Class 2A Week 1 Rankings and Selections

RK — PV. TEAM (RECORD, WEEK 0 RESULTS)

1. ↔   1. JUNCTION CITY (1-0, beat Harmony Grove OC 45-0)
2. ↔   2. MOUNT IDA (1-0, beat Bearden 27-14)
3. ↔   3. DES ARC (0-1, lost to Palestine-Wheatley 22-16)
4.   ↑   5. CARLISLE (0-1, Lost to Lake Village 42-28)
5.   ↑   7. EARLE (0-0, idle)
6.   ↑   8. BAPTIST PREP (1-0, beat Foreman 48-6)
7.   ↑   9. POYEN (1-0, beat Mountain Pine 40-14)
8.   ↑   10. BEARDEN (0-1, lost to Mount Ida 27-14)
9. ↑   12. GURDON (1-0, beat Magnet Cove 32-16)
10. ↓   4.  MAGNET COVE (0-1, lost to Gurdon 32-16)
11. ↑   11. MURFREESBORO (0-1, lost to Centerpoint 24-16)
12. ↔ 13. MARKED TREE (0-1, lost to Newport 41-19)
13. ↔ 14. HECTOR (1-0, beat Yellville-Summmit 27-0)
14.   ↑ 17. DIERKS (1-0, beat Hackett 22-0)
15.   ↑ 15. HACKETT (0-1, lost to Dierks 22-0)
16. ↑  16. MCCRORY (0-0, Did not play)
17. ↔   18. HAMPTON (0-1, lost to Parker’s Chapel 36-34)
18. ↔   19. HAZEN (0-0, postponed against Marshall)
19. ↔   20. MOUNTAINBURG (0-1, lost to West Fork 36-33) 

NOT RANKED

1-2A: Mountain Pine (0-1)

2-2A: Clarendon (1-0), Cross County (1-0), East Poinsett County (0-1), Marianna (0-1)

3-2A: Foreman (0-1), Mineral Springs (1-0), Spring Hill (0-1)

4-2A: England (0-0), LR Episcopal (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK 

No. 3 DES ARC (0-1) at No. 19 Hazen (0-0): This is one of the state’s top rivalry games, with the only teams in Prairie County facing off in Hazen. The Eagles are 0-1 after dropping a 6-point game to Palestine-Wheatley; Hazen’s game with Marshall was postponed because of an outbreak of norovirus in Searcy County. Des Arc’s BRAYDEN KNUPP and HUDSON GOODMAN each scored TDs; JAMIE COLLINS and Knupp each scored 2-point conversions. Des Arc Coach NICK SMITH knows this is a big game for his team. “This is a big game … it always is,” Smith says. “We’ve got no time to cry and sulk over it (loss to Palestine-Wheatley). Our kids were in a really good mindset when we left the locker room Friday night. I have all the faith in them that we’ll have a great week and showcase who we are Friday night.”

Hazen is coming off an unexpected open week for CLAY TOTTY, who is in his first year as coach of the Hornets.  “I’ve heard a lot of things about the rivalry from the kids and the community,” Totty says. “I know they have been very successful for several years now. Des Arc has a well-respected program. It’s an exciting opportunity for our kids. I told them when I got there in April, everybody was talking about the Carlisle rivalry and the Des Arc rivalry. The only way you gain ground on good programs like that is to do it every day. It will be a good measuring stick for us.”

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 14 of 21 games (67 percent)

Week 1 Predictions  (Favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted in ORANGE)

1-2A

Foreman (0-1) at No. 2 MOUNT IDA (0-1): Penalties hurt Foreman in a 48-6 loss to Baptist Prep. KAYLON EASTER broke 7 tackles on a 47-yard TD run. JACKSON WHITE (162 rushing yards, 13 tackles) led the way in the Lions’ 27-14 win over Bearden. JAKE GASTON had 10 tackles. “Foreman is fast in every position and could pose problems for us,” Mount Ida coach MIKE WHITE says. 

No. 11 Magnet Cove (0-1) at Class 3A JESSIEVILLE (0-1): Magnet Cove’s HAYDEN JONES rushed for 84 yards and a TD in the Panthers’ 32-16 loss to Gurdon. “We didn’t play well at all,” Coach DEAN ADAMS says. “Gurdon was very physical and made plays, and we didn’t.”

No. 15 Hackett (0-0) at CLASS 3A LAVACA (0-1): Hackett’s game with Dierks was stopped in the third quarter Friday night after a neck and back injury to sophomore REMINGTON HODGES. Dierks led Hackett 22-0, but Hodges was cleared at the hospital and released, according to a social media post, 

HECTOR (1-0) at Class 3A Conway Christian (0-1): Sophomore HUDSON MCALISTER rushed for 117 yards and 2 TDs in the Wildcats’ 27-0 win over Yellville-Summit. GAVIN LUSK and CAYDEN MANRRIQUE each scored TDs. “They are well-coached, and we always play an extremely competitive game,” Hector coach Tyler Gilillland says of Conway Christian.

Bigelow (1-0) at Class 3A QUITMAN (1-0): Bigelow QB WRANGLER MANES rushed for 180 yards and 2 TDs and passed for 153 and a TD. GUY STARKS led the defense with 8 tackles and a sack. 

Class 3A CEDARVILLE (1-0) at Mountainburg (0-1): Mountainburg lost a heartbreaker to West Fork 36-33 last week. QB EASTON OVERBEY passed for 205 yards and 3 TDs and ran for another. LEVI CROW had 108 yards receiving, a TD and 15 tackles on defense. CAED COWETT led the defense with 17 tackles. 

Mountain Pine (0-1) at BAPTIST PREP (1-0): Mountain Pine lost to Poyen 40-14 last week. Baptist Prep QB TITUS BENSON passed for 176 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 2 more. AARON FIELDER caught a TD pass and had 2 INTs on defense. “Mountain Pine is a physical team,” Baptist Prep coach RILEY PERKINS says. “Coach Alderman is doing it right over there. They play hard and rally to the football. It will be a tough test early in the season.” 

2-2A

Cross County (1-0)  at Class 3A PALESTINE-WHEATLEY (0-1): Cross County opened the season with a 24-20 win over Harrisburg. AYDEN KRAFT passed for a TD and ran for another. He rushed for 168 yards on 17 carries. CORBYN KRAFT scored 3 2-point conversions. RYAN LAMP led the Thunderbirds with 11 tackles. 

DES ARC at Hazen: See Hootens.com Game of the Week 

MARKED TREE (0-1) at Class 3A Marshall (0-0): DONTAVOUS WHITE, PJ POWELL and STEPHEN BROWN each scored TDs for Marked Tree in a 41-19 loss to Newport last week. 

Class 3A HELENA (1-0) at Earle (0-0): Earle, idle last week, played Forrest City in a scrimmage 2 weeks ago. Coach AC COLEMAN says RBs TARREZE JARRETT and DARION MAPLES and QB AIDEN DAVIS all played well, as well as OL TROY ROGERS. DONTAE BELL caught some huge passes, according to Coleman, who added that SS JORDAN WILLIANS looked good in the secondary.  

EAST POINSETT COUNTY (0-1) at Class 3A Manila (0-1): EPC’s KAVON JAMES rushed for 47 yards and a TD in a loss to Walnut Ridge. AJ JOHNSON returned a kickoff for a TD. ASHTON REEL led the Warriors with 15 1/2 tackles. Johnson had 9 and a PBU. 

CLASS 3A LAKE VILLAGE (0-1) at No. 16 McCrory (0-0): McCrory was idle last week. Two weeks ago, the Jaguars beat Hoxie 22-14 in a scrimmage. JACE SMITH had a TD pass to BRICETON CORNELIOUS. CADEN AYERS had a rushing TD. “We are looking to improve and execute better defensively for Week 1,” McCrory Coach CADE CAMPBELL says. 

Clarendon (1-0) at CARLISLE (0-1): Clarendon ended its 19-game losing streak with a 38-14 win over Episcopal. QB KYLE JAMES passed for 157 yards and a TD. ROD STEWART rushed for 107 yards and 2 TDs, and added 4 tackles. KYREN STEWART had a scoop and score. Carlisle is coming off a 42-28 loss to Class 3A Lake Village. QB BAYLOR HAUK passed for 190 yards and 2 TDs. He also rushed for 2 TDs. REMINGTON GISCLAIR led the Bison in rushing with 87 yards on 18 carries. 

ENGLAND (0-0) at 3A Marianna (1-0): England was idle last week. Two weeks ago, the Lions scrimmaged Riverview. “I thought we performed well,” England coach MARQUEZ JACKSON says. “We eliminated some of the silly penalties that killed drives last season, but we still have some areas we need to improve.” KJ STRONG caught 2 TD passes in the scrimmage and MASON GUESS ran for 2 TDs. DALLYS WOODS passed for 2 TDs and ran for another. Marianna lost to 4A Bald Knob 30-12. QB JULIAN WILSON passed for 113 yards and ran for 39. He scored a TD. TEVIN WILLIAMS also scored a TD. 

3-2A

No. 1 JUNCTION CITY (1-0) at Class 3A Smackover (0-1) (Saturday): Junction City’s JEREMAIN KENNEDY rushed for 140 yards and 3 TDs in the Dragons’ 45-0 win over Harmony Grove OC. ELIJAH TORRENCE led the defense with 5 tackles. 

Mineral Springs (1-0) at No. 10 BEARDEN (0-1): Mineral Springs’s JAMERIAN STATEN rushed for 235 yards and 2 TDs and scored 4 2-point conversions in the Hornets’ win over Jessieville. QB BRAXTON KEASTER passed for 128 yards and 2 TDs. Bearden’s KYSON HARTLEY scored 2 TDs in the Bears’ loss to No. 2 Mount Ida. BEAR NIMMO, JACKIE FLINT and COLTON EMERSON were the leading tacklers. Bearden coach BRANDON AUSTIN says Mineral Springs will be a big test. “They are a team loaded with speed and athleticism,” he says. “We will be ready to take our show on the road and continue to improve during nonconference play.”

No. 18 Hampton (0-1) at No. 10 GURDON (1-0): Hampton’s DALLAS JIMERSON rushed for 156 yards and 3 TDs in a loss to Parker’s Chapel. KYPTON ROWLAND scored 2 TDs. “Gurdon is really tough, fast and physical,” Hampton coach Nick Palese said. “We will have to do a great job of being efficient on offense, slowing them down defensively and eliminate pre-snap penalties.”  Gurdon QB JONAH JESTER passed for 100 yards and a TD and scored 3 rushing TDs in the Go-Devils’ win over Magnet Cove. “It’s going to be a tough one for us,” Gurdon coach KYLE JACKSON said. “We get them at home, so hopefully this helps us out some.”

Murfreesboro (0-1) at Class 3A DANVILLE (1-0): Murfreesboro QB KOOPER CALDWELL passed for 130 yards and rushed for 37 yards in a loss to Centerpoint. BUBBA STINSON returned a kickoff for a TD and scored on a rushing TD. 

DIERKS (1-0) at Class 3A Horatio (0-1): Dierks was leading Hackett 22-0 in the third quarter when the game was stopped because of a Hackett injury. MACLANE SMITH rushed for 2 TDs. He finished with 74 yards rushing and 95 yards passing. JASON BAILEY led the Outlaws with 6 tackles. 

Foreman (0-1) at No. 2 MOUNT IDA (0-1): See notes in 1-2A.

No. 9 POYEN (1-0) at Spring Hill (0-1): The KEITH BARRETT era of Poyen football opened with a 40-14 win over Mountain Pine. MASON CAMP passed for 261 yards and 3 TDs. WALKER SMITH caught 5 passes for 188 yards and 2 TDs. BARRETT CLIFTON returned an INT for a TD. “I think it’s going to be an another tough road test for us,” Barrett says of playing Spring Hill. “They went toe to toe with Genoa Central. Coach SMITH does a great job and will have his team prepared and ready to play.” Spring Hill lost to Genoa Central 18-0 last week. 

4-2A 

Clarendon (1-0) at No. 4 CARLISLE (0-1): See notes in 2-2A.

No, 7 POYEN (1-0) at Spring Hill (0-1): See notes in 3-2A

Mountain Pine (0-1) at No. 6 BAPTIST PREP (1-0): See notes in 1-2A.

No. 10 BEARDEN (0-1) at Mineral Springs (1-0): See notes in 3-2A

No. 3 DES ARC (0-1) at No. 18 Hazen (0-1): See notes in 2-2A

No. 17 Hampton (0-1) at No. 10 GURDON (1-0): See notes in 3-2A

ENGLAND (0-0) at Marianna (0-1): See notes in 2-2A

Class 3A Piggott (0-1) at EPISCOPAL (0-1): Episcopal could not keep up with Clarendon in a 38-14 loss. JC COOPER passed for 75 yards and a TD. RILEY FIELDS also scored a rushing TD while JASE BOONE caught the lone TD pass.