Class 3A Week 12 Rankings, Matchups and Selections

Class 3A Rankings

Week 12, 2025

1. ↔  1. Salem (11-0; beat Fouke 54-7)
2. ↔   2. Mansfield (10-0; 1st Round Bye)
3. ↔   3. Rivercrest (8-2; 1st Round Bye)
4. ↔   4. Bismarck (10-1; beat Lavaca 57-0)
5. ↔   5. Charleston (10-1; beat Barton 71-48) 
6. ↔   6. Glen Rose (10-1; beat Harrisburg 49-12)
7. ↔   7. Mayflower (10-1; beat Harmony Grove OC 43-7)
8. ↔   8. Smackover (10-1; beat Hackett 54-8)
9. ↔   9. Fordyce (10-1; beat Jessieville 46-0)
10. ↔  10. Newport (9-2; beat Melbourne 48-14)
11. ↔  11 Atkins (9-2; beat No. 14 Prescott 27-6)
12. ↔ 12. Booneville (7-4; beat No. 15 Quitman 69-27)
13. ↔ 14. Walnut Ridge (8-3; beat Dumas 70-33)
14. ↑  17. Drew Central (6-5; beat No. 20 Paris 43-6)
15. ↑  18. McGehee (6-5; beat No. 19 Magnet Cove 46-8)
16. ↑  NR. Osceola (5-6; beat No. 16 Cutter Morning Star 56-22)
17. ↓ 14. Prescott (7-4; lost to No. 11 Atkins 27-6)
18. ↓ 15. Quitman (7-4; lost to No. 12 Booneville 69-27)
19. ↓  16. Cutter Morning Star (7-3; lost to Osceola 56-22)
20. ↓  19. Magnet Cove (7-4; lost to No. 18 McGehee 46-8)

NOT RANKED

1-3A: Cedarville (2-8), Greenland (2-8), Hackett (6-5), Lavaca (4-7), West Fork (1-9).

2-3A: Episcopal (0-10), Melbourne (6-5),  Mountain View (3-7), Yellville-Summit (1-9)

3-3A: Harrisburg (3-8), Hoxie (3-7), Manila (1-9), Piggott (0-10), Osceola (4-6)

4-3A: Danville (3-7), Jessieville (3-7), Paris (7-4), Perryville (2-8), Two Rivers (1-9).

7-3A: Centerpoint (4-6), Fouke (6-5), Harmony Grove OC (3-8), Horatio (1-8), Parker’s Chapel (0-10).

8-3A: Barton (5-6), Dumas (5-6), Lake Village (5-5), Rison (3-6), Palestine Wheatley (5-5) 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

2-3A (2) No. 7 MAYFLOWER (10-1) at 7-3A (2) No. 8 Smackover (10-1): This matchup features Mayflower’s high-powered defense trying to stop Smackover’s explosive offense in South Arkansas. Mayflower allows fewer than 5 points per game, while Smackover averages 47 points per game. Mayflower dominated its first-round matchup against Harmony Grove OC, 43-7, led on defense by Jeremiah Fuller (6 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 Safety), Devontae Williams (6 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF), and Marcus Phillips (2 tackles, 1 FR, 1 TD). Mayflower’s offense got strong performances from QB Carter Smith (14-23 passing, 170 yards, 3 TDs), Trevion Williams (9-30 rushing, 1 TD), Marcus Smith (4-57 receiving, 2 TDs), and Cameron Willis (3-55 receiving, 1 TD). This might be the best second-round matchup in 3A. Smackover rolled Hackett 54-8. Mitchell Polk (12-22 passing, 194 yards, 4 TDs) led the Buckaroos to victory, with strong contributions from Joe Brown (18-190 rushing, 1 TD; 1-35 receiving, 1 TD) with Juice Robinson (6-123 receiving, 123 yards, 3 TDs; 10 tackles, 1 Pick-Six), and Jeremiah King (3 INTs) leading the way. Mayflower leads the all-time series 2-1, including a 53-46 win in the second round of the 2017 playoffs. Expect another close contest, though likely with a bit less scoring.

LAST WEEK

Hootens.com correctly predicted 12 of 14 games (86 percent).

TOP OF THE BRACKET

3-3A (3) No. 13 Walnut Ridge (8-3) at 1-3A (1) No. 2 MANSFIELD (10-0): Walnut Ridge rolled past Dumas 70–33 last week, led by Jace Blake (207 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 53 passing yards, 2 TDs) and Carter Morse (95 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Walnut Ridge is battle-tested, with its only losses coming to No. 3 Rivercrest, No. 10 Newport in 3A and East Poinsett County, No. 1 in 2A. Mansfield, undefeated and rested after a first-round bye, is riding the momentum of a magical season. This will be the first  meeting between the two programs.

8-3A (3) No. 15 McGehee (6-5) at 7-3A (1) No. 4 BISMARCK (10-1): McGehee picked up a first-round road victory, beating Magnet Cove 48-6. The Owls have battled through a tough stretch, going 2–2 in their last 4 games, and now face Bismarck, which continues to dominate as it pushes toward a potential rematch with Mansfield. Bismarck’s run game powered last week’s win over Lavaca, highlighted by Caedmon Keithley (67 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 1 INT), Blake Cranford (55 rushing yards, 1 TD), and Josh Wooten (42 rushing yards, 1 TD). The last time these teams met was in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, when McGehee won 42–20. Expect this matchup to swing the other way this time around.

3-3A (2) No. 10 Newport (9-2) at 2-3A (1) No. 1 SALEM (11-0): Salem won 48-12 when the teams met in Week 2, but Newport is 8-1 since that matchup, its only loss coming to No. 3 Rivercrest. Newport enters off a 48-14 first-round win over Melbourne, powered by Tre Greer (13 carries, 244 yards, 4 TDs, 1 fumble) and a strong outing from Luke Reynolds (9-10 passing for 113 yards and 1 TD; 8-53 rushing, 1 fumble). Salem, the defending 3A state champion, is riding a 20-game win streak and is unbeaten at home since Sept. 5, 2024. Salem beat Fouke 54-7, powered by Kaden Brink (18-158 rushing, 5 TDs) and a solid performance from QB Jackson Taylor (9-16 passing, 127 yards; 2-10 rushing). 

3-3A (4) No. 16 OSCEOLA (5-6) at 8-3A (2) No. 14 Drew Central (6-5): Both teams have had their ups and downs, with Osceola coming back from a 1-5 start and Drew Central winning its past 3 after starting the season 3-5. Osceola has won 4 of its past 5, putting things together in the first round with a 56-22 win over Cutter Morning Star, the Warriors’ first road win of the year. Drew Central beat Paris 43-6 in the first round, posting its largest winning margin. The Pirates rushed for 289 yards, led by Jayden Jones (70 yards rushing, 2 TDs) and Zae Bullard (55 rushing yards, 1 TD). This will be the first meeting between the programs.

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET

1-3A (3) No. 12 Booneville (7-4) at 3-3A (1) No. 3 RIVERCREST (8-2): Booneville cruised past Quitman 69-27 in the first round, posting a season-high in points by racking up 553 yards of offense and 8 touchdowns, adding 2 more from their defense. Standout performances came from Hunter Warren (4-115 rushing, 3 TDs), Conner Droemer (3-108 rushing, 2 TDs; fumble return for a TD), and Brody Chambers (11-108 rushing, 2 TDs). Rivercrest has been dominant since a Week 2 loss to Class 4A Forrest City, winning 7 in a row. The Colts, coming off a first-round bye, will have their hands full with a dangerous Booneville team.

2-3A (3) No. 11 Atkins (9-2) at 4-3A (1) No. 6 GLEN ROSE (10-1): Atkins bounced back from its loss to Mayflower by handing Prescott a first-round exit with a 27-6 victory. Now, Atkins takes on a Glen Rose team that beat Harrisburg 49-12. Cole Crawford (13-23 passing, 158 yards, 3 TDs; 14-85 rushing), Davyn Bowden (3-57 receiving, 2 TDs), and John Davis (12 tackles, 2 FF, 1 fumble recovery) led the Beavers, who have dominated since a Week 2 loss to Bismarck, winning 8 consecutive games. The Beavers allow fewer than 15 points per game and got a standout defensive effort from Leyton Baldwin (8 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT; 2-15 receiving, 1 TD) against Harrisburg. Gage Hood (14-24, 190 yards, 4 TDs; 10-69 rushing) and Darrin Bowdle (8-125 rushing, 1 TD) powered offense for Glen Rose, which has won both of the previous meetings between the teams.

1-3A (2) No. 5 CHARLESTON (10-1) at 8-3A (1) No. 9 Fordyce (10-1): This is another heavyweight second-round matchup as Charleston heads south to face Fordyce. Charleston has dominated all season outside of a midseason loss to Mansfield and enters off a 71-point effort against Barton. The Tigers were led by Carter Little (17-24 passing, 334 yards, 4 TDs), with strong contributions from Finn Schmalz (19-156 rushing, 4 TDs), Deegan Todd (4-121 receiving, 1 TD), and Bryson Wibbing (4-67 receiving, 1 TD; Pick-Six). The Redbugs have struggled in recent weeks, falling to Lakeside Lake Village and defeating Rison and McGehee by 6 points each. Fordyce boasts a strong defense but hasn’t had its offense click like it did early on. Charleston looks to go 3-0 all-time against Fordyce.

2-3A (2) No. 7 MAYFLOWER (10-1) at 7-3A (2) No. 8 Smackover (10-1): See Hootens.com Game of the Week, above.