Hootens.com Rankings
Class 2A, Week 1, 2021
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Des Arc (1-0)
2. Fordyce (1-0)
3. Junction City (0-1)
4. Bigelow (1-0)
5. McCrory (1-0)
6. Clarendon (0-0)
7. Magnet Cove (1-0)
8. Gurdon (1-0)
9. Mount Ida (1-0)
10. E. Poinsett County (0-1)
11. Poyen (1-0)
12. Dierks (0-1)
13. Carlisle (0-1)
14. Hampton (0-1)
15. Hector (1-0)
16. Quitman (1-0)
17. Hazen (0-1)
18. Earle (1-0)
19. Cross County (0-1)
20. Magazine (0-1)
21. Murfreesboro (0-1)
22. Foreman (0-1)
23. Mountainburg (0-0)
24. Marked Tree (0-0)
25. Bearden (0-1)
26. Parkers Chapel (0-1)
27. Lafayette County (0-1)
28. Yellville-Summit (0-1)
29. England (0-0)
30. J.C. Westside (0-0)
31. Mineral Springs (0-0)
32. Conway Christian (0-0)

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Des Arc at No. 5 McCrory
Des Arc played like the top-ranked team in 2A last week, scoring on its first two offensive plays en route to a 36-0 first-quarter lead over Class 3A Palestine-Wheatley. Des Arc rolled up 394 rushing yards with most of its starters leaving the game in the middle of the second quarter and won 52-0. McCrory trailed out-manned Hazen 6-2 at halftime but took the lead in the third quarter and won 24-12. Senior linebackers Reid Kennon and Lathan Briley and sophomore linemen Stacey Mitchell led the Jaguars in tackles. Junior ATH Locoya Tucker ran 54 yards for a TD and caught a short TD pass. Between five players testing positive for Covid in the preseason and corresponding quarantines, McCrory practiced two weeks in the month of August. McCrory has won three of the past four meetings in this series. 

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked 21 of 22 games (95 percent) involving Class 2A teams.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
3-2A
DES ARC (8) at McCrory: See Game of the Week.
Palestine-Wheatley at MARKED TREE (6): MT expects to dress 21 for its opener, led by all-state TE B.J. Marshall and junior lineman Bryce Dunn, and senior linemen Logan Smith and Corey Jacobs. Class 3A P-W lost 52-0 last week at Des Arc when the Pats gave up 394 rushing yards. A year ago, MT won this matchup 28-27. 
Manila at EPC (6): No. 10 EPC led Class 4A Pottsville most of the game but could not finish without its staring QB, junior Carter Smith. Smith was injured late in the second quarter with EPC leading 16-6. Smith ran for 31 yards and TD. Senior Josh Gilmore recorded 10 tackles and two forced fumbles, while senior Barry Rossell recovered a fumble for a TD. Class 3A Manila committed six turnovers in a 22-14 loss to Earle.
HELENA (1) at Earle: Earle took advantage of six turnovers last week in its 22-14 opening win over Class 3A Manila. Earle junior QB Tyrone Hurst III completed 21 of 28 passes for 310 yards. Junior DL Tommy Harris logged 12 tackles, including two sacks. Earle topped Class 4A Helena 22-20 a year ago, but Helena has won four of the past five in the series.
Cross County at HAZEN (2): With only 15 on the roster, Hazen led McCrory at halftime last week before losing 24-12. Junior QB Luke King completed 20 of 31 passes for 228 yards and two TDs, while making nine tackles at linebacker. Of Cross County's 11 offensive starters last week at Class 3A Harrisburg, nine played their first varsity football game. Senior A.J. Beale passed for 80 yards and ran for another 100 yards in the 28-6 loss.

4-2A
Carlisle at BIGELOW (18): No. 4 Bigelow forced four turnovers last week in a 41-7 win over Bearden with senior linebackers Hunter Alexander and Kaden Terrell returning an INT apiece for TDs. The first-team defense held Bearden to negative yards in the first half. In a 54-12 loss to Class 4A neighbor Lonoke, Carlisle RB Gage Parker carried 19 times for 102 yards and a TD. The senior caught a 41-yard TD toss and made four tackles.
Quitman at MELBOURNE (4): Class 3A Melbourne crushed 3A Clinton 33-6 last week, while Quitman senior QB Will Litton completed 12 of 18 passes for 224 yards and three TDs in a 52-14 win over Class 3A Two Rivers. Litton rushed for 104 yards and a TD and collected nine tackles. Junior RB Trevor Hensley carried 13 times for 143 yards and two scores. Junior WR Trevor Locke caught five passes for 104 yards and a TD. Melbourne amassed 447 yards in 33-6 win over Clinton. Melbourne won this matchup 34-6 last season.
BAPTIST PREP (24) at Conway Christian: BP senior QB Tyler Hesley threw his first career TD pass in 14-0 win over Yellville-Summit. Senior Owen Throneberry scored a TD and forced a fumble, while classmate Jackson Mullen intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Conway Christian expects to dress 16 for its season opener, including senior leaders Hayden Hall at RB and Wyatt Buckman at C/NG. BP won this matchup 48-14 a year ago.
PARIS (40) at J.C. Westside: J.C. Westside, which whipped Class 3A Dover in a preseason scrimmage, dresses 19 for the season opener, including 13 seniors. All-4-2A senior QB Braydon Edwards and senior RB Dakota Beavers pace the offense. Class 3A Paris pounded Lavaca 49-12 last week, holding the Golden Arrows to negative-12 yards in the first half. Paris won this matchup 62-6 a year ago.
Mountainburg at CEDARVILLE (20): CANCELLED. Twenty-seven miles separate these rivals. Class 3A Cedarville took the past two games in the series by a combined 80-6 after Moutainburg had won four straight from 2015-2018. Mountainburg expects to dress 27 for its opener, led by a senior backfield of QB Isaac Cowett, 220-pound FB Gus Newton and all-league ATH Noah Johnson. Cedarville beat a covid-depleted Berryville 42-20 last week. All-state Cedarville RB Darryl Kattick ran for 194 yards and a TD, while Cody Dickens completed eight of 16 passes for 105 yards and a TD.
Two Rivers at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (26): Y-S played with tenacity last week for four quarters in a 14-0 loss to Class 3A Baptist Prep. Y-S senior DB Kayden Geier recorded a forced fumble, a QB pressure, six tackles, and he recovered an onside kick. Two Rivers played Quitman tough for a half before falling 52-14. Two Rivers junior WR Dominic Dailey logged six receptions and 10 tackles.
HECTOR is open.
MAGAZINE is open.

5-2A
BISMARCK (2) at Magnet Cove: Bismarck team speed looked improved last week when the gritty Lions piled up 438 yards in a 50-7 rout of Class 2A Dierks. Bismarck junior QB Ian Smith off to great start, completing five of eight passes while averaging 21 yards on five rushing attempts. MC mauled Murfreesboro 42-7 with senior RB Julius McClellan catching  three passes for 55 yards and two TDs. Senior Gavin McCauley recorded a team-high nine tackles. MC freshman Matt Stone ran for a team high 126 yards, including a 76-yard TD to cap the scoring. MC won this matchup 28-20 last year.
PERRYVILLE (6) at Mount Ida: MI ran for 409 yards last week in a 49-47 win over Class 3A Danville, but the Lions were flagged for 200 yards in penalties. Junior Caleb White ran for 140 yards and three TDs, while classmate Jacob Woodfield rushed for 115 yards and two TDs. Class 3A Perryville returns starters at 19 positions, and the Mustangs average 278 pounds up front, including all-state left guard Garrett Farnam.
Drew Central at POYEN (25): DC numbers are up to 36. Senior LBs Parker Cruce and Ian Strickland head a stronger Pirate defense. Graduation hurt Poyen, but the 2A Indians rushed for 331 yards (9.7 YPC) last week in a 24-7 win over Class 3A Genoa Central. Senior QB Colton Lowe carried 17 times for 217 yards and two TDs. Poyen dropped DC 35-0 last year.
Gurdon at PRESCOTT (20): Class 3A No. 1 Prescott is even more explosive than normal but lacks size up front. It ripped Newport 56-6 last week when junior QB Carston Poole completed nine of 12 passes for 250 yards and four TDs, while all-state RB Jaylen Hopson ran 10 times for 144 yards and two TDs. Gurdon rushed for 380 yards in a 60-18 win over Lafayette County with senior RB C.J. Dickerson covering 226 yards on just 15 carries. Prescott won this matchup last year in a shootout, 43-36.

6-2A
DES ARC (8) at McCrory: See Game of the Week.
CLARENDON (28) at Barton: The Spencer Adams era begins at Class 3A Barton where the Bears return starters at five positions and will rely heavily on underclassmen. Adams is the son of former Farmington HC Mike Adams. Clarendon returns starters at 14 positions and expects to dress 25 for its opener. Clarendon won this matchup 65-22 a year ago.
Carlisle at BIGELOW (18): No. 4 Bigelow forced four turnovers last week in a 41-7 win over Bearden with senior linebackers Hunter Alexander and Kaden Terrell returning an INT apiece for TDs. The first-team defense held Bearden to negative yards in the first half. In a 54-12 loss to Class 4A neighbor Lonoke, Carlisle RB Gage Parker carried 19 times for 102 yards and a TD. The senior caught a 41-yard TD toss and made four tackles.
Cross County at HAZEN (2): With only 15 on the roster, Hazen led McCrory at halftime last week before losing 24-12. Junior QB Luke King completed 20 of 31 passes for 228 yards and two TDs, while making nine tackles at linebacker. Of Cross County's 11 offensive starters last week at Class 3A Harrisburg, nine played their first varsity football game. Senior A.J. Beale passed for 80 yards and ran for another 100 yards in the 28-6 loss.
FOUNTAIN LAKE (17) at England: Class 4A Fountain Lake lost every starting RB in the first quarter last week of a 45-point loss to Class 5A Hot Springs. Two other FL starters hope to return from quarantine. 

7-2A
Horatio at DIERKS (14): Horatio coach Lantz Castleman seeks his first win at HHS with 25 Lions on the roster. Class 2A Dierks fell 48-7 last week to improved Class 3A Bismarck and dynamic junior QB Ian Smith who ripped off a 52-yard TD run, one of five rushing TDs for Bismarck. Dierks managed 132 yards on 43 snaps.
Genoa Central at FOREMAN (1): GC playing hard and fast under first-year coach David Barker, but depth could be a factor. Barker praised junior guard Hilton Hackney last week after a 24-7 loss to Class 2A Poyen. Foreman lost to Idabel, Okla., 39-0. Sophomore Tyrance Marks carried nine times for 85 yards and made eight solo tackles in the loss. Senior WR Desmond Cornelius caught four passes for 80 yards, collected eight tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and blocked a field goal.
PARKERS CHAPEL (1) at Lafayette County: PC has won three straight in this series, but the Trojans are down two starters after enduring a 28-0 loss to Class 3A Smackover a week ago. LC lost to Gurdon 60-18, but the Cougars continued to battle in the second half for first-year HC Jason Hathcock. Elusive LC junior QB K.J. Hayes broke three tackles and sprinted 73 yards for a TD.
Murfreesboro at CENTERPOINT (28): Class 3A No. 6 Centerpoint held Hampton to 148 total yards a week ago, while amassing 450 yards in a 49-0 rout. Murfreesboro lost to Magnet Cove 42-7, managing 128 yards on 41 plays.
Mineral Springs at BEARDEN (2): MS, with its 14-man varsity roster, has forfeited this game due to covid quarantines after not traveling last week to England.  

8-2A
Mineral Springs at BEARDEN (2): MS, with its 14-man varsity roster, has forfeited this game due to covid quarantines after not traveling last week to England.
Smackover at JUNCTION CITY (6): Class 3A rival Camden Harmony Grove invoked the mercy rule last week on JC 39-0, marking the first time a team has done that to the Dragons since 2010 when Bearden went up 35-0 on JC in the third quarter of a 35-8 win. Last week, HG led 39-0 late in the third quarter with superior depth and speed, ripping off four TD plays of more than 70 yards. Class 3A Smackover, which popped Parkers Chapel 28-0, last defeated Junction City in 2018. JC has won six of the past seven meetings in the series.
PARKERS CHAPEL (1) at Lafayette County: PC has won three straight in this series, but the Trojans are down two starters after enduring a 28-0 loss to Class 3A Smackover a week ago. LC lost to Gurdon 60-18 last week, but the Cougars continued to battle in the second half for first-year HC Jason Hathcock. Elusive LC junior QB K.J. Hayes broke three tackles and sprinted 73 yards for a TD.
FORDYCE is open.
HAMPTON is open.