Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings 

Class 2A, Week 11, 2023 

Copyright Seventy Seven’s Publishing 

1. Carlisle (10-1) 

2. Bigelow (11-0)  

3. EPC (10-1) 

4. Murfreesboro (11-0) 

5. Conway Christian (9-2) 

6. Des Arc (8-3) 

7. Marked Tree (8-2) 

8. Hector (7-4) 

9. Hazen (8-3) 

10. Mineral Springs (9-2) 

11. England (6-5) 

12. Cross County (5-4) 

13. Poyen (5-6) 

14. Bearden (4-6) 

15. McCrory (5-5) 

16. Mount Ida (3-7) 

17. Earle (4-6) 

18. Dierks (3-7) 

19. JC Westside (3-7) 

20. Mountainburg (3-6) 

21. Lafayette County (3-7)  

22. Baptist Prep (3-7) 

23. Clarendon (2-8) 

24. Magazine (1-8) 

25. LR Episcopal (1-8) 

26. Marianna (1-10) 

27. Hampton (0-9) 

28. Foreman (0-9) 

LAST WEEK  

Hootens.com correctly predicted all 7 of 8 games (87.5 percent) involving Class 2A teams and is 127-26 (83 percent) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK 

2-2A (2) Des Arc (8-3) at 1-2A (1) BIGELOW (11-0) 

Des Arc trailed England 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying to win 40-14. Quarterback Cache Flanagan (22-214 rushing, 3 TDs; TD pass) led the way. Dayvion Bell also rushed for 104 yards and a TD.  

Bigelow, which improved to 11-0 with a 41-13 win over Mount Ida last week, expects a strong challenge.  

“From what I’ve seen so far, they’re very physical and sound offensively,” Bigelow Coach Luke Starks said of Des Arc. “Their quarterback is a handful. They’re disciplined and fly to the ball defensively.” 

Bigelow QB Rhett Neumeier (8-13 passing, 243 yards, 4 TDs) was on target against Mount Ida. Carter Alexander rushed for 76 yards and had 17 tackles.  

Des Arc Coach Brandon Barbaree said Bigelow presents challenges.  

“They are very fundamentally sound,” he said. “They don’t have an exotic Spread offense. They do a good job 

of getting the ball out of the QB’s hand. They have some talent and some speed.” 

Bigelow should improve to 12-0 on Friday night.  

TOP HALF OF THE BRACKET 

1-2A (2) Conway Christian (9-2) at 2-2A (1) EPC (10-1): Conway Christian rallied from deficits at halftime and in the third quarter to beat Poyen 39-32 in the first round. QB Jeryn Thomas (203 passing, 2 TDs; 2 rushing TDs), Brady Domokos (98 rushing) led the Eagles. EPC beat Bearden 50-14, with Dee Buchanan (8-129 rushing, 2 TDs), Dennis Gaines (13-124 rushing, 2 TDs) and Cooper Argo (110 passing, 2 TDs) leading the way. If EPC can contain Thomas, it should advance. Thomas is the X-factor for sure in this game.  

1-2A (3) Hector (7-4) at 4-2A (1) CARLISLE (10-1): Hector QB/K Jackson Taylor passed for 195 yards and 3 TDs and kicked a game-winning 40-yard FG with 5 seconds left as the Wildcats upset Mineral Springs 37-36. PJ Henderson (11-146 receiving, 3 TDs; 70-yard punt return TD) was Taylor’s primary target. Carlisle’s defense shut down McCrory in a 16-0 victory. The Bison got touchdowns from Kayleb Elliott and Holden Jones as well as a field goal from Jimmy Cham. The Bison could return to the semifinals for the second consecutive year but must contain the versatile Taylor.  

BOTTOM HALF OF THE BRACKET 

2-2A (3) Marked Tree (8-2) at 3-2A (1) MURFREESBORO (11-0): Marked Tree took down defending champion Hazen 22-12 last week. Kenyon Carter passed for 173 yards and 3 TDs while Cameron Marshall caught 2 TD passes. Murfreesboro, the surprise team in Class 2A this year, dispatched Johnson County Westside 48-6 to improve to 11-0. Aden Stinson and Brandt Stevens each rushed for 2 TDs. Layton Wilcher passed for 2 more. The Rattlers can advance to the semifinals by containing Carter and Marshall.  

2-2A (2) Des Arc (8-3) at 1-2A (1) BIGELOW (11-0): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.