Class 5A Week 5 Rankings and Selections

RK.—PV. TEAM (Overall, Conf.; Week 4 result)

1. ↔ 1. JOE T. ROBINSON (4-0, 1-0; beat Jacksonville 45-21)
2. ↔ 2. GREENWOOD (2-2, 1-0; beat Morrilton 49-7)
3. ↑ 4. FARMINGTON (4-0, 1-0; beat Harrison 28-14)
4. ↑ 6. LR PARKVIEW (3-1, 1-0; beat Greenbrier 56-21)
5. ↑ 14. CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (2-2, 1-0; beat HS Lakeside 47-42)
6. ↓ 5. HS LAKESIDE (2-2, 0-1; lost to Camden Fairview 47-42)
7. ↓ 3. GREENBRIER (2-2, 0-1; lost to LR Parkview 56-21)
8. ↑ 9. VALLEY VIEW (3-1, 1-0; beat Paragould 42-0*)
9. ↓ 7. JACKSONVILLE (3-1, 0-1; lost to Joe T. Robinson 45-21)
10. ↓ 8. MORRILTON (3-1, 0-1; lost to Greenwood 49-7)
11. ↓ 10. HARRISON (2-2, 0-1; lost to Farmington 28-14)
12. ↓ 11. ALMA (3-1, 1-0; beat Clarksville 58-0)
13. ↓ 12. MILLS (4-0, 1-0; beat Maumelle 34-7)
14. ↑ 16. ARKANSAS HIGH (2-2, 1-0; beat Magnolia 49-14)
15. ↑ 18. WYNNE (2-2, 1-0; beat Brookland 44-12)
16. ↑ 19. HARDING ACADEMY (1-3, 1-0; beat Greene County Tech 39-13)
17. ↑ NR. BEEBE (1-3, 1-0; beat Vilonia 42-34)
18. ↑ NR. DARDANELLE (2-2, 1-0; beat Pea Ridge 41-20)
19. ↓ 15. VILONIA (1-3, 0-1; lost to Beebe 42-34)
20. ↑ NR. NETTLETON (2-2, 1-0; beat Batesville 28-21)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 13 Mills (4-0, 1-0) at No. 1 ROBINSON (4-0, 1-0): In this battle of unbeaten teams, Mills comes in after a 34–7 win over Maumelle; Robinson beat Jacksonville 45–21. Mills quarterback Kenneth “KJ” Gilcreast Jr. gives the Comets a chance to score through the air and on the ground. Against Blytheville, he threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for another. Maddox Parker caught 1of those passes and returned an interception for a touchdown. Cordae Ratliff scored on a fumble return, showing how quickly the Mills defense can change a game. The Comets also have options in the backfield. In their opener against Osceola, Bryshun Cunningham ran for 2 touchdowns, Zamarion McDonald gained 83 yards and scored, and Ja’Meion Reese caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Gilcreast. Mills has allowed only 7 points in its past 2 games, so its defense enters Friday with confidence. Robinson has its own versatile threat in Dallas Bledsoe, who scored 4 TDs against Jacksonville, 3 rushing and 1 receiving. Bledsoe gained 91 yards rushing and 88 yards on 4 catches. Charles Petty added 54 rushing yards and a touchdown. The matchup to watch is Mills’ defense against Robinson’s backs. If Mills focuses on stopping the run, Bledsoe can catch passes out of the backfield. Robinson must also account for Gilcreast’s passing and running, along with Mills’ ability to score on defense.

5A EAST

BATESVILLE (2-2, 0-1) at Paragould (2-2, 0-1): Hayes Kibe threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns in Batesville’s 28–21 win over Nettleton. Kendall Johnson had 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. Their connection gives the Pioneers a way to move the ball downfield. Paragould has a playmaker in Zack Flowers, who accounted for 6 TDs (3 running, 3 passing) against Rivercrest. Alex Luke has scored on both a kickoff return and an interception return this season. Paragould returns home after getting shut out at Valley View. Watch how the Rams use Flowers and whether their defense can limit Kibe’s passes to Johnson.

Brookland (2-2, 0-1) at No. 20 NETTLETON (2-2, 1-0): Nettleton enters after a 28–21 win over Batesville. Brookland scored twice in its 44–12 game against Wynne. Caden Rodriguez ran for a touchdown and threw a scoring pass to Jackson Fleer, who also intercepted a pass. Nick Bates reached 100 rushing yards during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, and Tyler Fleer returned a kickoff 50 yards. Brookland can use Bates to keep drives going, then look for Fleer through the air. Nettleton’s defense must cover both. The Raiders have won 2 in a row, and this game gives them another chance to build on that start to conference play.

Greene County Tech (2-2, 0-1) at No. 15 WYNNE (2-2, 1-0): Caden Crawford ran 13 times for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns in Wynne’s 44–12 win over Brookland. Kaden Dixon added 82 receiving yards and a touchdown, then threw a 25-yard scoring pass. Makel Ward made 9 tackles, including 5 for loss. Greene County Tech scored twice in its 39–13 loss to Harding Academy. Brett Boone broke a long touchdown run, and Ashton Addison scored on the ground in the fourth quarter. Boone also helped move Tech inside the 20 on that final scoring drive. The game will come down to Tech’s rushing attack having success against Ward and the Wynne defense.

No. 8 VALLEY VIEW (3-1, 1-0) at No. 16 Harding Academy (1-3, 1-0): Levi Manning accounted for 4 touchdowns after moving to quarterback when Taylor Hyneman left in the first quarter of Valley View’s 35–0 victory over Paragould. Manning threw 2 touchdown passes and rushed for 2 scores, including a 35-yard touchdown on third-and-6. Manning also caught a 19-yard pass and completed a 2-point conversion to Jaxon Barnes. Gatlin Hicks contributed a 31-yard run during a 71-yard touchdown drive, and Brody Wooten scored on a 26-yard keeper. Max Taylor supplied a tackle for loss immediately before a first-quarter interception. The Blazers recorded 2 interceptions and multiple fourth-down stops while shutting out a Paragould offense that had scored 130 points in 3 games. Harding Academy quarterback Krews Wray threw 4 touchdown passes in a 39–13 victory over Greene County Tech. Joseph Myles caught 2 touchdown passes, including the score that capped a 95-yard drive to open the third quarter. Angelau Kamdem III caught a first-quarter touchdown pass when Wray delivered a ball down the seam under pressure. Bax Howell contributed catches on a drive that ended with a 5-yard TD run by Ryan Ross. Rhett Watson returned an interception for a touchdown as Harding Academy built a 32–0 halftime lead. Harding WRs Myles and Kamdem could test Valley View’s secondary. Manning’s production gives the Blazers another proven option at quarterback, with his passing and running both demanding attention from Harding Academy.

5A SOUTH

No. 7 GREENBRIER (2-2, 0-1) at No. 17 Beebe (1-3, 1-0): Beebe got its first win last week as its offense led the way; Greenbrier is coming off its 1st loss in a game when it struggled on both sides of the ball. Beebe’s Donald Willett rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown, Cameron Harness (11-144-3 rushing) and Colton Collins added 68 yards and a touchdown in the 42–34 victory over Vilonia. The Badgers totaled 417 rushing yards. Greenbrier scored 21 points against Parkview in Friday’s 56–21 game and now faces a different challenge: winning possessions against Beebe’s ground attack. Beebe needs to limit the big plays by Panthers WR Trendon Moseley and control the tempo by getting 1st downs and keeping the clock moving.

No. 4 PARKVIEW (3-1, 1-0) at No. 9 Jacksonville (3-1, 0-1): Parkview produced its season-high points total in Friday’s 56–21 victory over Greenbrier. Parkview junior QB Eli Moody (278 rushing, 3 TDs; 1 passing TD) and Sadiq Goli (19-132-4 rushing) led the Patriots. Jacksonville exits a 45-21 loss to defending state champion and No. 1-ranked  Joe T. Robinson. Mason Ball (100-plus rushing yards, TD) led Jacksonville. The Titans need to establish their preferred tempo — long, time-consuming drives —  against an offense coming off an 8-touchdown night. The Titans were able to let QB Kingston Burnett spread the ball around in their first 3 games, and defenses weren’t able to just focus on Ball. Look for the Titans to get back to that this week. Parkview’s offense gives the Patriots the advantage; Ball gives the Titans offense a home-run threat anywhere on the field.

No. 19 Vilonia (1-3, 0-1) at MAUMELLE (1-3, 0-1): Vilonia scored 34 points against Beebe Friday; Maumelle lost 34-7 to Mills. Vilonia’s offense could give it an opportunity to build momentum. Maumelle’s home field and ability to run the ball will be key. Beebe’s 417 rushing yards against the Vilonia defense makes us lean toward Maumelle. 

No. 5 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (2-2, 1-0) at No. 14 Arkansas High (2-2, 1-0): Camden Fairview enters after a 47–42 win over Lakeside; Arkansas High beat Magnolia 49–14 and has scored 105 points in its past 2 games. Fairview quarterback Brodie Dow completed 15 of 19 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns in the season opener against Arkadelphia. Demarion Robinson rushed 36 times for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in that game. Robinson scored on a 77-yard run against Hamburg. Arkansas High quarterback CJ Cleveland passed for 295 yards and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown against Siloam Springs on Sept. 18. Bralon Thompson (9-203-3 receiving) and Tony Noble (102 rushing, 2 TDs; TD reception). On defense, Donnell King-Sanders recorded 12 tackles, including 3 for loss and 2 sacks; Ja’Kion Peoples made 11 tackles with 2 for loss and a sack. This should be a high-scoring game with playmakers all over the field. If Fairview’s offense plays like it did last week, it will be difficult to beat.

De Queen (1-3, 0-1) at WHITE HALL (1-3, 1-0): De Queen’s Hunter Dinkins scored twice on direct-snap runs against Pine Bluff. Keegan McCoy threw a touchdown pass to John Maturino, and the teams were tied 21–21 with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter before Pine Bluff won 42–21. De Queen running back Landen Wise had 756 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through the first 3 games. That included 344 yards and 4 touchdowns against Hope, followed by 223 yards and 3 scores against Ashdown. White Hall earned a 26–22 win over Hot Springs. Dylan Mitchell scored on runs of 15 and 55 yards, and Brennick Riederer kicked field goals of 32 and 34 yards. Champ Spears scored the winning touchdown on an 86-yard kickoff return after taking a lateral from Kel McEntire. Kory Hope recovered a fumble in the third quarter.

Hot Springs (0-4, 0-1) at PINE BLUFF (2-2, 1-0): Pine Bluff scored 21 unanswered points in the final 17 minutes of its 42–21 win over De Queen. Deontae Griffin ran for a 10-yard touchdown and threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Darrick Dunn and 8 yards to Deshaun Reed. Dunn also scored on a 2-yard run. Jamar Morrow threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kyeran Culclager, and Marquise Pascal finished the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run. Hot Springs scored 3 touchdowns in its 26–22 loss to White Hall. Quarterback Brody Quast scored on a 15-yard run, and Asher Tillman added a 26-yard TD run. Jake Dennis set up Tillman’s score with a 46-yard interception return. DeQuan Johnson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a 22–19 fourth-quarter lead before White Hall answered with its own kickoff-return score.

Magnolia (0-4, 0-1) at No. 6 LAKESIDE (2-2, 0-1): Lakeside quarterback James Hall passed for 236 yards and 5 touchdowns against Camden Fairview. Peter Ohman added 173 total yards and 2 touchdowns in the 47–42 game. Hall has thrown 9 touchdown passes in his past 2 games. Quardarius Jackson caught touchdown passes of 19, 22, and 77 yards and blocked an extra point in Lakeside’s 42–41 win over Benton on Sept. 11. Rahshaamon Moore rushed 17 times for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught a 66-yard touchdown pass. Paxton McElwee caught the winning 2-point conversion from Hall. Magnolia scored 14 points against Arkansas High last week. Earlier this month, Jamaijha Marshall scored 3 touchdowns against a good Nashville defense, with 2 rushing scores and a kickoff return of about 80 yards. Baylor Barker led the Panthers with 11 tackles in their season opener against El Dorado.

5A WEST

No. 3 FARMINGTON (4-0, 1-0) at No. 12 Alma (3-1, 1-0): Farmington beat Harrison 28–14 to remain undefeated. Farmington’s defense is allowing 7 points per game. Alma beat Clarksville 58–0 behind Jay Lemieux’s 304 passing yards and 6 touchdown passes. Dylan Jackson added 129 receiving yards and 2 scores; Braylon Flurry added 3 tackles, including a sack. Alma’s passing efficiency will test the Cardinals’ coverage and pass rush. Farmington needs to take care of the ball as it has to date, not put the defense in bad situations, and come out with the win.

PEA RIDGE (1-3, 0-1) at Clarksville (0-4, 0-1): Pea Ridge scored 20 points in its loss to Dardanelle last Friday; Clarksville ran into Alma’s 6-touchdown passing performance in a 58–0 game. Both teams need a win to have some momentum. Pea Ridge has scored at least 20 points in every game and relies on its size up front on both sides of the ball. Clarksville has been shut out for 2 weeks in a row and is searching for an offensive identity.

No. 18 Dardanelle (2-2, 1-0) at No. 10 MORRILTON (3-1, 0-1): Dardanelle travels to Morrilton after beating Pea Ridge 41–20. Jayvon Chaten (28-294-3 rushing) and CJ Cursh (143 rushing, 2 TDs) led the Sand Lizards. Kam Olson completed 11 of 17 passes for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns, with Brayden Mans (3-105-1) serving as Olson’s top target. Breydin Hardy recorded 19 tackles and an interception in the season opener against Mansfield. Mans intercepted two passes against Elkins earlier this month. Morrilton’s Caleb Hays finished with 151 all-purpose yards against Greenwood, including a 25-yard touchdown run. Champ McNabb caught both touchdown passes in the Devil Dogs’ 14–6 win over Harding Academy. Davion Johnson scored 3 rushing touchdowns against Vilonia, while Ja’Kobe Chambers gained 64 yards on 6 carries. Defensively, Brayden Gray led Morrilton with 9 tackles against Vilonia, and Isiah Clemons added 8 tackles and forced a fumble that Lance Ross recovered.

No. 11 Harrison (2-2, 0-1) at No. 2 GREENWOOD (2-2, 1-0): Greenwood hosts Harrison after a 49–7 win over Morrilton. Cruz Coatney passed for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns, Braxton Canada caught 7 passes for 148 yards and 2 scores, and Rhett Holloway gained 102 yards on 8 carries. Mario Dunbar scored 2 rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. Brayden Brewer caught a touchdown pass and scored on a run. Greenwood led 21–0 after the first quarter and 42–0 at halftime. On defense, Bryer Hackler made 3 tackles for loss, including a sack. Bailey Thibodeau returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. Harrison enters after a 28–14 loss at Farmington, when the Goblins struggled offensively against the Cardinals defense, one of the best in the state this year. The Goblins’ offense runs through senior quarterback Gavin Jones and senior running back Killian Eddings, who is averaging about 75 rushing yards a game.