hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, FINAL, 2018
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Junction City (12-2)
2. Hazen (13-1)
3. Foreman (11-2)
4. Mount Ida (11-3)
5. Conway Christian (10-3)
6. Hampton (8-3)
7. Des Arc (9-4)
8. Earle (9-4)
9. Gurdon (9-3)
10. Fordyce (6-6)
11. Salem (9-2)
12. Mineral Springs (9-3)
13. Mountain Pine (8-4)
14. Hector (7-4)
15. Mountainburg (8-3)
16. E. Poinsett County (6-5)
17. England (4-7)
18. Magnet Cove (5-6)
19. Magazine (6-5)
20. Quitman (6-5)
21. Poyen (6-4)
22. Hackett (4-5)
23. McCrory (5-5)
24. Rector (5-5)
25. Lavaca (4-6)
26. Bearden (3-7)
27. Bigelow (4-6)
28. Carlisle (4-6-1)
29. Parkers Chapel (2-8)
30. Clarendon (3-7)
31. Dierks (3-8)
32. Murfreesboro (3-7)
33. Marianna (2-7)
34. Brinkley (2-8)
35. Strong (1-9)
36. Midland (2-7)
37. Marked Tree (1-8)
38. J.C. Westside (2-8)
39. W. Yell County (2-7)
40. Cross County (3-8)
41. Lafayette County (1-9)
42. Spring Hill (1-8)
43. Cutter M. Star (1-9)
44. Marvell (0-10)

STATE TITLE REVIEW
Junction City, which dropped back down this year after two years in Class 3A, rallied past and pulled away from Hazen 36-22 to win its fourth Class 2A state title in its past five years in the smallest classification. The bigger (O linemen average 295 pounds) and deeper (52-man roster) Dragons wore down Hazen, rushing for 255 yards while completing seven critical passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. The JC defense held Hazen's potent rushing attack to 150 yards below its season average.

ABOUT THE RANKINGS
The top five teams to start the season (Foreman, Junction City, Mount Ida, Hazen, Conway Christian) end up there with Junction City on top followed by Hazen, Foreman, Mount Ida and Conway Christian. The Gurdon Go-Devils, which dropped from Class 3A like Junction City, started at No. 21 and finished at No. 9. Parkers Chapel took the biggest dive, going from No. 13 to 29.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com missed the state final game. Hootens.com has picked 228 of 285 (80 percent) for the season.