Class 3A Week 1 Rankings and Predictions

Class 3A Rankings

Week 1 2025

1. Salem (Beat Pocahontas 28-8)
2. Rivercrest (Didn’t play last week)
3. Fordyce (Beat Monticello 46-18)
4. Charleston (Didn’t play last night)
5. Mansfield (Beat No. 7 Bismark in OT)
6. Prescott (Didn’t play last week)
7. Bismark (OT loss to No. 5 Mansfield)
8. Booneville (Loss to Poteau, OK 28-0)
9. Rison (Didn’t play last week)
10. Glen Rose (Beat Bauxite 32-26)
11. Osceola (Lost to Mills, #3 team in 4A)
12. Dumas (Didn’t play last week)
13. Newport (Beat Marked Tree 38-6)
14. Smackover (Beat Episcopal 42-14)
15. McGehee (Didn’t play last week)
16. Mayflower (Beat Jessieville 42-7)
17. Walnut Ridge (Lost to #1 team in 2A- EPC)
18. Atkins (Beat Perryville 40-12)
19. Melbourne (Beat Hoxie 28-13)
20. Harmony Grove Ouachita County (Lost to Junction City 36-0)

Not Ranked:

1-3A: Cedarville, Greenland, Hackett, Lavaca, West Fork.

2-3A: Episcopal, Mountain View, Quitman, Yellville-Summit.

3-3A: Harrisburg, Hoxie, Manila, Piggott

4-3A: Cutter Morning Star, Danville, Jessieville, Magnet Cove, Paris, Perryville, Two Rivers

7-3A: Fouke, Horatio, Parkers Chapel 

8-3A: Barton, Drew Central, Lake Village, Palestine-Wheatley

WEEK 1 GAMES (Favored teams are CAPITALIZED and highlighted)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 1 SALEM (1-0) vs. No. 6 Prescott (1-0)

At Arkansas Tech (Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium) 

Defending Class 3A champion Salem enters this matchup off a 28-8 win last week over Class 4A Pocahontas. Senior RB Kaden Brink rushed for 173 yards on 21 carries and made a key interception at the goal line to stop a Pocahontas scoring threat. Salem appears poised for another deep run into the playoffs, but this matchup with perennial power Prescott will be an early test. Prescott defeated Salem in last year’s matchup 31-22 before losing to Salem in the playoffs.. The Curley Wolves are coming off a 45-8 win over Crossett, with senior QB Dalton Stockton (11-15 passing, 102 yards, 2 TDs; rushing TD) leading the way. Senior RB KJ Page rushed for 191 yards on 26 carries. Three Prescott defenders (Owen Glass, Wesley Rash, and Sean Tribbet) intercepted passes. Salem will use its championship experience to get the edge against a tough Prescott team.

1-3A

No. 8 Booneville (0-1) at Class 4A OZARK (1-0): Booneville is coming off a 28-0 loss to Poteau (Okla.), where it suffered major injuries on offense. It was the Bearcats’ first shutout loss since the 2015 season opener. They look to bounce back against Class 4A opponent Ozark. Booneville won this matchup last year, 31-14. A key for the Bearcats this week will be to limit the turnovers and put the loss behind them. Ozark is coming off a 46-14 win over Clarksville, and should prevail here as Booneville deals with its injuries and the season-opening loss.

No. 5 MANSFIELD (1-0) at Class 4A Waldron (0-1): Mansfield has won 16 of the past 23 games in this series, and it enters off a 34-28 OT win against Bismarck 34-28. Andrew Burton carried the ball 24 times for 158 yards and 2 TDs, including the game-winner. Zander Walters had 7 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Waldron is coming off a 27-0 loss to Paris last Friday night. 

Class 4A Pottsville (1-0) at No. 4 CHARLESTON (0-0): Pottsville’s 3-point win over Charleston last year snapped a 4-game losing streak in the series. Pottsville beat Heber Springs 21-7 last week, with Keagan Jones leading the way. Charleston is led by all-state QB Carter Little (234-365 passing, 3,395 yards, 42 TDs), and his presence gives Charleston the edge. 

Lavaca (1-0) at PARIS (1-0): Paris defeated Waldron 27-0 behind junior QB Josh Honea, who passed for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior Joel Johnson led the Eagles’ defense with 11 tackles. Paris won last year’s matchup 48-21, but this is a new Lavaca team. The Golden Arrows, who defeated the Dover Pirates 30-26 last week, will rely on senior all-conference QB Dalton Mullenix (who played receiver last season) to lead the offense. Paris’s defense will play a key role in this matchup, giving the Eagles an edge.

Class 4A Green Forest (0-1) at WEST FORK (0-0): Green Forest enters off a 27-point loss to Hollister, Mo. West Fork (3-8 last fall) has won 9 of the past 16 in the series, but Green Forest won 12-0 last season.

Class 2A MOUNTAINBURG (0-0) at Cedarville (0-1): Mountainburg, which did not play last week, beat Cedarville 50-22 last season. Cedarville enters off a 32-14 loss to the Magazine Rattlers last Friday night. Junior RB Daniel Ramirez will lead the offense. Mountainburg rides the arm of senior QB Ryan Allen, who passed for 1,650 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. 

OPEN Greenland, Hackett

2-3A

No. 1 SALEM (1-0) vs. No. 6 Prescott (1-0) (at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium) See Game of the Week, above

No. 16 MAYFLOWER (1-0) at Class 2A Bigelow (0-1): Mayflower enters off a 42-7 win over Jessieville last week. Junior QB Carter Smith passed for 219 yards and 1 TD and rushed for a TD. Marcus Phillips led all receivers with 85 yards and 1 TD. Mayflower won this matchup last season 35-0. Bigelow is coming off a 33-14 loss to England last week.  

No. 18 ATKINS (1-0) at Class 4A Dover (0-1): This game is known as the Winner against the Rivals Cup. Dover enters off a 30-26 loss to Lavaca, but QB Mathew Kremtz ran for 111 yards and 3 TDs, passed for 123 yards and 1 touchdown, and recorded 7 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. Atkins enters off a 40-12 win against Perryville last Friday night — Cole Crawford passed for 201 yards, with 101 of those yards going to senior playmaker Mason Martin, who also rushed for 61 yards. 

QUITMAN (0-0) at Class 2A Conway Christian (1-0): Quitman, which did not play last week, will be led by all-state senior QB Jordon Moore-Payne, who completed 302 passes for 2,530 yards and 25 touchdowns a season ago. He will be protected by all-state senior left tackle Jeremyah Green (6-4, 290). Defending 2A state champion Conway Christian beat Hazen 24-20 last week, but it has lost a lot of production from last season. Quitman’s experience gives it the edge in this matchup. 

No. 19 MELBOURNE (1-0) at Class 4A Bald Knob (1-0): Bald Knob beat Class 2A Mariana 20-14 last week. RB Keegan Smith (178 rushing yards) carried the load on offense. Melbourne beat Hoxie 28-13, led by RB Ty Gillihan, who had 13 carries for 146 yards with 1 TD. QB Abe Cooper completed 11 passes for 98 yards with 1 TD, and he rushed for 2 TDs. Melbourne’s offense gives it the edge in this matchup. 

Class 2A BEARDEN at Episcopal (0-1): Episcopal opened with a 42-14 loss to Smackover last week. All-conference senior QB Turner Harbour leads the offense. Bearden, which did not play last week, won last season 43-0. Junior all-state RB Matthew Chambers rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. 

4A Berryville (0-0) at MOUNTAIN VIEW (0-0): This will be the season-opener for both teams. Mountain View won 24-7 last fall, and the Yellowjackets are returning senior QB Hayden Long and RB Brayden Clark. Berryville senior all-conference WR Kale Smith will be a force, but Mountain View’s experience gives it the advantage in this matchup. 

OPEN Yellville-Summit

3-3A

No. 11 OSCEOLA (0-1) at Class 4A Blytheville (0-0): Osceola lost its opener 28-17 to tough 4A foe LR Mills. Senior Tyler Bell accounted for 1,364 yards with 14 TDs last fall, including 355 rushing yards and 6 TDs. Blytheville relies on returning all-conference players Courtney Rogers and Nate King. 

No. 13 NEWPORT (1-0) at Class 5A Batesville (0-1): Newport enters off a 38-6 win over Marked Tree last Friday night. Tre Greer (13-247 rushing, 3 TDs) and Dayrin Braxton (100 total yards, 2 TDs) led the way. Hayden Kennedy led defensively with 9 total tackles. Newport won last year’s matchup, 66-24. Batesville senior all-conference QB Cole Bentz leads the offense.

No. 17 Walnut Ridge (0-1) at Class 4A TRUMANN (0-1): Walnut Ridge enters off a 30-22 loss to Class 2A No. 1 EPC. Jace Blake (5-83 rushing, 2 TDs; 1 passing TD; 2 INTs) led the offense. Trumann forfeited its game vs. Nettleton last week when a brawl started after a lost-yardage play on third-and-4 at Trumann’s 9 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Two Wildcats players were ejected and will miss this game, but they have appealed to the Arkansas Activities Association.

No. 2 RIVERCREST (0-0) at Class 4A Gosnell (1-0): Rivercrest, which has won 4 consecutive in the series, opens its season. Senior Buddah Harris was the best player on the field during its scrimmage against Pocahontas 2 weeks ago. Gosnell beat Green County Tech 40-26 last Friday as Mason Woods ran for 226 yards and 4 TDs. Rivercrest’s returning talent gives it the edge in this matchup.  

Class 4A Jonesboro Westside (0-0) at HOXIE (0-1): This tight matchup last year finished with Hoxie getting the edge over Jonesboro Westside 14-13. This is the first game for Jonesboro Westside’s head coach Tyler Gahr, who is a former Jonesboro assistant and standout at Valley View. Hoxie lost to Melbourne 28-13 last week. Hoxie will use their experience to edge a win in this one. 

Manila (0-1) at Class 2A MARKED TREE (0-1): Manila looks to bounce back after a 35-8 loss to Paragould last Friday. Senior QB Isaac Moore, who plays baseball as well, leads the offense. Marked Tree lost to Newport 38-6 last Friday night. Marked Tree won last year’s matchup 43-6.

Harrisburg (0-1) at Class 4A SOUTHSIDE (1-0): Harrisburg lost to Class 2A Cross County 30-6 last week, while Southside beat Forrest City 35-8. Southside RB Owen McLaughlin ran for 3 TDs, while Aiden Rodriguez ran for 95 yards. Junior QB Trey Allen passed for 165 yards and 1 TD and ran for 1 TD. Southside won this matchup last season winning 49-13. Harrisburg is coming off a 30-6 loss last week against 2A Cross County. Southside’s talent gives it the advantage. 

OPEN Piggott

4-3A

Lavaca at Paris (See 1-3A)

No. 10 Glen Rose (1-0) at Class 4A MALVERN (1-0): Malvern has won the Brick Bowl 11 of the past 15 years, but both teams impressed in Week 0. Glen Rose beat Class 4A Bauxite 32-26 as the Beavers’ defense came up with an interception to help seal its first win in the series since 2016. QB Gage Hood played well for the Beavers. Malvern defeated 5A Jacksonville 22-14 with QB Kyler Wright throwing 2 TD passes, and Tavien Clegg running 8 yards in the fourth quarter for the winning score. 

Class 2A HECTOR (0-0) at Perryville (0-1): Perryville lost 40-12 to Atkins last Friday night, and it looks to bounce back against 2A Hector, which did not play last week. Perryville is led upfront by senior all-state guard Jordon Williams, who plays a major role in protecting their sophomore QB Tanner Frith. Perryville won the matchup last season against Hector 49-12. Hector is led by senior QB Drew Newport (1,893 passing, 15 TDs last season).

Magnet Grove (1-0) at No. 3 FORDYCE (1-0): Magnet Grove enters off a 39-0 win over Gurdon last Friday night and is led by senior all-state RB Angel Villezcas, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. Fordyce defeated Monticello 46-18 last week. The Redbugs are led by sophomore all-state QB Andreal Ellion Jr., who passed for 183 yards and 2 TDs in the win. The defense accounted for 2 pick-six interception returns — by senior Tramane Turner and junior Jamartez Stroud. Fordyce won 62-6 last season, and it will be too strong again.

Class 2A J.C. Westside (0-0) at DANVILLE (1-0): Danville enters off a 39-13 loss to Hackett last Friday. The Little Johns are led by senior all-conference 2-way player Gunner Wilkins, who had 25 carries for 103 yards and 1 touchdown on offense and 8 tackles on defense Danville won last season’s matchup 48-28. 

Class 2A POYEN (1-0) at Cutter Morning Star (0-0): Cutter Morning Star hands over the offensive reins to sophomore QB Jacob Smith, a standout in junior high. Smith throws to senior all-conference WR Brody Spears, who caught 11 TDs last season. Poyen won this matchup last fall, 34-12. Poyen is coming off a 28-16 win against Mountain Pine last Friday night. 

Class 2A BAPTIST PREP (0-0) at Two Rivers (0-0): This is the season-opener for both teams. Baptist Prep won 42-28 last fall. Two Rivers is led by Junior QB Drake Hess, who was an all-conference performer last season. Baptist Prep is led by senior QB Austin Herring, who recorded 750 total yards and 10 TDs last season. Baptist Prep’s experience will be the advantage.   

OPEN Jessieville

7-3A

No. 1 SALEM (1-0) vs No. 6 Prescott (0-1) (at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium) See Game of the Week, above.

Class 2A Mineral Springs (0-0) at No. 7 BISMARCK (0-1): Bismarck enters off a 34-28 OT loss to Mansfield. Senior QB Preston Hughes (6-11 passing, 121 yards, 2 TDs; 53 rushing yards, TD) leads Bismarck. Senior Caedmon Keithley led the defense with 12 tackles, and he returned a kickoff 72 yards for a TD. Bismarck won 62-14 last fall. 

Class 4A FOUNTAIN LAKE at No. 14 Smackover (1-0): Smackover, entering off a 42-14 win over Episcopal Collegiate, is led by senior dual-threat QB Mitchell Polk, who passed for more than  2,000 yards and 27 TDs last season. Fountain Lake junior QB Cooper Buss passed for 485 yards and 5 TDs in last week’s 55-24 win over Cutter Morning Star in the Battle of the Gorge. Junior receiver Peyton Harwood (10-225-3 TD vs. Cutter) has scored 27 TDs in 9 varsity games. The Cobras passing attack will be too much for Smackover’s defense.

No. 9 RISON (0-0) at No. 20 Harmony Grove Ouachita County (0-1): Rison won this matchup last year 38-16, and the Wildcats are led by junior QB Kyson Walker, who returns after starting all 12 games last season. Junior RB Christian Reeves (4.5 speed) will be a big contributor to the offense. Harmony Grove Ouachita County lost 36-0 to Class 2A Junction City last Friday night. Senior all-state QB Damien Burns (57 yards rushing) and junior Mathew Priddy (10 tackles) were the top performers. 

FOUKE (1-0) at Class 2A Murfreesboro (0-1): Fouke opened last week with a 21-0 win over Dierks. Junior QB Cody Heflin leads the offense for the Panthers, along  with senior RB Joshua Scoggins. Senior all-conference linebacker Chris Sherman led the defense and helped preserve the shutout. Fouke won last year’s matchup 39-22. The Rattlers are coming off a 50-22 loss to Centerpoint last week.

Class 2A GURDON (0-1) at Parker’s Chapel (0-1): Parker’s Chapel, which fell to Foreman 38-16 last week, is led by sophomore QB Landon Willie. The O-line will be the strength of the team this year with senior left tackle Ethan Haynes leading the group. Gurdon lost to Magnet Cove 39-0 in the opener last week but Gurdon won last year’s matchup with Parker’s Chapel 42-18. Gurdon started 5 new offensive linemen and turned the ball over too much in its season-opening loss, according to Coach Kyle Jackson. The Go Devils finished with 192 yards in total offense.

Horatio (0-0) at Class 5A DE QUEEN (0-1): De Queen, which opened its season with a 28-0 loss to Mena last week, won this matchup 35-0 last season to snap a 3-year losing streak. Horatio didn’t play last week.

OPEN Centerpoint

8-3A

Magnet Grove at No. 3 FORDYCE (See 4-3A)

No. 9 RISON at No. 20 Harmony Grove Ouachita County (See 7-3A)

Class 4A HAMBURG (0-0) at McGehee (0-0): This is the season-opener for both teams, and it is a game that typically goes down to the wire. Hamburg’s 27-20 win last year snapped a 2-game losing streak in the series (1-point McGehee win in 2023). Hamburg has a 10-6-1 record in the 17 meetings with the Owls. Hamburg gets big plays from junior QB Kaden Thomas and senior RB Nikel Lewis. Returning all-conference players Ashton Humphries and Rashawn Brown lead McGehee. Hamburg is led by all-state senior RB Ni’kel Lewis, who accounted for 1,944 rushing yards and 25 TDs last season. The Lions won last season’s matchup 27-20. Hamburg’s veteran leadership gives it the slight edge in this matchup.  

Class 4A STAR CITY (0-0) at No. 12 Dumas (0-0): This is the season-opener for both teams. Senior Rashad Moore leads Dumas’ offense and will help out sophomore QB Kyle Young, a junior-high standout. Star City leans on senior QB Jacob Boothe, who passed for 1,325 yards and 11 TDs last season. Expect 4A Star City to have the edge in this matchup. 

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY (1-0) at Class 2A Cross County (1-0): This is a father-son battle on the sidelines. Palestine-Wheatley Coach Tyler Paschal goes against his father, Van Paschael, who coaches Cross Country. Palestine-Wheatley, coming off a 49-8 win over the Clarendon Lions, is led by sophomore standout Adron Cooper (92 rushing, 4 TDs; 1-52 receiving, TD). Senior QB Brody Parker (5-6 passing, 3 TDs) also contributed. Palestine-Wheatley won last year’s matchup 34-21. Cross County enters off a 30-6 win over Harrisburg. Kobe Walker returned an interception 30 yards for a TD. Caden Crawford rushed for 100 yards and 2 TDs. Sawyer Powell rushed for 50 yards and a TD. Caden Finley had 15 tackles. Iveyion Gardner had 6 tackles, a fumble recovery and an INT.

Class 2A Clarendon (0-1) at BARTON (0-1): Barton, which lost 66-22 to Earle last week, is led by returning senior all-conference RB Calvin Jones. Senior LB Andrew Boals leads the defense. The Bears won last year’s matchup 34-12. Clarendon is coming off a 49-8 loss last week against Palestine-Wheatley.   

Class 2A ENGLAND (1-0) at Drew Central (0-1): Drew Central looks to bounce back after last week’s 27-6 loss to Carlisle. Senior QB Tra’Bennet Fuller returns as a 3-year starter. The defense is led by all-conference seniors Tyon Woodard and Blake Chandler. England won 28-22 last season, and enters here after beating Bigelow 33-14.

OPEN Lake Village