Hootens.com Rankings
Class 3A, Week 15, 2019
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Harding Academy (14-0)
2. Osceola (12-1)
3. Prescott (11-3)
4. C. Harmony Grove (11-3)
5. Rison (11-2)
6. McGehee (11-2)
7. Hoxie (10-3)
8. Melbourne (10-3)
9. Booneville (8-3)
10. Newport (9-3)
11. Lamar (9-3)
12. Glen Rose (9-3)
13. Clinton (10-2)
14. Atkins (9-3)
15. Dollarway (6-6)
16. Greenland (7-5)
17. Centerpoint (8-3)
18. Harrisburg (7-4)
19. Jessieville (8-3)
20. Mansfield (7-4)
21. Perryville (6-5)
22. Smackover (5-6)
23. Walnut Ridge (6-5)
24. Drew Central (6-5)
25. Charleston (4-7)
26. Lake Village (4-6)
27. Cedarville (6-4)
28. Baptist Prep (3-8)
29. Mountain View (5-6)
30. Danville (4-6)
31. Genoa Central (5-6)
32. Fouke (4-6)
33. Barton (3-7)
34. Bismarck (3-7)
35. Mayflower (2-8)
36. Piggott (2-8)
37. Corning (2-8)
38. Yellville-Summit (2-8)
39. Paris (3-7)
40. Marshall (2-7)
41. Rose Bud (2-8)
42. Two Rivers (1-9)
43. Manila (2-8)
44. West Fork (0-10)
45. Palestine-Wheatley (0-9)
46. Cedar Ridge (1-9)
47. Horatio (0-10)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Harding Academy vs. No. 2 Osceola
Teams that are a combined 26-1 meet Saturday night at 7 p.m. For the Class 3A state championship. Osceola is in the state title game for the second straight season, but the Seminoles have not won a championship since beating McGehee 28-27 for the 1997 Class AA crown. Osceola scores 37 points per game behind senior quarterback M.J. Vance, who's passed for 1,700 yards and run for 1,020 yards. Vance has accounted for 38 touchdowns. Senior Brandon Johnson ran for 549 yard and seven scores in 2019. Three Osceola senior receivers have collected 22 passes or more, led by Greg Hooks (41 receptions for 880 yards and 10 TDs), Trey Moore (30 catches for 554 yards and three scores) and Dan Newson (22 receptions for 304 yards and two TDs). The veteran Osceola offensive line recorded 150 pancake blocks this year, led by senior Kevin Troupe's 64 knockdowns and classmate Chris Williams' 35. Sophomore Don Littleton paces the stingy Osceola defense (surrenders 14.5 points per game) with 77 tackles, while Moore ranks second with 74 stops. Cornerback Hooks intercepted four passes and broke up 11 attempts this year. Osceola pulled away from Camden Harmony Grove last week in the semifinals 38-6 behind Vance's five TDs. 

Harding Academy has allowed just 118 points in its past 10 games. The Wildcats' veteran defensive line (three three-year starters) of Carter Miller, Keaton Chapman and Gavin Sparks improved with the emergence of freshman Levi Mercer, who has impressed since joining the varsity. Sophomore safety Braden Oliver paces Harding with 78 tackles, while senior Parker Golden and sophomore Andrew Miller have wrapped up 60 stops apiece. Harding boasts the top scoring offense in Class 3A (51 PPG) behind junior QB Caden Sipe, who completes 73 percent of his passes for 3,502 yards and 56 TDs with just five interceptions. Sipe added 442 yards and six scores. Senior running back Stone Sheffield ran for 1,339 yards and 26 scores this season and he caught 36 passes for 732 yards and 13 TDs. Junior Ty Duggar leads Harding with 83 receptions for 1,296 yards (16 yards per reception) and 20 scores and senior Connor McGaha collected 38 tosses for 611 yards and nine TDs. Harding Academy surrendered only 115 yards a week ago in a semifinal win at a Prescott team that averages 373 yards weekly.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted one of two (50 percent) games involving Class 3A schools a week ago. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 258 of 310 (83 percent) of games involving Class 3A schools.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
HARDING ACADEMY (6) vs. Osceola: See Hootens.com Game of the Week.