Class 4A - Week 15 - 2009

Class 4A - Week 15 - 2009

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 4A, Week 15, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.


1. Shiloh Christian (12-1)
2. Nashville (12-1)
3. Lonoke (11-3)
4. Bald Knob (13-1)
5. Osceola (11-2-1)
6. Heber Springs (10-3)
7. Stuttgart (9-4)
8. Malvern (9-4)
9. Booneville (10-1)
10. Ashdown (10-2)
11. Warren (9-3)
12. DeQueen (7-5)
13. Star City (9-3)
14. Gravette (9-3)
15. Dover (8-4)
16. Prairie Grove (5-7)
17. Newport (5-6)
18. Dumas (8-3)
19. Valley View (6-5)
20. West Fork (7-4)
21. Clarksville (6-5)
22. Clinton (6-5)
23. Farmington (6-4-1)
24. McGehee (5-6)
25. Gosnell (7-4)
26. Subiaco Academy (6-5)
27. Fordyce (3-8)
28. Hamburg (5-5)
29. Dollarway (2-7)
30. Arkadelphia (4-7)
31. Trumann (4-7)
32. Huntsville (4-7)
33. Gentry (4-6)
34. Mena (2-8)
35. Ozark (3-6-1)
36. Pottsville (3-7)
37. Dardanelle (3-7)
38. Pulaski Oak Grove (3-6-1)
39. Highland (3-7)
40. Pea Ridge (2-8)
41. Pocahontas (1-9)
42. Marianna (2-8)
43. Lake Village (2-7)
44. Jonesboro Westside (3-7)
45. DeWitt (1-9)
46. Waldron (1-9)
47. Berryville (1-8-1)
48. Southside Batesville (0-10)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Shiloh Christian vs. No. 3 Lonoke

 
Lonoke returns to its first state title game since winning the 1994 championship. The Jackrabbits have become road warriors in the playoffs, beating Warren 28-26 in the second round, Malvern 21-20 in the quarterfinals and Osceola 28-7 in the semifinals. Lonoke lost three straight games early in the year, including conference setbacks to Heber Springs (21-7) and Bald Knob (33-12). But receiver/defensive backs Todd Hobson and Darius Scott and running back/linebacker Brandon Scott returned from injuries in Week 6, keying a nine-game winning streak. "Our work is cut out this week," said Lonoke coach Doug Bost. "Obviously, they are the best team in the state. They are solid, no weaknesses. Their offensive and defensive linemen are big, fast and the heart and soul of their team."

Smith (6-1, 210) sparks Lonoke's attack, rushing for 1,813 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Hobson (6-0, 175) has caught 54 passes for 890 yards and nine TDs. Senior fullback Morgan Linton (6-0, 235) has caught two of his four TD passes in the playoffs. Linton has 45 receptions for 599 yards this fall. Senior Michael Nelson (5-6, 165) didn't quarterback last year, but learned the position during summer seven-on-seven workouts and began reading defenses better and making correct reads by mid-season. Nelson has thrown for 2,602 yards and 19 TDs this fall.

The Jackrabbit defense prides itself in covering pass teams. They held Warren's spread attack to three TDs a month ago. Hobson has swiped eight interceptions this year, while Wes Plummer (5-10, 170) and Darius Scott (6-0, 175) each have five interceptions. Plummer ranks second on the team with 54 tackles. Undersized linebacker Brandon O'Bannon (5-7, 160), who played in the secondary last year, paces Lonoke with 110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. Smith (56 tackles) plugs the middle from his linebacker spot.

Shiloh Christian makes its fourth straight state title game appearance and ninth in the past 13 years. The Saints haven't lost a conference game since 2005 and own a record of 51-3 over the past four years. One of the losses came in overtime of the 2007 state title game when Glen Rose made a two-point conversion to escape 35-34. Earlier that season, Glen Rose lost to Bauxite, which lost to Shiloh Christian in the playoffs. This year, the Saints beat Bald Knob, which beat Lonoke. "I don't think our kids will get caught up comparing scores," said Shiloh Christian coach Josh Floyd.

Junior QB Kiehl Frazier (6-3, 210) has passed for 3,581 yards and 46 TDs this year, and he's rushed for almost 700 yards and 12 TDs. Junior receiver Zann Jones (6-0, 185) paces the Saints with more than 1,100 yards and 10 TDs, while Jake Scott (6-1, 207) has more than 900 yards and 11 TDs. Linebackers Colt Thomas (5-10, 180) and Mitchell Roberts (6-3, 230) pace a Saint defense that gave up 84 points in consecutive playoff wins against DeQueen and Nashville, but surrendered just seven points to Bald Knob in the semifinals. The Saints held Bald Knob to minus-2 yards rushing and forced five turnovers. Thomas has 94 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions, while Roberts has 65 tackles and eight tackles for loss.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted one of two semifinal games. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 281 of 329 games (85 percent).

WEEK 15 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
SHILOH CHRISTIAN (14) vs. Lonoke

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12/7/2009

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