Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 12, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Stuttgart (9-1)
2. Nashville (9-2)
3. Dollarway (10-1)
4. Prairie Grove (10-0)
5. Malvern (9-2)
6. Warren (8-3)
7. Highland (11-0)
8. Pottsville (10-1)
9. CAC (7-3)
10. Pea Ridge (10-1)
11. Ozark (9-2)
12. Newport (8-3)
13. Booneville (7-3)
14. Mena (6-5)
15. Dardanelle (9-2)
16. Heber Springs (6-4)
17. Arkadelphia (9-2)
18. Farmington (7-4)
19. Lonoke (6-5)
20. Valley View (7-4)
21. Star City (8-3)
22. Hamburg (6-5)
23. Monticello (5-6)
24. Gosnell (5-6)
25. Gravette (4-7)
26. Maumelle (4-7)
27. Pocahontas (7-4)
28. Crossett (4-7)
29. Arkansas Baptist (3-7-1)
30. Dumas (3-7)
31. Lincoln (5-5)
32. Ashdown (3-7)
33. Bauxite (2-8)
34. Southside Batesville (4-5-1)
35. Jonesboro Westside (4-6)
36. Subiaco Academy (4-6)
37. Clinton (2-8)
38. Cave City (2-7-1)
39. Pulaski Robinson (2-8)
40. Dover (1-9)
41. Gentry (2-8)
42. DeWitt (1-9)
43. Berryville (1-8)
44. Brookland (3-6)
45. Lake Village (1-9)
46. Trumann (0-10)
47. Waldron (0-10)
48. Marianna (0-9)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 Dollarway at No. 7 Highland
These teams have a combined record of 21-1 this fall. Undefeated Highland has beaten every Class 4A opponent by at least 18 points this season, including last week's 41-point triumph over Arkansas Baptist. “We are playing our best football right now,” Coach Spencer Hill said. “We are playing with a lot of confidence.”
Highland senior quarterback Sterling Stowers has rushed for 1,487 yards and passed for 1,482 yards this season. Senior running back Jordan Brewer has 1,193 yards, while sophomore Avery Johnson has almost 400 yards rushing and 30 catches for 607 yards. Senior linebacker Carr Hill paces the Rebel defense with more than 140 tackles. Senior ends Quinton Maag and Nik Sokolowski are key to defending Dollarway's attack “because they run everything off tackle,” Hill said.
Dollarway's only loss this season was at No. 1 Stuttgart by 10 points a month ago. The Cardinals average 40 points per game. Senior running back Jeremiah Young has rushed for 1,753 yards and 20 TDs this season. Young shifts to QB when the Cardinals use Shotgun packages, passing for 12 TDs. Senior QB Xavier Long has more than 700 yards passing and 600 yards rushing this season, while senior receiver Davon Chapman (6-5, 160) has nine TD catches. Junior linebacker Deandre Payton, a three-year starter, paces the Cardinals with 138 tackles, while junior cornerback Kabion Ento has three interceptions. “Our offense has been playing well and the defense is starting to gel,” Dollarway coach Cortez Lee said. “It's going to take great team defense to win.”

Comparing scores: Dollarway beat Jonesboro Westside 44-7 last week, while Highland beat Jonesboro Westside 44-10 in Week 4.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 11 of 14 games (79 percent), nailing the point spread of CAC by 10 over Valley View. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 257 of 302 games (85 percent).

WEEK 12 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
TOP HALF OF THE BRACKET
Newport at BOONEVILLE (7): These teams battle in the playoffs for the second time in three years (Booneville won 35-7 in the first round in 2010). Booneville must overcome the first-round playoff-bye jinx. Booneville lost to Malvern 24-23 in overtime in the second round in 2009, the last time it had a first-round bye. Newport sophomore QB Gunnar Bullard threw a 5-yard TD pass with 41 seconds left to secure last week's 46-40 win over Farmington. Greyhound freshman Carl Turner has rushed for 1,660 yards and 13 TDs this fall. Booneville junior QB Cody Harrel has rushed for 1,037 yards this year, while sophomore fullback Bryson May has 743 yards.
Mena at OZARK (8): A battle of former conference foes. Mena, the fifth seed from the 4-4A, pulled off Class 4A's biggest surprise last week, beating 7-4A co-champion and top seed Arkadelphia 42-29. Bearcat senior QB Austin Warren accounted for five TDs against Arkadelphia, including two TD passes to Malachi McGee. Ozark, the third seed from the 1-4A, humbled Hamburg by 31 points a week ago, with senior QB Jonathon McKenzie throwing a TD pass and running for two more.
DOLLARWAY (6) at Highland: Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
Heber Springs at PEA RIDGE (3): Pea Ridge likely plays its final game in 49-year old Blackhawk Stadium. Pea Ridge's 42-0 win over Monticello last week was its first in the playoffs since 2003. The Blackhawks held Monticello to four yards rushing and only two first downs. Pea Ridge senior Dayton Winn has rushed for almost 2,000 yards and 19 TDs this fall. Heber Springs jumped on Star City 21-0 at halftime last week, before easing to a 33-7 decision. The Panthers give up 19 ppg.

BOTTOM HALF OF THE BRACKET
Dardanelle at STUTTGART (17): Stuttgart has dreaded its first-round bye since beating Dollarway 24-14 in Week 8. The Ricebirds lost to Lonoke by three TDs the following week and pulled the starters in the first half of 43-8 win at Marianna Week 10. Senior QB Dontrell Brown should return to full strength after injuring his ankle against Dollarway (no carries against Lonoke). Dardanelle has won five straight games, highlighted by conference wins at Maumelle 19-14 in Week 9 and at Mena 45-34 in Week 10. Sand Lizard running back Nick Hendrix scored four TDs in last week's 38-point win over Pocahontas.
MALVERN (2) at Warren: Warren rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit last week, downing Lonoke 36-19. The 8-4A champion Lumberjacks rely on sophomore running back Kilay Cox (1,463 yards and 19 TDs) and junior QB Drake Jones (62 of 143 passes for 1,294 yards and 12 TDs). Malvern snapped a two-game losing skid with last week's 38-point win over Gosnell. Leopard senior QB Austin Warford has more than 1,000 yards rushing and 10 TDs this year, and he's passed for almost 2,000 yards and 23 TDs. He's thrown just six interceptions. Senior Tim Hardimon paces Malvern's rushing attack with almost 1,100 yards.
Pottsville at PRAIRIE GROVE (10): Prairie Grove has given up just 29 points all year (one TD to Ozark, three TDs to Farmington and a safety to Lincoln), the third fewest points allowed in state history through 10 games. The Tigers haven't allowed a point in five games, outscoring Berryville, Pea Ridge, Gentry, Gravette and Crossett by a combined 228-0. The Tigers held Crosett to 140 yards and six first downs last week. “They get to the ball as fast and as hard as they can,” Pottsville coach Bryan Rust said. “They play with such aggressiveness.” Pottsville returned two interceptions for TDs in last week's 43-point win over Gravette. The Apaches have returned six interceptions and three fumbles for TDs this season.
CAC at NASHVILLE (18): Nashville started its current seven-game win streak with a 49-21 triumph at CAC in Week 5. The Scrappers trailed 14-13 at halftime, but scored on their first two snaps of the second half. Nashville senior QB and Farm Bureau Awards Class 4A Watchlist Player of the Year candidate Joel Hendry has completed 180 of 275 passes (65.5 percent) for 3,161 yards and 42 TDs this season. Senior receiver/cornerback Donyell King has almost 800 yards and 10 TDs this fall. CAC advances to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since venturing to the 2007 semifinals. Mustang senior QB Chase Dowell threw for 290 yards and senior receiver/kicker Beau Barnes kicked three field goals in last week's 10-point win at Valley View.