Class 3A Week 1 Rankings and Selections

Hootens.com 

Class 3A Rankings

Week 0, 2026

RK.-PV. TEAM (REC., WEEK 0 RESULT)

1. ↔ 1. MANSFIELD (0-1, lost to 5A Dardanelle 55-30)
2. ↔2. FORDYCE (0-1, lost to 4A Monticello 28-20)
3. ↔ 3. BISMARCK (0-1, lost to 4A Nashville 49-23)
4. ↔ 4. GLEN ROSE (0-1, lost to 4A Bauxite 46-33)
5. ↔ 5. ATKINS (0-1, lost to 4A Heber Springs 56-28)
6. ↔ 6. CHARLESTON (0-1, lost to 4A Booneville 34-27)
7. ↔7.  RIVERCREST (0-0, DID NOT PLAY)
8. ↔ 8. SMACKOVER (1-0, beat McGehee 38-9)
9. ↔ 9. WALNUT RIDGE (1-0, beat 2A EPC 53-14)
10. ↔ 10. NEWPORT (1-0, beat 2A Marked Tree 41-18)
11. ↑   12. HELENA (1-0, beat LR Southwest 42-18)
12. ↑  13. PRESCOTT (1-0, beat 4A Hope 46-0)
13. ↓  11. OSCEOLA (0-1, lost to 4A Mills 30-14)
14. ↑  16. SALEM (0-1, lost to 5A Greene County Tech 31-6)
15. ↑  17. MELBOURNE (1-0, beat Hoxie 41-7)
16. ↓  14.  DUMAS (0-1, loss to 4A Hamburg 30-6)
17. ↓  15. MCGEHEE (0-1, lost to No. 8 Smackover 38-6)
18. ↔18. QUITMAN (1-0, beat NR Perryville 35-7)
19. ↔ 9. RISON (1-0, beat 4A DeWitt 48-20)
20. ↔20. CUTTER MORNING STAR (0-1, lost to 4A Fountain Lake 48-31)

 NOT RANKED:

1-3A: Paris (0-1), Greenland (0-1), Lavaca (0-1), West Fork (1-0), Cedarville (1-0)

2-3A: Yellville-Summit (0-1), Mountain View (0-1), Riverview (0-1), Marshall (0-0)

3-3A: Hoxie (0-1), Harrisburg (0-1), Palestine-Wheatley (1-0), Manila (0-1), Piggott (0-1)

4-3A: Jessieville (0-1), Danville (1-0), Perryville (0-1), Conway Christian (0-1), Two Rivers (0-1)

7-3A: Harmony Grove Ouachita County (0-1), Centerpoint (1-0), Parkers Chapel (1-0), Horatio (0-1), Cossatot River (0-1)

8-3A: Lake Village (1-0), Drew Central (0-1)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 15 Melbourne (1-0) at No. 7 RIVERCREST (0-0):  Melbourne rolled to a 41-7 win last week over Hoxie while Rivercrest enjoyed an extra week of practice under first-year coach Brandon Powell. Junior quarterback ABE COOPER had a nice start for the Bearkatz last week and is one of the best playmakers in Class 3A. Rivercrest has all-conference senior QB JAYDEN RALPH back (24 TD passes last fall). The difference in this game will be Rivercrest running back LEXX LATHAM. Latham rushed for 1,200 yards last season on 148 carries, and Powell calls him a “do-it-all back”. The Colts will give up some points to Melbourne, but the dynamic duo of Ralph and Latham should carry them to 1-0. 

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)

1-3A

CLASS 4A MENA (1-0) at No. 1 Mansfield (0-1): Mena has won 9 consecutive matchups over Mansfield, but the last came in 2015. Mansfield hung with 5A Dardanelle for a half, and the Sand Lizards outscored Mansfield 20-6 in the second half. Mena escaped with a 55-49 overtime win against DeQueen. Junior SILAS BURTON had a touchdown reception and a touchdown run last week and should carry the Tigers to their first win of the season. 

No. 6 CHARLESTON (0-1) at Class 4A Pottsville (1-0): Charleston has won 5 of its 6 meetings vs. Pottsville, including last year by 35 points. Pottsville rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit last week to beat Prairie Grove by 49-46. Junior PENN HELTON ran for 144 yards and 2 TDs, while TYSON THACKET ran for 153 yards and 2 TDs. Charleston junior QB LUKAS BURLESON threw 3 TD passes, while junior FIN SCHMALZ tallied 167 yards (99 rushing, 68 receiving) and made 13 tackles in a 34-27 loss to Booneville.

PARIS (0-1) at Class 5A Clarksville (0-1): The Eagles should win this game plain and simple even though Gentry beat them 47-0 last week and gave up 402 yards passing to the Pioneers. Clarksville lost 35-14 to Waldron. Maybe it can get over the hump, but Paris will be playing with a chip on its shoulder after a 47-point loss.

Greenland (0-1) at Class 4A GREEN FOREST (0-1): Green Forest beat Greenland by 16 last fall, but Greenland has won 6 of the past 8 in the series. Greenland beat Lincoln by 21 points a week ago. Green Forest didn’t play last week, but scrimmaged Yellville-Summit 2 weeks ago. Senior JACE MEADOR recorded 5 tackles and forced 1 fumble.

2A Hackett (0-0) at LAVACA (0-1): Lavaca lost a heartbreaker to Dover last week, 35-27. They allowed 297 yards rushing to the Pirates and should get back on track this week against Hackett. The Hornets had their game with Dierks ruled a no-contest because of an injury to a player. 

West Fork (0-1) at Class 4A WALDRON (1-0): These teams haven’t played since Waldron’s 49-14 victory in 2017. Both teams won last week (West Fork beat Mountainburg 36-33, while Waldron beat Clarksville 35-10). Waldron ran for 275 yards, led by JAXON BROWN (13-105-2 TDs). QB ELI KLUTHE ran for a TD and threw a TD pass, while AUSTIN HUDSON ran for 1 TD and made 5 tackles. Brown led the D with 7 stops.

CEDARVILLE (1-0) at Class 2A Mountainburg (0-1): The Pirates blasted Two Rivers 37-0 last week in a game that was never in doubt. The Dragons lost a 36-33 thriller to West Fork in week 0 and should give the Pirates a good game this week. I expect a shootout with both teams in the 30s by the time it’s done with the larger school Pirates coming out on top. 

2-3A

Class 4A POCAHONTAS (0-1) at No. 14 Salem (0-1): Salem has beaten Pocahontas the past 2 years by a combined 22 points. But Salem may struggle some after graduating a large, productive senior class last year. The Greyhounds lost to Class 5A Greene County Tech last week 31-6. Pocahontas lost at Thayer, Mo., last week. QB SPENCER JAMES passed for 150 yards and 2 TDs, while XAVYER BALLARD tallied 150 yards (90 receiving, 60 rushing).

No. 15 Melbourne (1-0) at No. 7 RIVERCREST (0-1): See comment in Game of the Week. 

Class 5A Batesville (0-1) at No. 10 NEWPORT (1-0) Quarterback LUKE SAMPSON accounted for 4 touchdowns last week in the win over Marked Tree. He had 165 yards passing and two touchdowns to go with 96 yards rushing and two touchdowns. JESYN RUSSELL led the defense with three sacks. The Greyhounds’ offense will be too much for the Pioneers after they gave up 54 points to Searcy in Week 0. 

No. 18 QUITMAN (1-0) at Class 2A Bigelow (1-0): Both teams got decisive wins last week by similar scores. Quitman downed Perryville 35-7 while Bigelow beat Conway Christian 34-7. The Bulldogs are a little bigger and a little faster than the Panthers and should get the win in this matchup. 

Mountain View (0-1) at HARRISBURG (0-1): The Hornets were upset by Cross County 24-20 last week but could have won had they held on to the football. They threw for 218 yards and ran for 143 yards, but three turnovers did them in. Senior Grayson Harkey led the Hornets with 104 yards on the ground.

Riverview (0-1) at Class 4A BALD KNOB (1-0): These programs have played 13 of the past 14 seasons (missed 2020 game due to Covid), with Riverview holding a 7-6 advantage. But Bald Knob may have an advantage this fall. QB SEFTON PALOMARES threw 1 TD pass and ran for another in last week’s 51-18 win over Class 2A Marianna, while KEEGAN SMITH ran for 104 yards and 2 TDs. Jonesboro Westside blanked Riverview 35-0.

Class 2A MARKED TREE (0-1) at Marshall (0-0) The Bobcats were off last week due to a virus outbreak in Searcy county while Marked Tree kept it respectable against Newport. The Indians have the talent advantage and should pick up their first win of the season. 

3-3A

No. 15 Melbourne (1-0) at No. 7 RIVERCREST (0-0): See comment in Game of the Week. 

Class 4A Trumann (0-0) at No. 9 WALNUT RIDGE (1-0): Walnut Ridge has beaten the Wildcats the past 2 seasons (35-6 last year and 29-28 in 2024). Walnut Ridge beat East Poinsett County a week ago by 39 points. Trumann lost its scrimmage to Brookland 7-0. The Wildcats forced 3 turnovers. Sophomore CARLOS MORALES led the Trumann rushing attack. JACE BLAKE ran wild last week in a 39-point win over EPC. Blake had 164 yards and two touchdowns. The Bobcats had six different players score rushing touchdowns. Trumann will be a step up in competition, but Blake runs the single wing better than anyone and that is the reason Walnut Ridge will win this game. 

Class 4A Blytheville (0-0) at No. 13 OSCEOLA (0-1): Blytheville has beaten Osceola 3 consecutive meetings, including 20-19 last fall. Former Cross County defensive coordinator Katon Hill debuts as Blytheville’s coach. The Chickasaws scrimmaged Cross County 2 weeks ago. DL JAMES RILEY, DE JAQUAN SMITH and LB XZAVION LIDDELL played well. Osceola lost Class 5A Mills last week 30-14.

 Hoxie (0-1) at Class 4A JONESBORO WESTSIDE (1-0): Hoxie has beaten Jonesboro Westside the past 3 seasons by a combined 76-19. But Jonesboro Westside has dominated in its scrimmage against Piggott and in last week’s 35-0 win over Riverview. DREW WOODS ran 11 times for 170 yards and 2 TDs for the Warriors, while BRAYDEN WILLIS made 4 sacks.

Mountain View (0-1) at HARRISBURG (0-1): See comment in 2-3A. 

Class 2A Cross County (1-0) at PALESTINE-WHEATLEY (1-0): While it is no longer the “Paschal Bowl with Van Paschal moving on to Harrison, this game still has some meaning. It is one of the last times Cross County was beaten last season. The Patriots held Des Arc in check last week and won 22-16. I think they take down the Thunderbirds for the second straight season. 

Class 2A EPC (0-1) at Manila (0-1): Both teams struggled on both sides of the ball last week against high class opponents. EPC lost to Walnut Ridge 53-16 while Manila lost to Paragould 45-21. The Lions churned out 265 yards of offense last week against Paragould with sophomore quarterback GABE GONZALES passing for 169 yards and two touchdowns. This one could come down to the last possession. 

Piggott (0-1) at Class 2A EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE (0-1): The Mohawks struggled against Doniphan (Mo.) last week and are still searching for that elusive win. Episcopal started the Tye Forte era with a loss at home to Clarendon that was 22-14 in the fourth quarter before the Lions pulled away for a 24-point win. Episcopal should get its first win. 

4-3A

No. 4 GLEN ROSE (0-1) at Class 4A DeWitt (0-1): Glen Rose beat DeWitt in nonconference games in 2006 and 2007. DeWitt coach JASON HATHCOCK graduated from Glen Rose in 2004 (Glen Rose coach Bryan Weatherford was Hathcock’s D-line coach) and coached at his alma mater from 2016-2020. DeWitt sophomore LAYDEN BURNS caught 3 passes for 67 yards and 1 TD in last week’s 28-point loss to Rison, while XA COX, CAMERON MITHCELL and KAIDEN GOLDEN all racked up 7 tackles on defense. The Beavers fought hard against Bauxite last week, but turnovers and too many explosive plays did them in. They take on another 4A team this week and should clean up the mistakes and get the win against a DeWitt team that allowed 48 points to Rison last week. 

Class 4A Dover (1-0) at No. 5 ATKINS (0-1): Atkins has won 6 of the past 8 meetings with rival Dover, including last fall 49-0. But Atkins couldn’t stop Heber Springs’ passing attack last week (lost by 28 points). Dover beat Lavaca by 8 points last week, its first win since 2024. Sophomore JORDAN PETERS led the o-line with 5 pancake blocks. The Red Devils fell behind Heber Springs early and couldn’t catch them. Sophomore BRE’LAN CRISWELL had a 66-yard touchdown scamper and ETHAN LINBOOM had a 90-yard score. The defense should recover this week against Dover. 

Cutter Morning Star (0-1) at Class 4A CAC (0-0): These programs meet for the first time since 1990. Cutter Morning Star lost to Fountain Lake a week ago. CAC scrimmaged Fountain Lake 2 weeks ago, but the starters only played 1 quarter. Inside linebacker CAM MOATS and sophomore OL AYDEN OWENS performed well in the summer for CAC. JACOB SMITH had a big game against Fountain Lake despite the 48-31 loss. Smith passed for 390 yards and three scores while adding a rushing touchdown. This will be the opener for CAC and both offenses should put up plenty of points. JACKSON PLUMLEE returns at quarterback for the Mustangs. 

Class 2A Magnet Cove (0-1) at JESSIEVILLE (0-1): Magnet Cove took it on the chin 36-18 against Gurdon last week while Jessieville lost a 52-36 shootout to Mineral Springs. Senior quarterback JACOB GRAVES had 149 yards passing and 164 yards rushing and 4 total touchdowns for the Lions. He is enough to get the Lions over the hump this week for their first win of the season. 

Class 2A Murfreesboro (0-1) at DANVILLE (1-0): The Little Johns scored in just about every imaginable way last week against Cossatot River. JAKE CRANE had passing and rushing touchdowns. LAWSON BRASHER caught and threw a touchdown. PRESTON HELMS had a pick-six for a score. On special teams, Brasher had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown and CHRISTIAN ALCOCER returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. Danville is the deeper and more talented team in this matchup. 

PERRYVILLE (0-1) at Class 4A Subiaco Academy (0-0): Subiaco Academy returns to 11-man football after finishing as the unsanctioned 8-man state champion a year ago. The Trojans didn’t play a scrimmage due to a lack of numbers and plan to dress 21 players this week. Perryville lost to Class 3A Quitman 35-7 a week ago.

Class 2A HECTOR (1-0) at Conway Christian (0-1): Hector shut out Yellville-Summitt last week and Conway Christian struggled against former conference rival Bigelow. Hector’s unconventional offense is tough to prepare for in one week and that alone gives it the edge in this matchup. 

OPEN Two Rivers (0-1)

 7-3A

Class 4A No. 20 HG Haskell (0-0) at No. 3 BISMARCK (0-1): The Lions stepped up last week against Nashville and took it on the chin, but they held their own. CAYDEN BURCH accounted for 3 touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown strike to Linken Jones. HG Haskell has won 6 consecutive in the series, but they haven’t met since the Cardinals 35-point win in 2017. Haskell didn’t play last week, but scrimmaged Glen Rose and Arkadelphia 2 weeks ago. QB JACKSON ESTES ran for a TD and threw a 67-yard TD pass in the scrimmage game, while Lane Beaty caught the TD pass and made 7 tackles. Sophomore CB CASH POTTER had 4 tackles and broke up 2 passes.

No. 12 PRESCOTT (1-0) at Class 4A Ashdown (0-1): These teams haven’t played since Ashdown’s 34-0 win in 2005. Prescott beat Hope 46-0 a week ago, while Ashdown lost to Atlanta, Texas 36-8. Ashdown senior BRYSON FRENCH had 150 all-purpose yards and broke up 4 passes on defense. MARION LEWIS led the D with 10 tackles, including 5 TFL and 1 sack.

Class 2A No 1 JUNCTION CITY (1-0) at No. 8 Smackover (0-1): The Buckaroos got off to a fast start against McGehee in a 38-6 win. They face a Dragons team that is one of Devin Ball’s best yet. The Dragons have the edge in the trenches and that will be the difference in the game. 

Harmony Grove OC (0-1) at No. 19 RISON (1-0): The Wildcats ran over DeWitt last week and should do the same this week to HGOC. The Hornets struggled with Junction City’s athleticism last week and will have problems again with Rison.

Centerpoint (1-0) at Class 4A FOUKE (1-0): Fouke has beaten Centerpoint the past 2 seasons by a combined 10 points. Centerpoint beat Class 2A Murfreesboro by 8 points last week, while Fouke bested Horatio by 44 points. Fouke jumped to a commanding 35-6 advantage in the first half.

Class 4A GENOA CENTRAL (1-0) at Parkers Chapel (1-0): This is the first meeting between these programs in 11-man football (played twice in 8-man football in 2023, with Genoa Central winning both). Genoa Central beat Class 2A Spring Hill 18-0 last week. QB ZACH DEATON threw a TD pass to MICHAEL RAWLINSON early in the first quarter, then DYLAN WILLIAMSON returned a muffed punt for a TD. COBY FIKE added a late TD run for the Dragons.

Class 2A DIERKS (0-0) at Horatio (0-1): The Outlaws were up 22-0 last week until their game was ruled a no-contest because of an injury. Horatio is struggling right now after a 44-point loss to Fouke that saw them down 35-6 at halftime. 

OPEN Cossatot River
8-3A

Class 2A Earle (0-0) at No. 11 HELENA (1-0): The Cougars stepped up three classes and won 42-18 on the road at LR Southwest. Now they go down a class to host Earle for their first home game of the season. Expect another win from Russell Smith’s bunch as their depth will be too much for Earle. 

Harmony Grove OC (0-1) at No. 19 RISON (1-0): See comment in 7-3A.  

No. 16 DUMAS (0-1) at Class 4A Star City (0-0): These teams have played every season since 1966, with Dumas winning 39-0 last season. Star City was slated to play Barton in Week 0 before Barton pulled the plug on its season just 48 hours before kickoff. Star City scrimmaged Rison 2 weeks ago (Rison kicked a field goal as the second quarter expired for a 17-14 win). Senior AMARION IVERSON, junior JAMARIAN SPENCER and junior OT/DT ADAM SULLIVAN played well for the Bulldogs.

Class 4A CROSSETT (1-0)  at Lake Village (1-0): These teams haven’t played since members of the 8-4A in 2012-2013 (Crossett won both games by a combined 90-14). Crossett beat Drew Central by 15 points last week. QB CASH FORREST passed for 268 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 141 yards and 2 TDs. Senior CHARLES MOORE caught a TD pass, while senior LB JT BARNETT made 15 tackles. Lake Village beat Class 2A Carlisle last week 42-28

OPEN No. 2 Fordyce (1-0), No. 17 McGehee (1-0) and Drew Central (0-1)