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

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Junction City at No. 2 Rison
Junction City rides a 41-game winning streak after knocking off Class 3A No. 1 Smackover 13-7 last week. Junction City's vaunted defense turned away Smackover twice on the last two plays of the game with an interception (that was negated), and then it forced  Smackover receiver Jordan Jones out of bounds in the end zone after a reception on the game's final play. Junction City also jarred the ball loose from Jones in the third quarter at the Smackover 3-yard line, and Junction City junior RB C.J. Johnson rushed for a 1-yard TD four plays later.

Rison's run defense faltered last week in a 35-32 loss to Class 3A No. 8 Fordyce. Fordyce passed just five times, the fewest in the series since 1979, says Rison historian Stan Sadler. Rison senior RB Bryson Marks led Rison with 136 yards and a TD. Rison connected on one of five extra point attempts. Rison last defeated Junction City Week 1, 2011, but for just the fifth time in the past 13 meetings the Dragons travel to Rison.

HOOTEN'S TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show airs 11 a.m. Saturdays this fall on KATV 7 (ABC-Little Rock) and previews the Arkansas Razorbacks and the day's opponent. The Arkansas Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week is Poyen senior receiver Sam Jordan (14.3 yards per reception).

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com picked 29 of 39 games (74 percent) involving Class 2A teams.

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
CEDAR RIDGE (20) at Rector: Class 3A Cedar Ridge extends No. 47 Rector's losing streak to 11 games. Palestine-Wheatley beat Rector last week by the same score as a year ago, 34-20. Cedar Ridge ran for 552 yards last week and did not attempt a pass in 32-12 win over Class 4A Brookland.
YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (6) at Salem: Salem's defense, with 10 returning starters, appeared improved over a year ago in last week's 12-point loss to Mountain View. Salem junior RB/LB Spencer Love led the Greyhounds with 94 yards rushing and 11 tackles. Junior QB Cameron Shaver completed 11 of 15 passes for 87 yards and a TD.
Corning at E. POINSETT COUNTY (26): EPC started 10 sophomores and played three more last week in a 24-0 loss to McCrory. EPC managed 166 total yards. EPC defeated Corning 50-20 a year ago.
Rivercrest at EARLE (4): Earle jumps four spots to No. 8 after shocking then-No. 3 Hazen 60-14 a week ago behind junior athlete Dontrell Johnson, who passed for three TDs, ran for a TD and caught a TD pass. Earle's re-tooled O line is quicker than a year ago, adding junior tuba-playing RG/DT Kevin Clark (6-2, 340). Rivercrest has won two of the past three meetings. Senior RB Cecil Langston ran 15 times for 80 yards and took a hook-and-lateral pass 58 yards for a TD in last week's 14-13 win over Paragould.
Baptist Prep at CROSS COUNTY (2): No. 7 Cross County started slowly a week ago and led Class 4A Harrisburg just 13-0 at halftime before blowing out the Hornets 42-6. All-state RB Anfernee Davis ran for 156 yards and three TDs and returned an interception 35 yards for a score. Utility man Brayden Johnson (hamstring) is out. Johnson punts, plays defensive back, QB, returns punts and holds for extra points. (Class 4A Arkansas) Baptist Prep QB Cory McGonigal's ability to scramble and the Baptist passing game with timing routes offer a stiff challenge. Baptist committed four second-half turnovers last week in a 34-6 loss to CAC.
Walnut Ridge at RIVERVIEW (14): Improved Walnut Ridge manhandled Class 3A Corning 32-7 in the opener. Class 4A Riverview put up 39 points in a 64-39 loss at Class 4A No. 20 Pocahontas.
Marked Tree at HARRISBURG (1): Harrisburg goes 1-1 vs. the 3-2A after losing last week to Cross County 42-6. Marked Tree managed just seven points last week in a 21-point loss at Class 3A Piggott.
Midland at BARTON (32): Home team Midland still waiting for its field to be ready and must travel to Class 3A No. 20 Barton.

4-2A
Hackett at HECTOR (12): This conference opener likely decides the 4-2A title. No. 6 Hector dispatched of Class 3A Marshall in the first quarter last week, sprinting to a three-TD lead. All-state QB Tanner Gaines passed for 243 yards and two TDs, and he rushed for two more scores at Marshall. All-league WR Jalen Ferguson caught passes for 123 yards and two TDs. Hackett counters with 12 seniors, including QB Jacob McClure and his go-to receiver, tight end Colby Hall, a former Hartford Hustler.
QUITMAN (6) at Magazine: It was a nice 13-12 win last week for Quitman over Class 3A Rose Bud. Quitman defeated Magazine 18-6 for one of its two victories in 2014.
MOUNTAINBURG (29) at Union Christian: Mountainburg senior RB Clayton Stephenson (2,055 yards in 2014) scorched Cedarville last week for 334 yards and four TDs. First-year head coach Josh Brown and Union Christian opened with a 56-6 loss to Class 3A Lavaca.
Western Yell at J.C. WESTSIDE (6): Western Yell topped J.C. Westside by 12 points last year for one of its three wins.
Decatur at GENTRY (38): Gentry dropped 3A defending champion Charleston from its schedule in the off-season to play Decatur. Gentry RB C.J. Taylor ran for 105 yards last week in a 12-point win over West Fork. Taylor moved back from Oklahoma over the summer.

5-2A
QUITMAN (6) at Magazine: It was a nice opening 13-12 win last week for Quitman over Class 3A Rose Bud. Quitman defeated Magazine 18-6 for one of its two victories in 2014.
Magnet Cove at CENTERPOINT (2): Four two-way starters for Magnet Cove missed the opener vs. Parkers Chapel. Junior RB Jamil Tyner (4.5 speed) remains doubtful, but senior LB Josh Smeltzer (knee cap) could return this week. The absence of a running game last week forced Magnet Cove to attempt 44 passes, the most in more than a decade. Class 3A Centerpoint also aired it Week 1, passing more than 30 times.
ATKINS (1) at Bigelow: Bigelow lost to (Class 3A) neighbor rival Perryville 19-6 in the opener and did not score until the fourth quarter.
Conway Christian at H. GROVE HASKELL (6): Conway Christian gave up 230 rushing yards to Class 3A Episcopal RB Kelvin Robinson a week ago. This week, H. Grove Haskell all-state senior Jon Johnson (1,916 yards in 2014) runs at the Eagles.
Mineral Springs at ENGLAND (10): England big-played former league rival Carlisle last week (41-0) for the second year in a row. Junior QB Brayden Brazeal completed TD passes of 67 and 60 yards to senior Xavier Iverson and junior B.J. Thompson, respectively.
CUTTER M STAR (6) at Drew Central: This is probably Drew Central's best shot at ending its 43-game losing streak. Cutter Morning Star lost to Horatio 39-0 last week.
POYEN (8) at Bismarck: Poyen senior RB and tackle leader Lane Rhodes has been cleared from a broken foot and could play. Bismarck lost to Spring Hill (0-9-1 in 2014) 31-6 last week. Poyen beat Bismarck 26-12 a year ago.
DIERKS (35) at Mountain Pine: Dierks hands Mountain Pine its 32nd consecutive loss. Dierks faces stiff tests the next two weeks at Class 3A Fouke and at home vs. 7-2A champ Gurdon.

6-2A
Carlisle at DEWITT (3): DeWitt opened the Coach Mark Courtney era with a 49-0 win over Clarendon. Carlisle opened with a 41-0 loss to England. England beat Carlisle 54-22 last year, when DeWitt edged Carlisle 34-32.
Marvell at AUGUSTA (9): Augusta's last victory came one year ago over Marvell, 25-22.
Palestine-Wheatley at BRINKLEY (18): No. 16 Brinkley stoned P-W a year ago 36-0, and the Tigers throttled Western Yell County 30-0 last week in the opener.
HAZEN (35) at Clarendon: Earle ambushed then-No.  3 Hazen 60-14 last week, forcing multiple fumbles, while exposing a Hazen secondary with two new cornerbacks.  Hazen senior RB Logan Penn did manage 100 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a TD.
Des Arc at MCCRORY (8): No. 3 McCrory senior RB Kaigen Rogo ran 25 times for 171 yards last week behind a patched-up O line in a 24-0 win over EPC. Senior LBs Cade Campbell and Hunter Davis collected 11 tackles apiece. Des Arc senior LB Daylon Conway spearheaded a 26-16 win over Class 3A Bald Knob.

7-2A
SMACKOVER (21) at Gurdon: Gurdon handed the football to all-state senior RB Jackie Harvell 40 times last week at rival Prescott in a 59-27 loss. Harvell delivered 346 yards and three TDs, but Prescott QB Trevor Pipkins completed 29 of 38 passes for 441 yards and five TDs. Class 3A No. 1 Smackover went 0-2 last week. The Buckaroos (0-2) lost to defending Class 4A champion Warren 59-20 on Monday and fell to defending 2A state champ Junction City 12-7 on Saturday.
Horatio at MURFREESBORO (8): Murfreesboro's hard-driving junior RBs Cameron Snowden and Gavin Gardner combined for 227 yards and five TDs last week behind a senior O line in a 35-8 blowout of Strong.
Mount Ida at DANVILLE (7): No. 5 Mount Ida dropped Magazine 56-6 last week, while Class 3A Danville lost to Class 4A rival Dardanelle 42-0. Danville drops to Class 2A in 2016.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY (26) at Genoa Central: Lafayette County lost a 20-14 heartbreaker at the buzzer Aug. 31 when Bearden completed a TD pass on the game's final play. The Cougars rebounded four days later with a 65-44 win over Hermitage. Lafayette County beat Genoa Central 40-6 a year ago.
Foreman at FOUKE (23): Class 3A Fouke has won seven of its past eight contests against 7-2A members. The Panthers held Foreman to 38 total yards in last year's 30-0 victory.
Spring Hill at PARKERS CHAPEL (2): Parkers Chapel snuck out of Magnet Cove last week with a 23-20 win, blitzing Magnet Cove's young offensive line silly. PC forced five turnovers, including an 82-yard interception return for a TD.
DIERKS (35) at Mountain Pine: Dierks hands Mountain Pine its 32nd consecutive loss. Dierks faces stiffer tests the next two weeks at Class 3A Fouke and at home vs. 7-2A champ Gurdon.
Mineral Springs at ENGLAND (10): England big-played former league rival Carlisle last week (41-0) for the second year in a row. Junior QB Brayden Brazeal completed TD passes of 67 and 60 yards to senior Xavier Iverson and junior B.J. Thompson, respectively.

8-2A
JUNCTION CITY (9) at Rison: See 2A Game of the Week.
Strong at HERMITAGE (14): Hermitage junior RB Monta' Thomas should run wild on a Strong defense that allowed 258 rushing yards last week at Murfreesboro.
Spring Hill at PARKERS CHAPEL (2): Parkers Chapel snuck out of Magnet Cove last week with a 23-20 win, blitzing Magnet Cove's young offensive line silly. PC forced five turnovers, including an 85-yard interception return for a TD by sophomore Canon Morgan.
Bearden is open.
Woodlawn is open.