Hootens.com Rankings
Class 7A, Week 1, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Har-Ber
2. Bentonville
3. Cabot
4. FS Southside
5. North LR
6. LR Catholic
7. Fayetteville
8. FS Northside
9. Russellville
10. Springdale
11. Bryant
12. Rogers Heritage
13. Conway
14. LR Central
15. Van Buren
16. Rogers

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Greenwood at No. 1 Har-Ber
Back-to-back 10-win seasons and Hooten's preseason No. 1 ranking has Har-Ber circled on opponent schedules. Class 5A preseason favorite Greenwood looks to avenge last year's 45-15 loss. Both teams advanced to the semifinals in 2009 after playing for state titles a year earlier. Last season was the first in five years Greenwood did not play for a state title.
Har-Ber's defense could be Arkansas' best, but it needs junior quarterback Ryan Luther (6-0, 165) and a diverse trio of new running backs to quickly settle behind an experienced offensive front. Graduated QB Zach Faust and running back Derek Brinker combined for 4,600 yards in 2008.

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 SEASON
Hootens.com correctly predicted 86 of 107 games (80 percent).

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS
7A CENTRAL
ALMA (10) at Van Buren: Alma has won six of past seven meetings, but Van Buren is improved and likely makes the playoffs, again.
BRYANT (28) vs. Benton: Huge crowd watches big blowout.
Conway at BENTONVILLE (18): Excitement and numbers are up with a new coach at Conway, but defending state champion Bentonville worked 145 players during two-a-days. However, just one Tiger starter returns on defense. Conway's new wide-open attack could have its moments.
RUSSELLVILLE (11) at Morrilton: Russellville has won past three meetings by an average of 15 points. Speedy college prospect Andrew Tryon made big plays for Morrilton in this opener the past two years, but he moved to Russellville last winter.
NORTH LR (8) at Texarkana: North LR senior all-conference tackle De'Arius Hudson (415-pound bench press) leads one of the state's better defensive fronts, and LR Central transfer tight end Justin Henderson (6-4, 245) helps the Charging Wildcats topple Texarkana and new coach Phillip Miller. North LR won 17-0 last year.
Jacksonville at CABOT (25): Mercy rule now the norm in what used to be a big rivalry.
LR Catholic at FS SOUTHSIDE (7): FS Southside's defensive front will be the best LR Catholic and Sonic Super Team quarterback Taylor Bartlett battle this season. The Rebels top five defensive lineman average 269 pounds. Rockets began and ended their season with losses to FS Southside last year.
FAYETTEVILLE (14) at LR Central: LR Central has lost 14 of its past 18 games, including 11 in a row. Fayetteville's D-I junior pass-catch combo (QB Brandon Allen and WR Demetrius Dean) should light-up the LR Central secondary.

7A WEST
Greenwood at HAR-BER (3): Har-Ber linemen should dominate, but Greenwood receiver Spencer Harris draws comparisons to former Bulldog and current Razorback receiver Lucas Miller
Conway at BENTONVILLE (21): Excitement and numbers are up with a new coach at Conway. Bentonville, which worked a mind-boggling 145 players during two-a-days, returns just one starter on defense so Conway's new wide-open attack could have its moments.
LR Catholic at FS SOUTHSIDE (3): FS Southside's defensive front will be the best LR Catholic and Sonic Super Team quarterback Taylor Bartlett battle this season. The Rebels top five defensive lineman average 269 pounds.
FS Northside at PINE BLUFF (2): Class 6A No. 1 Pine Bluff and three-year starting QB Claude Johnson (267 yards and three TDs at Northside last year) get by Grizzlies. Northside's young but talented receivers, including sophomore Kenrick Burns (younger brother of Auburn QB Kodi Burns) are ones to watch.
Springdale at JEFF CITY, MO. (14): Springdale junior QB Joseph Calcagni has talent to succeed Ashton Glaser  (University of Missouri), but Bulldogs are suspect up front.
FAYETTEVILLE (14) at LR Central: Fayetteville's D-I junior pass-catch combo (QB Brandon Allen and WR Demetrius Dean) lights up LR Central secondary, extending 7A's longest losing streak to 12.
Springfield (Mo.) Parkview at ROGERS HERITAGE (14): Heritage should start 3-0, again. Smart scheduling for a new program.
Webb City (Mo.) at ROGERS (1): Webb City beat Rogers by a field goal last year and went on to win its eighth Missouri Class 4A state title. Rogers finished 3-7 in 2008 and lacks linemen this fall.

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