards and 18 TDs this fall. 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.
LONOKE (1) at Clinton: The winner gets the No. 3 seed and hosts a first round game, while the loser is the No. 4 seed and heads to South Arkansas next week. Lonoke sophomore QB Bradon Allen completed 13 of 20 passes for 89 yards and one TD, and ran for 77 yards and two TDs in last week's 45-28 setback to Stuttgart. The Jackrabbits trailed 31-28 in the fourth quarter. Clinton beat Heber Springs 34-7 last week by running for 294 yards, paced by sophomore Zane Widener (12 carries, 114 yards and one TD). Clinton freshman Landon Rose racked up six tackles and one sack. Watch extended highlights of Clinton’s 43-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.
Heber Springs at MILLS (7): The winner gets the No. 5 seed and plays next week at Joe T. Robinson. Heber Springs junior LB Kenan Sneed racked up 18 tackles in last week's 27-point loss to Clinton. Mills has dropped four straight games after starting the season 5-0. The Comets have been outscored the past two weeks (vs. Stuttgart and Southside) by a combined 127-48. Watch extended highlights of Heber Springs’ 42-0 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.
3-4A
Blytheville at RIVERCREST (13): Rivercrest's 36-21 setback last week at Trumann keeps the Colts from an outright title, but they earn a share with a win over Blytheville. The Colts gave up almost 300 yards rushing to Trumann. Improved Blytheville averages 11 ppg.
TRUMANN (6) at Cave City: Trumann has won six of the past nine over Cave City, with the past two decided by a combined 43 points. But this one could be closer with so much at stake. Trumann shares the league title with a win, while Cave City can finish fourth with a victory and Jonesboro Westside loss. The Cavemen, in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, rely on senior wingback Eli Taylor and junior QB Jacob Moore. Taylor ran 10 times for 88 yards and caught two passes for 58 yards and a TD in last week' 21-0 win at Gosnell, while junior fullback Bryce Walling rumbled 18 times for 63 yards and a TD. Senior safety Maddox Moreland recorded 10 tackles, and junior LB Hunter Greathouse had seven stops. Cave City punter Ethan Ball continues flipping the field with booming punts. Trumann senior Rian King ran 13 times for 149 yards and a TD in last week's upset over Rivercrest, while junior QB Murphy Williams logged 17 carries for 100 yards. Sophomore cornerback Jake Osment returned an interception 95 yards for the clinching TD. Watch extended highlights of Cave City’s 46-28 loss to Hoxie earlier this year.
Highland at POCAHONTAS (16): Pocahontas ties for the league title with a win, and Highland won't make the playoffs. Pocahontas junior QB Connor Baker ran 33 times for 231 yards and four TDs in last week's 33-7 win at Blytheville, while sophomore Reagan Womack logged 22 carries for 144 yards and a TD. Pocahontas' line play has improved this season, Coach Charles Baty says.
Gosnell at JONESBORO WESTSIDE (14): Gosnell, picked second in the 3-4A in the preseason by coaches, won't make the playoffs. But the Pirates were forced to play several underclassmen who weren't ready this fall after three starters transferred in the summer. Senior defensive end Whit McDonald made 11 tackles in last week's 21-0 loss to Cave City, including three TFL's and one sack. Jonesboro Westside finishes as the No. 4 seed with a victory and heads to Northwest Arkansas for the first round. Junior Cameron Hedger (107 yards), senior Michael Ivy (97 yards) and junior fullback Darvin Fowler (86 yards) were the top rushers in last week's 22-19 victory over Highland.
4-4A
Dover at DARDANELLE (28): Winless Dover gives up 43 points weekly, and has scored just 108 points in nine games (12 ppg). Dardanelle finishes as either the No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed with a win. Junior QB Drew Vega has rushed for 1,305 yards and 17 TDs this year, while passing for 892 yards and 10 TDs. Junior LB Drake Boatright paces the Sand Lizard D with 107 tackles.
Mena at LAMAR (1): Lamar was tied with Ozark 7-7 last week when it fumbled a kickoff that Ozark returned for a TD. And just before halftime, the Warriors threw a pick-six to trail 21-7 at intermission. “We made too many mistakes to win against a good team,” Lamar coach Josh Jones says. Senior and leading rusher Tony Balmer didn't get anything going on the ground, but caught two passes for 76 yards, including a 67-yard TD. Sophomore Jarrett Dalton paced the Warrior D with 13 tackles. Mena didn't play last week, and two weeks ago lost to Dardanelle by 14 points. Senior QB Austin Rose has passed for 1,668 yards and 17 TDs this fall, and rushed for three TDs.
OZARK (21) at Waldron: Ozark is the conference champ and No. 1 seed and probably hosts Huntsville in the first round. Sophomore LB Kyle Archer and senior Ryker Martin both played well in last week's conference title game 30-14 victory over Lamar. Martin returned an interception for a crucial TD. Senior guard Brock Burns recorded five pancake blocks on offense, while junior guard Hunter Collums had four pancakes. Waldron won't make the playoffs after last week's 27-7 loss to Dardanelle. The Bulldogs moved the ball well, but struggled to score, Coach Doug Powell says. Junior defensive end Steven Figueroa made seven tackles and one sack.
POTTSVILLE is open.
7-4A
H. Grove Haskell at JOE T. ROBINSON (26) (Thurs.): Joe T. Robinson has won all three of its meetings with Harmony Grove Haskell. The Senators are conference champs for the fifth straight season before bumping next fall to Class 5A. Joe T. Robinson's D didn't allow a TD in last week's 21-8 win at Ashdown (Ashdown's defense scored its only TD). Senior Daryl Searcy ran in a pair of TDs. Haskell won't make the playoffs and hasn't been since joining Class 4A in 2017. Watch extended highlights of Joe T. Robinson's 56-32 win over Arkadelphia earlier this year.
Malvern at ARKADELPHIA (9): The winner of the ASU Three Rivers Ouachita River Rumble wins a championship title belt. A $250 scholarship is award to the MVP from each team. Malvern's 33-25 victory last fall snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. The Leopards beat Nashville last week by 21 points to secure a playoff berth and could finish as high as the No. 2 seed or as low as the No. 4 seed. Malvern's Braylon Watson scored a pair of fourth-quarter TDs and senior Carter Martin returned an interception 67 yards to clinch the victory over of Nashville. Arkadelphia beat Bauxite 49-22 a week ago, in a game delayed more than an hour due to a pregame power outage. Badger junior QB Donovan Whitten completed 17 of 23 passes for 238 yards and two TDs, while senior RB Jaishon Davis blasted 12 times for 145 yards and four TDs. Senior Braylon Bailey caught two passes for 94 yards and a TD, and ran twice for 55 yards and a TD. Senior LB Landon Kuhn registered six tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Watch extended highlights of Malvern’s 35-12 loss to Lake Hamilton earlier this year. 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.
ASHDOWN (7) at Fountain Lake: Ashdown finishes third with a victory, but could drop to the No. 5 seed with a loss. The Panther offense failed to score in last week's 13-point setback to Joe T. Robinson. Fountain Lake finishes either fourth or fifth in the conference after beating Haskell a week ago 28-21. Two more Cobras were injured in that game, and they'll move up 10 freshman this week for a total of 26 players. Only 10 of the 22 starters from Week 1 are healthy. Senior Kadin Hilton caught a 70-yard TD pass and finished with double digit tackles against Haskell at safety, while junior QB Wesley Campbell ran for a TD and made 10 tackles. Watch extended highlights of Fountain Lake’s 48-14 loss to Arkadelphia earlier this year.
Bauxite at NASHVILLE (6): Bauxite has lost its six conference games by an average of 37-15, but the Miners promoted almost 20 freshman last week who led the junior high to a conference runner-up finish. Nashville misses the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Scrapper senior QB Ethan Gunter has passed for 1,817 yards and 11 TDs this year, while sophomore Tre Hopkins has rushed for 935 yards and nine TDs.
8-4A
Star City at CROSSETT (11) (Thurs.): Crossett finishes as the No. 2 seed and hosts either Dardanelle, Mena or Lamar next week. Star City's J.A. Logan ran seven times for 79 yards in last week's 14-0 loss to DeWitt, which knocked Star City into the No. 4 or 5 playoff seed. Helena forfeited its game to Crossett last week. Senior QB Tyrique Jones has completed 84 of 135 passes this fall for 1,593 yards and 18 TDs with two interceptions, and he's rushed for 877 yards and 11 TDs. Watch extended highlights of Star City’s 35-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 15-13 loss to McGehee earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 40-34 loss to Warren earlier this year.
DEWITT (3) at Monticello (Thurs.): Monticello has won six of the past nine over DeWitt. The Billies can finish anywhere between the No. 3 and No. 5 seed. Senior Doerian Allen ran 12 times for 66 yards, caught three passes for 95 yards and a TD in last week's 13-7 win at Dumas. On defense, Allen recorded four tackles and broke up two passes. Senior cornerback Ryan Franklin made five stops, one interception and one forced fumble. Improved DeWitt feeds off intense first-year coach Tommy Cody. The Dragons have won consecutive games over Dumas (43-14) and Star City (14-0). “They played their butts off against us,” Star City coach Chris Vereen says. “They wanted to win.” Senior safety Ben Hackney, senior LB Owen Luebke, junior LB Carl Hudson, sophomore LB Owen St. John and junior noseguard Jatavious “Rollie” Sims are playmakers for a defense that have held four teams to two TDs or less. Watch extended highlights of Dewitt’s 47-22 loss to McGehee earlier this year.
Hamburg at DUMAS (13) (Thurs.): These teams have split the past 20 meetings, with Dumas winning last fall by 12 points. Neither team can make the playoffs this year. Dumas gets outscored weekly 38-16, while Hamburg has been outscored by an average of 44-9. Watch extended highlights of Hamburg's 42-3 loss to Rison earlier this year.
WARREN (13) at Helena: FORFEIT. Helena forfeited the remainder of its season last week. Warren is the conference champion, No. 1 seed and has a first-round playoff bye.
Class 4A, Wk 10, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Shiloh Christian (8-1)
2. Warren (8-1)
3. Stuttgart (8-1)
4. Joe T. Robinson (8-1)
5. Crossett (7-2)
6. Ozark (6-2)
7. Prairie Grove (7-2)
8. Arkadelphia (6-3)
9. Ashdown (7-2)
10. Malvern (5-4)
11. Elkins (7-1)
12. Rivercrest (7-2)
13. Pocahontas (7-2)
14. Southside (7-2)
15. Trumann (7-2)
16. Lonoke (7-2)
17. Lamar (7-2)
18. Clinton (5-4)
19. Dardanelle (5-4)
20. DeWitt (5-4)
21. Mena (5-4)
22. Star City (6-3)
23. Fountain Lake (5-4)
24. Monticello (5-4)
25. Gentry (6-3)
26. Jonesboro Westside (5-4)
27. Cave City (5-4)
28. Mills (5-4)
29. Nashville (3-6)
30. H. Grove Haskell (2-7)
31. Pottsville (3-7)
32. Huntsville (4-5)
33. Bauxite (2-7)
34. Dumas (2-6)
35. Heber Springs (3-5)
36. Blytheville (2-7)
37. Highland (2-7)
38. Green Forest (2-6)
39. Waldron (2-6)
40. Gravette (1-8)
41. Bald Knob (1-8)
42. Berryville (1-6)
43. CAC (2-7)
44. Gosnell (1-7)
45. Hamburg (1-7)
46. Dover (0-9)
47. Helena (0-9)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Elkins at No. 7 Prairie Grove
The winner gets the No. 2 seed from the 1-4A. Prairie Grove's only conference loss was Week 6 to Shiloh Christian 42-14, while Elkins' only loss of the season was 50-0 at Shiloh Christian in Week 8.
Elkins jumped to a 21-0 halftime advantage last week on its way to hammering favored Gentry 42-7. The Elk D held Gentry to 178 yards. Elkins sophomore running back Da'Shawn Chairs has rushed for more than 1,300 yards this fall. “Chairs is a speedster who can scoot,” Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier says. “Hemming him up is the key.” Chairs usually finds open lanes behind a veteran offensive line. Senior center Brannon Bargsley also doubles as one of Elkins leading tacklers on defense.
Prairie Grove ran for 224 yards in last week's 34-21 win over Berryville. The Tigers continue alternating senior Paytin Higgins and junior Camden Patterson at quarterback. Senior Landon Semrad has emerged as the Tigers top receiver, while junior Ethan Miller and senior Colin Faulk pace the rushing attack.
An opposing coach says: “Prairie Grove's strength on offense is the ability to run the ball and throw to Semrad when needed. They force you to choose to to stop the run with numbers or defend Semrad with two players. Elkins' strength is they have the most athletic player on the field (Chairs). He can score from anywhere.”
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 19 of 23 games (83 percent). Hootens.com has predicted 236 of 267 games (88 percent) correctly this season.
WEEK 10 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
1-4A
Elkins at PRAIRIE GROVE (2): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Berryville at GREEN FOREST (1): Berryville has won 13 of the past 20 Carroll County Feuds. Berryville led Prairie Grove 14-7 at halftime last week before losing 34-21. Senior Jaeden Tanksley has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this fall. Green Forest lost at Huntsville last week 17-8. Senior LB Bryan Soto blocked a punt and recorded 13 tackles, while junior LB Ryan Bruegel paced the Tigers with 17 tackles. Watch extended highlights of Green Forest’s 58-12 loss to Shiloh Christian earlier this year. Gravette at GENTRY (14): Gentry gets the No. 4 seed with a victory or Huntsville loss. After starting the season 6-0, the Pioneers have dropped three straight by a combined 139-48. Junior Ty Hayes ran seven times for 40 yards and a TD in last week's 35-point setback to Elkins. Gravette's only win this fall was 44-27 over Berryville in Week 7. Gravette junior Rhett Hilger has thrown 10 TD passes this fall.
Huntsville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (35): Shiloh Christian secures its fourth straight outright conference title before bumping up in classification next season. Senior QB Eli Wisdom completed 13 of 16 passes for 163 yards and three TDs, and ran for a TD in last week's 62-12 triumph over Gravette. Sophomore Bo Williams paced the ground game with six carries for 73 yards and a pair of TDs, while junior Bodie Neal caught four passes for 55 yards. Senior receivers Cooper Hutchinson, Ben Baker and Jacob Solomon also snagged TDs. Huntsville likely finishes as the No. 5 seed and travels to Ozark in the first round. The Eagle D gave up just 169 yards, forced two turnovers and didn't allow a point in last week's nine-point win over Green Forest (GF's score came on special teams). Watch extended highlights of Shiloh Christian’s 58-12 win over Green Forest earlier this year.
2-4A
Bald Knob at SOUTHSIDE (21): This game has developed into a rivalry, with Bald Knob winning eight of the 11 meetings, including last fall 27-24. The Bulldogs won their first game of 2021 last week, downing CAC 39-21. Senior Elijah Bradley hauled in four passes for 112 yards and two TDs. Southside is the No. 2 seed and hosts either DeWitt, Star City or Monticello next week. Senior Jacob Dunne ran for 137 and a school-record six TDs in last week's 64-20 win over Mills, while senior QB Landon Haas tallied 300 yards and two TDs. Defensively, senior LB Austin Mathis and junior Jonathon Strother each recorded seven tackles.
CAC at STUTTGART (25): Stuttgart is the No. 1 seed and has won back-to-back league titles after going 1-9 in 2019. The Ricebirds host either DeWitt, Monticello or Star City in the first round. Stuttgart senior QB Tymir Coppins ran for 108 yards and passed for 92 yards in last week's 45-28 win at Lonoke, while junior Cedric Hawkins ran for 165 yards and three TDs. Senior LB Bryer West and sophomore OLB Landon Melnychuk each recorded 13 stops. CAC senior QB Tyler Williams has rushed for 1,233 yards and 18 TDs this fall. 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.
LONOKE (1) at Clinton: The winner gets the No. 3 seed and hosts a first round game, while the loser is the No. 4 seed and heads to South Arkansas next week. Lonoke sophomore QB Bradon Allen completed 13 of 20 passes for 89 yards and one TD, and ran for 77 yards and two TDs in last week's 45-28 setback to Stuttgart. The Jackrabbits trailed 31-28 in the fourth quarter. Clinton beat Heber Springs 34-7 last week by running for 294 yards, paced by sophomore Zane Widener (12 carries, 114 yards and one TD). Clinton freshman Landon Rose racked up six tackles and one sack. Watch extended highlights of Clinton’s 43-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.
Heber Springs at MILLS (7): The winner gets the No. 5 seed and plays next week at Joe T. Robinson. Heber Springs junior LB Kenan Sneed racked up 18 tackles in last week's 27-point loss to Clinton. Mills has dropped four straight games after starting the season 5-0. The Comets have been outscored the past two weeks (vs. Stuttgart and Southside) by a combined 127-48. Watch extended highlights of Heber Springs’ 42-0 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year.
3-4A
Blytheville at RIVERCREST (13): Rivercrest's 36-21 setback last week at Trumann keeps the Colts from an outright title, but they earn a share with a win over Blytheville. The Colts gave up almost 300 yards rushing to Trumann. Improved Blytheville averages 11 ppg.
TRUMANN (6) at Cave City: Trumann has won six of the past nine over Cave City, with the past two decided by a combined 43 points. But this one could be closer with so much at stake. Trumann shares the league title with a win, while Cave City can finish fourth with a victory and Jonesboro Westside loss. The Cavemen, in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, rely on senior wingback Eli Taylor and junior QB Jacob Moore. Taylor ran 10 times for 88 yards and caught two passes for 58 yards and a TD in last week' 21-0 win at Gosnell, while junior fullback Bryce Walling rumbled 18 times for 63 yards and a TD. Senior safety Maddox Moreland recorded 10 tackles, and junior LB Hunter Greathouse had seven stops. Cave City punter Ethan Ball continues flipping the field with booming punts. Trumann senior Rian King ran 13 times for 149 yards and a TD in last week's upset over Rivercrest, while junior QB Murphy Williams logged 17 carries for 100 yards. Sophomore cornerback Jake Osment returned an interception 95 yards for the clinching TD. Watch extended highlights of Cave City’s 46-28 loss to Hoxie earlier this year.
Highland at POCAHONTAS (16): Pocahontas ties for the league title with a win, and Highland won't make the playoffs. Pocahontas junior QB Connor Baker ran 33 times for 231 yards and four TDs in last week's 33-7 win at Blytheville, while sophomore Reagan Womack logged 22 carries for 144 yards and a TD. Pocahontas' line play has improved this season, Coach Charles Baty says.
Gosnell at JONESBORO WESTSIDE (14): Gosnell, picked second in the 3-4A in the preseason by coaches, won't make the playoffs. But the Pirates were forced to play several underclassmen who weren't ready this fall after three starters transferred in the summer. Senior defensive end Whit McDonald made 11 tackles in last week's 21-0 loss to Cave City, including three TFL's and one sack. Jonesboro Westside finishes as the No. 4 seed with a victory and heads to Northwest Arkansas for the first round. Junior Cameron Hedger (107 yards), senior Michael Ivy (97 yards) and junior fullback Darvin Fowler (86 yards) were the top rushers in last week's 22-19 victory over Highland.
4-4A
Dover at DARDANELLE (28): Winless Dover gives up 43 points weekly, and has scored just 108 points in nine games (12 ppg). Dardanelle finishes as either the No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed with a win. Junior QB Drew Vega has rushed for 1,305 yards and 17 TDs this year, while passing for 892 yards and 10 TDs. Junior LB Drake Boatright paces the Sand Lizard D with 107 tackles.
Mena at LAMAR (1): Lamar was tied with Ozark 7-7 last week when it fumbled a kickoff that Ozark returned for a TD. And just before halftime, the Warriors threw a pick-six to trail 21-7 at intermission. “We made too many mistakes to win against a good team,” Lamar coach Josh Jones says. Senior and leading rusher Tony Balmer didn't get anything going on the ground, but caught two passes for 76 yards, including a 67-yard TD. Sophomore Jarrett Dalton paced the Warrior D with 13 tackles. Mena didn't play last week, and two weeks ago lost to Dardanelle by 14 points. Senior QB Austin Rose has passed for 1,668 yards and 17 TDs this fall, and rushed for three TDs.
OZARK (21) at Waldron: Ozark is the conference champ and No. 1 seed and probably hosts Huntsville in the first round. Sophomore LB Kyle Archer and senior Ryker Martin both played well in last week's conference title game 30-14 victory over Lamar. Martin returned an interception for a crucial TD. Senior guard Brock Burns recorded five pancake blocks on offense, while junior guard Hunter Collums had four pancakes. Waldron won't make the playoffs after last week's 27-7 loss to Dardanelle. The Bulldogs moved the ball well, but struggled to score, Coach Doug Powell says. Junior defensive end Steven Figueroa made seven tackles and one sack.
POTTSVILLE is open.
7-4A
H. Grove Haskell at JOE T. ROBINSON (26) (Thurs.): Joe T. Robinson has won all three of its meetings with Harmony Grove Haskell. The Senators are conference champs for the fifth straight season before bumping next fall to Class 5A. Joe T. Robinson's D didn't allow a TD in last week's 21-8 win at Ashdown (Ashdown's defense scored its only TD). Senior Daryl Searcy ran in a pair of TDs. Haskell won't make the playoffs and hasn't been since joining Class 4A in 2017. Watch extended highlights of Joe T. Robinson's 56-32 win over Arkadelphia earlier this year.
Malvern at ARKADELPHIA (9): The winner of the ASU Three Rivers Ouachita River Rumble wins a championship title belt. A $250 scholarship is award to the MVP from each team. Malvern's 33-25 victory last fall snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. The Leopards beat Nashville last week by 21 points to secure a playoff berth and could finish as high as the No. 2 seed or as low as the No. 4 seed. Malvern's Braylon Watson scored a pair of fourth-quarter TDs and senior Carter Martin returned an interception 67 yards to clinch the victory over of Nashville. Arkadelphia beat Bauxite 49-22 a week ago, in a game delayed more than an hour due to a pregame power outage. Badger junior QB Donovan Whitten completed 17 of 23 passes for 238 yards and two TDs, while senior RB Jaishon Davis blasted 12 times for 145 yards and four TDs. Senior Braylon Bailey caught two passes for 94 yards and a TD, and ran twice for 55 yards and a TD. Senior LB Landon Kuhn registered six tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Watch extended highlights of Malvern’s 35-12 loss to Lake Hamilton earlier this year. 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.
ASHDOWN (7) at Fountain Lake: Ashdown finishes third with a victory, but could drop to the No. 5 seed with a loss. The Panther offense failed to score in last week's 13-point setback to Joe T. Robinson. Fountain Lake finishes either fourth or fifth in the conference after beating Haskell a week ago 28-21. Two more Cobras were injured in that game, and they'll move up 10 freshman this week for a total of 26 players. Only 10 of the 22 starters from Week 1 are healthy. Senior Kadin Hilton caught a 70-yard TD pass and finished with double digit tackles against Haskell at safety, while junior QB Wesley Campbell ran for a TD and made 10 tackles. Watch extended highlights of Fountain Lake’s 48-14 loss to Arkadelphia earlier this year.
Bauxite at NASHVILLE (6): Bauxite has lost its six conference games by an average of 37-15, but the Miners promoted almost 20 freshman last week who led the junior high to a conference runner-up finish. Nashville misses the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Scrapper senior QB Ethan Gunter has passed for 1,817 yards and 11 TDs this year, while sophomore Tre Hopkins has rushed for 935 yards and nine TDs.
8-4A
Star City at CROSSETT (11) (Thurs.): Crossett finishes as the No. 2 seed and hosts either Dardanelle, Mena or Lamar next week. Star City's J.A. Logan ran seven times for 79 yards in last week's 14-0 loss to DeWitt, which knocked Star City into the No. 4 or 5 playoff seed. Helena forfeited its game to Crossett last week. Senior QB Tyrique Jones has completed 84 of 135 passes this fall for 1,593 yards and 18 TDs with two interceptions, and he's rushed for 877 yards and 11 TDs. Watch extended highlights of Star City’s 35-14 loss to Stuttgart earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 15-13 loss to McGehee earlier this year. Watch extended highlights of Crossett’s 40-34 loss to Warren earlier this year.
DEWITT (3) at Monticello (Thurs.): Monticello has won six of the past nine over DeWitt. The Billies can finish anywhere between the No. 3 and No. 5 seed. Senior Doerian Allen ran 12 times for 66 yards, caught three passes for 95 yards and a TD in last week's 13-7 win at Dumas. On defense, Allen recorded four tackles and broke up two passes. Senior cornerback Ryan Franklin made five stops, one interception and one forced fumble. Improved DeWitt feeds off intense first-year coach Tommy Cody. The Dragons have won consecutive games over Dumas (43-14) and Star City (14-0). “They played their butts off against us,” Star City coach Chris Vereen says. “They wanted to win.” Senior safety Ben Hackney, senior LB Owen Luebke, junior LB Carl Hudson, sophomore LB Owen St. John and junior noseguard Jatavious “Rollie” Sims are playmakers for a defense that have held four teams to two TDs or less. Watch extended highlights of Dewitt’s 47-22 loss to McGehee earlier this year.
Hamburg at DUMAS (13) (Thurs.): These teams have split the past 20 meetings, with Dumas winning last fall by 12 points. Neither team can make the playoffs this year. Dumas gets outscored weekly 38-16, while Hamburg has been outscored by an average of 44-9. Watch extended highlights of Hamburg's 42-3 loss to Rison earlier this year.
WARREN (13) at Helena: FORFEIT. Helena forfeited the remainder of its season last week. Warren is the conference champion, No. 1 seed and has a first-round playoff bye.
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