Class 5A Week 2 Rankings, Notes & Picks

Class 5A Week 2 Rankings, Notes & Picks

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 5A, Week 2, 2018
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

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

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 14 Valley View at Class 4A No. 5 Rivercrest
Rivercrest opens its new stadium after closing down the Cotton Patch last December. Rivercrest has lost just once since falling to Class 5A Valley View by three points last season (lost three of the four meetings in the series).
Rivercrest led Paragould 22-13 at halftime last week, before easing to a 43-25 decision. Colt senior quarterback Demilon Brown completed three of five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and ran for 54 yards. Senior Kentavious Robinson sprinted 16 times for 128 yards and a pair of TDs, while Rivercrest's defense forced six turnovers. Junior tackle Logan Gray recorded 10 tackles a week ago, including three tackles for loss. “Rivercrest is the biggest and fastest team we've played,” Valley View coach Sean Cockrell says. “They scare us getting in the Wing T, because we can't match up with them.”
Valley View goes for its first 3-0 start since 2013. The Blazers rely on defense this fall, holding Bald Knob and Highland to 32 points the past two weeks. Valley View senior Blake Arnoult returned two fumbles for touchdowns in last week's 21-point win over Bald Knob. Senior receiver Jacob Snyder has impacted the offense since rejoining the program in February (didn't play the past two seasons). Snyder has 12 catches for 270 yards and three TDs this fall.

TV SHOW
Hooten's Arkansas Football airs 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on KATV (ABC Little Rock) Channel 7, covering the Razorbacks, high school teams and players to watch.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted 20 of 24 games (83 percent) last week. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 33 of 39 games (85 percent).

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS)
5A CENTRAL
LR Fair at MORRILTON (21
): Winless Morrilton finally faces a 5A team after losing to Searcy and Russellville (a combined 3-0) the past two weeks. Morrilton trailed Russellville 21-7 at halftime last week, but scored a TD in the final seconds of a five-point setback. LR Fair's 10-point win over LR Hall was its first on the field since Week 1, 2013. 
Vilonia at MAUMELLE (10): Maumelle led Class 4A Pea Ridge 33-7 at halftime last week. The solid Hornet D features fast linemen. Vilonia didn't score in the first half of last week's 43-21 loss to LR Christian, but junior Draven Smith ran for a pair of second half TDs.
Lonoke at BEEBE (4): The Battle of Highway 31. Beebe has won 10 games in this rivalry since 2000, including the past two by a total of 61 points. Beebe ran for 214 yards two weeks ago against Greenbrier, with senior Taylor Boyce gaining 130 yards and a pair of TDs. Lonoke senior QB Braidon Bryant threw a TD pass and ran for another in last week's 37-0 win over Carlisle. The Jackrabbits led 30-0 at halftime.
Crossett at WHITE HALL (6): Both teams lost in Week 1, White Hall by 13 points at Dumas and Crossett by 24 points at Magnolia. White Hall junior tailback Donte Buckner ran for a pair of TDs at Dumas. Crossett tallied just 145 yards at Magnolia.
Watson Chapel at PINE BLUFF (10): The Z's have won eight straight in this inner-city rivalry. Pine Bluff surrendered 377 yards rushing in last week's 21-point loss at Class 7A Cabot. Watson Chapel senior Tariq Urquhart hauled in a pair of TD passes in last week's 36-point mercy-rule win at Monticello.
LR PARKVIEW (7) at Marion: LR Parkview held its own last week against bigger Class 7A Springdale. The Patriots led 24-21 with six minutes left before losing by 11 points. Patriot senior QB/tailback Geary Allmon ran for 200 yards and two TDs and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another. Big-play Marion beat Wynne by one point in overtime last week. Sophomore receiver Markel Wynne caught a 79-yard TD pass while classmate Jayden Potter sprinted 51 yards for a TD.
PULASKI ACADEMY (21) at Memphis (Tenn.) Ridgeway: Top-ranked Pulaski Academy pounded Class 7A Har-Ber 50-14 in Zero Week. Junior QB Braden Bratcher passed for 318 yards and five TDs against Har-Ber. The Bruins blasted Memphis Ridgeway last season 56-20.
LR Christian is open.

5A EAST
NETTLETON (21) at Mountain Home: Nettleton has won four straight in the series, including last year's 42-0 route. The undefeated Raiders have given up just one TD this season. Mountain Home trailed Harrison 35-0 at halftime last week, and the Bombers have scored just two TDs this season. 
NEWPORT (2) at Greene County Tech: The Eagles are 2-0 for the first time since 2009 (later had to forfeit the Week 1 victory). GCT scored 48 points in last week's four-point win over Brookland, its most since putting up 48 points last year against Kennett, Mo. The Eagles haven't beaten Newport since 2015. Newport trailed Pottsville 20-14 at halftime last week before losing by seven points.
SEARCY (17) at Batesville: These teams play for the 19th straight season. Batesville has scored just 13 points this year in two games. The Lions haven't given up a point in the past six quarters. Searcy senior QB Peyton Wright threw three TDs in last week's 42-0 win over Sheridan.
Paragould at POCAHONTAS (7): Pocahontas was shutout last week for the first time since Week 2, 2013, which ironically came against Paragould. Paragould recovered three onside kicks last week against Rivercrest, but turned it over six times.
ARKADELPHIA (3) at Wynne: The defending state champs are 0-2 after setbacks to Class 6A Sylvan Hills and Benton. The Badgers trailed Benton 21-0 in the first quarter last week. Wynne's offense didn't move the ball in a preseason scrimmage game against Searcy and lost by one point in overtime last week against Marion. Wynne running backs were tackled in the backfield 14 times.
Dollarway at FORREST CITY (18): Both teams lost in Zero Week and neither played last week. Forrest City allowed a TD and extra point in the final minutes of a one-point setback to Star City, while Dollarway struggled to move the ball (never crossed midfield) against LR McClellan.
WEST MEMPHIS (13) at Blytheville: West Memphis has won two straight over Blytheville. The Blue Devils shutout Class 7A LR Central in Zero Week. Blytheville senior Brian Denkins ran 23 yards for the winning TD in last week's five-point triumph over Mississippi County rival Osceola.
VALLEY VIEW (3) at Rivercrest: Hootens.com Class 5A Game of the Week.

5A SOUTH
SYLVAN HILLS (2) at LR McClellan
: Sylvan Hills has won six of the past eight over LR McClellan. The Bear defense has given up just four TDs the past two weeks to Arkadelphia and Class 7A LR Catholic, holding Catholic future DI running back Samy Johnson to 94 yards on 34 carries. LR McClellan didn't allow Dollarway to cross midfield in Zero Week, while adding a defensive TD.
CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (7) at Hamburg: Camden Fairview trailed El Dorado 20-0 at halftime last week, and the Cardinals turned the ball over four times. Undefeated Hamburg scored seven first-half TDs in last week's 33-point win over Strong. QB Jonathon Kelly completed five of six passes for 106 yards and two TDs. 
MAGNOLIA (12) at Monticello: Monticello's offense struggled in the preseason scrimmage with Camden Fairview and the Billies mustered only three points last week against Watson Chapel. High-flying Magnolia tries to go 3-0 for the first time since 2006 when the Panthers finished as conference runners-up. 
Hot Springs at MENA (4): These teams have split the past six meetings, with Mena winning last year by 11 points. Hot Springs failed to score last week against Fountain Lake, while Mena sophomore QB Max Montgomery threw a pair of TD passes in a 28-point setback at Prescott.  
HS LAKESIDE (10) at Fountain Lake: Both must emotionally recover after tough games last week against Garland County opponents. HS Lakeside led Lake Hamilton by two points in the middle of the fourth quarter, and fumbled in the final two minutes of the four-point setback. Fountain Lake piled up 319 yards in last week's 18-0 win over Hot Springs.
ASHDOWN (13) at Hope: Ashdown has won seven of the past 13 in the series, including the past two. The Panthers shutout De Queen in last week's 10-point triumph. Hope first-year coach Phillip Turner assisted at Ashdown the past six seasons. Hope gained only 45 yards in last week's 57-point loss to Nashville. 
Texarkana at TEXAS HIGH (3): Texarkana running back Jordan Hall ran for almost 500 yards in the opening two games but injured his leg late last week against Liberty-Eylau. Senior linebacker Tre Cleveland spearheads an improved unit. Cleveland registered 15 tackles in last week's 14-point win over Liberty-Eylau.
De Queen at NASHVILLE (21): Nashville seeks revenge after last season's seven-point loss at De Queen. The Scrappers are 2-0 this fall, averaging 45 points and 395 yards per game. Scrapper sophomore Keyshawn Stewart ran seven times for 84 yards and a pair of first-half TDs in last week's 63-6 win over Hope.

5A WEST
Clarksville at OZARK (10):
Ozark has won six of the past 10 over Clarksville. Ozark trailed Booneville by seven points in the fourth quarter last week before surrendering three TDs in a 38 second span. The Hillbillies turned the ball over four times. Senior QB Dawson Dietz passed for 181 yards and a TD but threw three interceptions. Clarksville ran for 393 yards in last week's 41-0 win over Paris, while holding the Eagles to six first downs.
GREENBRIER (11) at Heber Springs: Greenbrier has won six of the past seven battle of the Panthers, including last year by 13 points. Greenbrier blasted Beebe 29-14 in Zero Week, rolling up 402 yards offense. Senior Andrew Johnson completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and one TD. Heber Springs must recover emotionally after losing to Clinton on the final play last week, when the Yellow Jackets threw the winning TD pass as time expired. 
HUNTSVILLE (14) at Berryville: Huntsville impressed in last week's 29-point win over Gentry. The Eagles held Gentry to 62 yards rushing, while Huntsville senior Tyler Welch scored three TDs. Berryville beat West Fork a week ago by 14 points. Senior Kooper Logan ran for a pair of second-half TDs against West Fork.
Alma at SPRINGDALE (15): The Bulldogs start 3-0 for the second consecutive season. Springdale QB Grant Allen passed for three TDs in the second half of last week’s 35-24 win at Class 5A LR Parkview. Class 5A Alma lost to Van Buren for the first time in seven years. Springdale beat Alma 34-19 last season. Alma allowed 456 yards and 30 first downs in last week's 15-point loss to Van Buren.
LR Fair at MORRILTON (21): Winless Morrilton finally faces a 5A team after losing to Searcy and Russellville (a combined 3-0) the past two weeks. Morrilton trailed Russellville 21-7 at halftime last week, but scored a TD in the final seconds of a five-point setback. LR Fair's 10-point win over LR Hall was its first on the field since Week 1, 2013. 
Gravette at FARMINGTON (14): These are former conference foes, with Gravette winning seven of the past 11. But Gravette struggled two weeks ago against Cascia Hall (Okla.), trailing 30-7 at halftime before losing by 36-points. Farmington beat rival Prairie Grove by three points last week after leading 33-12 in the fourth quarter. Farmington senior QB Eric Hill threw a pair of TDs and ran for a short score. 
HARRISON (16) at Siloam Springs: Harrison has won two of the past three over the Panthers, including a 36-point decision a year ago. Harrison led Mountain Home 35-0 at halftime last week and finished with 395 yards. Junior Gabe Huskey caught three passes for 204 yards, and had at least 150 yards after the catch.
Vilonia at MAUMELLE (10): Maumelle led Class 4A Pea Ridge 33-7 at halftime last week. The solid Hornet D features fast linemen. Vilonia didn't score in the first half of last week's 43-21 loss to LR Christian, but junior Draven Smith ran for a pair of second half TDs.

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