4A Week 12 Rankings & Picks
Hootens.com Class 4A Rankings
Week 12, 2024
1. Elkins (11-0)
2. Arkadelphia (9-2)
3. Warren (9-2)
4. Mills (10-0)
5. Malvern (10-1)
6. Southside (11-0)
7. Dardanelle (9-1)
8. Highland (9-1)
9. Monticello (8-3)
10. Mena (10-1)
11. Clinton (9-2)
12. Hamburg (8-3)
13. Gentry (9-2)
14. Prairie Grove (7-4)
15. Heber Springs (8-3)
16. Pocahontas (7-4)
17. Gravette (9-2)
18. DeWitt (7-4)
19. Pottsville (7-4)
20. Nashville (6-5)
Not Ranked
1-4A: Berryville (1-9), Green Forest (4-7), Huntsville (1-9), Lincoln (5-5)
2-4A: Bald Knob (0-10), CAC (3-7), Forrest City (4-7), Hall Steam (3-7), Lonoke (5-6), Riverview (1-8)
3-4A: Blytheville (3-7), Cave City (3-7), Gosnell (6-5), Jonesboro Westside (1-9), Trumann (3-7)
4-4A: Dover (2-8), Lamar (4-6), Ozark (4-7), Waldron (2-8)
7-4A: Ashdown (5-6), Bauxite (3-7), Fountain Lake (2-8), HG Haskell (2-9)
8-4A: Crossett (0-10), Helena (6-5), Star City (4-6), Stuttgart (5-5)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
8-4A (4) HAMBURG (8-3) at 8-4A (2) Monticello (8-3): A battle of conference rivals and a rematch from Week 4, which Monticello won 35-32. The Billies have beaten Hamburg in 13 of the past 22 meetings.
Monticello started fast (Curtis Barrow returned opening kickoff 80 yards for a TD) in last week's 47-26 victory over Forrest City. Monticello running back Joseph Accelus (24-134 rushing, TD; 2 catches, 16 yards) controlled the clock with rugged runs, along with Jackson Hines (10-75-3 rushing). Hines (5 tackles), senior Blaine Hayden (12 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss) and Trey Riley (11 tackles) led the defense.
Hamburg endured a 12-hour round trip to beat Gravette 48-28 last week. Senior Peyton Sellers (5-152 rushing, 3 TDs; 20 tackles at linebacker) was a standout. Junior Nikel Lewis (28-181 rushing, 2 TDs; 2-75 receiving, TD). Senior 3-year safety Saxton Brooks had 7 tackles and 2 interceptions.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com predicted 11 of 14 games (79 percent), and for the season has predicted 264 of 307 games (86 percent).
WEEK 12 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
TOP OF THE BRACKET
1-4A (4) Prairie Grove (7-4) at 4-4A (1) DARDANELLE (9-1): These teams were members of the 5A West the past 2 years and played nonconference games in 2018-2019. Prairie Grove rallied from a 26-23 fourth-quarter deficit last week to down Lonoke 37-33. The Tigers gained more than 400 yards. Dardanelle received a first-round bye after capturing their first 4-4A title since 2016. The Sand Lizards beat Mena 46-13 in Week 10 for the league title, behind junior QB Creed Vega (9-14-221 passing, 3 TDs; 27-171 rushing, 2 TDs) and WRs Eddie Moore (3-83-2) and Rod Chaten (3-74-1). LB Jace Finkenbinder (12 tackles) and Paden Davis (11 tackles) led the defense.
1-4A (3) Gentry (9-2) at 7-4A (1) ARKADELPHIA (9-2): Gentry QB Talan Williams hit Ezekiel Strong with a 21-yard TD pass and decisive 2-point conversion with 46 seconds remaining in last week's 42-41 victory at DeWitt. Williams passed for 403 yards and 6 TDs, while Strong caught 7 passes for 147 yards and 2 TDs. Strong finished with 14 tackles and 1 interception, while middle linebacker Bennett Roberts racked up 17 stops. Arkadelphia fell behind Ozark 7-0 last week before scoring 50 unanswered points. QB Bryceton McCoy passed for 308 yards and 6 TDs.
2-4A (2) Heber Springs (8-3) at 3-4A (1) SOUTHSIDE (11-0): These former conference rivals have played 18 times over the past 20 seasons (since Southside's program began), with Heber Springs winning 13 times. Heber Springs advanced by beating Blytheville 30-20. Senior QB Liam Buffalo (30-109 rushing, 2 TDs; 103 passing), WR Ty West caught 2 passes (totaling 99 yards) to convert third downs. LB Carter Julian made 6 tackles, while Buffalo had 6 tackles and intercepted 2 passes. Southside shutout H.G. Haskell 42-0 a week ago for its 11th consecutive victory. Junior Owen McLaughlin ran for 155 yards and 4 TDs in the first half, while Louis Calhoun caught 7 passes for 133 yards and 1 TD. QB Trey Allen completed 10 of 12 passes for 155 yards and 2 TDs. Junior safety Braden Simpson led on defense with 11 tackles and 1 forced fumble, while senior LB Andrew Plummer made 10 stops.
8-4A (4) Hamburg (8-3) at 8-4A (2) MONTICELLO (8-3): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week, above
BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET
4-4A (3) CLINTON (9-2) at 2-4A (1) Mills (10-0): These teams split 2 games when they competed in the same conference 2020-2021. Clinton built a 35-0 halftime lead last week when advancing to the second round with a 42-12 win over Gosnell. Sam Standridge scored on a 30-yard run and Rylan Jones ran for 2 first-half TDs. The Yellow Jackets yielded 76 offensive yards in the first half, led by Briar Gadberry (7 tackles). Mills won the 2-4A title this season after beating Lonoke by 8 points in Week 10. Freshman QB Elijah Moody (229 rushing, 3 TDs; 98 passing) led the way vs. Lonoke, while senior Chauncey Haynes caught 3 passes for 57 yards. Senior Zion Smith recorded 7 tackles, while Azayvonne Stribling recovered 2 fumbles to lead on defense.
3-4A (3) Pocahontas (7-4) at 8-4A (1) WARREN (9-2): These teams have never played. Pocahontas won at Nashville 28-13 a week ago. QB DJ Coffey (4-7-82 passing, 1 TD; 49-267 rushing, 3 TDs) was the workhorse, while Ty Menard (6-33 rushing) and Brendyn Arnold (3-43 receiving, TD) contributed. Menard (10 tackles) and Wyatt Converse (8) led on defense. Warren's defense forced 4 turnovers in last week's 35-13 win over Central Arkansas Christian. Josiah Steen returned an interception 36 yards for a TD in the first quarter. Senior receivers Tramond Miller and Antonio Jordan combined for 6 catches, 139 yards and 3 TDs.
4-4A (2) Mena (10-1) at 1-4A (1) ELKINS (11-0): Mena won both times when these teams competed in the same conference in 2018-2019. Mena finished second in the 4-4A this fall, then trounced xxxx 49-14 in the first round. QB Michael Sullivan threw 4 TD passes and ran for another vs. Green Forest, while Brody Peters ran for 108 yards and 2 TDs. Trip Hensley and Peters intercepted passes, and Hensley recovered a fumble that set up a TD. Elkins has scored at least 35 points in every game this season. The Elks led Helena 45-0 in the first half last week before cruising to a 52-6 victory behind senior RB Ja'Quae Walden (51-yard TD catch and 1 TD run). Senior safety Davian Hall (6 tackles, including 5 TFL and 3 sacks), Owen Baublits (6 tackles, 5 TFL and 1 sack) and Pucci Townsend (INT. return for TD) led the defense.
3-4A (2) Highland (9-1) at 7-4A (2) MALVERN (10-1): These teams meet for the first time. Highland beat Ashdown 10-7 a week ago, and the Rebels have allowed 19 points in the past 4 games. Senior Brody Brogdon recorded a safety, while sophomore OLB Lexxon Johnson returned a fumble for a TD. Senior Carson Stanford blocked a punt that set up a TD. Malvern rallied from a 27-7 first-quarter deficit to beat Pottsville 28-27 last week. Junior Tavien Clegg ran for 155 yards and 3 TDs, while QB Sedrick “Bishop” Allen ran 7 yards for Malvern's other TD.
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