Hootens.com Class 2A Rankings

Week 11, 2024

1. Carlisle (10-0)

2. Conway Christian (10-0)

3. Bigelow (7-3)

4. Murfreesboro (7-3)

5. Junction City (7-3)

6. East Poinsett County (7-3)

7. Des Arc (8-2)

8. Cross County (7-3)

9. Marked Tree (6-4)

10. Bearden (6-4)

11. Mount Ida (7-3)

12. Poyen (7-3)

13. Mineral Springs (6-4)

14. Hazen (5-5)

15. Hector (6-4)

16. Gurdon (5-5)

17. Earle (4-6) 

18. McCrory (6-4)

19. Dierks (6-4)

20. England (4-6)

Not ranked:

1-2A: Mountain Pine (3-7), JC Westside (1-8), Magazine (2-7), Mountainburg (4-6)

2-2A: Izard County Consolidated (1-9), Marianna (0-9)

3-2A: Spring Hill (2-7), Foreman (0-10), Lafayette County (4-6)

4-2A: Clarendon (0-9), Baptist Prep (5-5), Hampton (4-6)

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 13 of 16 games involving Class 2A teams last week and is 154 of 183 games (84 percent) for the season.

WEEK 10 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

3-2A (3) Mineral Springs (6-4) at 2-2A (2) DES ARC (8-2): Mineral Springs knocked off 3-2A conference champion Murfreesboro 52-36 last week, the Hornets' biggest win of the season. QB Evan Erwin (18-126 rushing, 3 TDs; 10-14 passing, 144 yards, TD), Rahmaij Ware (16-94 rushing, TD) and Maliki Matthews (12-79 rushing, TD). “Des Arc is very physical up front,” Mineral Springs Coach Jason Hathcock says. “Their run game is strong. It’s very similar to Murfreesboro’s style of attack. We will have to play disciplined and focused. If we can bring the same energy we had this past Friday, we can beat anyone in 2A.” Des Arc bounced back from a loss to East Poinsett County to beat McCrory, 38-36. Daviyon Bell rushed 27 times for 182 yards and 4 TDs. He also scored four 2-point conversions in the victory. Hudson Goodman rushed 12 times for 82 yards and a TD. Des Arc Coach Brandon Barbaree knows it will be a tough game. “They are a super-talented team and have won a huge game against Murfreesboro to end the year,” Barbaree says. “So, they have a lot of momentum. We will have to play mistake-free and come up with big plays offensively and defensively to win this game.” Des Arc has home-field advantage, but will it be enough to stop the Hornets, who are coming off an emotional win over Murfreesboro? This game could come down to the wire. 

TOP HALF OF THE BRACKET

2-2A (4) Marked Tree (6-4) at 3-2A (1) MURFREESBORO (7-3): This is a rematch from last year’s quarterfinal round when Marked Tree beat Murfreesboro 28-14. Marked Tree suffered injuries to quarterback Kenyon Carter (upper body) and RB TJ Hodges (ankle) in a 56-30 loss to EPC. Hodges rushed 24 times for 166 yards and 2 TDs before getting hurt. Carter completed 1 of 7 passes before leaving with his injury. “Murfreesboro will definitely be a challenge,” Marked Tree Coach Waylon Dunn says. “They are a physical football team. They have a hard-nosed fullback and a very athletic quarterback." Murfreesboro is coming off a 52-36 loss to Mineral Springs in a game that had no bearing on the 3-2A conference race as the Rattlers had already clinched the No. 1 seed. Laytan Wilcher (12-128 rushing, 2 TDs) and Kale Burns (4-82 receiving, 2 TDs) led the Murfreesboro offense. Bubba Stinson and Lathan Compton had 13 tackles each. “Marked Tree comes from a very tough conference where their top 4 teams can probably beat anyone,” Murfreesboro Coach Brad Chessir says.

1-2A (3) Mount Ida (7-3) at 4-2A (2) BEARDEN (6-4): Mount Ida beat Bearden 37-6 earlier in the season. Mount Ida beat Mountain Pine 41-8 last week, led by Ben Woodfield (21-263 rushing, 3 TDs; 10 tackles, 5 tackles for loss) and Dean Johnson (8-118 rushing, 2 TDs). The Lions finished with 465 yards rushing. “They are a very athletic team that has improved throughout the year,” Mount Ida Coach Mike White says. “It will be a tough game at their place.” Bearden edged England 20-16 last week to earn the No. 2 seed from the 4-2A. Landon Faucet threw for 110 yards and 2 TDs. Matthew Chambers and Marky Jimerson each rushed for a TD and Jimerson caught a TD pass. “Mount Ida plays a solid style of football,” Bearden Coach Brandon Austin says. “We’ll need our best defensive performance of the season to have success.”

3-2A (4) Gurdon (6-4) at 2-2A (1) EAST POINSETT COUNTY (7-3): Gurdon earned a 4 seed by finishing the conference with 3 consecutive wins. The Go-Devils beat Dierks 14-13 last week with Jamari Williams (17-138 rushing) and Xavier Laster (15-105 rushing) leading the way. Rhett Ledbetter and Dakota Bradshaw scored TDs for Gurdon. “We are playing better football here lately, but we are still turning the ball over too many times,” Gurdon Coach Kyle Jackson says. “There is no way we can go on the road in the playoffs and turn it over and expect to have any success. EPC looks like a very solid team. They will have, from top to bottom, the best athletes we have seen this year. Coach Powell does a good job with those guys, and it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.” EPC ended the year with a 56-30 win over Marked Tree. Jacob Gaines (19-176 rushing, 3 TDs) and Dee Buchanan (9-136 rushing, 2 TDs) leading the way. Bari Shepherd and Tyrus Reel each scored defensive TDs. “I’m sure Gurdon will be athletic, physical and play good defense,” EPC Coach Brandon Powell says. “It feels like we have been in playoff mode since Week 7, so it’s the same game: Play to protect the football and find ways to create turnovers.”

4-2A (3) POYEN (7-3) at 1-2A (2) Bigelow (7-3): Poyen bounced back from its loss to Bearden to beat Clarendon 46-0 last week with Colt Barrett throwing for 2 TDs and running for 2. Bo Batchelor caught a TD pass, and Kaden Townley scored twice. “Bigelow is a tough place to play,” Poyen Coach Vick Barrett says. “They are the defending state champions. Luke [Starks] does a great job. It’s a longtime conference foe of ours. We’re looking forward to the challenge.” Bigelow fell to Conway Christian 37-6 last week. Silas Schichtl had 11 tackles. Nathan Brackett had 9 tackles. Martell Macon rushed 15 times for 107 yards. “Poyen is always well coached,” Starks says. “They’re physical and have a QB that can spread the ball around the field.”

BOTTOM HALF OF THE BRACKET

4-2A (4) Hazen (5-5) at 1-2A (1) CONWAY CHRISTIAN (10-0): Conway Christian won 42-14 when the teams met in the season-opener after it was tied 14-14 at halftime. Hazen pushed No. 1 Carlisle to the brink last week, leading in the fourth quarter before falling 28-20. QB JJ Pinkney (22-162 rushing, 3 TDs) was knocked out of the game late. Noah Adkins led the Hornets with 14 tackles. Hazen Coach Joe Besancon says Conway Christian forces opponents to defend the pass and run. "They are probably the most balanced team in Class 2A, in my opinion," Besancon says. "Defensively, they are really big and really physical.” Conway Christian beat defeating state champion Bigelow 37-6 last week to win the 1-2A title. Brady Domokos (16-110 rushing, 2 TDs) and Jeryn Thomas (9-115 rushing) led Conway Christian. “It’s tough to beat good teams twice,” Conway Christian Coach Justin Kramer says. “The fact that they took a very good Calrtisle team to the wire last week with some opportunities to win shows that they are primed and ready for a playoff run as well. We know we have our hands full with the athletes they have and how well Coach Besancon will have them prepared.”

3-2A (3) Mineral Springs (6-4) at 2-2A (2) DES ARC (8-2): See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above.

1-2A (4) Hector (6-4) at 4-2A (1) CARLISLE (10-0): Carlisle beat Hector in the quarterfinals last fall. Hector earned the No. 4 seed with a 12-0 win over Magazine last week. Hayden Milksops (14 tackles), Landon Darter (9), Zeke Julian (6) and Cayden Manrique (2 INTs.) led the Hector defense. “They are coached really well, and their kids play hard,” Carlisle Coach Gary Wilson says. “They don’t make a lot of mistakes. They are not going to beat themselves. We’ve got to take care of the ball on offense and tackle well on defense.” Carlisle rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Hazen 28-20 to win the 4-2A title. QB Ty Tanksley passed for 4 TDs — 2 each to Gavin Davis and Kaidon Clingmon. “They are a really good football team,” Hector Coach Trevor Cooper says of Carlisle. “They have been ranked No. 1 all year. It’s going to be a challenge, but we look forward to it.”

2-2A (3) Cross County (7-3) at 3-2A (2) JUNCTION CITY (7-3): Cross County enters the playoffs after a 30-0 win over Earle last week. Davion Simmons (27-133 rushing, 3 TDs) and Cayden Crawford (17-136 rushing) led the offense against Earle. Braxton Armstrong scored three 2-point conversions. Drake Hall and Isiah Huff intercepted passes. Junction City coach Devin Ball says Cross County has the most talented linemen he’s seen this year. “They complement it with a sharp defense and a gritty offense,” Ball says. “Van Paschal is a legendary coach. Our best is required to advance. This will be an extremely difficult first-round test. I expect we will answer the bell, fighting fire with fire.” Junction City, which was ranked No. 1 to start the season, beat Spring Hill 59-30 last week behind QB DK Hampton (139 rushing, TD; 2 passing TDs). The Dragons got 2 TDs from Brady Penister. Nolan Dismuke, Jaxxon Caldwell and Dominique Grimes also scored for Junction City. "They’ve got a lot of talent,” Paschal says. “It’s going to be a tough one.”