Hootens.com Class 2A Rankings
Week 15, 2013
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Junction City vs. No. 2 Des Arc
6-2A champion Des Arc has taken down 8-2A big boys Strong 42-8 and Bearden 8-0 the past two weeks. Now, it battles defending state champion Junction City at noon Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Junction City defeated Des Arc 10-8 with a Darius Dixon 26-yard field goal as time expired in the 2008 state title game. Des Arc won the 1976 state title (29-22 over Prescott), but lost in the title game in 1975 and 2008. Junction City captured state titles in 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2012. The Dragons lost to Jessieville 20-19 in the 2006 finals.

Des Arc senior QB/CB and team leader Jalen Holloway (1,082 rushing yards) carried 23 times for 82 muddy yards and the game's only touchdown last week in an 8-0 victory over Bearden. In the quarterfinals, Holloway ran 15 times for 169 yards and four TDs last week in a 42-8 blowout of Strong. Holloway triggers a Double Slot attack that ran the football 94 percent of the time in wins over No. 3 Bearden, No. 6 Carlisle, No. 11 Hazen and No. 8 Strong. The Eagles are content to pick up 3.5 to 4 yards per snap. Senior Zac Devore (754 yards) and junior Tyler Hill (525 yards) rushed for 78 and 60 yards, respectively, vs. Strong. Des Arc DID NOT lose a turnover on a sloppy field last week vs. Bearden. It lost one turnover (a desperation pass) vs Strong, one turnover vs. Hazen, none vs. Brinkley and none vs. Carlisle. Senior linebacker Danerryen Spencer (165 tackles) leads a Des Arc defense that held Bearden to 61 total yards and Strong to 59 rushing yards. Senior LB Brad Childers (71 tackles) broke his ankle two weeks against Strong.

Junction City counters with junior RB Jaqwis Dancy (1,510 yards) and junior QB Randall Holyfield, who has passed for more than 1,400 yards this fall. Junction City lost three fumbles last week in steady rain but defeated 6-2A Carlisle 38-28 in the state semifinals. Dancy rushed for 179 yards on 17 carries vs. Carlisle, surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards. Two weeks ago, Holyfield completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards and three TDs in a 51-7 rout of Hector. The Junction City defense, led by senior end Robert Armstrong (more than 60 tackles) and junior DT Taylor Mason (6-3, 280), held Hector to less than 200 yards. Junction City junior LB Josh Armstrong continues to add tackles to the single-season school record he owns. Carlisle senior RB Deron Ricks gashed the Junction City defense last week for 194 yards and three TDs on 33 carries. From historian Wayne Pumphrey: Junction City has held an opponent to 10 pts or less 80 times since 2008, including 31 shutouts. Senior Jarkell Brown is the school's career receiving leader. Junction City is 48-12 all-time in postseason games.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked one of two semifinal games involving Class 2A teams. Hootens.com has picked 243 of 300 (81 percent) for the season.

WEEK 15 PREDICTION (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
JUNCTION CITY (3) vs. Des Arc: See state championship preview.