Week 15
Class 7A
Bentonville (12-0)
Fayetteville (9-3)
North Little Rock (10-2)
Fort Smith Southside (8-4)
Springdale Har-Ber (7-5)
Conway (8-3)
West Memphis (8-4)
Cabot (7-5)
Rogers Heritage (7-4)
Bryant (6-5)
Little Rock Central (4-7)
Rogers (6-5)
Springdale (4-6)
Fort Smith Northside (3-7)
Van Buren (2-8)
Little Rock Catholic (2-8)
STATE FINALS, AWARDS
Fayetteville beat Bentonville (31-20) for the second straight season in the Class 7A championship game last Saturday in Little Rock. Fayetteville senior quarterback Austin Allen earned the title game's Most Valuable Player award both years. Allen completed 518 of 818 passes in his career for 7,916 yards with 77 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. Fayetteville linebacker Brooks Ellis finishes with 312 career tackles. Allen, Bentonville running back Tearris Wallace and Greenwood athlete Drew Morgan are finalists for the Class 7A/6A Offensive Player of the Year. Ellis, Bentonville linebacker Garrett Kaufman and North Little Rock safety Gary Vines are finalists for 7A/6A Defensive Player of the Year. The Farm Bureau Awards will be televised live at 7:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10 on THV2 and thv2.com.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted its preseason No. 1 Fayetteville over Bentonville in the state championship game. For the season, Hootens.com correctly predicted 105 of 130 games (81 percent).
Class 6A
Greenwood (14-0)
Pine Bluff (12-2)
El Dorado (9-4)
Jonesboro (9-3)
Lake Hamilton (7-5)
Searcy (6-6)
Little Rock Parkview (4-8)
Sheridan (4-7)
Benton (4-8)
Russellville (6-5)
Texarkana (2-9)
Marion (2-9)
Mountain Home (1-10)
Siloam Springs (1-10)
Little Rock Hall (0-10)
Little Rock Fair (0-11)
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked the championship game. For the season, Hootens.com correctly predicted 112 of 136 games (82 percent), including 14 of 15 playoff games.
Hootens.com preseason Top 5: 1. El Dorado, 2. Greenwood, 3. Lake Hamilton, 4. Pine Bluff and 5. Jonesboro.
Class 5A
Camden Fairview (14-0)
Batesville (10-4)
Wynne (11-1)
Pulaski Academy (10-3)
Greenbrier (11-1)
White Hall (9-2)
Morrilton (8-3)
Alma (7-5)
Vilonia (6-4)
Mills (7-4)
Hot Springs Lakeside (6-5)
Watson Chapel (6-5)
Jacksonville (6-5)
Sylvan Hills (5-6)
Forrest City (6-5)
Hot Springs (5-5)
Hope (4-6)
Shiloh Christian (4-6)
Beebe (3-8)
Little Rock McClellan (3-7)
Nettleton (4-6)
Little Rock Christian (3-5)
Greene County Tech (3-7)
Paragould (3-7)
Harrison (2-8)
Blytheville (3-7)
Huntsville (3-7)
De Queen (2-8)
West Helena (2-8)
Clarksville (1-9)
Magnolia (0-10)
North Pulaski (1-8)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAP
Camden Fairview trailed by 10 points at halftime but rallied to win its first state title, beating Batesville 28-10. Playing in the state championship game for the third time in four seasons, the seasoned Cardinals scored 28 unanswered points in the second half. Junior quarterback Matthew Ollison captured state title game MVP honors, completing 10 of 12 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Deion Holliman ran three times for 69 yards and two scores and caught three passes for 55 yards.
Aaron Wynn, a finalist for the Farm Bureau Awards Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, paced the Cardinals with 11 tackles. Wynn racked up 175 tackles this fall and finishes his career with an astonishing 474 stops, including 63 tackles for loss.
Batesville jumped to a 10-0 halftime lead, holding the Cardinals to just 37 yards in the first half. But Camden Fairview's defense shutout the Pioneers in the second half, allowing just 15 yards rushing.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted the state title game. For the season, Hootens.com correctly predicted 175 of 211 games (83 percent).
Class 4A
Stuttgart (12-1)
Prairie Grove (12-1)
Ozark (12-2)
Highland (13-1)
Nashville (10-3)
Dollarway (10-2)
Pottsville (10-2)
Warren (9-4)
Booneville (8-4)
Malvern (9-3)
Heber Springs (7-5)
Pea Ridge (10-2)
Dardanelle (9-3)
CAC (7-4)
Newport (8-4)
Mena (6-6)
Arkadelphia (9-2)
Farmington (7-4)
Lonoke (6-5)
Valley View (7-4)
Star City (8-3)
Hamburg (6-5)
Monticello (5-6)
Gosnell (5-6)
Gravette (4-7)
Maumelle (4-7)
Pocahontas (7-4)
Crossett (4-7)
Arkansas Baptist (3-7-1)
Dumas (3-7)
Lincoln (5-5)
Ashdown (3-7)
Bauxite (2-8)
Southside Batesville (4-5-1)
Jonesboro Westside (4-6)
Subiaco Academy (4-6)
Clinton (2-8)
Cave City (2-7-1)
Pulaski Robinson (2-8)
Dover (1-9)
Gentry (2-8)
DeWitt (1-9)
Berryville (1-8)
Brookland (3-6)
Lake Village (1-9)
Trumann (0-10)
Waldron (0-10)
Marianna (0-9)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Stuttgart vs. No. 2 Ozark
These veteran teams (Ozark 26 seniors, Stuttgart 19 seniors) meet for the first time since Ozark ousted Stuttgart 28-7 in the first round of the playoffs in 2010.
Stuttgart, Hootens.com top-ranked team since Week 5, plays in its first state title game since winning it all in 2002. The Ricebirds have won 36 playoff games and four state titles since the modern-era playoff system started in 1969. Stuttgart slammed 1-4A champion Prairie Grove's Wing T attack last week, allowing just 132 yards. Stuttgart senior quarterback Dontrell Brown tallied 324 yards a week ago, completing five of seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 159 yards and two scores. Brown has almost 2,500 yards this season. Brown, a converted fullback, bulldozes defenders and improved his passing touch in the off-season. “He's a mismatch for teams to defend because he can run and throw,” Coach Billy Elmore said. “He gives us an advantage because he can line up in an empty backfield and run or throw it.” Brown rarely takes unnecessary hits, playing behind a veteran offensive line. Seniors Taylor Daniels (6-0, 215) and Chris Hooks (6-5, 230) man the tackle slots, while Eddie Simmons (6-3, 260) plays guard and Spencer Dickson (6-1, 205) is the center. Junior guard Cody Cooper (6-0, 255) is the lone underclassmen up front.
Hooks and Daniels double as rugged defensive linemen who rarely leave the field. Senior linebacker Waymon Johnson (6-3, 245) paces the Ricebirds in tackles, and on offense he lines up at tight end, inside receiver and fullback. “Defensive-wise, they give you so many different looks,” Ozark coach Jeremie Burns said. “My biggest concern is adjusting to their team speed.”
Ozark returns to the state title game for the second time in school history. The Hillbillies lost to Dollarway 34-7 in 1992. Ozark has won 22 playoff games, despite not making the playoffs until 1979. The Hillbillies handled Highland last week 28-25, rallying in the fourth-quarter. Senior QB Jonathon McKenzie has passed for 1,674 yards and 15 TDs this fall, and rushed for 1,241 yards and 20 scores. Junior tailback Bubba Elder has rushed for 1,036 yards and 18 TDs. Senior Toby Richard missed a month with a separated shoulder, but he's caught 29 passes for 746 yards and nine TDs in the past six weeks. Senior linebackers Brandon Brokeshoulder and Ethan Hawkins each have more than 100 tackles. Playing linebacker, Elder saved the victory against Highland by forcing a fumble in the end zone that Ozark recovered. Senior noseguard Bryan Baaccum recorded 15 tackles a week ago. “The kids are well aware of Ozark because they were physically whipped by them two years ago,” Elmore said. “We'll see if all the work we've done in the weight room has helped close the gap.”
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted one of two semifinal games. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 266 of 316 games (84 percent).
WEEK 15 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
STUTTGART (8) vs. Ozark
Class 3A
Glen Rose (13-1)
Harding Academy (13-0)
Fountain Lake (11-3)
McGehee (10-2)
Prescott (11-3)
Charleston (9-3)
Paris (10-3)
Barton (10-2)
C. Harmony Grove (7-4-1)
Fordyce (8-4)
Smackover (7-4)
Rivercrest (9-3)
Lamar (8-4)
Riverview (6-4)
Mayflower (6-6)
Greenland (8-4)
Osceola (8-4)
Earle (7-5)
Hoxie (6-4)
Episcopal (4-7)
Rose Bud (4-5)
Cedarville (5-6)
Mansfield (4-6)
Horatio (7-4)
Jessieville (7-4)
Yellville-Summit (6-4)
Lavaca (2-8)
Danville (2-8)
Bald Knob (3-7)
Atkins (5-5)
Green Forest (4-6)
West Fork (3-7)
Centerpoint (3-8)
Piggott (3-7)
B. Harmony Grove (4-6)
Elkins (2-8)
Harrisburg (2-6-1)
Corning (3-7)
Fouke (3-7)
Two Rivers (3-7)
Mountain View (1-8)
Melbourne (3-6)
Genoa Central (3-7)
Manila (1-9)
Perryville (1-9)
Bismarck (0-10)
Drew Central (0-9)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 Glen Rose vs. No. 2 Harding Academy
Both teams have won 13 games this fall and went undefeated in their respective conferences. Glen Rose has eliminated Elkins, Camden Harmony Grove, Charleston and Prescott to reach the title game for the first time since winning it all in 2007. Harding Academy has won 58 games over the past five seasons, including last week's 31-29 triumph over Fountain Lake.
Glen Rose rallied the past two weeks to defeat Charleston and Prescott by a combined six points. Senior quarterback Collin Hunter capped a six-play, 51-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left to beat Charleston. He also threw a 45-yard TD pass to senior Hunter Bredensteiner in the fourth quarter. Hunter engineered a 12-play, 89-yard drive in the fourth quarter last week to down Prescott, setting up junior Dakota Harris' 22-yard field goal with 3:06 left. Harris also nailed a 34-yard field goal against Charleston. The top-ranked Beavers feature 14 seniors, including seven starters on offense. Hunter, a three-year starter with a 32-6 record, has completed 127 of 212 passes (60 percent) for 2,413 yards and 23 TDs this season. He is a finalist for the Farm Bureau Awards Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year. Sophomore running back Carlos Burton paces the Beavers with 171 carries for 1,847 yards (10.8 yards per carry) and 24 TDs. Senior RB Dillon Coney has rushed for 785 yards and 10 scores, including 110 yards and three TDs in a 49-7 win over Elkins in the first round of the playoffs. Junior fullback Austin Kehner caught a 14-yard TD pass and ran for two scores in a 35-0 win over Harmony Grove three weeks ago. Other playmakers include seniors Lane Ballard and Tyler Lewis and juniors Kyle Petersen and Clay Holicer. The Beavers are 49-14 under fifth-year coach Mark Kehner.
Harding Academy has lost three times in Class 3A play since 2009, all to eventual state champions (Fountain Lake in the 2009 semifinals, Rivercrest in the 2010 final and Charleston in the 2011 quarterfinals). The Wildcats have been ranked No. 2 since Week 5 after opening the season at No. 3. Harding Academy held on to beat Fountain Lake last week after the Cobras scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats stuffed a two-point conversion attempt with 29 seconds left as senior defensive tackle Barrett Henderson made the game-saving stop. Senior QB Will Francis passed for 293 yards and a TD and hurt the Cobras by rushing nine times for 27 yards and a score. Francis has completed 258 of 346 passes (75 percent) for 3,724 yards and 38 TDs with five interceptions this year. He is a finalist for the Farm Bureau Awards Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year. Senior Hunter Gentry paces the Wildcats with 63 catches for 1,104 yards and 10 TDs. Junior Kohl Blickenstaff has caught 51 passes for 900 yards and 12 scores. Junior Trevor Smith leads Harding Academy with 109 carries for 558 yards and nine TDs. Junior Trey Davis gains 8.3 yards per play and has generated 999 total yards and 24 TDs. The Wildcats are 58-7 under fifth-year coach Roddy Mote.
LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly picked both semifinal games. For the season, Hootens.com has correctly predicted 250 of 313 games (80 percent).
WEEK 15 PLAYOFF PREDICTION (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
GLEN ROSE (1) vs. Harding Academy