Class 2A - Week 15 - 2015

Class 2A - Week 15 - 2015

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 15, 2015
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.


1. Rison (11-1)
2. McCrory (12-0)
3. England (13-1)
4. Mount Ida (12-1)
5. Hector (12-1)
6. Des Arc (11-2)
7. Conway Christian (10-4)
8. Hazen (8-5)
9. Cross County (10-2)
10. Junction City (7-3)
11. Brinkley (7-4)
12. Gurdon (7-5)
13. Lafayette County (8-4)
14. Hackett (10-2)
15. Marked Tree (7-4)
16. Earle (8-3)
17. Poyen (6-5)
18. Mountainburg (8-3)
19. Magnet Cove (5-7)
20. Dierks (6-5)
21. Murfreesboro (4-7)
22. Hermitage (4-4)
23. Walnut Ridge (6-5)
24. Strong (4-7)
25. Parkers Chapel (3-7)
26. Salem (4-7)
27. Carlisle (4-7)
28. E. Poinsett County (3-7)
29. Bearden (2-7)
30. Spring Hill (4-6)
31. Augusta (3-6)
32. Quitman (5-6)
33. Woodlawn (1-7)
34. Palestine-Wheatley (3-7)
35. Mineral Springs (2-7)
36. J.C. Westside (5-5)
37. Foreman (1-9)
38. Bigelow (1-8)
39. Union Christian (3-6)
40. Clarendon (1-9)
41. Midland (1-9)
42. Mountain Pine (1-9)
43. Magazine (2-7)
44. Decatur (1-8)
45. Marvell (0-10)
46. W. Yell County (0-9)
47. Cutter M. Star (0-10)
48. Rector (0-10)

2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Rison vs. No. 2 McCrory

Rison has won eight state titles, including two (2000, 2004) under current head coach Clay Totty. The Wildcats play in their 11th state final during the modern playoff era (1969-present). McCrory played for state titles in 1973 and 1979 and lost both. Rison and McCrory meet for only the second time.  McCrory topped Rison 18-16 in the 1973 state semifinals at UCA.  This year, Rison faces its third straight undefeated opponent in the playoffs. Rison has struggled against 6-2A members recently, losing to Hazen in the 2014 quarterfinals and to Carlisle in the 2013 quarterfinals. McCrory lost at Hazen 14-6 in last year's semifinals. McCrory head coach Chris Kennon played at McCrory (1994-1996) for Coach Ronnie Massanelli, who now coaches special teams for Kennon. Former McCrory head coach and current defensive coordinator Glen Campbell is the father of senior QB/LB Cade Campbell. Rison's defense has forced 30 turnovers this year, while its offense has committed 13 turnovers. Rison has been penalized 22 times in three playoff games. McCrory has forced 34 turnovers and lost four. The Jaguars have been penalized nine times in the playoffs, including seven last week vs. Conway Christian. See more on the matchup below.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked both games involving Class 2A teams. It has correctly picked 247 of 293 (84 percent) for the season.

WEEK 15 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Rison vs. No. 2 MCCRORY (4)
: 8-2A champion Rison played its 101th playoff game last week, dropping 5-2A champion England 38-22 in the semifinals. Rison is 70-31 all-time in the postseason, according to Rison historian Stan Sadler. Senior RB Bryson Marks (1,920 yards in 2015) burned Hector for 259 yards two weeks ago and England for 168 yards and a TD last week. Junior Ja'quan Henry (5-10, 215) has returned to his early-season form, running between the tackles for 118 yards vs. England. Both run behind Rison's best offensive line since 2010. It was vintage Rison last week when the Wildcats had possession for 35:11 of the 48 total minutes and ran 61 plays to England's 38. Rison senior QB Seth Crouse has thrown 29 career TD passes to tie the school record. Rison's defensive front of  Josh Vick (6-1, 275), Darayvion Ester (6-4, 270), Trey Bolin (5-11, 270), Chris Leaks (6-4, 210),  Kyler Barber (5-10, 170) and Mason Riggins (5-11, 158) sacked the England QB four times. Rison held England to a negative 21 rushing yards. Against Hector, Rison dropped the QB for 43 yards in losses and held Hector to 12 net yards on 21 rushing attempts. Senior LB Gage Roberts leads the Wildcats in tackles. Rison has intercepted 15 passes this fall, returning six of them for TDs.

McCrory throttled Conway Christian 40-14 last week with the first-team defense allowing one TD on a (pass) coverage bust. A three-man front held Conway Christian to 34 rushing yards. Two weeks ago in a rain storm, the Jaguars got past Mount Ida 16-7 with a defensive stand in the fourth quarter and a game-clinching TD with 42 seconds left. Senior RB Kaigen Rogo has rushed for 1,823 yards (9.7 ypc), while senior QB Cade Campbell has passed for 964 yards and 15 TDs. Campbell (82 tackles) and senior LB Hunter Davis (96 tackles) pace the Jaguars in tackles, while Rogo leads the team in interceptions. One lineman, senior LG/DT Chauncey Green (5-10, 245), plays both ways all the time. Sophomore RT/DE Jamone McCoy (6-3, 265) plays both ways about half the snaps. McCoy, Green, Tyler Hall, Ty Alumbaugh (6-4, 330) and Lee Willis have played well up front most of the year.

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