Class 2A Picks
Class 2A Rankings
Week 0, 2025
- East Poinsett County
- Mount Ida
- Junction City
- Cross County
- Bigelow
- Poyen
- Carlisle
- Bearden
- Murfreesboro
- Conway Christian
- Des Arc
- Dierks
- Hector
- Mineral Springs
- Hazen
- Marked Tree
- England
- Lafayette County
- McCrory
- Gurdon
Not ranked:
1-2A: Mountainburg, Mountain Pine, Magazine and Johnson County Westside
2-2A: Earle, Izard County and Marianna
3-2A: Spring Hill and Foreman
4-2A: Baptist Prep, Hampton and Clarendon
LAST SEASON
Hootens.com correctly predicted 163 of 200 games (82 percent) involving Class 2A teams.
GAME OF THE WEEK
EAST POINSETT COUNTY at Walnut Ridge
EPC looks to return to the championship game after falling in consecutive seasons to Bigelow and Conway Christian. The Warriors beat Harrisburg 30-8 in their scrimmage game last week. Jacob Gaines rushed for 99 yards and a TD on 2 carries. AJ Johnson had a 70-yard INT return for a TD. Eli Blagg and Cam Thomas rushed for TDs. Walnut Ridge all-conference QB Jersie Cunningham returns after rushing for over 1,000 yards, Jace Blake (the coach’s son) returns at RB after missing most of last season with an injury, but averaged 17 yards a touch last year. Jaxton Brady also returns with playing experience, and all-conference TE Trevor Augustine returns. He led the team in TD receptions.
Week 0 Predictions: (Favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)
1-2A
BIGELOW at England: Bigelow scrimmaged Cedarville and Quitman last week, winning the first but losing the latter. Bigelow Coach Jeff Starks says no player truly stood out for his team. England scrimmaged Barton, losing 22-6. Senior WR Trent Arnold scored on a 73-yard run.
CONWAY CHRISTIAN at Hazen: Defending state champion Conway Christian scrimmaged at Mayflower last week, and Coach Justinn Kramer says there was no keeping track of stats or the score. “We rotate players constantly in a scrimmage to figure out where we are.” Hazen did not scrimmage, but its offense runs through senior QB JJ Pinkney, who was injured against Carlisle in Week 10 and missed the playoff game against Conway Christian. “He’s going to have to make a lot of plays this season,” Hazen Coach Joe Besancon says.
Mountain Pine at POYEN: Mountain Pine, which did not play a scrimmage game, will be led by senior RB Zach Middleton, who rushed for 558 yards and had 273 yards receiving a year ago. Poyen scrimmaged Jessieville to a 16-16 tie with the starters. Austin Garnett scored on a 5-yard run while Colt Barrett, son of coach Vick Barrett, threw a 35-yard TD pass to Layton Russell.
Magazine at Class 3A CEDARVILLE: Magazine did not scrimmage last week. The Rattlers look to improve upon last year’s 3-win season behind senior RB Chakong Yang, who is entering his third season as the starter. He rushed for 448 yards and 2 TDs a year ago. Cedarville, which beat Magazine 14-0 last fall, will be led by Junior RB Daniel Ramirez and an offensive line that returns 4 starters.
OPEN Mount Ida, Hector, Mountainburg, Johnson County Westside
2-2A
EPC at Walnut Ridge. See Class 2A Game of the Week
CROSS COUNTY at Harrisburg: Cross County beat DeWitt 22-20 in a half scrimmage last week. Junior wingback Caden Crawford rushed for 100 yards and a TD.
Marked Tree at Class 3A NEWPORT: Marked Tree fell to Melbourne 21-14 in a scrimmage last week. Dontavous White caught a TD pass from PJ Powell. Jaylan Palmore had a 5-yard TD run. Newport beat Marked Tree 48-30 last fall, and Marked Tree must again deal with Greyhounds all-state senior QB Luke Reynolds (1,544 passing, 698 rushing, school-record 41 TDs last season).
Class 3A Barton at EARLE: Earle, which missed the playoffs a year ago, beat Barton 66-22. Earle played Forrest City in a scrimmage game last week, winning 8-6.
Izard County at Class 3A YELLVILLE-SUMMITT: Izard County was scheduled to play Cave City in a scrimmage, but it was cancelled because of Cave City dropping to 8-man football. The Cougars won 1 game a year ago after moving up from 8-Man competition, and will be led by junior QB Kyler Brashear. Yellville-Summit is coming off a 3-7 season, but it beat Izard County 55-7 last fall. The Panthers are returning all-conference RB Eli Gerth.
Marianna at Class 4A BALD KNOB: Marianna went winless a year ago. Jayvon Clinkscale will play QB for the Trojans this season. They lost to Clarendon 6-0 in a scrimmage last week. Bald Knob hasn’t won a game since beating Cave City in Week 9, 2023. Marianna has 1 win in the past 3 seasons.
OPEN: Des Arc, McCrory
3-2A
Junction City at Class 3A HARMONY GROVE OUACHITA COUNTY: Junction City beat Fordyce 7-6 in a scrimmage consisting of 3 10-minute periods with starters. Dakorey Larry scored on a 34-yard run. “We have to execute better at the QB position,” Junction City Coach Devin Ball says. “But, all in all, I was very pleased with the team as a whole. Harmony Grove Ouachita County won last season’s matchup at Junction City by 10 points and has home-field advantage this season. HGOC returns senior all-state QB Damien Burns, who passed for 989 yards and 10 TDs to go alongside 959 rushing yards and 16 TDs. All-conference junior WR Logan Nipp returns as a receiving and rushing threat.
Murfreesboro at CLASS 3A CENTERPOINT: Murfreesboro lost to Ashdown 13-6 in its scrimmage game. “We gave up two big plays; otherwise, our defense played outstanding,” Coach Jay Turley says. “Offense was spotty. Ashdown played us press man, and we struggled with it because we weren’t expecting it.” Kooper Caldwell scored the Rattlers’ TD on a QB sneak. Centerpoint will have to find ways to replace departed senior production, but will have a solid RB rotation with Cory Passmore and Chris Borgenson. WR Zack Miot will be the top target. Centerpoint won last season’s matchup 28-14.
Dierks at Class 3A FOUKE: Dierks played at Centerpoint in a scrimmage last week, winning 12-8. Maclane Smith rushed for a TD and threw a TD pass to Connor Bailey. Fouke, 7-4 last season, will need to replace all-state RB Dylan Sprayberry‘s production. Senior Joshua Scoggins looks to fill that role, rushing for 140 yards and 4 TDs in a spot start last season against Centerpoint when Sprayberry was out with an injury to lift Fouke over Centerpoint 36-32. LB Chris Sherman will be a strong anchor on defense after racking up 91 tackles and 2 sacks .
Hampton at LAFAYETTE COUNTY: The Hampton Bulldogs routed Parker’s Chapel 32-0 in last week’s scrimmage. QB DJ Clarke passed for 98 yards and 3 TDs. Deondre Smith rushed for 56 yards on three carries. Braiden Giraud caught 2 passes for 44 yards and a TD. Smith and Dre Clarke intercepted passes. Lafayette County played a mini jamboree with Fouke and Bearden last week. “We played all of the younger, inexperienced guys,” Cougars Coach Adrian Ivory says. “But we did well.” Sophomore Michael Webb scored a TD.
Class 3A MAGNET COVE at Gurdon: Magnet Cove returns all-state RB Angel Villezcas, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year. The Panthers’ line will be anchored by senior Colton Sulton, who will start his third year. Magnet Cove won last year’s matchup 24-14. Gurdon must replace senior talent that helped the team reach the playoffs last season. Senior RB Uriah Gatlin (42-352 rushing) leads the offense. Safety Andres Camarillo anchors the defense after making 63 tackles last year. Gurdon tied Smackover 21-21 in its scrimmage last week. Hayden Smith led the defense with 6 tackles and a forced fumble. Jonah Jester, Smith and Gatlin each scored TDs for the Go Devils.
Class 2A SPRING HILL at Class 4A Genoa Central: Spring Hill played Magnet Cove in a scrimmage last week. QB Jaxon Smith rushed for 105 yards and 2 TDs. Maddox Dickson had 7 tackles. Spring Hill beat Genoa Central by 28 points last year, in its first game back from 8-man football. Coach Jim LeGrand enters his second season at Genoa Central, after the Dragons were held to a TD or less in 8 games a year ago.
Class 3A PARKERS CHAPEL at Foreman: Parkers Chapel (1-9 last year) will be led by junior WR Hunter Cheatham, who caught 11 passes for 135 yards against Harmony Grove Ouachita County. Foreman is looking to end its 30-game losing skid. Seven different Gators players scored either a TD or a 2-point conversion against Cossatot River in last week’s scrimmage, including Vicktron Moore, Brody Bearden, Kaylon Easter, Rylan Johnson, Gunner Phillips, Hayden Easter, and Keenan Marshall.
OPEN: Mineral Springs
4-2A
CARLISLE at Class 3A Lake Village: The Carlisle Bison beat Fountain Lake 28-14 in a scrimmage game. Senior RB Bentley Parker accounted for 2 TDs; Jaden Elliott and new QB Baylor Hauk each scored a TD. Jimmy Cham kicked 4 PATs.
Mountain Pine at POYEN: Mountain Pine, which did not play a scrimmage game, will be led by senior RB Zach Middleton, who rushed for 558 yards and had 273 yards receiving a year ago. Poyen played Jessieville to a 16-16 tie with the starters. Austin Garnett scored on a 5-yard run while Colt Barrett, son of coach Vick Barrett, threw a 35-yard TD pass to Layton Russell.
CONWAY CHRISTIAN at Hazen: Defending state champion Conway Christian scrimmaged at Class 3A Mayflower last week. They didn’t keep stats or scores, but Coach Justin Kramer says, “I was very pleased with how well we performed. We rotate players constantly in a scrimmage to figure out where we are.” Hazen did not play a scrimmage game, but its offense will run through senior QB JJ Pinkney, who was injured against Carlisle in Week 10 and then missed the playoff game against Conway Christian. “He’s going to have to make a lot of plays this season,” Hazen Coach Joe Besancon says.
BIGELOW at England: Bigelow scrimmaged both Cedarville and Quitman last week, beating Cedarville and losing to Quitman. Bigelow Coach Jeff Starks says no player truly stood out for his team. England scrimmaged Barton, losing 22-6. Senior WR Trent Arnold scored on a 73-yard run.
Hampton at LAFAYETTE COUNTY: The Hampton Bulldogs routed Parker’s Chapel 32-0 in last week’s scrimmage. QB DJ Clarke passed for 98 yards and 3 TDs; Deondre Smith rushed for 56 yards on 3 carries. Braiden Giraud caught 2 passes for 44 yards and a TD. Smith and Dre Clarke each had INTs. Lafayette County played a mini jamboree with Fouke and Bearden last week. “We played all of the younger, inexperienced guys,” Cougars Coach Adrian Ivory says. “But we did well.” Sophomore Michael Webb scored a TD.
Clarendon at Class 3A PALENSTINE-WHEATLEY: Clarendon had some turmoil as its new coach faced legal issues and was let go. Longtime assistant coach Elgin Perry was named interim coach. The Lions played Marianna in a scrimmage last week, winning 6-0. William Wise scored the Lions’ TD. Senior QB Ky-mani Fluker and senior WR Drake Robinson will lead Clarendon (0-10 last fall). Expect junior Roderick Sewart to contribute at RB. Palestine-Wheatley won 4 games last fall in Tyler Paschal’s first season as head coach. It was the program’s highest total of wins since 2019. Brody Parker (15 total TDs) returns as the starting QB. Senior WR Andrew Knowlton will also play a major role on offense.
OPEN: Bearden, Baptist Prep