Class 6A - Week 4 - 2009

Class 6A - Week 4 - 2009

Share this article

Hootens.com Rankings
Class 6A, Week 4, 2009
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.


1. El Dorado (3-0)
2. West Memphis (3-0)
3. Watson Chapel (3-0)
4. Pine Bluff (1-2)
5. Lake Hamilton (2-1)
6. Jonesboro (3-0)
7. LR Parkview (3-0)
8. Marion (2-1)
9. Texarkana (0-3)
10. Mountain Home (2-0-1)
11. Jacksonville (1-2)
12. Sheridan (1-2)
13. Searcy (1-2)
14. LR Hall (1-2)
15. LR Fair (1-2)
16. Benton (0-3)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 Watson Chapel at No. 1 El Dorado

 
The battle for 6A South supremacy is on the line as Watson Chapel travels to El Dorado.  Watson Chapel has won seven of their last eight dating back to 2008 with the only loss coming to El Dorado in the state semifinals last season.  Watson Chapel's three-back offense outscores teams 37-17.  Senior quarterback C.J. Branch (6-3, 215) orchestrates the wishbone offense for Watson Chapel. Branch rushed for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and passed for another against Warren Week 1. Branch showed versatility by throwing for three scores and running for another against White Hall.  Last week Watson Chapel rushed for 242 yards in a 30-0 runaway victory over Camden Fairview.  El Dorado defeated Camden Fairview 30-14 Week 1.  "Offensively we have to explode off the ball and execute our scheme" Coach George Shelton says, "They have two of the best inside linebackers in the state, and it's crucial to take them out of the game."
Defensively, Watson Chapel must shut down El Dorado's senior playmaker Clay Murphy (5-11, 160). Murphy scored all 19 of El Dorado's points, including a TD catch as time expired, in their upset victory over Class 7A North LR. Murphy hauled in six passes for 137 yards and a TD last week against Magnolia. He also booted a 34-yard field goal.  Murphy catches passes from Taylor Reed, the son of head coach Scott Reed.  "Reed is a typical coach's son; he's a heady player that doesn't make mistakes" says Shelton. El Dorado utilizes more balance in their offensive attack, but relies on a solid defense that holds opponents to 13 points per game.  El Dorado holds the crucial size advantage on both lines as well.  El Dorado, winners of eight of nine, suffered their last defeat in last season's 6A state title game to Lake Hamilton.
 
6A East Showdown
No 6 Jonesboro at No. 7 LR Parkview

The most improved 6A teams in 2008 are undefeated and stifling opponents this fall. Jonesboro's first-team defense hasn't allowed a sustained drive for a point while its spread attack (392 yards last week) scores 37 points weekly. Parkview outscores teams 36-16. Jonesboro's 47-46 win over Parkview last year was the closest finish in 6A. Jonesboro trailed by 13 in the third when all-state running back Kowan Wright (5-9, 165) raced 42 yards to score and spark victory. Wright carried 22 times for 120 yards last week and added a 40-yard TD catch in a 32-0 win over Class 5A Blytheville. Osceola-transfer C.J. Jones leads Jonesboro rushers but sat out last week with a sore ankle while sophomore quarterback Moe Malugen completed 11 of 19 passes for 168 yards and four TDs. Parkview finished 7-4 in 2008 and returns 16 starters, including senior Benjamin Anderson (6-2, 185), who torched Jonesboro for 296 yards and four TDs last September. Jonesboro was penalized 12 times for 100 yards a week ago.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs weekly at 11 a.m. Saturday on KFSM in Fort Smith/Fayetteville and Today's THV 11 in Little Rock. Class 6A games scheduled to be featured this week include Jonesboro at LR Parkview, Pine Bluff at Benton and Texarkana at LR Fair.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 12 of 14 winners (86 percent) while Mountain Home tied Batesville. Hootens.com is 34-11-1 (76 percent) for the season.

WEEK 4 GAMES (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
6A EAST

Jonesboro at LR PARKVIEW (1): These two combined for 93 points in Jonesboro's one point victory in 2008. Both are averaging over 35 this year.
Jacksonville at MOUNTAIN HOME (3):  Mountain Home used a 17-point, second-half comeback to tie Batesville last week.  Red Devils were smashed by Mills' Double Wing attack last week.
LR Hall at WEST MEMPHIS (35): West Memphis gets an easy week after a come from behind victory over a tough West Helena squad.
Searcy at MARION (29): Searcy needs another strong offensive performance (44 points last week) to beat a Marion defense that shut out Wynne and Dollarway.

6A SOUTH
Watson Chapel at EL DORADO (6): Hootens.com Game of the Week. Winner holds upper hand in the 6A South. El Dorado hung 49 on Watson Chapel twice last year.
Sheridan at LAKE HAMILTON (31): Lake Hamilton ran the ball 39 times in the second half to knock off 5A power Pulaski Academy. Sheridan's woeful defense surrenders 37 per game.
PINE BLUFF (28) at Benton: Pine Bluff rushed for 253 yards against Warren to capture their first win. Opponents outscore Benton 42-6.
TEXARKANA (30) at LR Fair: Texarkana gets a break after playing the toughest non-conference schedule in 6A. The Razorbacks hogtied Fair last year 42-0.

(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.




9/21/2009

Share this article

Have your say

Feel free to take part in the discussion! Please be nice and do not include any abusive comments or spam. All comments are moderated and Hootens.com reserves the right to delete any comment.

-->