Class 6A Week 8 Rankings, Notes & Picks

Class 6A Week 8 Rankings, Notes & Picks

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 6A, Week 8, 2019
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.

1. Greenwood (7-0)
2. Searcy (7-0)
3. Jonesboro (5-2)
4. Benton (4-3)
5. Lake Hamilton (7-0)
6. Sheridan (5-2)
7. West Memphis (3-4)
8. Marion (3-4)
9. Sylvan Hills (3-4)
10. Siloam Springs (2-5)
11. El Dorado (1-6)
12. Pine Bluff (2-5)
13.Russellville (1-6)
14. Jacksonville (2-5)
15. Mountain Home (0-7)
16. LR Hall (2-5)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 Jonesboro at No. 2 Searcy
Winner likely earns the 6A East title and No. 1 playoff seed. These schools have split the last two meetings, with Jonesboro victorious last year 41-17. Jonesboro won league titles in 2011 and 2016. Searcy last won a conference championship in 1991.
Jonesboro's two losses are by a combined 10 points, but the Golden Hurricane last week lost its fourth straight to West Memphis, 24-21. Jonesboro earned leads of 7-0 and 14-7 in the first half, but trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter when junior QB Cross Jumper ran 22 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Jumper paces the Jonesboro attack with 1,025 yards passing and nine TDs. Classmate Albert George (team-highs of 653 rushing yards and five TDs) averages 9.6 yards per carry. Senior Dryden Bartels has caught 33 passes this year for 554 yards (16.8 yards per reception) and six scores, but no other Jonesboro receiver has caught more than nine passes. Senior Arkansas commit Jashaud Stewart (75 tackles) and senior Jerrion Green (57 stops) spark a Jonesboro defense that allows just 13 points per game.
Unbeaten Searcy rolls into this game averaging 45 PPG and the Lions have won just twice by fewer than 21 points. The Lions last week earned their second straight victory at Pine Bluff in a 42-6 rout. Senior QB Bryce Dixon completed 33 of 46 passes for 365 yards and four TDs at Pine Bluff, while classmate Tanner Leonard collected 11 passes for 98 yards. Dixon converted to QB in the spring and has thrown for 2,217 yards and 21 TDs this year with just six interceptions. Senior Johnson Guthrie leads the Searcy rushing attack with 658 yards and 11 TDs. Leonard has caught 55 passes for 915 yards and eight scores (all team-highs) this season. Seniors Brandon Benson (61 tackles) and Hayden Miles (59 stops) pace a Lion defense that allows 21 PPG, and just 15.5 to league opponents.

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com last week correctly picked seven out of eight games (88 percent) of games involving Class 6A teams. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly picked 61 out of 77 games (80 percent) of games involving Class 6A teams.

WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in CAPS followed by point spread)
6A EAST
Jonesboro at SEARCY (6): See Hootens.com Game of the Week. 
Jacksonville at WEST MEMPHIS (17): West Memphis rushed for 321 yards, and erased two first-half deficits, in last week's 24-21 victory at Jonesboro. West Memphis senior kicker Colin Clark kicked the game-winning 29-yard field goal with no time remaining. West Memphis is tied with three other schools at 2-2 in league play. Jacksonville led Sylvan Hills 12-7 last week at halftime, but lost 37-12. The Titans are just on the outside of the playoff picture this week, and likely needs to win out to make the playoffs.
Pine Bluff at MARION (8): This game has massive playoff implications for schools that are 2-2 in league play. Pine Bluff surrendered 465 yards in last week's 42-6 loss to Searcy. Marion has alternated wins and losses the past four weeks after winning 56-3 last week at Mountain Home behind junior QB Daedrick Cail's five TD passes. Marion has won 11 straight against Mountain Home. 
Mountain Home at SYLVAN HILLS (21): Mountain Home must win out and get some help to make the playoffs. The Bombers last week surrendered the game's final 56 points in a 56-3 homecoming loss to Marion. Sylvan Hills is in a four-way tie for third place with a 2-2 conference record. The Bears last week ran only 11 first-half plays against Jacksonville, but dominated the second half in a 37-12 win. 

6A WEST
GREENWOOD (10) at Benton: Winner remains unbeaten in league play. This is a rematch of the 2018 Class 6A state title game, won 45-14 by Greenwood. Benton has won four straight since an 0-3 start, including a 41-31 win last week at El Dorado, when it scored the game's final 17 points. Senior running back D'Anthony Harper rushed for 127 yards and a TD at El Dorado. Greenwood limited Russellville last week to minus-64 yards rushing in a 42-20 victory. 
SILOAM SPRINGS (7) at El Dorado: El Dorado led Benton 31-24 in the fourth quarter of last week's 41-31 loss. Junior QB Eli Shepherd completed 14 of 27 passes for 333 yards and four scores. Siloam Springs led unbeaten Lake Hamilton 17-7 at halftime last week, but did not score in the second half of a 28-17 loss. Senior QB Taylor Pool tallied two TDs for Siloam Springs.
LAKE HAMILTON (2) at Sheridan: Winner remains in the hunt for a league title and No. 1 playoff seed. Sheridan led 35-0 at halftime last week at LR Hall behind junior Peyton Edwards' 65 rushing yards and three scores. Lake Hamilton runs for 364 yards per week and earns 7.8 YPC this season. The Wolves boast a physical offensive line and impressive sophomore running backs Owen Miller (1,049 rushing yards and 15 TDs) and Tevin Woodley (879 yards and 17 TDs). 
RUSSELLVILLE (21) at LR Hall: Winner remains in the playoff hunt. Hall trailed Sheridan 35-0 in the first quarter last week in a 35-14 loss. Russellville limited Greenwood to 251 yards in last week's 42-20 loss. Eight Cyclone receivers caught passes, led by senior Marquis Peter's six receptions for 149 yards.

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