hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 15, 2019
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Junction City (11-1)
2. Fordyce (12-2)
3. Gurdon (11-3)
4. Des Arc (10-3)
5. Magnet Cove (11-2)
6. Salem (11-2)
7. Hazen (10-2)
8. Carlisle (9-4)
9. Foreman (11-1)
10. Magazine (8-2)
11. McCrory (8-3)
12. Parkers Chapel (7-5)
13. Mountainburg (6-5)
14. Earle (6-5)
15. Mountain Pine (6-5)
16. England (5-6)
17. Poyen (7-4)
18. Murfreesboro (6-5)
19. Dierks (7-5)
20. Hackett (8-2)
21. Cutter M Star (6-5)
22. Hector (4-5)
23. E. Poinsett County (6-4)
24. Rector (6-5)
25. Clarendon (3-8)
26. Hampton (4-7)
27. Mineral Springs (4-6)
28. Conway Christian (3-7)
29. Quitman (4-6)
30. Mount Ida (2-8)
31. Marked Tree (2-8)
32. Bearden (2-9)
33. Marvell (2-7)
34. Lavaca (1-9)
35. Strong (1-9)
36. Bigelow (0-10)
37. Cross County (1-8)
38. JC Westside (1-9)
39. Lafayette County (1-9)
40. Marianna (0-10)
41. Midland (0-9)
42. Spring Hill (0-10)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Junction City vs. No. 2 Fordyce
The is a rematch of the 8-2A title game from Week 8, when Fordyce fumbled late in the fourth quarter at the Junction City 3-yard line. JC won 14-12. Fordyce owns a 13-6 advantage in this series, per JC historian Wayne Pumphrey. Top-ranked Junction City reaches the state title game for the 10th time in the past 16 years, winning Class 2A titles in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018. Second-ranked Fordyce reaches the state finals for the first time since winning then-Class 4A state titles in 1990 and 1991.  Anchored by tackle and Farm Bureau Insurance Awards finalist Kyle Kidwell, linebackers Tanner Barnette and Chase Fennell and safety Jakiron Cook, Junction City has allowed 8.4 ppg since its opening 30-26 loss to Class 3A semifinalist Camden Harmony Grove. Cook, a Farm Bureau Insurance Awards finalist, has rushed for 1,638 yards (9 yards per carry) and 27 touchdowns. Cook needs just 23 yards to reach 3,000 career rushing yards. Senior WR Harlandus Frazier needs 77 yards to reach 1,000 career rushing yards. Senior QB Brady Hutcheson needs 77 yards to become JC's all-time passing leader.  Fordyce counters with junior QB Jaheim Brown who has completed 63 percent of his passes this fall for 2,061 yards and 26 TDs with just five INTs. His favorite target, junior Ja'quez Cross, has caught 55 passes for 962 and 14 TDs. Hard-charging junior G/LB Josh Harrington paces the Redbugs with 104 tackles, including nine TFL. Senior safety and Farm Bureau Insurance Awards finalist Dearius Sledge has collected 82 stops, including 12 two weeks ago against Hazen (24-20 win) and 10 last week at Salem (38-14 win).

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked both (100 percent) semifinal games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com has picked 233 of 278 (84 percent) this season.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
Fordyce vs. JUNCTION CITY (3): See Game of the Week.