Hootens.com Class 3A Rankings

Week 2, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Publishing

1. Booneville (1-0)

2. Prescott (1-1)

3. Charleston (0-1)

4. C. Harmony Grove (1-1)

5. Salem (2-0)

6. Newport (1-1)

7. Hoxie (2-0)

8. Mansfield (2-0)

9. Walnut Ridge (2-0)

10. Magnet Cove (2-0)

11. Bismarck (1-1)

12. Osceola (1-1)

13. Hackett (1-1)

14. Fordyce (1-1)

15. Gurdon (2-0)

16. Junction City (1-1)

17. Glen Rose (0-2)

18. Lavaca (1-0)

19. Rison (0-2)

20. Quitman (1-1)

21. Yellville-Summit (2-0)

22. Perryville (0-2)

23. Fouke (1-1)

24. Barton (1-1)

25. Smackover (1-1)

26. West Fork (1-1)

27. Drew Central (1-1)

28. Paris (1-1)

29. Melbourne (0-2)

30. Centerpoint (0-2)

31. Greenland (0-2)

32. Jessieville (0-1)

33. Lake Village (1-0)

34. Atkins (0-2)

35. Manila (0-1)

36. Cedarville (0-1)

37. Horatio (1-1)

38. Danville (0-1)

39. Palestine-Wheatley (1-1

40. Piggott (0-2)

41. Two Rivers (0-2)

PREDICTIONS (Favored team highlighted and CAPS)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

Fordyce (1-1) at NO. 2 PRESCOTT (1-1): Fordyce lost at home 40-36 to Magnet Cove last week. Kellin Ellison (3-171 receiving, 3 TDs) and QB Kobi Cunningham (62-yard run, 3 TD passes, 2 INTs.) led the offense. Prescott lost on the road last week against 2-time defending 5A Oklahoma runner-up McAlester, 17-13. The Curley Wolves offense is led by QB Pierce Yates, who has thrown for almost 500 yards and 5 TDs this season and rushed for 84 yards. Receiver P.J. Gulley has almost 200 receiving yards with 2 TDs, Dwayne White has more than 140 receiving yards with 3 TDs. RB Jah'Noah Harris has almost 180 rushing yards and a TD, while KJ Page has more than 100 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Curley Wolves Coach Brian Glass says he is excited for Prescott's first home game against challenging opponent like Fordyce.

5-3A

Lake Village (1-0) at JUNCTION CITY (1-1): Lake Village canceled its slated matchup against 4A Hamburg last week after a COVID outbreak hit the team. Lake Village won its opener 28-22 at West Bolivar (Miss.) in Week 0. Junction City beat a tough 2A Carlisle team 33-26 last week. Junction City Coach Devin Ball says he is pleased with the progression of QB Lamontra Hankton, who is 13 of 29 passing for 269 yards and 3 TDs, while rushing 11 times for 141 yards in the Dragons' first 2 games. Jalen Ivey had 6 pancake blocks against Carlisle. Sophomore corner Jakorey Larry had 4 tackles and 1 INT. for 49 yards

3A NONCOFERENCE GAMES

Horatio (1-1) at LAVACA (1-0): Horatio was beaten 36-6 by 2A Dierks. Drake Angel (37 rushing yards) and Ryan Pickett (2-yard TD run) were the offensive leaders. Lavaca QB Cutler Winters completed several passes of more than 20 yards, including a 34-yard TD to help the Golden Arrows slip past 2A Magazine.

WEST FORK (1-1) at Paris (1-1): West Fork lost at 4A Berryville 16-13 after winning the matchup 28-6 one year ago. Paris lost 47-9 at Mansfield, and Coach Jeff Weaver says the team needs to get more consistent on both sides of the ball to be able to match West Fork's physicality.

D'ARBONNE WOODS, La. (1-0) at Drew Central (1-1): D'Arbonne Woods (La.) picked up its first win, 42-12 over Lakeview (La.) in a nonconference road game. The Wolves recorded a 6-5 record last season. Drew Central is coming off a 34-8 home loss to 4A Mayflower. Freshman Jayden Jones recorded 102 total yards with a TD and had an interception on defense.

HACKETT (1-1) at Panama, Okla. (0-1) Hackett comes off a 42-26 road loss to Pocola, Okla., but senior QB Cole Ketchum put on a show against Pocola with 352 passing yards, 4 TDs passes and a 60.6 percent completion rate. Ketchum threw 2 TD passes each to Wyatt Hester and Eli Slave. Panama lost its only game to Spiro, Okla., 12-6 in OT.

2A-3A NONCONFERENCE GAMES

CEDARVILLE (0-1) at 2A Mountainburg (1-1): Cedarville returns from Week 1 open date and travels to 2A Mountainburg. Cedarville suffered a 41-0 home loss to Perryville in its season-opener. Cedarville has taken the past 3 matchups against Mountainburg by a combined 116-12 score. Mountainburg rushed for 249 yards in a 26-20 win over Danville. Ryan Allen rushed for 130 yards and 3 TDs while also passing for 87 yards. Garrett Jones had 9 tackles and 2 sacks.

PERRYVILLE (1-1) at 2A Bigelow (2-0): Perryville comes off a 40-6 loss to Central Arkansas Christian. Mustangs RB/LB Luke Underwood averages 7 tackles and 65 rushing yards per game; DE/RB Wyatt Brown averages 5 tackles and 68 rushing yards. T/DT Wyatt Machen leads the team with 16 tackles. Mustangs Coach Allan Fairbanks, says he looks for his team to come out laser focused in practice this week and be ready to get back on track going forward. Bigelow routed England 49-24 last week, sacking the QB 5 times. Five players scored TDs for the Panthers. Jayden Dunlap scored twice.

2A CONWAY CHRISTIAN (2-0) at Atkins (0-2): Atkins fell to 0-2 with a 26-16 loss at 4A Dover. Senior Jackson Furh (14 tackles, 2 INTs., 1 Pick 6) led the Red Devils. Coach Matt Porter says he is anticipating a tough matchup with Conway Christian, which improved to 2-0 by whipping Baptist Prep 48-7. Aaron Lovelace rushed for 78 yards and 3 TDs. Brady Domokos had 2 rushing TDs and a fumble return for a score.

2A EPC (1-0) at NO. 9 WALNUT RIDGE (2-0) Walnut Ridge comes off a 39-0 win over 4A Cave City, with the Bobcats holding the Cavemen to 10 yards rushing. Walnut Ridge was led by Jayden Saulsbury (8-125 rushing) and Jersie Cunningham (12-111 rushing). Coach Jeff Blake had praise for Mark Hatfield on defense. Blake says the matchup with EPC will require the Bobcats to slow down EPC's run game. East Poinsett County’s Dennis Gaines rushed 24 times for 172 yards and 5 TDs last week.

BISMARCK (1-1) at 2A Poyen (1-1) Bismarck evened its record with as 49-12 home rout against Rison. Ben Keithley (11-105 yards), Dalton Daniels (5-69 rushing) and Johnny Diaz (6-66) led the Lions' rushing attack. Caedmon Keithley caught 2 passes for 22 yards. Caleb Schultz anchored the Lions with a team-leading 7 tackles. Poyen scored early and often in a 45-8 win over Hampton. QB Colt Barrett passed for 177 yards and a TD. He also scored 2 rushing TDs. Logan Lewis rushed for 113 yards on 5 carries. 

2A Mount Ida (0-1) at JESSIEVILLE (0-1): Jessieville, looking for its first win, returns to the field after an open date to host undermanned 2A Mount Ida.

2A Baptist Prep (0-2) at NO. 10 MAGNET COVE (2-0): Magnet Cove defeated 2A Poyen 42-8 to open the season and followed that with a 40-36 victory at Fordyce. Magnet Cove keeps the ball on the ground and works the clock to the final 3 seconds before snapping on each possession. Baptist Prep QB Malachi Jones completed 9 of 18 passes for 170 yards and a TD in a loss to Conway Christian. Nick Cummings had 141 yards rushing and also intercepted 2 passes. 

DANVILLE (0-1) at 2A Magazine (0-2): Danville lost its opener 26-20 at 2A Mountainburg. Little Johns Coach Koby Hamlin said his team played hard against a tough Mountainburg team. Magazine’s Ethan Vasquez scored the Rattlers’ first TD of the season. Keej Vang forced 2 fumbles.

Two Rivers (0-2) at 2A J.C. WESTSIDE (0-2): Two Rivers comes in off a 43-0 shutout loss at home against Palestine-Wheatley. Gators Coach Jonathon Ellis said liked what he saw from defensive players Tacomah Hunt and Zane Grey. Westside finally got on the field last week, losing 36-0 to Yellville-Summitt. It forfeited its first game because of illnesses to players. Hayden Edwards led the Rebels with tackles and forced 2 fumbles.

2A NO. 1  MINERAL SPRINGS (2-0) at Smackover (1-1): Smackover comes off a 20-17 home win against 2A Episcopal Collegiate. Smackover is out to avenge last season's 64-26 loss at Mineral Springs, which moves up to No. 1 in 2A after routing Fouke 42-2 last week. Katrevion Thomas, 1 of 3 Hornets to score rushing TDs, led Mineral Springs with 75 yards rushing. Rahmaij Ware led the defense with 12 tackles.

Class 2A Dierks (1-1) at GURDON (2-0): Gurdon heads into Week 2 with a 2-0 record after Foreman forfeited last week's game. Go-Devils Coach Kyle Jackson says his team has to stop the Dierks run game for Gurdon to come out with a victory. Dierks routed Horatio 36-6 last week as Jordan Hill rushed for 202 yards and 4 TDs. Kason Dougan had 8 tackles to lead the defense.

3A-4A NONCONFERENCE GAMES

Riverview at NO. 5 SALEM: Riverview trailed Highland 33-12 in the second quarter last week before losing 43-12. Sophomore RB Trevion Greer leads Riverview's ground attack. Undefeated Salem beat Thayer, Mo., 38-28 a week ago. The Greyhounds surrendered 161 yards. Gatlin Branscum returned an interception for a TD, while Spencer Jackson and Caden Burch both registered 2 sacks. But Salem lost 6 fumbles and allowed 2 kickoff returns for TDs.

No. 6 Newport (1-1) at 4A STUTTGART (1-1): Stuttgart has won 7 of the past 10 in the series. Newport shined 2 weeks ago in a 28-point win over Osceola, but the Greyhounds were collared by Beebe last week 42-8. Stuttgart rebounded from an opening week mercy-rule loss at Warren with a 52-21 win over Star City. Freshman QB Cain Price completed 14 of 24 passes for 335 yards and 4 TDs vs. Star City, while junior Deontae Clark had a monster game (8 catches, 167 yards and 3 TDs; 14 carries, 76 yards and 1 TD). Senior DL Nykeal Bradley registered 6 solo stops, 2 forced fumbles and recovered both fumbles (1 for a TD).

MELBOURNE (0-2) at 4A Cave City (0-2): Melbourne has won 10 of its 12 games vs. the Cavemen, including 6 straight by a combined 147 points. But both teams are struggling this season. Melbourne, under the fourth coach in as many seasons, Clayton McWilliams, has been outscored by an average of 35-8 this fall in losses to Bald Knob and Lonoke. Cave City has been outscored 88-7 in losses to Clinton and Walnut Ridge. Cave City's defense didn't play too bad in last week's 39-0 loss at Walnut Ridge (trailed 18-0 in third quarter). But the Cave City rushing attack netted only 10 yards. Melbourne (0-2) lost 37-0 at home last week against 4A Lonoke, but the Bearkatz travel to play a Cave City team they've has outscored 127-38 while winning 3 of the past 4 meetings.

Quitman (1-1) at 4A GENTRY (1-1): Gentry won a shootout over Quitman last season 63-41. Gentry, battling illness and injuries last week, lost at Class 5A Pea Ridge 48-13. Senior Addison Taylor ran for a TD. Quitman trailed Hector 28-14 at halftime last week before roaring back to a 42-28 decision. Kyler Like paced Quitman's defense with 18 tackles. Greyson Ealy sparked the offense with 7 receptions for 154 yards and 1 TD, while Eli Hartman had 16 carries for 116 yards and 3 TDs.

4A GOSNELL (2-0) at Osceola (1-1): Osceola has won 10 of the past 19 over its Mississippi County rival, but Gosnell notched a 40-33 decision a year ago. Gosnell edged 5A Brookland last week 32-18. Gosnell's Jai Jacobs-Ford ran 7 times for 83 yards and 1 TD, caught 8 passes for 88 yards and returned a kickoff for a TD. Junior LB Vanterious Lucas registered 15 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack and 1 INT. Osceola gave up 2 kick returns for TDs and allowed 2 safeties in last week's 38-12 loss to Blytheville. Coach Jamie Carter emphasized tackling this week in practice.

4A TRUMANN (0-1) at Manila (0-1): Trumann didn't play last week, and 2 weeks ago the Wildcats lost to Class 3A unbeaten Hoxie 12-6. The Wildcats defense held Hoxie to 259 yards. Winless Manila lost to Class 2A EPC 56-29 last week, but coach Ben Fisher says the Lions were improved. “Night and day difference from Rivercrest (46-6 loss Week 0) to EPC,” he said. “We still need to tackle better and be more physical.

Palestine-Wheatley (1-0) at 4A HARRISBURG (0-1): Improved Harrisburg played hard 2 weeks ago in a 30-point loss to Class 2A Cross County. Palestine-Wheatley's Cary Knowlton, took over for former coach Terry Farmer last week, leading the Patriots to a 43-0 win over Two Rivers. Knowlton previously led Palestine-Wheatley to a 15-32 record from 2017-2021.

Piggott (0-2) at 4A HIGHLAND (1-1): Sterling Stowers notched his first victory as head coach of the Rebels in a 43-12 victory last week over Riverview. Junior Keagan Statler ran 19 times for 185 yards and 2 TDs, while junior QB Zach Huckabee ran 15 times for 143 yards and 4 TDs and passed for 64 yards. Opposing coaches praise Piggott's effort but lack of depth catches up to the Mohawks in the second half. Piggott lost to Class 5A Paragould a week ago 35-6. DE Lawson Tompkins led the Mohawks last week with 8 tackles, including 3 TFL.

No. 3 Charleston (0-1) at 4A OZARK (1-1): Charleston has won 14 of the past 18 in the series, including last year by 14 points. Charleston won last year's Class 3A title but lost to 5A Elkins 49-13 last week. Senior Reese Merechka ran 13 times for 120 yards against Elkins and had 2 receptions for 7 yards. Ozark QB Koby Wilbanks impressed in last week's 48-25 setback to Class 3A No. 1 Booneville. Eli Gilstrap and Paul Eubanks led the Hillbillies in tackles.

4A BERRYVILLE (1-0): at Greenland (0-2): Greenland has won 4 of the past 5 vs. Berryville, including 41-7 last season. Berryville opened its season last week with a 16-13 victory over West Fork. Junior QB Decimus Ruiz played well last week and in a scrimmage game vs. Yellville-Summit. Greenland led Green Forest 46-28 with 8 minutes left last week but lost 56-52. Junior Brandon Vaughan caught 3 TD passes, while Colby Graham caught a 74-yard TD pass and ran for a 14-yard TD.

4A Waldron (0-2) at FOUKE (1-1): Winless Waldron trailed Lamar 26-0 at halftime last week before losing 42-6. Fouke trailed to score any offensive points in last week's 42-2 loss to Class 2A No. 1 Mineral Springs.

3A-5A NONCONFERENCE

5A Paragould (1-1) at NO. 7 HOXIE (2-0): Hoxie led Jonesboro Westside 35-0 at halftime last week, cruising to a 42-6 decision. QB Kayden Glenn completed 7 of 9 passes for 105 yards and 1 TD in the first half, and ran 6 times for 78 yards and 3 TDs. Pocahontas' 34-6 win over Piggott last week was its first since beating Piggott a year ago. The Rams' last win against anyone other than Piggott was Week 7, 2020. Paragould LB Kaden Calhoun finished with 10 tackles, 1 interception and 1 blocked punt vs. Piggott.

5A CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (1-1) at No. 1 Booneville (1-0): This is the first meeting between these programs. Class 6A El Dorado beat Camden Fairview 21-20 a week ago. Cardinals senior WR Jaylen Goodwin caught 8 passes for 131 yards. Camden Fairview's defebse, led by sophomore DT DeKayson Torrence's with 7 tackles and 1 sack, held El Dorado to 190 yards. Class 3A No. 1 Booneville opened its season last week with a 48-35 victory over rival Ozark. Senior Dax Goff finished with 330 all-purpose yards and 5 TDs. Coach Doc Crowley says the return of FB/LB Rylen Ray (missed last year with ACL injury) “was huge. He's a tremendous leader on both sides."

Rison (0-2) at 5A DARDANELLE (1-1): These teams played for the first time last season, with Rison pulling out a 44-28 decision. But Rison is winless this fall after losing to speedy Bismarck last week 49-12. First-year coach Caleb Carmikle says Ayden Laws played well at linebacker. Pottsville beat Dardanelle 27-14 a week ago. Sophomore QB Creed Vega ran 22 times for 117 yards and 2 TDs, passed for 56 yards and recorded 6 tackles. Jace Finkenbinder led Dardanelle with 12 tackles and 1 sack, while Jacob Freeman had 11 stops. Latrevious Robinson recorded 9 tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles.

OPEN: Glen Rose, Centerpoint, Mansfield, Green Forest