Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 1, 2010
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Bearden
2. Junction City
3. Spring Hill
4. Magnet Cove
5. Hazen
6. Des Arc
7. Danville
8. Carlisle
9. McCrory
10. Magazine
11. Parkers Chapel
12. Cross County
13. Strong
14. Augusta
15. Mountainburg
16. Two Rivers
17. Clarendon
18. Mount Ida
19. Conway Christian
20. Walnut Ridge
21. Woodlawn
22. Bigelow
23. Mineral Springs
24. Murfreesboro
25. Salem
26. Horatio
27. E. Poinsett County
28. Hampton
29. Gurdon
30. Marked Tree
31. Mountain Pine
32. Dierks
33. England
34. Norphlet
35. Union Christian
36. Palestine-Wheatley
37. Hermitage
38. Cedar Ridge
39. Hackett
40. Quitman
41. Foreman
42. J.C. Westside
43. Hughes
44. Poyen
45. Western Yell
46. Marvell
47. Dermott
48. Decatur
49. Hector
50. Hartford

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Parkers Chapel at No. 6 Des Arc
Sixth-ranked Des Arc faces a real test in the opener, but quarterback Justin Hollis and RB/LB Cody Robinson can play for a lot of teams, regardless of classification. Both made the Class 2A Sonic Super Team. Parkers Chapel drops from Class 3A after winning a school-record eight games and reaching the playoffs in 2009. All-state and Sonic Super Team linebacker Zach Abbott (109 tackles in 2009) paces the Trojan defense.

HOOTEN'S TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show returns for its 13th season. It will air at 11 a.m. Saturdays on FOX16 (Little Rock) and KFSM Ch. 5 in Northwest Arkansas, featuring a preseason show Aug. 28 and Carlisle at Riverview highlights on Sept. 4.

LAST YEAR
Hooten's Arkansas Football correctly picked 224 of 278 games (81 percent) involving 2A teams.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
Hughes at McCRORY (21): What can defending 3-2A champion McCrory do for encore after its best season since 1977? For starters, whip Hughes in the opener despite lower numbers and a few defections.    
HAZEN (13) at Augusta: On paper, No. 14 Augusta looks formidable, but the Red Devils rarely reach full throttle in September after low participation in the summer. Augusta's 1,000-yard rusher Ishma Clark (4.5 speed) is the 3-2A's top breakaway threat. Expectations are at a 25-year high for fifth-ranked Hazen.  
HARRISBURG (12) at Cross County: Harrisburg walloped Cross County 52-8 last year but a repeat of that is not likely. Both teams are struggling with low numbers (20-25 bodies) and a lack of depth. Cross County senior QB Jake Veasley broke his collarbone on the first day of fall drills and will not return until mid-October. Sophomore QB Dylan Hudson will start, handing off 30-plus times to all-state tailback Blake Veasley (6-1, 215; 4.65 forty).    
WALNUT RIDGE (8) at Corning: Walnut Ridge is fresh of its best season in a decade and out-bid start-up Melbourne to keep head coach Larry Treadway. Corning returns 16 starters off a 0-10 team.
SALEM (6) at Jonesboro Westside: Six points decided this matchup the past two seasons. Salem beat the Warriors 14-8 in 2009 and advanced the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Pal.-Wheatley at E. POINSETT COUNTY (2): EPC's speed should prevail, but Palestine-Wheatley improved as the 2009 season progressed under second-year coach Charles Sartin. P-W returns starters at 19 positions.
Marked Tree at PIGGOTT (14): Piggott returns starters at 20 positions, including 1,000-yard rusher and leading tackler Alec Samples. Marked Tree should dress 25 experienced players in the opener after struggling through a three-win season in 2009.
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE (7) at Cedar Ridge: Southside Batesville has not won since beating Marianna by eight points Week 7, 2008. Cedar Ridge notched two victories last year, its first in two years of varsity football.
RECTOR dropped varsity football this summer.

4-2A
Dardanelle at DANVILLE (1): Danville won 11 straight games last fall, but the 4-2A favorite (2009 5-2A champion) lost the opener to Class 4A Dardanelle by 21 points. Dardanelle senior QB Quayd Standridge generated more than 1,700 yards last season.  
Magazine at WEST FORK (14): Magazine graduated 12 seniors, including three all-state performers, after capturing its first league title in 2009. Magazine will dress out 30, but the Rattlers may not strike with force until later in the season.
GREENLAND (7) at Union Christian: Greenland posted its worst record last fall since 1995 after winning seven games per season from 2006-2008. Union Christian enjoyed its best season in school history in 2009 but may not dress out 20 players for the 2010 opener.
Cedarville at MOUNTAINBURG (7): Mountainburg will bull its way to a playoff berth in the 4-2A with strong interior linemen. The Dragons beat Cedarville by six points last year.
Hackett at GORE, OKLA (2): Hackett's team speed makes up for a lack of size on some Friday nights.
CUTTER M STAR (12) at Western Yell: Cutter M. Star (15 players) moves up to Çlass 3A where it will struggle but not before getting a road win at Western Yell. Western Yell will dress out about 20, including versatile athlete Jeff Rasabong (5-10, 175).
J.C. WESTSIDE (5) at Hector: J.C. Westside won once last fall when Hector did not field a team. Westside should dress 28 players to Hector's 23.  
GENTRY JV (2) at Decatur: Decatur expects to dress 24 players after not fielding a varsity team in 2009.
HARTFORD is open. Fifteen Hustlers dressed out in the preseason. Hartford plans to play a conference-only schedule in 2010.

5-2A
MAGNET COVE (10) at Mount Ida: Mount Ida will be improved over 2009 when it lost at Magnet Cove 33-14. Observers assume No. 4 Magnet Cove will vie for a conference title and more after dropping from Class 3A, but with a sophomore QB and just 25 players, those expectations may prove lofty.
DOVER (14) at Two Rivers: Dover senior QB Colton Williams tallied more than 2,100 total yards and 20 TDs last year. Two Rivers junior QB Blake Noakes accounted for more than 2,000 yards and 22 TDs.
ARKANSAS BAPTIST (6) at Conway Christian: These former sister schools meet for the first time. With both running the Spread, a shootout may come down to the final possession.
PERRYVILLE (14) at Bigelow: Perryville drops off this fall after graduating 13 in May, including all-state lineman Chris Alverson and RB/LB Royce McClain. Bigelow narrows the gap after losing to Perryville 42-6 in last year's opener.
Mountain Pine at JESSIEVILLE (6): Jessieville's headed back to the playoffs. League coaches think Mountain Pine's headed the wrong  direction after graduating all-state RB DeAndre Jenkins (1,205 yards).
Rose Bud at QUITMAN (1): Quitman senior QB Aaron Parker passed for almost 1,500 yards and 10 TDs last season. Rose Bud junior QB Nick Cartwright passed for more than 1,700 yards and 17 TDs.
Poyen at B. HARMONY GROVE (12): Poyen has five years of junior high and JV seasons on its resume and could compete for a playoff berth. Benton Harmony Grove faces daunting task of starting a new program in Class 3A.
J.C. WESTSIDE (5) at Hector: J.C. Westside won once last fall when Hector did not field a team. Westside should dress 28 players to Hector's 23.  

6-2A
HAZEN (13) at Augusta: On paper, No. 14 Augusta looks formidable, but the Red Devils rarely reach full throttle in September after low participation in the summer. Augusta's 1,000-yard rusher Ishma Clark (4.5 speed) is the 3-2A's top breakaway threat. Expectations are at a 25-year high for fifth-ranked Hazen.  
CARLISLE (6) at Riverview: No. 8 Carlisle beat Class 3A Riverview in 2008 but lost at Riverview 44-36 last year. Riverview QB Grafton Harrell almost single-handedly beat Carlisle last year but he graduated in May.  
Parkers Chapel at DES ARC (10): Sixth-ranked Des Arc passes a real test I the opener. Des Arc QB Justin Hollis and RB/LB Cody Robinson can play for any team in 2A football. Parkers Chapel drops from Class 3A after reaching the playoffs in 2009.
Clarendon at BRINKLEY (2): Clarendon beat Brinkley a year ago, but Brinkley was without senior QB A.J. Harris. Brinkley coach Perry Goodell calls junior Ethan Roberts (118 tackles in 2009) one of the better linebackers in the state.
STRONG (13) at England: Both programs heading the right direction. Veteran assistant Jay Vines and former Hermitage coach Chris Hawkins have joined the Strong coaching staff. Second-year coach Brandon Barbaree tries to instill discipline at England where more than 20 Lions will dress for the opener.  
Pal.-Wheatley at E. POINSETT COUNTY (2): EPC's speed should prevail, but Palestine-Wheatley improved as the 2009 season progressed under second-year coach Charles Sartin. P-W returns starters at 19 positions.
Hughes at McCRORY (21): What can defending 3-2A champion McCrory do for encore after its best season since 1977? For starters, whip Hughes in the opener despite lower numbers and a few defections.    
Marvell at LAKE VILLAGE (12): Marvell hung with Class 4A Lake Village last year before losing by eight points.

7-2A
Murfreesboro at BISMARCK (1): After graduating 96 percent of its offense from a year ago, Murfreesboro's defense keeps it close.
SPRING HILL (17) at Lafayette County: No. 3 Spring Hill whipped Lafayette County 45-22 a year ago on its way to a school-record 11 wins.
MINERAL SPRINGS (24) at Fouke: Mineral Springs first-year coach Vince Perrin installed the Spread in the spring. The Hornets should improve on last year's 7-5 record. Fouke promoted Ryan Tuckett to varsity coach after he worked nine years as the junior high coach.
Horatio at WOODLAWN (2): This is Horatio's payoff year with 26 lettermen returning on a 40-man roster, but the Lions are traditionally slow-starters. Woodlawn, battle tested by talent-laden teams in the 8-2A, will dress out about 30.
Dierks at CENTERPOINT (2): Centerpoint should compete for its first playoff berth in three years. Dierks continues to battle low numbers.
GENOA CENTRAL (12) at Foreman: More than 50 players drilled at Class 3A Genoa Central in the spring. Foreman has won two games in the past three seasons.
PRESCOTT (28) at Gurdon: Prescott has owned Gurdon recently, beating the Go-Devils by a combined 107-0 the past two years.
MAGNET COVE (10) at Mount Ida: Mount Ida will be improved over 2009 when it lost at Magnet Cove 33-14. Observers assume No. 4 Magnet Cove will vie for a conference title and more after dropping from Class 3A, but with a sophomore QB and just 25 players, those expectations may prove lofty.

8-2A
C. Harmony Grove at BEARDEN (12): Bearden opens at midseason form with junior QB Defonta Lowe directing the offense. Tennessee and Notre Dame have inquired about Lowe and asked for directions to Rogers Field. Camden Harmony Grove first-year coach Tony Chambers plans to run behind the largest line in 3A football and maybe the state. The Hornet linemen average 5.3 speed and weigh a combined 1,355 pounds.   
Junction City at RISON (1): Junction City returns just two starters from lat year-s state title team. Rison expects to play for the 6-3A title and make a run at a state crown.
Parkers Chapel at DES ARC (10): Sixth-ranked Des Arc passes a real test I the opener. Des Arc QB Justin Hollis and RB/LB Cody Robinson can play for any team in 2A football. Parkers Chapel drops from Class 3A after reaching the playoffs in 2009.
STRONG (13) at England: Both programs heading the right direction. Veteran assistant Jay Vines and former Hermitage coach Chris Hawkins have joined the Strong coaching staff. Second-year coach Brandon Barbaree tries to instill discipline at England where more than 20 Lions will dress for the opener.  
Horatio at WOODLAWN (2): This is Horatio's payoff year with 26 lettermen returning on a 40-man roster, but the Lions are traditionally slow-starters. Woodlawn, battle tested by talent-laden teams in the 8-2A, will dress out about 30.
Fordyce JV at HAMPTON (3): Hampton has won 10 games over the past six years.
SMACKOVER (27) at Norphlet: Smackover jumps back up to Class 3A. Norphlet's sophomores were undefeated in junior high but they're not going to help enough this year to get the Leopards out of the 8-2A basement.
DREW CENTRAL (14) at Hermitage: Matt McBride, Hermitage's third coach in three years, inherits a senior-laden squad that won two games in 2008 and 2009.
DERMOTT is open. Dermott's 20 players (19 males and one female) plan to play a conference-only schedule.