Hootens.com Class 4A Rankings

Week 13, 2024

1. Elkins (12-0)

2. Arkadelphia (10-2)

3. Warren (10-2)

4. Mills (11-0)

5. Malvern (11-1)

6. Southside (12-0)

7. Dardanelle (10-1)

8. Monticello (9-3)

9. Mena (10-2)

10. Highland (9-2)

11. Clinton (9-3)

12. Hamburg (8-4)

13. Gentry (9-3)

14. Prairie Grove (7-5)

15. Heber Springs (8-4)

16. Pocahontas (7-5)

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

NO. 3 WARREN (10-2) at No. 4 Mills (11-0): Mills is 11-0 for the first time after it rallied from a 10-0 first-quarter deficit to beat Clinton 42-10. Senior Chauncey Haynes (7-140 receiving, 2 TDs; punt return TD) and freshman quarterback Elijah Moody (10-13 passing, 173 yards, 2 TDs; 102 rushing yards, 3 TDs) led the Comets. “Mills is tough to defend because they are athletic at every spot, even on both lines,” Warren Coach Bo Hembree says. Warren jumped on Pocahontas 35-0 in the second quarter last week, cruising to a 35-6 victory. The Lumberjacks have outscored their 2 playoff opponents by a combined 70-0 in the first half. Senior Antonio Jordan (6-32 rushing, 2 TDs; 1-31 receiving) and QB Cam Burks (7-10 passing, 218 yards, 2 TDs; 3-26 rushing) led Warren. This is the first meeting between these teams. 

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com predicted 7 of 8 games (88 percent), and for the season has predicted 271 of 315 games (86 percent).

WEEK 13 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)

TOP OF THE BRACKET

7-4A (1) ARKADELPHIA (10-2) at 4-4A (1) Dardanelle (10-1): Arkadelphia beat Dardanelle 21-14 in the 2015 quarterfinals. The Badgers handled Gentry 46-14 last week as sophomore QB Bryceton McCory (11-16 passing, 241 yards, 4 TDs) sparked an offense that scored all of its points in the first half. Senior Brayden Wagner caught an 80-yard TD pass and ran for another TD, while Maddox Fendley caught 2 TD passes. Junior DB Kelton Wilson intercepted 2 passes, including 1 he returned 70 yards for a TD. Junior LB Quentavion Morris (7 tackles) and junior Colton Plyler (6 tackles) led the defense. Dardanelle outscored Prairie Grove 52-27 as junior QB Creed Vega accounted for 427 yards and 5 TDs (219 yards, 3 TDs passing; 208 yards, 2 TDs rushing). WR Rod Chaten (6-145 receiving, 2 TDs; 2 tackles, 2 interceptions) and senior LB Jace Finkenbinder (17 tackles) also contributed, along with senior OLB Hunter Anderson (16 tackles) and senior LB Trey Robinson (11 tackles, 1 sack).

8-4A (2) MONTICELLO (9-3) at 3-4A (1) Southside (12-0): Monticello advances to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009, when the Billies won the Class 5A state title. Monticello held Hamburg to 219 yards in last week's 35-14 victory. Sophomore RB Joseph Accelus (31-257-2 TDs rushing; 2-50-1 TD receiving) shined offensively. Senior Trey Riley (13 tackles) led the Billies with 13 tackles, with LBs Blaine Hayden (8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and Jagger Hines (7 tackles, 1 sack) playing well. Senior DT A.J. Robinson made 4 tackles, including 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Southside is in the quarterfinals for the first time after beating Heber Springs 42-34 last week. Junior RB Owen McLaughlin (29-279 rushing, 2 TDs), Braden Simpson (8-83 rushing, TD) and QB Trey Allen (10-109 rushing, TD; 1 TD pass) led the offense, while senior LB Andrew Plummer and senior DE Jackson Wammack each registered 12 tackles.

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET

8-4A (1) WARREN (10-2) at 2-4A (1) Mills (11-0): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week, above.

7-4A (2) Malvern (11-1) at 1-4A (1) ELKINS (12-0): Elkins makes its third consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals after beating Mena 35-16. Junior QB Ben Napier (19-30 passing, 128 yards, 2 TDs) and senior RB Ja'Quae Walden (27-128 rushing) keyed the attack. Senior DE Owen Baublits (3 tackles, including 2 sacks), senior LB Brooks Williams (3 tackles, 1 sack) and junior Tate Mortin (interception return TD) led the defense. Malvern returns to the quarterfinals after a one-year absence (lost to eventual champion Harding Academy in the second round a year ago). The Leopards led Highland 34-0 in the second half a week ago before winning 34-7. Junior QB Bishop Allen ran for 1 TD and threw 2 TD passes to Luey Jamie, while junior RB Tavien Clegg ran for 2 TDs.