Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 1, 2013
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Warren
2. Nashville
3. Dollarway
4. Booneville
5. Arkadelphia
6. Prairie Grove
7. Pottsville
8. Newport
9. Hamburg
10. Valley View
11. Stuttgart
12. Farmington
13. Highland
14. Ashdown
15. Maumelle
16. Lonoke
17. CAC
18. Star City
19. Gravette
20. Clinton
21. Ozark
22. Malvern
23. Heber Springs
24. Gosnell
25. Monticello
26. Subiaco Academy
27. Dumas
28. Mena
29. Dardanelle
30. Crossett
31. Bauxite
32. Pocahontas
33. Lincoln
34. Arkansas Baptist
35. Pea Ridge
36. Southside Batesville
37. Pulaski Robinson
38. Cave City
39. DeWitt
40. Dover
41. Gentry
42. Jonesboro Westside
43. Lake Village
44. Brookland
45. Trumann
46. Berryville
47. Marianna
48. Waldron

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Warren vs. Fayetteville
The season's opening night culminates with two-time defending Class 7A champion Fayetteville playing Class 4A preseason favorite Warren during Simmon's First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Almost 150 Purple Dogs reported for August drills, compared to Warren's 44. Fayetteville senior Mitch Marshall takes over at quarterback after completing 12 of 19 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns in the spring game, and he played well during summer camps. Purple Dog senior receiver Jordan Dennis caught 64 passes for 1,001 yards and 10 TDs a year ago. No starters return on the line but "Fayetteville is bigger and has more depth," Warren coach Bo Hembree says.

Warren won nine straight games last year after starting the season 0-3. Junior receiver Darvion Brown started every game the past two years, and senior Von Eric Gonder hauled in 10 TD passes last fall. "Warren's skill players stack up against any in the state," an opposing coach says. "The quarterbacks (senior Drake Jones and junior Justin Gorman) can throw the ball in space, and the receivers are going to come up with it."

HOOTEN'S TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show airs 10::30 a.m. Saturdays this fall on KATV 7 (ABC-Little Rock) and KXNW (Ch. 34 Fort Smith/Fayetteville) starting Sept. 7. The show features the state's top recruiting prospects. In the first show, Fayetteville will be featured as the Verizon Wireless/Nokia Siemens Network Football Town of the Week and Dumas offensive/defensive lineman Johnny Gibson will be featured as the Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 267 of 316 games (84 percent) last season.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
1-4A
Huntsville at FARMINGTON (14): Farmington beat Class 5A Huntsville by a combined 56 points the past three years. Farmington breaks in new running backs and receivers, but the Cardinals return four starters on the line, including tackle Michael Ryan (6-3, 285) and guard Jeremy Alexander (6-4, 315).
WEST FORK (3) at Gentry: Gentry won two games last year, including a six-point decision at West Fork in the opener. West Fork first-year coach Brad Lindley builds around all-league running back Wyatt Montgomery (1,042 yards and 10 TDs).
GRAVETTE (7) at Lamar: Gravette's four wins last year were its fewest since going 4-6 in 2006. Lion senior linebacker Tyler Kerley racked up 94 tackles a year ago.
LINCOLN (10) at Westville, Okla.: Lincoln returns senior tailback Tyler Cummings (1,480 yards as a sophomore), who missed last year with an ACL injury. The Wolves have won 12 games the past two years, their best stretch since 1994-1995.
BOONEVILLE (10) at Ozark: Booneville has won six of the past nine regular-season meetings over its rival. Booneville has won conference titles three of the past four seasons, and the Bearcats return senior QB Cody Harrel (ran for 1,154 yards and 16 TDs) and junior fullback Bryson May (839 yards and 15 TDs). Ozark, the 2012 state runners-up, returns just four starters.
PEA RIDGE (6) at Elkins: Pea Ridge returns just one starter after winning 10 games last year. Pea Ridge has beaten Elks two of the past five seasons.
Lavaca at PRAIRIE GROVE (21): Prairie Grove has won four of the past seven over Lavaca. The Tigers won 12 games and the league title last season. Senior fullback Logan Bartholomew generated more than 1,000 total yards a year ago.
BERRYVILLE (7) at Marshall: Lee Atkins takes over at Berryville after the Bobcats won just four games the past four years. Berryville senior QB Austin Carr impressed in summer drills.

2-4A
CLINTON (16) vs. Arkansas Baptist (Thurs., at UCA): Clinton chomps to get on the field and erase last year's 2-8 campaign, when seven starters endured season-ending injuries. The Yellow Jackets plan to run junior QB Fielder Dufrene (650 yards passing and 135 yards rushing in 2012) more this fall behind junior fullback Harrison Lester.
West Helena at DOLLARWAY (18): Dollarway's only two losses last season were at state champion Stuttgart and eventual state semifinalist Highland by 10 points each. Cardinal senior QB/tailback Joshua Liddell generated more than 1,300 yards last season.
Heber Springs at POTTSVILLE (10): Pottsville has shared consecutive 4-4A titles. Apache senior Michael Perry returns for his fourth season at QB. Heber Springs senior QB Michael Kramer tallied more than 2,000 yards a year ago.
LONOKE (6) at Star City: Lonoke expects to compete for the league title this fall. Jackrabbit senior receiver Blake Mack (756 yards, eight TDs in 2012) committed to UL-Monroe in May. Star City first-year coach Jett Furneaux coordinated the Bulldog offense the past four years. Star City sophomore QB Tye Brown led the junior high to consecutive 8-0 records.
NEWPORT (1) at Nettleton: Each team has a new coach. Newport sophomore Carl Turner ran for 1,709 yards and 13 TDs last year. Former Greyhound offensive coordinator Don Harrison took over as coach in the spring. Nettleton named former Rogers assistant Steve Hampton as head coach on June 7.
Cave City at SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE (2): These teams tied 32-32 in last year's opener. Southside Batesville three-year QB Drew Moss passed for 1,041 yards in six games last fall. Cave City enters 2013 with the second-longest win streak in Class 4A.
CAC vs. STUTTGART (3) (Tue.): Defending state champion Stuttgart has won 22 games over the past two seasons. The Ricebirds run the ball with physical linemen. CAC QB Jack Thomas tore his labrum on the first drive against Stuttgart last year and didn't take another snap until the spring.

3-4A
BROOKLAND (8) at Brinkley: Brookland won its opening two games last year, including 42-14 over Brinkley. The Bearcats return starters at 15 positions, but the top two running backs graduated in May.
Cave City at SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE (2): These teams tied 32-32 in last year's opener. Southside Batesville three-year QB Drew Moss passed for 1,041 yards in six games last fall. Cave City enters 2013 with the second-longest win streak in Class 4A.
Gosnell at FORREST CITY (11): Forrest City pummeled the Pirates by 46 points in last year's opener, but it should be closer this fall. Gosnell's junior high won its league title last season.
HIGHLAND (16) at Thayer, Mo.: Highland sophomore QB Reid Maag ran the ball well during summer team camps, and the Rebels plan to improve the passing attack as the season progresses. The Rebels won consecutive league championships.
Manila at JONESBORO WESTSIDE (7): The Warriors won four games last year, the same as the previous three years combined. Manila won eight games since beginning its varsity program in 2008.
Bald Knob at POCAHONTAS (7) (Thurs.): Pocahontas blasted Bald Knob by 16 points in last year's opener, but expected two-way starter P.K. Kirk was killed in a summer car wreck, and two more expected starters transferred.
Trumann at HOXIE (12): Trumann has won two games the past two years. Trumann first-year coach Scott Waymire hopes to dress 25-30 players this season. Hoxie returns starters at 19 positions, including senior left tackle Dillon Cagle (6-8, 320).
Paragould at VALLEY VIEW (8): Valley View beat the Rams by 19 points in last year's opener. Paragould hasn't been to the playoffs since 2004, while Valley View aims for its second conference title in four years.

4-4A
BOONEVILLE (10) at Ozark: Booneville has won six of the past nine regular-season meetings over its rival. Booneville has won conference titles three of the past four seasons, and the Bearcats return senior QB Cody Harrel (ran for 1,154 yards and 16 TDs) and junior fullback Bryson May (839 yards and 15 TDs). Ozark, the 2012 state runners-up, returns just four starters.
Danville at DARDANELLE (18): This game usually goes down to the wire, with two of the past three games decided by a TD or less. Dardanelle drubbed Danville 33-0 last year, and former Pulaski Robinson QB Kristian Thompson moved to Dardanelle in July.
Dover at ATKINS (7): Atkins has beaten Dover by a combined 42 points the past two seasons. Dover's only win last season was over winless Waldron.
Maumelle at FOUNTAIN LAKE (2): This could turn into one of the more exciting Week 1 games. Fountain Lake beat Maumelle by four points in a weather-shortened game a year ago. Maumelle features four running backs with at least 4.5 speed, and senior all-state defensive end Kendall Donnerson owns 4.4 speed.
De Queen at MENA (3): A battle of first-year coaches. Justin Kramer inherits low numbers at De Queen. The Leopards won just 10 games the past three seasons. Tim Harper takes over in Mena after leading Searcy to 24 wins in four years.
Heber Springs at POTTSVILLE (10): Pottsville has shared consecutive 4-4A titles. Apache senior Michael Perry returns for his fourth season at QB. Heber Springs senior QB Michael Kramer tallied more than 2,000 yards a year ago.
SUBIACO ACADEMY (21) at Decatur: Subiaco Academy won four games a year ago after going winless in 2011. The Trojan D gave up three TDs or less in half of their games last fall.
MANSFIELD (7) at Waldron: Mansfield has won seven straight over Waldron, including a 40-point triumph a year ago. Mansfield named former assistant Brandon Elmore head coach on July 2.

7-4A
Benton at ARKADELPHIA (8): Arkadelphia kick started its conference title season with a 14-point win over Benton a year ago. The Badgers won the 4A state baseball championship in May and the skill players impressed opposing coaches in summer team camps.
CLINTON (16) vs. Arkansas Baptist (Thurs., at UCA): Clinton chomps to get on the field and erase last year's 2-8 campaign, when seven starters endured season-ending injuries. The Yellow Jackets plan to run junior QB Fielder Dufrene (650 yards passing and 135 yards rushing in 2012) more this fall behind junior fullback Harrison Lester.
WEST MEMPHIS (17) vs. Ashdown (Mon.): Ashdown led West Memphis twice and trailed by four points at halftime last year before losing by 24 points. The Panthers averaged five turnovers per game last season. West Memphis failed to win a league title last year for the first time since 2003.
HARDING ACADEMY (17) at Bauxite: Defending Class 3A champion Harding Academy shut out Bauxite last year. The Wildcat junior high went undefeated a year ago.
CAC vs. STUTTGART (3) (Tue.): Defending state champion Stuttgart has won 22 games over the past two seasons. The Ricebirds run the ball with physical linemen. CAC QB Jack Thomas tore his labrum on the first drive against Stuttgart last year and didn't take another snap until the spring.
Glen Rose at MALVERN (6): Malvern intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve a three-point win over eventual Class 3A state finalist Glen Rose a year ago. First-year Leopard coach Mike Scarbrough shifted all-7-4A receiver/safety Kaylen Burks to QB in July.
Hope at NASHVILLE (8): Hope's receivers, led by senior Javon Westmoreland, impressed opposing coaches in the summer. Nashville beat Hope seven straight seasons, including a combined 133-43 the past four years.
HOT SPRINGS (14) at Pulaski Robinson: Hot Springs snapped Pulaski Robinson's two-game win streak in the series last year. The Trojans return size up front, senior Jekebran Johnson (6-3, 280) and junior Clifford Jackson (6-5, 320).

8-4A
FAYETTEVILLE (18) vs. Warren (Mon., at Razorback Stadium): Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week.
HAMBURG (1) vs. McGehee (Tue., at UAPB): Hootens.com Class 3A Game of the Week. These are former 8-4A rivals. Hamburg has won five of the past nine over McGehee, but the Lions haven't won in the series since 2008. Hamburg hired former Stuttgart assistant Kevin Youngblood as defensive coordinator in the spring.
WHITE HALL (14) vs. Monticello (Tue., at UAPB): These former conference rivals collide at UAPB's Golden Lion Stadium during Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week. White Hall showcases junior QB Kirk Baugh and running backs Irvin Tisdale and Kendrick Edgerson (combined for more than 2,000 yards last year). Monticello will run more Spread schemes this year. Former Billie coach Johnny McMurry returned to the sideline in the summer, tutoring the QBs.
Crossett at MAGNOLIA (1): Former El Dorado defensive coordinator John Panter takes over at Magnolia. Crossett beat Magnolia by 25 points in last year's opener. Former Bastrop, La., assistant and Lake Providence coach Sonny Nason took over at Crossett in July.
DeWitt at BARTON (10): Barton has beaten DeWitt by a combined 73 points the past three seasons. DeWitt has won just 25 games over the past 14 years, but the Dragons showed improved strength during summer workouts.
MAYFLOWER (8) at Dumas: Mayflower mauled Dumas by 28 points last season. The Bobcats focused on improving physical strength in the off-season after coach Mark Courtney says "we got manhandled at the line of scrimmage last year."
STRONG (10) at Lake Village: Former Dermott coach Andy Werb took over at Lake Village in late June. Lake Village won just 27 games the past 11 seasons.
LONOKE (6) at Star City: Lonoke expects to compete for the league title this fall. Jackrabbit senior receiver Blake Mack (756 yards, eight TDs in 2012) committed to UL-Monroe in May. Star City first-year coach Jett Furneaux coordinated the Bulldog offense the past four years. Star City sophomore QB Tye Brown led the junior high to consecutive 8-0 records.