Class 5A Week 3 Rankings, Notes & Picks

Class 5A Week 3 Rankings, Notes & Picks

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 3, 2016

Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Pulaski Academy (1-1)
2. Batesville (0-2)
3. LR McClellan (1-1)
4. Alma (1-1)
5. Wynne (2-0)
6. Morrilton (1-1)
7. Sylvan Hills (2-0)
8. Greenbrier (2-0)
9. Watson Chapel (1-1)
10. Blytheville (1-1)
11. LR Christian (0-2)
12. HS Lakeside (0-2)
13. Vilonia (2-0)
14. Nettleton (2-0)
15. Forrest City (1-1)
16. Camden Fairview (1-1)
17. Beebe (1-1)
18. Hot Springs (0-2)
19. Harrison (2-0)
20. White Hall (2-0)
21. Valley View (1-1)
22. Farmington (1-1)
23. Hope (0-2)
24. LR Parkview (0-1)
25. De Queen (1-1)
26. Magnolia (1-1)
27. Paragould (1-1)
28. Maumelle (0-2)
29. Mills (0-2)
30. Clarksville (1-1)
31. Greene Co. Tech (0-2)
32. LR Fair (0-2)

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Watson Chapel at Class 4A No. 2 Warren

Both teams are expected to compete for conference titles this fall. Warren has won two of the past three over the Wildcats. Warren outlasted Little Rock Christian 55-48 in the opener and survived Stuttgart 21-12 a week ago. Senior Dennis Daniels ran 17 yards for the clinching score in the fourth quarter, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown while playing end in the first half. Warren senior quarterback Hayden Lassiter has four TD passes and two TD runs this fall. Warrren emphasized tackling in practice and it paid dividends last week.

Watson Chapel whipped Dollarway Week 1 and trailed Class 6A power Pine Bluff by two scores in the third quarter last week before losing by 25 points. Wildcat junior QB Jacobi Jackson has completed 26 of 55 passes for 320 yards and three TDs this year. Senior receiver Jaquan Dorsey has 11 catches for 177 yards and one TD. Wildcat senior safety Michael Williams, an Army commit, has 32 tackles this year, including 19 against Pine Bluff. “He's our leader and plays with a chip on his shoulder,”

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football TV show airs on KATV (Channel 7) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday's this fall.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 24 of 29 games (83 percent). For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 48 of 59 games (81 percent).

WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by points spread)
5A CENTRAL

PULASKI ACADEMY (8) at McCracken Co., Ken.: Pulaski Academy rebounds after its first loss in more than two years (28 games). Junior QB Layne Hatcher threw three TD passes against big and physical Salt Lake City (Utah) East, which ran the ball effectively. SLC East is Utah's defending Class 4A champion. McCracken County averages 52 points per game.
LR CHRISTIAN (7) at Harrison: These teams were conference foes the past two years. Winless Little Rock Christian has two losses by a total of nine points, including last week's two-point loss to Shiloh Christian. Harrison scored 30 unanswered points in the second half a week ago to down Siloam Springs 39-19.
CABOT (38) at LR Fair: This isn't close to LR Fair's 41-0 win over Cabot in the 1998 state title game. LR Fair has two wins in the past four years. Cabot clobbered the War Eagles by a combined 83-6 the past two seasons. Cabot senior Jarrod Barnes ran for 181 yards, passed for 28 yards and returned an interception for the clinching TD with 36 second left in last week's 15-point win at El Dorado.
LR Hall at LR MCCLELLAN (25): LR Hall is 2-0 for the first time since 1989 and the Warriors have two non-conference wins for the first time since 2006 when they finished 3-7. The Warriors showed grit in overtime last week, running for the winning two-point conversion to down Mills 20-18. LR McClellan must regroup after last week's 32-point loss to Class 7A North Little Rock. Workhorse Pierre Strong ran 88 yards for a TD on his first carry, but finished with 134 total yards. “We've got to get other guys involved more,” Coach Maurice Moody says. “Everyone is going to key on Pierre.”
LR Parkview at NORTH LR (49): North Little Rock racked up 356 yards in last week's 52-20 win over LR McClellan. LR Parkview finished with minus-18 yards (mostly due to errant snaps) in last week's 61-point loss at Benton.
SYLVAN HILLS (18) at Jacksonville: Undefeated Sylvan Hills eked out a intercepted a pass and blocked a field goal in the final minutes to preserve last week's one-point win at Hot Springs Lakeside. Jacksonville trailed LR Catholic 14-6 at halftime in Week 2 before losing by 25 points.
Beebe at WYNNE (18): Wynne changed its offense two years after facing Beebe's Dead T in the semifinals. The run-first Yellowjackets are unbeaten this season with a stout running ground game. Senior Devontai Pounds ran six times or 113 yards and a TD in last week's 38-21 victory at Maumelle. Beebe
Maumelle at MILLS (3): A battle of winless teams. Mills has lost to Class 6A Jacksonville and LR Hall by a combined three points the past two weeks, while Maumelle was blown out by Class 7A North Little Rock 48-21 in the opener and lost to Wynne 38-21 last week. Maumelle could play Cameron Porras at QB after the senior came off the bench to lead three TD marches against Wynne. Porras passed for 240 yards and three TDs, but threw two interceptions.

5A EAST
Mountain Home at BATESVILLE (10): Winless Batesville has surrendered 106 points in loss to Class 6A Jonesboro and Searcy. Pioneer senior Kylan Robinson continues improving after off-season foot surgery. Robinson has 13 carries for 139 yards this fall and he returned a kickoff 90 yards for a TD in last week's six-point loss to Searcy.
Marion at BLYTHEVILLE (6): These former conference foes split the past two meetings. Blytheville trailed Class 6A West Memphis 14-13 at halftime last week and lost 35-25. Blytheville QB Desmond Moore threw for 167 yards and four TDs against West Memphis. Marion forced five turnovers in last week's 27-point win against Jackson, Mo.
West Helena at FORREST CITY (3): Forrest City has beaten West Helena the past two seasons by a total of five points. Forrest City's 30-0 win over Dollarway last week was its first shutout in two years. Undefeated West Helena averages 38 points a game.
Greene Co. Tech at KENNETT, MO. (10): Greene County Tech has lost 10 straight games, which started with last year's 33-point blowout against Kennett, Mo. The Kennett Indians lost its past two games by a total of 12 points.
Star City at NETTLETON (11): This is the first meeting since Star City beat Nettleton 28-7 in the first round of the 1977 playoffs. Undefeated Nettleton stuffed Mountain Home inside the 10-yard line in the final minute last week to preserve a four-point victory. With a physical offensive line, Nettleton averages 7.5 yards per carry. Struggling Star City escaped Lake Village by 14 points a week ago.
Paragould at TRUMANN (3): Trumann has won six of the past 11 in the series, including 14-6 last season. The Wiildcats are 2-0 for the second straight season. Improved Paragould gives up 13 points weekly.
Highland at VALLEY VIEW (10): Valley View hung with Class 6A Searcy in the opener and rung up Rivercrest 35-7 last week. Valley View junior QB Joseph Walezonia passed for 140 yards and one TD and rushed for 207 yards and three scores this fall.
Beebe at WYNNE (18): Wynne changed its offense two years after facing Beebe's Dead T in the semifinals. The run-first Yellowjackets are unbeaten this season with a stout running ground game. Senior Devontai Pounds ran six times or 113 yards and a TD in last week's 38-21 victory at Maumelle. Beebe

5A SOUTH

Watson Chapel at WARREN (4): Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.
TEXARKANA (2) at Camden Fairview: Camden Fairview drops Class 4A Dollarway for the Class 6A Razorbacks. The Cardinals have won three of the past five over the Razorbacks. Camden Fairview senior linebacker Tim Crumpler (22 tackles) spearheads an improved defense.
POTEAU, OKLA. (7) at De Queen: Poteau, Okla., off to a 1-2 start with a 72-man roster after beating Tulsa Hale last week. De Queen rallied past Mena 25-21 in the opener, scoring the winning TD in the fourth quarter. But the Leopards struggled against Class 4A No. Nashville, losing by 39 points.
ARKADELPHIA (9) at Hot Springs: Arkadelphia has won three of the past four in the series, and 10 of the past 15. But Hot Springs won by 10 points last fall. Arkadelphia's D allowed Sheridan zero third down conversions. Badger freshman QB Cannon Turner threw two TD passes last week.
HS LAKESIDE (1) at Malvern: HS Lakeside has beaten Malvern eight of the past 10 years, including 45-39 last fall (Malvern won 34-17 in 2014). Malvern senior Devin Shaw injured his knee in the first quarter Week 1 and likely won't return until Week 5. Senior Jacquez Lock shifted from cornerback to running back last week at Lake Hamilton, running 104 yards for a TD. Senior linemen Cordell Cooper and Bradley Dixon dominated up front last week after focusing only on defense. HS Lakeside's field goal attempt was blocked in the final seconds of last week's one-point loss to Sylvan Hills.
Hope at PRESCOTT (7): Prescott has won six of the past nine over Hope. Prescott senior QB Derrick Flynn completed 12 of 20 passes for 150 yards and four TDs this season, and he's rushed for 112 yards and one score. Winless Hope surrenders 44 points per game.
EL DORADO (28) at Magnolia: El Dorado has beaten Magnolia 56-12 the past two seasons. The Wildcat defense gave up just two TDs in last week's 15-point loss to Cabot (Cabot returned an onside kick and interception for TDs). Magnolia sophomore running back Kadyn Roach has 237 yards and three TDs this fall.
White Hall at SHERIDAN (1): White Hall has beaten Sheridan seven of the past 12 seasons, and eight of the past 15. But Sheridan won by 22 points a year ago. White Hall didn't win a game in 2015, but the Bulldogs own consecutive victories this fall over Dumas and Crossett. Senior Lance Smith ran for 65 yards and a pair of TDs against Crossett. Sheridan senior McKinley Williams ran for 186 yards at Arkadelphia.

5A WEST
Maumelle at MILLS (3): A battle of winless teams. Mills has lost to Class 6A Jacksonville and LR Hall by a combined three points the past two weeks, while Maumelle was blown out by Class 7A North Little Rock 48-21 in the opener and lost to Wynne 38-21 last week. Maumelle could play Cameron Porras at QB after the senior came off the bench to lead three TD marches against Wynne. Porras passed for 240 yards and three TDs, but threw two interceptions.
Alma at GREENWOOD (14): Greenwood has beaten Alma 12 of the past 15 seasons. Alma was stopped on the 28-yard line with nine seconds left in last week's one-point loss to Class 7A Springdale. Airedale senior QB Noah Dotson has 28 carries for 125 yards and two TDs this year, and he's completed 25 of 52 passes for 478 yards and four scores.
Clarksville at DARDANELLE (7): These former conference rivals have split the eight meetings, with Dardanelle winning two straight in the series. Sand Lizard senior Dakota Rowland has 35 carries for 256 yards and three TDs this year, while junior kicker Temo Martinez has booted in all seven extra points and two field goals. Martinez also averages 47 yards per punt.
PEA RIDGE (7) at Farmington: Farmington has won six of the past eight of its former conference rival. But balanced Pea Ridge rushes for 194 yards and passes for 147 yards per game. Junior QB Jakota Sainsbury has completed 11 of 14 passes for 293 yards and three TDs in 2016, while senior Zaine Holley has rushed for 184 yards and three TDs. Farmington averages 29 points per game, and the Cardinals shutout Huntsville last week.
Greenbrier at BENTON (7): These teams have split the past six meetings. Benton hung 61 points on Little Rock Parkview last week, after scoring just seven points in the opener. Benton held LR Parkview to minus-18 yards. Greenbrier rallied from a 21-17 deficit last week to down winless Class 4A Heber Springs 52-41. Panther senior
LR CHRISTIAN (7) at Harrison: These teams were conference foes the past two years. Winless Little Rock Christian has two losses by a total of nine points, including last week's two-point loss to Shiloh Christian. Harrison scored 30 unanswered points in the second half a week ago to down Siloam Springs 39-19.
Searcy at MORRILTON (4): Morrilton has won three of the past four over Searcy, with the Lions winning 39-25 last season. The Lions also won in 2011. Undefeated Searcy averages 443 yards per game and has beaten Valley View and Batesville by a combined 82-68. Searcy junior QB Mason Shucker has passed for 452 yards and four TDs in 2016. Morrilton mauled hapless LR Fair a week ago 60-0. Senior QB Caleb Canady completed six of seven passes for 105 yards and three TDs. Canady has four TDs this season.
VILONIA (3) at Booneville: First meeting since 1988 when Booneville beat the Eagles 34-8, and the first in Booneville since they tied on Homecoming 1987. Undefeated Vilonia averages 32 points and 367 yards per game. Senior QB Luke Gordon has completed 21 of 36 passes for 282 yards and five TDs this year, with no interceptions. Booneville starts five sophomores offense and defense, and another plays extensively on defense. The Bearcats limited Gravette to eight yards and just nine plays in the first half of last week's 21-7 triumph. Sophomore defensive back Brandon Ulmer returned an interception 69 yards for the clinching fourth quarter score.

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