Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 9, 2012
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Pulaski Academy (6-2)
2. Camden Fairview (8-0)
3. Wynne (7-0)
4. Greenbrier (8-0)
5. White Hall (6-1)
6. Morrilton (5-2)
7. Watson Chapel (6-2)
8. Alma (6-2)
9. Batesville (5-3)
10. Vilonia (5-2)
11. Jacksonville (6-2)
12. Hot Springs (5-3)
13. Sylvan Hills (4-4)
14. Mills (5-3)
15. Hope (3-5)
16. HS Lakeside (4-4)
17. Nettleton (4-4)
18. Forrest City (5-3)
19. LR Christian (2-4)
20. Shiloh Christian (2-6)
21. Beebe (2-6)
22. Blytheville (3-5)
23. Harrison (1-7)
24. Greene County Tech (2-6)
25. Huntsville (3-5)
26. LR McClellan (1-7)
27. West Helena (2-6)
28. Paragould (2-6)
29. De Queen (1-7)
30. Magnolia (0-8)
31. Clarksville (1-7)
32. North Pulaski (1-6)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Greenbrier at No. 8 Alma
Greenbrier travels to Alma for the second straight year (won 49-17 in Week 8 last year). The Panthers are 8-0 for the second straight season (lost three of final four games last year after beating Alma) and can wrap up at least a share of the conference title with one win over the next two weeks. The Panthers haven't captured a conference title since winning the former 5AA-North in 1990.
Greenbrier trailed Shiloh Christian 14-7 early in the second quarter last week before winning 34-21. Senior quarterback Seth Peters has completed 161 of 249 passes (65 percent) for 2,034 yards and 21 touchdowns this year, and rushed for 533 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 10 scores. "He's probably more dangerous running the ball than throwing it," Alma coach Todd Dilbeck said. "They are wise in what they do, and Peters doesn't make many mistakes." Senior running back Austin Fischer has rushed 98 times for 628 yards and 11 TDs and caught 56 passes for 705 yards and seven TDs. Senior linebackers Jesse May and Justin Adlong pace the Panthers with 77 and 67 tackles, respectively. Senior end Michael Samuhels (34 tackles, five sacks ) and Zach Gerbholtz (24 tackles) control the interior line.
Alma hasn't won a league championship since 2004. The Airedales trailed Vilonia 32-17 at halftime last week, but didn't allow a point in the second half, winning 42-32. Alma senior QB Gage Jensen got a concussion Week 7 at Huntsville, didn't practice last week but started at Vilonia, completing 18 of 29 passes for 298 yards and four TDs. The Airedales use a power running attack to wear down opponents. Junior Malachi White ran for 103 yards last week and had 110 yards receiving. "Our defense has got to get lined up correctly, because they throw so many different formations at you," Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble said.
The Airedale defense relies on junior inside linebacker Alex Burris (13 tackles against Vilonia) and Cade Spencer (12 tackles and a sack). The Airedales intercepted two Vilonia passes and dropped three other interceptions, Dilbeck said.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 14 of 16 games (88 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 136 of 164 games (83 percent).

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 8:30 a.m. Saturdays on KARZ 42 (Little Rock) and Fox 24 (Fayetteville/Fort Smith) and 11 p.m. Sundays on KAIT 8 (Jonesboro), featuring the top players and teams from across the state. Nettleton's Max Lemmons will be featured as the Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week.

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A CENTRAL
West Helena at LR CHRISTIAN (10): Little Rock Christian makes the playoffs for the first time since 2009 if it wins out and Sylvan Hills loses a game. The Warriors controlled the clock by running 79 plays in last week's six-point setback at Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE (2) at Mills: Mills needs one more victory to secure a playoff spot. The Comets trailed Pulaski Academy 15-6 with seven minutes left in the first half last week, but were behind 43-6 at halftime. Jacksonville's Kevin Richardson continues making plays (interception near the goal line and scored the winning TD in the final minutes last week against Little Rock Christian).
LR MCCLELLAN (8) at North Pulaski: A battle of winless conference teams. Little Rock McClellan trailed Sylvan Hills 7-0 at halftime last week before losing by 14 points. The Lions are the only conference team to not get mercy-ruled by Pulaski Academy this year. North Pulaski hasn't won a conference game at home since beating Crossett Week 8, 2010.
Sylvan Hills at PULASKI ACADEMY (30): Pulaski Academy has applied the 35-point sportsmanship rule on nine of its past 10 conference opponents. The Bruins led Mills by 36 points at halftime last week. Senior receiver L.J. Wallace paces the state with 78 receptions for 1,170 yards and 15 TDs, while senior QB Lawson Vassar has completed 194 of 276 passes for 2,784 yards and 28 TDs this fall.

5A EAST
BATESVILLE (21) at Greene County Tech: Batesville enjoyed homecoming with a 43-point triumph over Blytheville a week ago. The Pioneers need one more victory to sew up the No. 2 playoff seed and a probable first-round game against Watson Chapel.
Forrest City at WYNNE (17): Forrest City blew its chances at a high playoff seed with last week's 41-40 setback at Nettleton. Forrest City junior QB Ethan Adams has completed 71 of 139 passes for 1,348 yards and 15 TDs this year. Wynne claims its first league title since 2006 with a victory in the final two games.
Nettleton at BEEBE (1): Nettleton can finish as high as the No. 3 playoff seed, or miss the post-season, depending on the next two weeks. Beebe climbs into playoff contention after winning two straight games, following an 0-6 start. Beebe senior Pearson Sloane came up with his second game-winning play in the past two years last week, kicking a 35-yard field goal with three minutes left in a 37-34 win over Greene County Tech. Sloane recovered a muffed kick in the end zone as time expired in a 38-32 win over Blytheville a year ago. Nettleton's Max Lemmons will be featured as the Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week on Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show at 11 p.m. Sunday on KAIT 8 (ABC, Jonesboro).
Paragould at BLYTHEVILLE (8): Blytheville must win its final two games and get some help to make the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. The Chickasaws trailed Batesville 36-0 at halftime last week.

5A SOUTH
CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (31) at Hot Springs: Camden Fairview has beaten Hot Springs by an average of 27 points over the past six years. The Cardinals need just one win to earn at least a share of their sixth league title in seven years. Senior Jerry Moore head has caught 28 passes for 545 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 140 yards and five scores this year. Junior end Elliott Jordan 17 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, leading a unit that surrenders just 139 yards weekly. Hot Springs likely needs to win next week against Hot Springs Lakeside to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
MAGNOLIA (1) at De Queen: These teams are a combined 1-15 this fall. De Queen trailed Hot Springs Lakeside 20-7 in the third quarter last week. Winless Magnolia trailed Watson Chapel by eight points late in the fourth quarter last week.
WHITE HALL (12) at Hope: White Hall scored two TDs in the final four minutes to beat Hot Springs by 14 points last week, and Hot Springs beat Hope 24 points Week 5. White Hall senior Joseph Stewart, who is on the watch list for Farm Bureau Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year, returned an interception for a TD. Hope trailed Camden Fairview by 14 points late in the second quarter last week.
HS Lakeside at WATSON CHAPEL (9): These teams last met in the 2010 playoffs with Watson Chapel winning 36-23. Watson Chapel led Magnolia 20-0 at halftime last week but only 20-12 with less than three minutes left. Hot Springs Lakeside probably makes the playoffs with a victory over Hot Springs Week 10.

5A WEST
GREENBRIER (1) at Alma: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
Clarksville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (6): Neither team can make the playoffs. Shiloh Christian had been to the postseason nine straight times and 17 of the previous 18 seasons. Clarksville had been six straight seasons. Shiloh Christian threw three interceptions in last week's 13-point loss at undefeated Greenbrier. Clarksville beat Harrison by 11 points last week, its first victory of the season.
MORRILTON (21) at Harrison: Harrison playing for pride, not the playoffs, after losing at Clarksville last week. Morrilton senior QB Tony Hawkins passed for 329 yards and three TDs and ran for 60 yards in last week's mercy-rule victory over Huntsville.
VILONIA (14) at Huntsville: Vilonia can still earn at least a share of the conference title if it wins out. The Eagles led Alma at halftime last week before losing by 10 points. Huntsville averages 10 points weekly.