Hootens.com Rankings

Class 4A, Week 11, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, Llc
1. Harding Academy (11-0)
2. Warren (11-0)
3. Elkins (11-0)
4. Arkadelphia (6-3)
5. Rivercrest (9-2)
6. Malvern (7-3)
7. Ozark (9-2)
8. DeWitt (10-1)
9. Nashville (8-3)
10. CAC (8-2)
11. Monticello (8-3)
12. Bauxite (8-3)
13. Mayflower (8-3)
14. Gravette (7-4)
15. Lincoln (8-3)
16. Ashdown (6-4)
17. Crossett (6-5)
18. Lamar (7-4)
19. McGehee (5-5)
20. Clinton (7-4)
21. Blytheville (5-6)
22. Highland (7-4)
23. Pocahontas (7-4)
24. Pottsville (6-4)
25. Heber Springs (6-5)
26. Stuttgart (7-4)
27. Trumann (5-6)
28. Mena (5-6)
29. Bald Knob (4-6)
30. Gentry (5-6)
31. Gosnell (6-4)
32. H.G. Haskell (4-6)
33. Lonoke (3-7)
34. Dumas (4-6)
35. Hamburg (3-7)
36. Star City (1-9)
37. Green Forest (4-6)
38. Hall Steam (2-8)
39. Berryville (3-7)
40. Jonesboro Westside (1-9)
41. Dover (2-7)
42. Riverview (1-9)
43. Helena (0-10)
44. Huntsville (0-10)
45. Cave City (0-9)
46. Waldron (0-9)
47. Harrisburg (0-10)

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 11 of 14 games (79 percent), and for the season has picked 247 of 293 games (84 percent).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 6 Malvern (7-3) at No. 1 HARDING ACADEMY (10-0):
A rematch of last year's state championship game, which Malvern won 64-39 in a driving rainstorm. The Leopards ended last season as the top-ranked team on Hootens.com and didn't relinquish the spot until losing at Arkadelphia 55-35 in Week 10. The Leopards rebounded last week with a 48-14 victory over Lonoke. Senior RB Jalen Dupree (11-159-3 rushing) played well in the first half, along with sophomore QB Bishop Allen (9-13 passing, 169, 2). Senior linebacker Angel Perez led the Leopards with had 8 tackles. Dupree has 220 carries for 2,192 yards and 32 TDs this season, while senior receiver Dyelon Caradine has 62 catches, 1,234 yards, and 13 TDs. “Dupree makes them go,” Harding Academy coach Neil Evans says.
Top-ranked Harding Academy hasn't lost in the second round of the playoffs since falling to Lamar in 2018 (also the last time it didn't play for a state title). The Wildcats whipped Gentry 49-12 a week ago behind junior QB Owen Miller (9-13-305-3 passing; 8-88-1 rushing in the first half) Senior WR Kyler Hoover (5-208-1 receiving) gave Gentry's defense matchup issues, while Wyatt Simmons paced the defense with 9 tackles and 1 sack. “Simmons is one of the best linebackers in the state and country,” Malvern Coach J.D. Plumlee says. “Miller keeps plays alive with his legs.”

WEEK 12 PREDICTIONS (favored team highlighted in ALL CAPS)
TOP OF THE BRACKET
4-4A (3) Mayflower (8-3) at 7-4A (1) ARKADELPHIA (6-3): Mayflower's 34-20 win over Bald Knob last week was its first in the playoffs in 5 years. Senior RB Arturo Acosta (12-87-1 rushing) and QB Frankie Fennell (11-76-2 rushing) led the ground attack, while receiver Jamar Anderson caught 7 passes for 103 yards and 1 TD. Arkadelphia earned a first-round bye after beating Malvern 55-35 for the 7-4A title in Week 10. QB Cade McBride (14-22-219-3 passing; 13-154-3 rushing) helped the Badgers pull away from Malvern in the second half (finished the game on a 20-0 run). Evan Bailey caught 4 passes for 98 yards and 3 TDs, and DB Brayden Wagner returned an interception 30 yards for a TD.

1-4A (3) Gravette (7-4) at 3-4A (1) RIVERCREST (9-2): Gravette ran for 421 yards in last week's 55-10 victory over Stuttgart. Junior dual-threat QB Gabe Holmes (11-14-140-3 passing; 12-127-1 rushing) gave the Ricebirds fits. Senior RB Skylar Austin (11-112-2) and Kayden Brown (4-76-1 rushing; 2-31-1 receiving) assisted in the attack. Rivercrest led Mena 22-0 at halftime last week before winning 36-0. Senior RB Koby Turner (10-134-2 rushing) and sophomore WR Budda Harris (6-102-1 receiving) led the offensive surge, while senior DE Wyatt Lancaster (8 tackles, 3TFL, 1 sack, and 1 blocked punt) and senior LB Marcus Slayton (8 tackles) clamped the Bearcats. Lancaster's tackle for a safety in the first quarter put Rivercrest up 16-0.

4-4A (2) Bauxite (8-3) at 8-4A (1) WARREN (11-0): Bauxite's 42-17 win over McGehee last week was its first in the playoffs since 2018. Freshman QB Eli Perry (13-15-122-1 passing; 5-42-1 rushing), RB Walt Duncan (8-90-3), and WR Tony Fox (7-57-1) consistently made plays. Warren led Trumann 14-0 in the final seconds of the first half last week when junior WR Neon'dre Thomas changed the game with a catch in double coverage. He then outraced 4 Wildcats for a TD, his second of the half. Thomas finished with 3 catches for 82 yards, while junior Antonio Jordan (5-93 receiving; punt return for TD) in the 42-12 victory. Warren's rushing attack received a boost from senior Trey Jackson (10-84-1), who played after missing the previous 2 games with injury.

1-4A (4) Lincoln (8-3) at 1-4A (2) OZARK (9-2): A rematch from Week 6, when Ozark won 44-6. But Lincoln was without 2 injured starters in that game who will play this week. Lincoln rallied from a 7-6 second-quarter deficit last week to upend favored Heber Springs 39-28. The Wolves outscored Heber Springs 27-14 in the fourth quarter. Ozark junior QB Koby Wilbanks (11-100-2 passing; 18-191-3 rushing) helped Ozark get past Lamar 35-20. Senior WR/DB MJ Parker caught 1 TD pass and made 1 tackle before breaking a bone in his foot. He'll likely miss the remainder of the playoffs. Ozark's defense, led by Keigan Williams (8 tackles) and Eli Gilstrap (7 tackles), forced 5 turnovers against Lamar (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries). Gilstrap was the top tackler vs. Lincoln 6 weeks ago. “Playing someone twice in a season is always difficult, we can't overlook them,” Ozark Coach Jeremie Burns says. “They weren't full strength last time we played, but they are now.”

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET
7-4A (3) Nashville at 4-4A (1) CAC (8-2): Nashville rallied from a 21-15 halftime deficit last week to down Crossett 41-36. The Scrappers ran for 470 yards, led by freshman D.J. Jefferson (15-141-2 in the second half) and senior Tre Hopkins (14-108-2 rushing; 1-15-1 receiving). Sophomore dual-threat QB Kaeson Chambers (6-13-51-1 passing; 8-88 rushing) kept Crossett off balance. Sophomore DL Zacchesu Harris registered 5 tackles and 2 sacks. Harris has 23 sacks this fall, 1 away from tying Billy Stewart as Nashville's single-season sack leader. CAC earned a first-round playoff bye after clobbering Lamar 53-0 in Week 10. Junior QB Greyson Wilson passed for 258 yards and 4 TDs vs. Lamar, while Renalson Sullivan ran 13 times for 67 yards and 1 TD and caught a TD pass. Sophomore WR Josiah Warrior-Benson caught 6 passes for 167 yards and 2 TDs.

8-4A (3) Monticello (8-3) at 1-4A (1) ELKINS (11-0): These programs have never played. Monticello used a late defensive stand (stopped a 2-point conversion with 1:52 left)  to hold off Highland last week 21-20. Senior QB Brooks Bowman (15-29-168-3 passing) and RB Jon Jackson (27-122 rushing) were cogs in Monticello's ball-control attack. LB Blaine Hayden finished with 10 tackles, including the game-clinching conversion stop, while Jagger Hines made 12 stops and Brett Birch had 8 tackles. Undefeated Elkins beats opponents by an average of 55-8 (the Elks ended the regular season with 3 consecutive shutouts.) Senior QB Dizzy Dean (20-25-206-2) and RB Da'Shawn Chairs (13-153-5) were leaders in last week's 63-27 victory over Clinton, while sophomore Pucci Townsend (11-190 receiving, 2 TDs) and Brooks Williams (7 tackles) made significant contributions.

7-4A (2) Malvern (7-3) at 1-4A (1) HARDING ACADEMY (11-0): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week, above.

7-4A (4) Ashdown (6-4) at 8-4A (2) DEWITT (10-1): Both teams advanced to the second round after beating teams from the 3-4A. Ashdown senior QB Greyson Porter (7-13 passing, 120, 2 TDs; 23-189 rushing, 3 TDs; 4 2-point conversions) lifted the Panthers in their 36-20 win at Blytheville.. DeWitt survived Pocahontas 29-28 a week ago. QB Xa Cox (8-14-49-1 passing; 9-81-1 rushing) and sophomore RB Korri Graham (17-70-1 rushing, 2-point conversion) helped the Dragons rally in the second half.