Class 3A Week 9 Rankings and Selections
Hootens.com Class 3A Rankings
Week 9, 2026
1 ↔ 1 Mansfield (7-2; beat Greenland 46-20)
2 ↑ 4 Atkins (7-1; beat Jessieville 46-6)
3 ↔ 3 Smackover (7-1; beat Parkers Chapel 48-8)
4 ↑ 5 Fordyce (5-2; beat Dumas 60-28)
5 ↑ 7 Walnut Ridge (7-1; beat Rivercrest 55-18)
6 ↑ 10 Prescott (7-1; beat Bismarck 42-28)
7 ↓ 2 Bismarck (6-2; lost to Prescott 42-28)
8 ↔ 8 Helena (5-2; beat McGehee 29-0)
9 ↔ 9 Glen Rose (5-3; beat Danville 51-17)
10 ↓ 7 Rivercrest (6-2; lost to Walnut Ridge 55-18)
11 ↔ 11 Newport (6-2; beat Marshall 64-0)
12 ↑ 14 Melbourne (6-2; beat Yellville-Summit 41-12)
13 ↑ 15 Charleston (5-3; beat West Fork 49-6)
14 ↑ 19 Lake Village (7-2; beat Rison 44-39)
15 ↑ 16 Quitman (6-2; beat Riverview 42-7)
16 ↓ 12 Rison (6-2; lost to Lake Village 44-39)
17 ↑ NR Hoxie (5-3; beat Osceola 26-20 in OT)
18 ↓ 13 Osceola (5-3; lost to Hoxie 26-20 in OT)
19 ↓ 18 Cedarville (5-3; did not play)
20 ↔ 20 Lavaca (6-3; beat Paris 38-26)
NOT RANKED:
1-3A: Paris (2-6), West Fork (2-6), Greenland (4-4)
2-3A: Yellville-Summit (2-6), Mountain View (4-4), Riverview (1-7), Marshall (0-8), Salem (2-6)
3-3A: Harrisburg (4-4), Manila (0-8), Piggott (0-8), Palestine-Wheatley (1-7)
4-3A: Perryville (4-4), Conway Christian (1-7), Two Rivers (0-8), Cutter Morning Star (2-6), Danville (4-4), Jessieville (3-5)
7-3A: Harmony Grove Ouachita County (2-6), Centerpoint (6-2), Parkers Chapel (2-6), Horatio (1-7), Cossatot River (0-8)
8-3A: Dumas (1-6), Drew Central (0-7), McGehee (3-4)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 Smackover (7-1, 4-1) at No. 6 PRESCOTT (7-1, 5-0): The Curly Wolves can clinch the 7-3A championship with a win, and the Buckaroos can force a 3-way tie with a win. Prescott’s defense played inspired football in the second half of its win over Bismarck last week. Sophomore Desmond Prater and Junior Tiden McKillion combined for 5 of 6 touchdowns in the 42-28 win. Prescott will have to stop the dynamic duo backfield of Kieundre Billingly and Madison McElroy to have a shot at winning. This one comes down to the wire, with Prescott having the edge at home.
WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in ALL CAPS and highlighted in orange)
1-3A
West Fork (2-6, 0-4) at No. 19 CEDARVILLE (5-3, 2-2): West Fork holds an 8-5 series edge since 2006, but it is Cedarville that is playing at the higher level this season. The Pirates enjoyed a week off after their 21-6 win over Lavaca, which puts them in a great spot for the No. 3 seed and a home game in the playoffs. West Fork is averaging 8.5 points per game in conference play. Cedarville controls the ball and rolls to 6-3 with a win.
No. 1 MANSFIELD (7-2, 5-0) at No. 13 Charleston (5-3, 4-0): The winner gets the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs; the loser is guaranteed 1 playoff game and will be in the same side of the bracket as the 3-3A champion. Charleston has played much better over the last 4 weeks and can compete with Mansfield in the trenches. It will be Lukas Burleson and Finn Schmalz against Silas Burton and Jeremiah Burton. The Burton brothers have combined for 1,777 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns this season. This comes down to defense, and Mansfield has too many weapons on offense and gets the win on the road.
Paris (2-6, 0-4) at GREENLAND (4-4, 1-3): The Pirates clinch a playoff spot with a win over Paris, then play Cedarville next week for the No. 4 seed. Hunter Johnson and Merrick Pifer have looked good on defense for Greenland. Paris, winless in conference play, can still make the playoffs with wins in its last 2 games. It would need a little help, as Paris, Greenland, and Cedarville could form a perfect triangle, but it can put itself in position if it beats the Pirates.
OPEN No. 20 Lavaca
2-3A
No. 12 MELBOURNE (6-2, 5-0) at Marshall (0-8, 0-5): The Bearkatz have been a pleasant surprise this season, allowing 20 points over their last 5 conference games. Ty Gillihan continues to run the ball well. The Bearkatz have clinched no worse than the No. 2 seed and could win the conference championship with a win over Newport next week.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (4-4, 3-2) at Riverview (1-7, 1-4): The Yellow Jackets are in the playoffs after beating Salem last week. Micah Moore and George Rector continue to lead the rushing attack. The defense allows 17.8 points per game this season, and it is enough to get them to 4 conference wins. A Week 10 matchup with Quitman will most likely decide the No. 3 seed.
No. 15 QUITMAN (6-2, 3-2) at Salem (2-6, 2-3): Both teams are likely in the playoffs, but Salem needs a win over the next 2 weeks. Quitman has looked like a playoff team over the past couple of weeks. Jack Sexton tossed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jack Waggoner last week in the 46-13 win over Marshall. Jaydan Owens returned the opening kickoff for a score. The Bulldogs will play Mountain View for the No. 3 seed in week 10 with a win over Salem.
No. 11 NEWPORT (6-2, 5-0) at Yellville-Summit (2-6, 1-4): The Greyhounds have not allowed a point in conference play since Oct. 2 against Quitman. Since then, they have rolled up 3 consecutive shutouts. It is easy to look ahead to a conference championship showdown with Melbourne next week, but Westin Swearingen has put up great numbers for Yellville-Summitt this season. Luke Sampson has 14 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing scores to lead the Greyhounds. JaTaelyn Crite is averaging 16.3 yards per carry this season. Newport has been solid and should get past the Panthers.
3-3A
No. 10 RIVERCREST (6-2, 4-1) at No. 17 Hoxie (5-3, 4-1): The Mustangs threw a kink in the conference race by upsetting Osceola in overtime last week. Rivercrest can still earn the No. 2 seed by winning out but could find itself as low as the No. 4 seed if it loses its next 2 games. These teams are in a 3-way tie with Osceola right now for second place, so the next 2 weeks are critical for playoff seeding. The Colts have the weapons offensively to win this matchup, but Hoxie is playing with house money and confidence right now.
PALESTINE-WHEATLEY (1-7, 1-4) at Manila (0-8, 0-5): As bad as things have been for the Patriots since forfeiting their first 4 games, they can still make the playoffs if they win out. They should take care of business against Manila and then face Harrisburg at home next week.
No. 5 WALNUT RIDGE (7-1, 5-0) at No. 18 Osceola (5-3, 4-1): The Bobcats made quick work of Rivercrest last week behind Carter Morse‘s 4-touchdown performance. The Colts keyed on Jace Blake and Jasper Callahan, leaving Morse to do most of the damage in the first half with runs of 43, 36 and 7 yards. Blake added 2 scores on the ground as well. The Seminoles flopped against Hoxie and will now have to win out to get at least a share of the conference championship. Osceola has won 8 of the last 10 matchups in this series, but the Bobcats are hot right now and hard to stop. They get the win and clinch a share of the conference title.
HARRISBURG (4-4, 2-3) at Piggott (0-8, 0-5): The Hornets clinch a No. 5 seed with wins over the next 2 weeks. They should take care of business against Piggott, which sets up a winner-take-all game at Palestine-Wheatley in Week 10.
4-3A
No. 9 GLEN ROSE (5-3, 4-1) at Conway Christian (1-7, 1-4)
CUTTER MORNING STAR (2-6, 2-3) at Danville (4-4, 2-3): The winner of this game most likely earns a playoff berth. CMS has the more favorable schedule, with Danville visiting Atkins next week while the Eagles host Two Rivers in Week 10. Two really good quarterbacks — Jacob Smith and Jake Crane — will go head-to-head with a playoff spot on the line.
Perryville (4-4, 3-2) at JESSIEVILLE (3-5, 3-2): The winner of this matchup will be in the driver’s seat for the No. 3 seed and a home playoff game. This contest mirrors CMS and Danville, with strong quarterbacks in Tanner Frith and Jacob Graves. Perryville plays Conway Christian next week, and Jessieville has Glen Rose. So, theoretically, if Jessieville wins out, it can clinch the No. 2 seed even after losing its last 2 games.
No. 2 ATKINS (7-1, 5-0) at Two Rivers (0-8, 0-5): The hard work is done for Austin Dobbs’ squad as they head to Two Rivers this week before ending the season with Danville. A win clinches the top seed and a conference championship, and that should come this week with a mercy-rule win.
7-3A
Centerpoint (6-2, 4-1) at No. 7 BISMARCK (6-2, 4-1): Bismarck ran into a brick wall in the second half last week in the loss to Prescott. Centerpoint is in the playoffs after beating HGOC, and its next 2 weeks will determine its playoff position. All signs point to it as the No. 4 seed; Bismarck can still grab a piece of the conference championship and finish as a 2- or 3-seed.
PARKERS CHAPEL (2-6, 1-4) at Cossatot River (0-8, 0-5): Parkers Chapel trailed Smackover 48-0 in the first quarter against Smackover, but the Trojans can still make the playoffs with wins over the next 2 weeks. They should roll in this matchup and set up a showdown with HGOC for the No. 5 seed.
Horatio (1-7, 1-4) at HARMONY GROVE O.C. (2-6, 1-4): HGOC can still make it to the playoffs with wins over Horatio and Parkers Chapel. HGOC nearly upset Centerpoint last week, so it is on the right track heading into this matchup with the Lions. HGOC wins this one to set up a winner-take-all matchup with the Trojans.
No. 3 SMACKOVER (7-1, 4-1) at No. 6 Prescott (7-1, 5-0): Hootens.com Game of the Week
8-3A
Drew Central (0-7, 0-4) at No. 8 HELENA (5-2, 3-1): Helena can earn the conference championship with wins over Drew Central and Lake Village. With Rison at 2 losses, Helena would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over everyone else in the conference. The Pirates average 27 points per game, powered by a rushing attack led by Cameron Sanders. Helena can’t look ahead and needs to play the stout defense that shut out McGehee last week.
McGehee (3-4, 2-2) at DUMAS (1-6, 0-4): Dumas has the offensive edge; McGee has the defensive edge. McGehee still has Fordyce in Week 10, so a win here helps its playoff seeding. Dumas should be able to score enough to win this matchup, but it has to slow down Kentz Brown to do so.
No. 16 Rison (6-1, 3-2) at No. 4 FORDYCE (5-2, 3-1): Rison lost control of the conference race after losing to Lake Village. Now it faces a Fordyce team that has scored 120 points in wins over Lake Village and Dumas. Micah Gamble and Jamartez Stroud keep filling the stat sheets each week, with Stroud doing it on both sides of the ball. This rivalry has seen it all, but the Redbugs are rolling after their loss to Helena and show no signs of slowing down.
OPEN No. 14 Lake Village