Class 3A Week 0 Rankings and Predictions
Hootens.com
Class 3A Rankings
Week 0, 2026
1. Mansfield
2. Fordyce
3. Bismarck
4. Glen Rose
5. Atkins
6. Charleston
7. Rivercrest
8. Smackover
9. Walnut Ridge
10. Newport
11. Osceola
12. Helena
13. Prescott
14. Dumas
15. McGehee
16. Salem
17. Melbourne
18. Quitman
19. Rison
20. Cutter Morning Star
Not Ranked:
1-3A: Paris, Greenland, Lavaca, West Fork, Cedarville
2-3A: Yellville-Summit, Mountain View, Riverview, Marshall
3-3A: Hoxie, Harrisburg, Palestine-Wheatley, Manila, Piggott
4-3A: Jessieville, Danville, Perryville, Conway Christian, Two Rivers
7-3A: Harmony Grove Ouachita County, Centerpoint, Parkers Chapel, Horatio, Cossatot River
8-3A: Lake Village, Drew Central, Barton
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Class 4A No. 8 MONTICELLO at No. 2 Fordyce: The Redbugs won last year’s contest 46-18, but the Billies got remarkably better as the season went along. Dynamic running back Joseph Accelus is the key piece in Monticello’s power spread attack. Junior dual-threat quarterback Andreal Ellison is back for his third year as the Redbugs’ signal caller. This should be an exciting game with playmakers on both teams. Depth could carry the Billies to a win.
LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 272 of 323 games (84 percent).
WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored teams highlighted in Orange and in ALL CAPS)
1-3A
No. 1 MANSFIELD at Class 5A Dardanelle: Both teams made it to War Memorial last season with Mansfield taking down Fordyce while Dardanelle lost to Elkins in the 4A title game. There will be many new faces on both sides of the ball for both teams. Jubal Parks and Silas Burton could be the difference for Mansfield in this game. Senior Braxton Rayburn takes over at quarterback for Dardanelle.
Class 4A BOONEVILLE at No. 6 Charleston: Booneville returns to Class 4A after spending the past 8 seasons in Class 3A. The Bearcats have won 27 of 35 meetings over Charleston since the modern playoff era started in 1969, but Charleston has won 3 of the past 5 including 21-7 last season.
Class 4A GENTRY at Paris: This is the first meeting between these programs. Former Hector Coach Trevor Cooper takes over at Paris, where the Eagles have won 16 games over the past 4 seasons. Gentry has won 29 games over the past 4 seasons.
Class 4A LINCOLN at Greenland: Greenland has won 11 of the past 15 against its former conference foe, but Lincoln squeezed out a 26-25 victory a year ago.
Lavaca at Class 4A DOVER: Former Lamar and Magazine coach Josh Jones takes over as the third coach in 3 years at Dover; the Pirates have 8 wins over the past 8 seasons. These teams split their meetings the past 2 seasons, with Dover winning 8-0 in 2024, and Lavaca notching a 30-26 decision a year ago.
Class 2A Mountainburg at WEST FORK: Coach Sheldon McKinzie enters his second season at West Fork, and he has senior quarterback Carson Jones, who should help his team to more wins in 2026. Nineteen total starters return for West Fork. Running back Hayden McGill leads the Mountainburg rushing attack.
CEDARVILLE at Two Rivers: Cedarville’s Pirates have 18 starters back, 9 on each side of the ball, and fourth-year coach Spencer Adams thinks this could be his best team at Cedarville. Experience should carry the Pirates to the victory.
2-3A
Class 5A Greene County Tech at No. 16 SALEM: Salem lost a lot from a senior class that won 36 games, 3 conference titles and a state championship. The cupboard isn’t bare for second-year coach Billy Webber as 7 starters return, including all-conference running back Aiden Province. Former Batesville assistant Price Holmes takes over at GCT. Senior running back Ashton Addison looks to build off a 1,300-yard season in the Gun-T attack.
No. 17 MELBOURNE at Hoxie: Eight starters return on each side of the ball for the Bearcatz after they made it to the playoffs last season. Junior quarterback Abe Cooper accounted for more than 2,000 yards last season and head coach Clayton McWilliams says he can go higher this season. Lineman Jackson Stowers anchors the O-line for Hoxie. Melbourne won last year’s game against 28-13, and it is the deeper squad in this matchup.
No. 10 NEWPORT at Class 2A Marked Tree: Eight all-conference performers return for Newport, and this will be a good tune-up to start the season. Quarterback Luke Simpson is a playmaker on both sides of the ball and will lead the offense. Playing in a new conference could push Newport to 10 or more wins. Marked Tree counters with dual-threat quarterback PJ Powell, but it won’t be enough to take down Newport.
NO. 18 QUITMAN at Perryville: Head coach Trenton Corley returns to “The Q” after spending 2025 as the offensive coordinator at Beebe. There is plenty of athleticism and talent on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs as they look to make it back to the playoffs, including junior Gabriel Donohoo. Justin Hamilton takes over at Perryville, and he has QB Tanner Frith. Expect a lot of points in this game.
YELLVILLE-SUMMITT at Class 2A Hector: Yellville-Summitt has its biggest roster in recent memory under third-year coach Chaseton McCarthy, and that should equate to more wins in 2026. Wyatt Gilley enters his second year as the Panthers’ QB after passing for more than 1,700 yards last season. Junior all-conference receiver Austin Williams could see time under center this season.
Class 4A JONESBORO WESTSIDE at Riverview: Connor Haag, who coordinated Class 2A champion Cross County’s offense a year ago, takes over as the third coach in as many seasons at Jonesboro Westside. Jonesboro Westside won its previous games over Riverview (2024-2025) by a combined 79-19.
Class 2A HAZEN at Marshall: Marshall makes the move to 11-man football. Hazen welcomes Clay Totty to the prairie after Wynne decided there was not enough progress over the past two seasons. The Hornets should win this game, even with one of the smallest rosters in the state.
OPEN Mountain View
3-3A
No. 9 WALNUT RIDGE at Class 2A East Poinsett County: The Bobcats have won 8 games in each of the past 3 years. Jace Blake returns after rushing for 1,634 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The single-wing attack will be tough for EPC to handle, with so many veterans back for the Bobcats. EPC lost a lot of production and their head coach to Rivercrest in the offseason. Lineman Ashton Reel is one of the best linemen in 2A.
No. 11 Osceola at Class 5A MILLS: The Comets lost both of their starting quarterbacks to schools in Pulaski County, but Cortez Lee has enough talent returning to make this a must-see game on Dixon Road. Robert Hooks expects his Seminoles to be more consistent this season. These teams actually played each other in the 1998-1999 cycle with Osceola winning both contests easily. Expect the Comets’ depth to be the difference.
MELBOURNE at Hoxie: See 2-3A for notes.
HARRISBURG at Cross County: Coach Austin Jarrett’s third group of Hornets will be his most experience, with 8 starters returning on offense and 9 on defense. The Thunderbirds won 30-6 last season, but Coach Van Paschal, huge lineman Danny Beale, and other starters are no longer there. The Hornets should start off with a win.
Palestine-Wheatley at Class 2A DES ARC: This will be a game full of misdirection, triple options and fullbacks running wild. Can the Patriots contain the Eagles? Des Arc looked good in its benefit game last week.
Manila at Class 5A PARAGOULD: Two teams picked at the bottom of their respective conferences are trying to build something for the future. Coach Corey Crane enters his first season with Manila, while Randy Phillips enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Rams. Paragould won 35-8 last fall. Expect a similar outcome this season.
DONIPHAN (Mo.) at Piggott: New Piggott Coach Trey Gossett is tasked with doing something the Mohawks have not accomplished since 2021: win a football game. Gossett will run a power spread scheme with 7 starters back on each side of the football. Piggott’s closest game in 2025 was the 10-point loss to Doniphan in the opener. Here’s hoping they represent the Natural State and break through with a win.
OPEN Rivercrest
4-3A
No. 4 Glen Rose at CLASS 4A NO. 5 BAUXITE: These teams have split the past 12 meetings, with Glen Rose winning 32-26 a year ago. Bauxite won 9 games in 2025, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007.
NO. 5 ATKINS at Class 4A Heber Springs: Coach Austin Dobbs has Atkins believing it can compete for a state title in his third season. Atkins had one of the state’s best defenses last season, yielding 11 points per game. The Red Devils are in a new conference this year, and home playoff games are the expectation.
Class 4A No. 15 FOUNTAIN LAKE at No. 20 Cutter Morning Star: Fountain Lake has won 3 of the 4 matchups since this series renewed in 2022. The Cobras have one of the best quarterback/receiver tandems in the state. That will be the difference for the Cobras in getting the win.
Class 2A Mineral Springs at JESSIEVILLE: The Lions took a step back last season with 3 wins but still made the playoffs despite injuries. They have 7 starters back on each side of the ball this season, and 3-year starting QB Jacob Graves is the real deal. The Hornets also return all-conference receiver Keiandrian Nunally.
Cossatot River at DANVILLE: The Little Johns have QB Jake Crane, and that should be enough to win this game. Cossatot gets to play big-boy football finally, and it will be a tough test for them.
QUITMAN at Perryville: See 2-3A Notes
Class 2A BIGELOW at Conway Christian: Conway Christian moves up to 3A after 19 wins over the last 2 seasons and a state title run in 2024. Daniel Ellen takes over the program, and it gets a former conference foe to start the season. Bigelow is 3 years removed from their state championship and should be better this season.
CEDARVILLE at Two Rivers: See 1-3A for notes
7-3A
No. 3 Bismarck at Class 4A No. 3 NASHVILLE: Nashville won all 7 of its matchups with Bismarck when the teams were members of the former 7AAA from 1996-2002 (Bismarck dropped varsity football from 2003-2005). These teams have both won consecutive conference championships (Nashville in the 7-4A, Bismarck in the 7-3A).
Class 4A Hope at No. 13 PRESCOTT: Prescott has won 8 consecutive games over Hope, including 28-20 a year ago. The Curly Wolves may not be at the top of the class right now, but they have enough weapons to win this one.
No. 15 McGehee at No. 8 SMACKOVER: This game was in contention for game of the week. The Buckaroos are coming off a 10-2 campaign and have key pieces back on both sides of the football. The Owls will rely on a talented group of sophomores this season. Experience will lift the Buckaroos in this game.
Harmony Grove (OC) at Class 2A No. 1 JUNCTION CITY: Coach Devin Ball has the Dragons ready to roll for a shot at the 2A title this season. Harmony Grove has backtracked since a nine-win, conference championship season in 2023, winning 3 games last year and lost the opener, 36-0, to Junction City. Expect much of the same to open the 2026 season.
Centerpoint at Class 2A MURFREESBORO: The Knights have 17 starters back from a 4-6 team, and much of their season could depend on how quarterback Tony Valdez progresses in his second year under center. Kooper Caldwell returns after passing for 33 touchdowns in 2025 for the Rattlers.
Parkers Chapel at Class 2A HAMPTON: It starts up front for Parkers Chapel his season. It has an experienced offensive line, and that could lead to more wins in 2026. Nine starters on offense and 8 on defense return in head coach Jonathan Hick’s third season. Hampton went 9-2 and won a conference title in Nick Palese’s first year. It lost a lot of production from the 2025 team and will be fighting for a playoff spot this year. Expect a close game given the Trojans’ experience, but the Bulldogs have the advantage in athleticism.
Class 4A FOUKE at Horatio: Fouke has beaten its former conference foe the past 8 seasons.
Cossatot River at DANVILLE: See 4-3A for notes.
8-3A
Class 4A No. 8 MONTICELLO at No. 2 Fordyce: See Hootens Class 3A Game of the Week, above.
No. 12 HELENA at Class 6A LR Southwest: Not many times can you pick a 3A team over a 6A team, but this is one of those games. Both teams dropped a classification for this cycle, but Helena has more talent returning at most positions. Expect the Cougars to leave Little Rock with a win and a lot of offensive yards.
No. 15 McGehee at No. 8 SMACKOVER: See 7-3A for notes.
No. 19 Rison at Class 4A DEWITT: Rison’s Kyson Walker torched Star City in the benefit game for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 carries. The Wildcats will be better than 3-7 this season under Chris Vereen. If they knock off the Dragons, it could set them on course to contend in the tough 8-3A. Dewitt enters Year 2 under Jason Hathcock. Quarterback Kaiden Golden is back, along with his top 2 receivers from 2025.
Class 4A No. 16 HAMBURG at No. 14 Dumas: Hamburg has won 5 consecutive over Dumas, with the past 2 by a combined 87-28 margin.
Lake Village at Class 2A CARLISLE: The Bisons are back to contending for a state championship this season under first-year coach B.J. Harrison after a 10-2 campaign in 2025. Carlisle won this game 27-6 last season at Lake Village. Carlisle could be headed for a fifth consecutive season with at least 10 wins.,
CLASS 4A CROSSETT at Drew Central: Crossett lost its benefit game to Booneville last week, but I don’t think they struggle as much with the Pirates this week. Crossett has a shot to make the playoffs in the 8-4A after only 2 wins in the past 2 seasons. It made strides in the second year under head coach Jason Grissom. Drew Central welcomes Joe Spatafora as head coach after winning its first playoff game last season.
STAR CITY at Class 3A Barton: Surprisingly, these teams have played just once, with Barton winning 28-7 in the first round of the 1978 playoffs. Star City lost to Rison 31-14 in its benefit game. Barton starts the Joe Besancon era and returns 1,000- yard receiver Quinteryon Wilson.