Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 15, 2011
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Carlisle (13-0)
2. Strong (9-3)
3. Junction City (9-2)
4. Magazine (12-1)
5. E. Poinsett County (11-1)
6. Bearden (10-1)
7. McCrory (9-4)
8. Danville (9-3)
9. Gurdon (10-3)
10. Mineral Springs (10-2)
11. Mountainburg (8-3)
12. Hazen (9-1-1)
13. Magnet Cove (10-2)
14. Salem (9-3)
15. Spring Hill (9-3)
16. Hackett (7-4)
17. Mount Ida (7-5)
18. Bigelow (7-3-1)
19. Norphlet (4-6)
20. Parkers Chapel (4-5)
21. England (5-6)
22. Des Arc (6-6)
23. Walnut Ridge (5-5)
24. Quitman (7-4)
25. Conway Christian (6-5)
26. Dierks (5-6)
27. Clarendon (4-7)
28. Hampton (4-6)
29. Union Christian (4-6)
30. Horatio (4-3)
31. Cross County (3-6)
32. Marked Tree (4-6)
33. Murfreesboro (4-6)
34. J.C. Westside (4-6)
35. Poyen (3-8)
36. Woodlawn (1-8)
37. Mountain Pine (2-8)
38. Cedar Ridge (1-8)
39. Augusta (1-7-1)
40. Two Rivers (2-8)
41. Palestine-Wheatley (1-8)
42. Western Yell County (2-8)
43. Foreman (0-10)
44. Hector (1-8)
45. Decatur (1-9)
46. Marvell (0-10)
47. Hartford (0-9)

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked zero of two games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com is 232-54 (81 percent) for the season.

WEEK 15 CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
No. 1 CARLISLE (4) vs. No. 2 Strong
Strong makes its first state title game appearance after its best performance of the season, a 29-19 win at Junction City. Strong senior QB Kenneth Dixon (5,910 career rushing yards) has been on a tear throughout the playoffs, running for 227 yards a month ago at Mountainburg. Three weeks ago, Dixon ran over Magnet Cove for 254 yards (12 ypc) and three TDs and passed for 81 yards and a TD in a 33-14 win. Last week, he gutted tradition-rich Junction City for 311 yards on 43 carries and finished the game running hard. Throughout the playoffs, Dixon takes snaps in an empty backfield, hands off on the jet sweep, fakes and runs, or fakes and passes. Dixon's timely passes have been huge in the postseason, including four completions two weeks at McCrory to keep drives alive. Strong's defensive front four has played well, led by senior tackles Johnique Williams (more than 100 tackles) and Bernard Hicks. Senior middle LB Arriun Gatson has also recorded more than 100 tackles. Junior LB Lamar Williams has 70 tackles. Senior safety Donte Dismuke (five interceptions) makes big plays weekly.

Carlisle also comes off its best performance of the year, a 34-7 manhandling of EPC. The Carlisle offensive line consists of senior center Joey Underwood (6-1, 305), guard Coty Stivers (5-8, 220), guard Taylor Gunn (5-10, 230), tackle Ryleigh Cunningham (5-10, 220) and junior tackle Clayton Fields (6-1, 280). They open lanes for sophomore RB Bo Weddle (1,338 yards in 2011). Weddle proved durable three weeks ago by running 29 times for 151 yards and two TDs in a 22-16 win over 2010 state runner-up Danville. Two weeks ago, Weddle carried 17 times for 105 yards in a 13-12 win over Gurdon. Last week, senior Braxton Petrus ran for 153 yards and two TDs against EPC. Carlisle averages 32 ppg. Weddle also paces the Bison in tackles, followed closely by seniors Ty Vaughn and Zac King. The Bison allow just 9.7 ppg. Carlisle advanced to the state semifinals last week for the first time since losing in the 2008 semis at Junction City 29-7. Carlisle, making its 21st playoff appearance in the past 23 years, also played for state titles in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1999 but has not won one.