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

1. Junction City (13-0)
2. Gurdon (10-2)
3. Des Arc (11-3)
4. Bearden (10-3)
5. Carlisle (12-2)
6. E. Poinsett County (12-1)
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)

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked the state title game. Hootens.com picked 244 of 301 (81 percent) for the season.

ABOUT THE FINAL RANKINGS
Top-ranked Junction City is the standard. Period. The Dragons have captured state titles in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013. They got outside of Des Arc's defense early Saturday and their team speed destroyed the Eagles 60-0 in the state finals, the worst rout in a playoff era (since 1969) title game. The interior of Junction City's defense, led by junior DT Tyler Mason (6-3, 280), held Des Arc to 126 rushing yards on 45 attempts.

Both Gurdon and Des Arc received Junction City's best shot in rain storms. Junction City did not lose a turnover in either game. Junior RB Jaqwis Dancy ran 26 times for 249 and three TDs vs. Gurdon. He sprinted for 163 yards and two TDs on 14 carries vs. Des Arc. Gurdon, however, did manage a TD drive at Junction City and it drove to the Dragon 4-yard line with three minutes left and trailing 19-6. Des Arc did not penetrate the Junction City 30-yard line, and Junction City led 41-0 at halftime.

In the semifinals, Junction City was up 16 points on Carlisle late in the third quarter when it lost one of its three fumbles (at the JC 21-yard line) in a sloppy performance but a 38-28 win. Des Arc's defense, aided by poor field conditions, kept Bearden's dual-threat QB Jamond Young from making plays in an 8-0 semifinal win. Des Arc held Bearden to 61 yards. Junction City beat Bearden 13-8 Week 3.

LOOKING BACK
The hootens.com 2013 2A preseason rankings: 1. Junction City, 2. Bearden, 3. Gurdon, 4. Rison, 5. Carlisle, 6. Strong, 7. Salem, 8. E. Poinsett County, 9. Dierks, 10. Hazen, 11. Magnet Cove, 12. Murfreesboro, 13. Des Arc