Hootens.com Rankings
Class 3A, Week 0, 2018
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Booneville
2. McGehee
3. Clinton
4. Prescott
5. Glen Rose
6. Charleston
7. Mayflower
8. Newport
9. C. Harmony Grove
10. Harding Academy
11. Osceola
12. Danville
13. Rison
14. Melbourne
15. Atkins
16. Hoxie
17. Smackover
18. Harrisburg
19. Lamar
20. Barton
21. Fouke
22. Walnut Ridge
23. Centerpoint
24. Palestine-Wheatley
25. Piggott
26. Perryville
27. Greenland
28. Mansfield
29. Horatio
30. Drew Central
31. Yellville-Summit
32. Jessieville
33. Dollarway
34. Cedarville
35. Paris
36. Mountain View
37. Bismarck
38. Cedar Ridge
39. Lake Village
40. Rose Bud
41. Genoa Central
42. West Fork
43. Marshall
44. Baptist Prep
45. Manila
46. Corning
47. Two Rivers

GAME OF THE WEEK
Fouke vs. Parkers Chapel (5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27 at SAU)
This is the second night of the 2018 Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kickoff Classic presented by hootens.com. Fouke chases its sixth straight playoff appearance (a school record), but three projected starters transferred over the summer, including a pair of two-way starters. Fouke must replace its leading rusher and tackler from 2017. Parkers Chapel threatens Fouke with skill players galore but not as much depth. “We have to be able to control their size up front,” Parkers Chapel coach Jacob Midyett says. “We must be able to match their offensive physicality.” The Trojans' scrimmage last week was rained out, meaning this could be their first live-game action of 2018.

TV LAND
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on KATV (ABC Little Rock) Channel 7, covering the Razorbacks, high school teams and players to watch.

LAST SEASON
Hootens.com correctly predicted 265 of 327 winners (81 percent).

WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
1-3A
Melbourne vs. CHARLESTON (13): Game will be played at Hendrix College between teams with great expectations. Melbourne has won nine games three of the past five years and competes for its first conference title in program history (launched in 2012). "We have to overcome the fact that they are Charleston," Melbourne coach Kevin McCarn says. "It can be hard to get past the name when you play that type of tradition." Melbourne returns its leading passer (junior Gabe Lawrence), its top two rushers (junior Noah McSpadden and senior Silas Motes) and top two receivers (senior all-league performer Andrew Pitts and junior all-state playmaker Alex Bray). The Bearkatz also return all-state and Landers Super Teamer Michael Masson (520-pound squat and 87 tackles with 8.5 sacks a year ago). Tradition-rich Charleston is not favored to win a conference title this season, which it has done six times in seven years. The Tigers have not won a state title since 2014, a drought for a school which owns five crowns since 2005. Charleston is strong at the skill positions, including all-state senior quarterback Brayden Caudle (2,792 yards last year with 38 touchdowns and four interceptions). Each team throws the ball most of the time, but the team that runs the ball better wins on Friday night.
Clarksville at BOONEVILLE (17): Class 3A No. 1 Booneville entertains state title aspirations behind returning starters at 19 positions. The Bearcats boast a pair of Landers Super Teamers (Noah Reyes and Cam Brasher) and a three-year starting QB (all-state Arkansas State baseball commit Brandon Ulmer). Class 5A Clarksville has won four games the past four seasons, including a 3-17 mark under third-year coach Khris Buckner.
J.C. Westside at CEDARVILLE (14): Optimism runs rampant in Cedarville after "the best summer since I've been here,” Coach Max Washausen says. Starters return at 20 positions and the sophomores finished 8-1 last year with a district title. Cedarville proved physical in team camps this off-season.
MANSFIELD (3) at Hackett: Mansfield enters the fall with excellent team chemistry. “Camp season showed us that our hard work we have been putting in is paying off,” third-year coach Craig Bentley says. “It also highlighted areas which we needed to improve and we think we've made the adjustments.” Junior Ethan Stovall showcases improved footwork and mechanics. Mansfield installed a new defense in the spring to fit its personnel and hopes to create more turnovers.
PERRYVILLE (6) at Paris: Perryville welcomes new coach Chris Norton (27-35 record at Marvell, Lake Village and Rose Bud). Senior all-league QB Landon Walker tore his ACL in the winter playing basketball and will miss the season. Juniors Reid Standridge and Hayden Gottsponer compete for the starting QB position. Paris is led by former Marion assistant Tyler Clark but the Eagles do not have a QB on the roster who has taken a varsity snap.
Lamar, Greenland and West Fork are open.

2-3A
Melbourne vs. CHARLESTON (13): Game will be played at Hendrix College between teams with great expectations. Melbourne has won nine games three of the past five years and will compete for its first conference title in program history (launched in 2012). "We have to overcome the fact that they are Charleston," Melbourne coach Kevin McCarn says. "It can be hard to get past the name when you play the type of tradition that they have." Melbourne returns its leading passer (junior Gabe Lawrence), its top two rushers (junior Noah McSpadden and senior Silas Motes) and top two receivers (senior all-league performer Andrew Pitts and junior all-state playmaker Alex Bray). The Bearkatz also return all-state and Landers Super Teamer Michael Masson (520-pound squat and 87 tackles with 8.5 sacks a year ago).  Tradition-rich Charleston is not favored to win a conference title this season, which it has done six times in seven years. The Tigers have not won a state title since 2014, a drought for a school which owns five crowns since 2005. Charleston is strong at the skill positions, including all-state senior QB Brayden Caudle (2,792 yards last year with 38 touchdowns and four interceptions). Each team throws the ball most of the time, but the team that runs the ball the best wins on Friday night.
MAGNET COVE (3) at Mountain View: Physical Magnet Cove expects to pick up where it left off last fall when it won seven of its final nine games. The Panthers' two losses were by a combined 14 points to eventual quarterfinalists Conway Christian (38-31) and Hazen (20-14). "When you have guys like (running backs Eli Dawson and Trent Robinson) who can run in 2A football, that's what you want to hang your hat on," second-year coach Caleb Carmikle says. Mountain View should be able to run it or pass it this year behind senior QB Gunner Willis, All-1-3A running back Derek Burns and all-state tight end Samuel Treat. Mountain View's seven losses last season came to teams which won at least one playoff game.
Clinton, Harding Academy, Yellville-Summit, Cedar Ridge, Rose Bud and Marshall are open.

3-3A
Cave City at HOXIE (17): Hoxie has won four of five meetings since 2013, with shutouts in 2013, 2014 and 2017. The Mustangs expect to open 2018 with 47 players on the roster and "will be better across the board with strength and experience," Coach Tom Sears (129-81-1 at Hoxie) says. "We think we have a really good group this year." Hoxie's running backs (senior Keifer Wilson and junior Hayden Riggs) add balance to the offense. Danny Brustrom (22-41 in five years at Cedar Ridge) succeeds Tommy Britt (0-10 in one season) at Cave City, which has had three coaches in three years. “I was always impressed with Coach (Brustrom's) teams at Cedar Ridge,” Sears says. “They always played hard and I expect nothing different Friday night.”
Newport, Osceola, Walnut Ridge, Harrisburg, Piggott, Manila and Corning are open.

4-3A
PERRYVILLE (6) at Paris: Perryville welcomes new coach Chris Norton (27-35 record at Marvell, Lake Village and Rose Bud). Senior all-league QB Landon Walker tore his ACL in the winter playing basketball and will miss the season. Juniors Reid Standridge and Hayden Gottsponer compete for the starting QB position. Paris is led by former Marion assistant Tyler Clark but the Eagles do not have a QB on the roster who has taken a varsity snap.
ATKINS (7) at Hector: Atkins looks to advance deeper into the playoffs this season following consecutive quarterfinal appearances. The explosive Red Devils (averaged 37.1 points per week in 2017) expect to contend for their first league title since 2004 after consecutive runner-up finishes. Hector, which has won league titles four of the past five seasons, welcomes first-year coach Scott Poteete, a former Morrilton assistant.
Glen Rose, Mayflower, Danville, Baptist Prep, Two Rivers and Jessieville are open.

5-3A
FOUKE (6) vs. Parkers Chapel: See Game of the Week.
FOREMAN (10) vs. Smackover: Scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 27 kickoff at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia as part of the 2018 Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kickoff Classic presented by hootens.com. Smackover looks to defend its 2017 kickoff classic title against defending Class 2A state champion Foreman. The ultra-quick Buckaroos tear into 2018 with their third coach in three years, Brian Brown, most recently of Red Oak High in Texas. An impressive running back moved to Smackover during the summer and will compete with incumbent starter Dettravon Crockett for carries. Foreman oozes talent under third-year coach Mark King (21-5 at school). The Gators recorded the best year in school history last season (13-1 overall), but have not won a league title since 1987. Foreman shut out Class 3A Centerpoint 32-0 last week in a scrimmage.
PRESCOTT (24) at Lafayette County: Prescott big, strong and fast at every position. Senior QB/safety Ryan Johnson earned an offer in the spring from Purdue with several other Power 5 schools evaluating him. The Curley wolves also boast Landers Super Teamers at receiver (Cameron Cox) and offensive line (Kobe Gillard).
C. Harmony Grove at JUNCTION CITY (14): The first meeting between teams since 2007 (18-0 Junction City victory). Harmony Grove promotes to Class 3A after winning 25 times in its last three seasons in Class 2A. The Hornets boast game-changers at running back (Zaylon Falls), receiver and safety (Kentrell Hill) and noseguard (Daniel Hicks). All-conference senior QB Gannon Bearden nurses an elbow injury and his status for Friday is unknown. Junction City slides back to Class 2A after winning its first 13 games last fall and playing for the Class 3A state title. The Dragons run the ball by committee behind a seasoned offensive line (three returning starters, including all-league guard Cody Adkins). Junction City likely starts sophomore QB Gabe Richard (4.8 speed), who triggered the 8-1 junior Dragons last year.
H. Grove Haskell at CENTERPOINT (14): Centerpoint leads series 4-2 but Haskell won last year 40-36. Harmony Grove battles low numbers and a new coaching staff as it promotes to the rowdy 7-4A. Centerpoint looks to extend its most prosperous run in school history (23 wins in three years) this season. The Cardinals shift from the Spread to the Diamond T. The Knights return their top passer (all-league QB Owen Bright), rusher (all-conference running back Blake Crawford) and receiver (Michael Bright) but Centerpoint will be a work in progress on the offensive line with guards Landon Way and Colton Horton the only returners. Defending Class 2A state champion downed Centerpoint 32-0 in a scrimmage.
CUTTER M. STAR (1) at Bismarck: The Cutter Eagles have won four of the past six meetings, including 27-6 Week 3 last year. Bismarck expects to dress 20-21 players this fall after its top two projected running backs transferred in the spring and broke a collarbone. The Lions forced three turnovers last week in a 27-6 scrimmage victory over Perryville. “We are still in the process of building a defensive mentality here,” second-year coach D.J. Keithley says. Senior Jordan Webb, who spent his summer at boot camp for the National Guard, did not play at Perryville. Cutter’s depth and recent success in the series gives it the slight edge.
Horatio and Genoa Central are open.

6-3A
Dollarway vs. LR MCLELLAN (24): Dollarway is all-new this fall following a drop to Class 3A and the promotion of assistant Martese Henry to head coach. The Cardinals have won just one game the past two seasons but are senior-laden at most positions. McClellan is a perennial Class 5A state title contender and has played for two of the past three crowns. The Crimson Lions honed their offensive line play during the summer.
McGehee at MAGNOLIA (2): McGehee impressed onlookers during the summer and in its scrimmage against Class 4A No. 1 Warren. The Owls advance to this game with no injuries, a must with 31 varsity players. McGehee has plenty of team speed and a three-year starter at QB (all-league performer Cory Smart) and wingback (All-6-3A runner Dewayne Railey). Magnolia senior running back Cadyn Roach committed to ULM in August.
Drew Central at POYEN (12): Drew Central emerges from summer workouts with renewed energy under first-year coach Matt Gonzales. The Pirates focused this summer on team speed and strength. Fourty-nine Pirates drilled in the spring, including newcomers Trenton Eubanks, Markalyen Jacobs and Amir Chavis. “I feel like we have a shot at the playoffs,” Gonzalez says. “Our big thing since we arrived has been establishing expectations. We want our kids to believe just like we believe.” Poyen enters 2018 with more than 40 players on its roster, team speed uncommon for the school and an All-5-2A senior QB (Jacob Farmer, who passed for more than 2,700 yards last year with 18 TDs. Poyen's sophomores promote to the varsity after finishing 2017 7-1-1 and winning the district title.
Episcopal will play 8-man football this fall as a club sport.
Rison, Palestine-Wheatley and Lake Village are open.