Class 4A - Week 1 - 2009

Class 4A - Week 1 - 2009

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 1, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.


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

 
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Booneville vs. No. 34 Mena

Booneville won the battle of the Bearcats last season, scoring in the final minute to notch a 17-13 decision. The teams renew their rivalry on Tue., Sept. 1 in Van Buren in the nightcap of the Simmons First/Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Junior quarterback Brock May gives Booneville a threat running or passing, while a stout group of linebackers solidify a stingy defense.

First-year Mena coach Jeff Weaver mastered the Spread offense while assisting Ronnie Peacock and Rick Jones at Greenwood. Weaver installed a strenuous summer workout program in Mena and put the Bearcats through fast-paced August practices. Both senior Matt Edwards and junior Reed Mendoza impressed the coach with their passing skills.

LAST YEAR
Hootens.com correctly predicted 82 percent of Class 4A games.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
1-4A

Farmington at SILOAM SPRINGS (7): Siloam Springs has beaten the Cardinals by at least two touchdowns the past three years. First-year Panther coach Bryan Ross must find running backs and receivers.
Huntsville at HARRISON (25): Harrison has beaten the Eagles by at least 30 points each of the past five years. Huntsville keeps it closer as the Goblins break in a new QB and linemen.
Evangel (Shreveport) at SHILOH CHRISTIAN (1): Some stout linemen help the Saints reverse last year's 38-point loss. The defending state champs have won 39 games over the past three years.
GRAVETTE (9) at Jay, Okla.: Gravette playmakers Colton Moorman, Travis Eden and David O'Brien steer the Lion offense.
Lavaca at PRAIRIE GROVE (14): Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier says the Tigers played one of their better games in last year's six-point win at Lavaca. The Tigers won't need perfection this season with skilled running back Thomas Soehner and some veteran linemen.
GENTRY (6) at Colcord, Okla.: The Pioneers beat Colcord, Okla., by seven points a year ago. Expectations are higher in coach Brian Little's second year.
Berryville at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (4): Yellville-Summit beat the Bobcats by eight points a year ago. Panther QB Timothy Hoyt could develop into a college prospect.
Elkins at PEA RIDGE (2): Pea Ridge hired former Fayetteville Ramey coach Tony Travis in late June and he installed a spread offense over the summer. Elkins beat the Blackhawks by a TD in last year's opener.

2-4A
PULASKI ROBINSON (3) at Lonoke: Lonoke first-year coach Doug Bost inherits speed with running back Brandon Smith. But the Jackrabbits don't match up with Pulaski Robinson's linemen.
McGehee at STUTTGART (10): The Ricebirds won't hit stride until October, but they'll handle McGehee, which has won just six games over the past three years.
Hoxie at HEBER SPRINGS (6): Hoxie humbled Heber Springs 35-14 in last year's opener. The Panthers gain revenge in '09 with University of Arkansas recruit Braylon Mitchell and dependable QB Wes McMullen.
Bald Knob at BAUXITE (3): Bald Knob blasted Bauxite 32-16 last season. But the Miners have something to prove with a stout offensive backfield.
Marianna at HAMBURG (10): Coach Robert Johnson's rebuilding project enters its second year at Hamburg. The Lions lost three games in the final minutes last season.
STAR CITY (14) vs. DeWitt (Mon., at UAPB): Star City highlights the second game of a massive double header in Pine Bluff to open the season. Bulldog senior QB Sage Gasaway fuels a powerful offense that averaged 23 points per game in 2008.
Marshall at CLINTON (14): Clinton beat the Bobcats by 13 points last season, and the Yellow Jackets feature an improved defense this fall.
Mountain View at SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE (7): Southside Batesville's seasoned offensive line chews the clock and churns out yards against a struggling program that has one victory in the past three years.

3-4A
Newport at BATESVILLE (7): Batesville returns just three starters but the Pioneers have won at least nine games four of the past five years. Newport lineman Wesley Grady (6-5, 303) could emerge as a college recruit.
Osceola at BLYTHEVILLE (6): Osceola breaks in a new QB after C.J. Jones transferred to Jonesboro in the spring. Blytheville beat the Seminoles by 15 points a year ago.
Dexter, Mo. at GOSNELL (8): Gosnell beat Dexter, Mo., by 20 points in 2008. The Pirates can pivot around QB Isiah Love and lineman Francois Mann.
HARDING ACADEMY (7) at Pocahontas: The Redskins lost six games last season, including a 15-point setback against Harding Academy, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
TRUMANN (11) at Rivercrest: Trumann QB Blaike Jones and flanker Dusty Miller drive the Wildcat offense. They beat Rivercrest by 25 points a year ago.
Piggott at VALLEY VIEW (7): Improved Piggott provides a tough test for the Blazers. Valley View's linemen make the difference.
MOUNTAIN HOME (28) at Highland: Highland didn't win a game last season, including a 43-point loss at Mountain Home. The Bombers feature stout linemen Frank Guerra and Nathan Day.
JONESBORO WESTSIDE (3) at Salem: The Warriors have beaten Salem by a combined 12 points the past two years. The Wishbone attack keeps the Greyhounds off the field and helps Jonesboro Westside capture its eighth win in five years.

4-4A
Mena vs. BOONEVILLE (8) (Tue., at Van Buren): Hootens.com Class 4A game of the week. Mena first-year coach Jeff Weaver implemented an off-season program similar to Greenwood. Booneville's three losses last year were by a total of 19 points.
Mayflower at CLARKSVILLE (10): Mayflower boasted one of the better Class 3A teams last season, losing at eventual state champion Charleston 14-6 in the quarterfinals. Clarksville's Wesleigh Foster gained more than 1,400 yards last season.
WEST FORK (6) at Greenland: West Fork must replace a sturdy group of seniors who helped claim the conference title last season. But its only regular season loss was against Greenland.
Atkins at POTTSVILLE (7): Rebuilding Atkins must slow Apache fullback Tyler Robertson. Pottsville lost four games by nine points or less last season, including an eight-point setback to Atkins.
Danville at DARDANELLE (4): Dardanelle has won three straight over Yell County rival Danville by a combined 54 points. It's a closer contest in '09 as the Sand Lizards lack experience at QB and running back.
CHARLESTON (10) at Ozark: Ozark can't beat its Franklin County rival, losing the past four games by an average of 17 points. It may take a while for the Hillbillies to adjust to first-year coach Brooks Coatney's spread scheme.
DOVER (3) at Paris: Both teams are capable of sneaking into the playoffs. Dover has won just eight games over the past four seasons, while Paris has won six games in three seasons.
SUBIACO ACADEMY (12) at Magazine: Subiaco Academy beat the Rattlers by 40 points a year ago. The Trojans have never advanced to the playoffs but could test some 4-4A teams with talented QB Keon Walters.

7-4A
DeQueen vs. MONTICELLO (7) (Mon., at UAPB): Hootens.com Class 5A game of the week features Division I commits Brishen Mathews (Ole Miss) and Greg White (Missouri).
Mena vs. BOONEVILLE (8) (Tue., at Van Buren): Hootens.com Class 4A game of the week. Mena first-year coach Jeff Weaver implemented an off-season program similar to Greenwood. Booneville's three losses last year were by a total of 19 points.
Malvern at SYLVAN HILLS (8): Sylvan Hills lacks depth but linebacker Julien Broner is one of the state's best kept secrets. Malvern must patch its defense after giving up 31 points per game last year.
Pulaski Oak Grove vs. LR CHRISTIAN (9): Little Rock Christian rides a three-game losing streak into 2009. First-year coach Justin Kramer must locate help for running back Michael Dyer.
NASHVILLE (10) at Hope: Hope's last win in the series came in 2005, and the Scrappers have won three straight by an average of 22 points.
Glen Rose at ASHDOWN (4): Glen Rose popped the Panthers 41-14 last season, but Ashdown returns most of its skill players, including QB Chris McFadden (2,246 yards in '08).
Arkadelphia at SHERIDAN (7): Sheridan relies on senior leaders and a strong sophomore group. The Yellowjackets slipped past the Badgers 17-12 last year.
MANSFIELD (14) at Waldron: Mansfield rolled to the quarterfinals last year, while Waldron has won just four games the past three years.

8-4A
STAR CITY (14) vs. DeWitt (Mon., at UAPB): Star City highlights the second game of a massive double header in Pine Bluff to open the season. Bulldog senior QB Sage Gasaway fuels a powerful offense that averaged 23 points per game in 2008.
DUMAS (18) at North Pulaski: First-year North Pulaski coach Ricky Russell tries to revive a program that has won just 10 games this decade, including three over the past five years.
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.
Dollarway vs. CAC (10): Dollarway breaks in new skill players after the graduation of all-state QB Jesse Grand and running back Michael Willingham. CAC builds its offense around highly touted junior running back Jaalen Watkins.
McGehee at STUTTGART (10): The Ricebirds won't hit stride until October, but they'll handle McGehee, which has won just six games over the past three years.
Marianna at HAMBURG (10): Coach Robert Johnson's rebuilding project enters its second year at Hamburg. The Lions lost three games in the final minutes last season.
Rison at FORDYCE (3): These two rivals move into the same league next season. Fordyce has won two of the past three over the Wildcats.
Marvell at LAKE VILLAGE (21): Marvell won its first playoff game since 1985 last season. The Mustangs have won 10 games the past decade.

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8/31/2009

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