Class 6A Week 14 Rankings, Notes & Picks

Class 6A Week 14 Rankings, Notes & Picks

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Hootens.com Rankings
Class 6A, Week 14, 2018
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Greenwood (11-1)
2. Benton (10-2)
3. West Memphis (11-1)
4. Jonesboro (7-5)
5. Marion (8-3)
6. Searcy (9-3)
7. Pine Bluff (5-6-1)
8. El Dorado (5-6)
9. Sylvan Hills (4-8)
10. Russellville (7-4)
11. Siloam Springs (5-6)
12. Lake Hamilton (5-6)
13. Sheridan (2-8)
14. Jacksonville (3-7)
15. LR Hall (1-9)
16. Mountain Home (0-10)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Benton vs. No. 1 Greenwood
These teams meet for the third time in just over a year, with Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium as the third site in that span. Greenwood battered visiting Benton Week 8 this fall 62-33 in the de facto 6A West championship game. Benton rolled up more than 500 yards of offense but forced just two Greenwood punts. Greenwood's 62 points marked its season-high output, and the Bulldogs converted on 11 of 14 third- and fourth-down conversions. Greenwood racked up 564 yards of offense. Greenwood's 33-17 win last year at Benton was its closest victory in a 13-0 season (the school's third undefeated season).
In 1977, Coach Max Graham's Benton Panthers won the Class AAAA state title with a 13-7 victory over previously unbeaten Conway at War Memorial Stadium. Benton last advanced to the title game in 2014, when Pine Bluff won 51-10. Benton punted Pine Bluff 39-36 Week 10, 2014 to capture the 6A South title, the school's last conference crown. Benton's other loss this year was to Class 7A finalist Bryant Week Zero, 28-14 in just over a half of play. A week ago, the Panthers dominated the second half of a  30-17 semifinal win at West Memphis, avenging a 2017 quarterfinal loss to the Blue Devils. Benton recovered two onside kicks in the opening moments of the third period, turning both into touchdowns. The Panthers led 30-10 until the final 11 seconds, when West Memphis scored its final TD. Benton senior running back Zak Wallace brutalized West Memphis, running 31 times for 180 yards and three TDs (4 yards, 12 yards and 27 yards) in the win. Wallace was injured and managed only eight carries in the first meeting at Greenwood, but nears full strength for the finals.
Defending state champion Greenwood advances to its fourth straight Class 6A title game and plays for its ninth state title in school history. A Greenwood victory would be the eighth championship in 15 seasons under Coach Rick Jones, which would tie Barton's Frank McClellan for second in state history. Little Rock Central legendary coach Wilson Matthews won a state record 10 state titles. Streaking Greenwood earned 11 straight wins following a 31-16 defeat at Class 7A semifinalist Fort Smith Northside. Senior QB Peyton Holt (3,537 total yards this year and 39 TDs with one interception) triggers a Greenwood offense that rolls up 419 yards (249 passing and 170 rushing) per week. Running backs Marc Jones (369 yards rushing with six scores) and sophomore Hunter Wilkinson (654 yards and 16 TDs) spark the Greenwood running attack. Senior receiver Luke Leonard (75 catches for 861 yards and six scores) and juniors Treyton Dawson (52 receptions for 805 yards and six TDs) and Lazaro Angel (36 catches for 411 yards and two TDs) run crisp routes and catch the ball reliably. Junior Logan Workman (101 tackles) paces a Greenwood defense that allows just 14.5 points per game.
Benton could claim the home-field advantage at War Memorial Stadium by virtue of proximity, but Greenwood seniors have ended every season in their varsity careers at WMS playing for a state title. 

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted one of two winners (50 percent) of games involving Class 6A schools. Hootens.com has correctly picked 87 of 105 winners (83 percent) of games involving Class 6A schools for the season.

WEEK 14 PREDICTION (favored teams in CAPS followed by point spread)
Benton vs. GREENWOOD (10): See Game of the Week.

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