Class 6A - Week 1 - 2009
Hootens.com Rankings
Class 6A, Week 1, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Pine Bluff
2. El Dorado
3. West Memphis
4. Watson Chapel
5. Lake Hamilton
6. LR Parkview
7. Jonesboro
8. Marion
9. Texarkana
10. Jacksonville
11. Mountain Home
12. Sheridan
13. Searcy
14. LR Hall
15. Benton
16. LR Fair
GAME OF THE WEEK
FS Northside at No. 1 Pine Bluff.
Pine Bluff tied for a conference title and won eight games last year, including a 28-22 decision at FS Northside. Its series with FS Northside is storied, including a 26-14 win over the Grizzlies in the 1995 state finals to complete its "three-peat" atop Arkansas' largest classification. Pine Bluff senior all-state quarterback Claude Johnson (6-1, 195) passed for more than 2,700 yards and 34 touchdowns a year ago. Senior three-year starters Jonathan Frazier (6-2, 185) and Kelsey Collins combined for close to 1,400 yards and 16 TDs in 2008. Seniors Martin Montgomery (6-2, 235) and Theodis Shavers, Jr. (6-2, 270) man a defense that shut out Watson Chapel and Sheridan a year ago.
FS Northside coach Darrell Henry must replace record-settting QB Dax Dupire from last year's playoff team. Dupire passed for 3,595 yards and 28 TDs in 2008. Senior all-state lineman Jeff Grimmett (6-2, 265) makes things happen for the Grizzly defense.
TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football will not air Week 1 due to CBS's coverage of the U.S. Open. The show debuts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 on KFSM in Fort Smith/Fayetteville and Today's THV 11 in Little Rock. It will air 11 a.m. Saturdays the remainder of the season.
LAST YEAR
Hooten's Arkansas Football finished 87-25 (78 percent) for the season.
WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
6A EAST
MOUNTAIN HOME (28) at Highland: Class 4A Highland didn't win a game last season, including a 43-point loss at Mountain Home. Stout linemen Frank Guerra and Nathan Day lead Mountain Home.
WEST MEMPHIS (18) at Forrest City: West Memphis returns no starters, but the Blue Devils have won five straight league titles. They've also blasted Forrest City by a combined 77-0 the past two years.
JONESBORO (21) vs. Nettleton: Jonesboro has won two of the three games since this rivalry was renewed in 2006. Hurricane running backs Kowan Wright and C.J. Jones form one of the better tandems in Class 6A.
MARION (1) at Wynne: Always close. Marion has beaten the Yellowjackets four straight times by a combined 13 points, including 15-13 last season. Class 5A Wynne won its final three games last season and returns veteran running backs.
LR HALL (7) at LR McClellan: These two teams totaled 20 wins over the past five years. LR Hall beat the Lions by a combined 52-13 the past two years.
LR PARKVIEW (21) at Mills: The Comets couldn't contain LR Parkview playmakers Benjamin Anderson and Chris Giles in last year's 40-0 setback. Both return.
Searcy at VILONIA (4): First-year Searcy coach Tim Harper inherits a program that won five games over the past five years. Class 5A Vilonia looks to bounce back after an injury-plagued 4-6 season.
Jacksonville at CABOT (25): Jacksonville fell 41-15 to the Panthers last season but rebounded to win six games, including a playoff victory over Sheridan.
6A SOUTH
FS Northside at PINE BLUFF (2): Pine Bluff senior QB Claude Johnson torched Northside for 267 yards and 3 TDs last season. He returns and looks to fulfill the Zebras state title hopes.
WARREN (2) vs. Watson Chapel: Watson Chapel advanced to the Class 6A semifinals last season. But Coach George Shelton rarely gears his teams for non-conference games.
HOT SPRINGS (7) at LR Fair: Hot Springs has won 16 games over the past three years, including a 28-point triumph over LR Fair in last year's opener. LR Fair averaged just 10 points a game last year.
NORTH LR (8) at Texarkana: Phillip Miller takes over a Texarkana team that was shut out twice last year including a 17-0 loss to the Charging Wildcats.
Benton vs. BRYANT (24): Former Southern Arkansas University coach Steve Quinn looks to rebuild the Benton program which has won four games in the past two seasons. Class 7A Bryant will try to make it five in a row over Benton and features 7A Sonic Super Teamer running back Chris Rycraw.
El Dorado at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (1): The El Dorado Wildcats were the 6A state runner-up a year ago but graduated 12 starters. The Cardinals return 14 starters including veteran QB Chase Foster (2,045 yards and 14 TDs) and 5A Sonic Super Team running back Ryan Purifoy (765 total yards).
Lake Hamilton at TEXAS HIGH (14): Defending state champ Lake Hamilton returns only five starters and must fill the void at QB left by Arkansas State signee Phillip Butterfield. Texas High returns college recruit Nathan Sorenson at QB. As a junior he passed for 2,000 yards.
Arkadelphia at SHERIDAN (6): Sheridan relies on senior leadership and a talented group of sophomores to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year. Arkadelphia has won 13 games over the past five seasons.
(c) 1993-2009 Hooten Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site may be retransmitted without the express written consent of Hooten Publishing, Inc.
Class 6A, Week 1, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Pine Bluff
2. El Dorado
3. West Memphis
4. Watson Chapel
5. Lake Hamilton
6. LR Parkview
7. Jonesboro
8. Marion
9. Texarkana
10. Jacksonville
11. Mountain Home
12. Sheridan
13. Searcy
14. LR Hall
15. Benton
16. LR Fair
GAME OF THE WEEK
FS Northside at No. 1 Pine Bluff.
 |
FS Northside coach Darrell Henry must replace record-settting QB Dax Dupire from last year's playoff team. Dupire passed for 3,595 yards and 28 TDs in 2008. Senior all-state lineman Jeff Grimmett (6-2, 265) makes things happen for the Grizzly defense.
TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football will not air Week 1 due to CBS's coverage of the U.S. Open. The show debuts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 on KFSM in Fort Smith/Fayetteville and Today's THV 11 in Little Rock. It will air 11 a.m. Saturdays the remainder of the season.
LAST YEAR
Hooten's Arkansas Football finished 87-25 (78 percent) for the season.
WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
6A EAST
MOUNTAIN HOME (28) at Highland: Class 4A Highland didn't win a game last season, including a 43-point loss at Mountain Home. Stout linemen Frank Guerra and Nathan Day lead Mountain Home.
WEST MEMPHIS (18) at Forrest City: West Memphis returns no starters, but the Blue Devils have won five straight league titles. They've also blasted Forrest City by a combined 77-0 the past two years.
JONESBORO (21) vs. Nettleton: Jonesboro has won two of the three games since this rivalry was renewed in 2006. Hurricane running backs Kowan Wright and C.J. Jones form one of the better tandems in Class 6A.
MARION (1) at Wynne: Always close. Marion has beaten the Yellowjackets four straight times by a combined 13 points, including 15-13 last season. Class 5A Wynne won its final three games last season and returns veteran running backs.
LR HALL (7) at LR McClellan: These two teams totaled 20 wins over the past five years. LR Hall beat the Lions by a combined 52-13 the past two years.
LR PARKVIEW (21) at Mills: The Comets couldn't contain LR Parkview playmakers Benjamin Anderson and Chris Giles in last year's 40-0 setback. Both return.
Searcy at VILONIA (4): First-year Searcy coach Tim Harper inherits a program that won five games over the past five years. Class 5A Vilonia looks to bounce back after an injury-plagued 4-6 season.
Jacksonville at CABOT (25): Jacksonville fell 41-15 to the Panthers last season but rebounded to win six games, including a playoff victory over Sheridan.
6A SOUTH
FS Northside at PINE BLUFF (2): Pine Bluff senior QB Claude Johnson torched Northside for 267 yards and 3 TDs last season. He returns and looks to fulfill the Zebras state title hopes.
WARREN (2) vs. Watson Chapel: Watson Chapel advanced to the Class 6A semifinals last season. But Coach George Shelton rarely gears his teams for non-conference games.
HOT SPRINGS (7) at LR Fair: Hot Springs has won 16 games over the past three years, including a 28-point triumph over LR Fair in last year's opener. LR Fair averaged just 10 points a game last year.
NORTH LR (8) at Texarkana: Phillip Miller takes over a Texarkana team that was shut out twice last year including a 17-0 loss to the Charging Wildcats.
Benton vs. BRYANT (24): Former Southern Arkansas University coach Steve Quinn looks to rebuild the Benton program which has won four games in the past two seasons. Class 7A Bryant will try to make it five in a row over Benton and features 7A Sonic Super Teamer running back Chris Rycraw.
El Dorado at CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (1): The El Dorado Wildcats were the 6A state runner-up a year ago but graduated 12 starters. The Cardinals return 14 starters including veteran QB Chase Foster (2,045 yards and 14 TDs) and 5A Sonic Super Team running back Ryan Purifoy (765 total yards).
Lake Hamilton at TEXAS HIGH (14): Defending state champ Lake Hamilton returns only five starters and must fill the void at QB left by Arkansas State signee Phillip Butterfield. Texas High returns college recruit Nathan Sorenson at QB. As a junior he passed for 2,000 yards.
Arkadelphia at SHERIDAN (6): Sheridan relies on senior leadership and a talented group of sophomores to reach the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year. Arkadelphia has won 13 games over the past five seasons.
(c) 1993-2009 Hooten Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site may be retransmitted without the express written consent of Hooten Publishing, Inc.
8/31/2009
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