HOOTENS.COM ARKANSAS FOOTBALL
Week 5
Class 7A
Bentonville (4-0)
North Little Rock (3-1)
Fayetteville (2-2)
Springdale Har-Ber (1-3)
Conway (3-0)
Rogers Heritage (4-0)
Fort Smith Southside (2-2)
Bryant (2-1)
West Memphis (3-1)
Rogers (4-0)
Cabot (2-2)
Springdale (2-2)
Little Rock Central (1-3)
Little Rock Catholic (1-3)
Van Buren (1-3)
Fort Smith Northside (0-4)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Springdale Har-Ber at No. 6 Rogers Heritage.
Heritage is 0-4 against Har-Ber since it started playing football in 2008, losing the past two years by a combined 105-7. But this is the best Heritage team yet, because of its improved defense. The War Eagles create turnovers, including 11 interceptions so far. Junior safety Daniel Spickes leads a secondary that rotates five players. Coordinator Paul Wilson's 4-2-5 defense allows 20 points per game.
Heritage junior quarterback Josh Qualls (13 touchdown passes) is ranked as the state's No. 2 recruiting prospect in the 2014 class by hootens.com. Heritage totaled 608 yards in last week’s 70-21 win at Siloam Springs with Qualls rolling out, moving the pocket. It was good preparation for Har-Ber.
A stout three-man front leads Har-Ber's veteran defense. If it gets to Qualls, Har-Ber likely wins.
Har-Ber, which totaled just two touchdowns over the past two weeks, would like to limit Heritage's opportunities. FS Southside got the ball just twice in the second half at Har-Ber two weeks ago. An early Har-Ber lead hurts Heritage's chances.
WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
FAYETTEVILLE (8) at Springdale High: Injury-riddled Fayetteville will be without Brice Gahagans, the school’s all-time leading rusher. Razorback commits Brooks Ellis and Alex Brignoni have also missed games this season. Ellis (dislocated kneecap) hopes to return this week. Springdale has lost back-to-back games, letting a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter slip away last Friday at Rogers.
Siloam Springs at BENTONVILLE (45): Conference newcomer Siloam gave up 70 points last Friday. Bentonville, riding a 20-game win streak in league play and starting 16 seniors, grabs 2.75 interceptions weekly. It held Har-Ber to 131 total yards after its first possession last week.
ROGERS (1) at Van Buren: Undefeated Rogers, rushing for 414 yards weekly, slowed Springdale late last Friday to win 47-42. It was only the fifth conference win for Rogers since 2006 and its first over the Bulldogs since 2007. Van Buren missed a field goal and threw two interceptions inside the 20 but still stayed close, losing at talented Fayetteville 27-13 last week.
Springdae Har-Ber at ROGERS HERITAGE (1). Game of the Week.
Class 6A
Greenwood (4-0)
Jonesboro (3-0)
El Dorado (2-2)
Pine Bluff (3-1)
Lake Hamilton (3-1)
Texarkana (1-3)
Russellville (2-2)
Marion (2-2)
Searcy (2-2)
LR Parkview (2-2)
Mountain Home (1-3)
Siloam Springs (1-3)
Sheridan (1-3)
Benton (1-3)
LR Hall (0-3)
LR Fair (0-4)
Class 5A
Pulaski Academy (2-2)
Camden Fairview (4-0)
Wynne (4-0)
Alma (3-1)
Watson Chapel (3-1)
Greenbrier (4-0)
Batesville (2-2)
Morrilton (2-1)
White Hall (3-0)
Vilonia (2-1)
Jacksonville (2-2)
Mills (3-1)
HS Lakeside (2-2)
Shiloh Christian (1-3)
Sylvan Hills (1-3)
Hot Springs (2-2)
Hope (2-2)
Forrest City (3-1)
LR Christian (1-1)
Blytheville (1-3)
Nettleton (2-2)
Greene Co. Tech (1-3)
Paragould (2-2)
Harrison (0-4)
Beebe (0-4)
West Helena (1-3)
Huntsville (2-2)
De Queen (1-3)
Magnolia (0-4)
Clarksville (0-4)
LR McClellan (0-4)
North Pulaski (1-2)
WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
5A WEST
Clarksville at HUNTSVILLE (1): Clarksville has won five straight in the series since Huntsville's 22-21 decision in 2004. Huntsville trailed Greenbrier 41-6 at halftime last week. Clarksville's D'Aundra Cain ran for 108 yards in last week's 28-point loss against Alma.
GREENBRIER (21) at Harrison: Harrison dominated the series until recently. Greenbrier has won the past two meetings by a combined 77-14. Harrison jumped on Vilonia last week, but the Goblins unravelled (six sacks and two interceptions returned for TDs) when QB Dalton Lovell left with an ankle injury. Greenbrier senior QB Seth Peters completed 18 of 25 passes for 255 yards and three TDs in the first half of last week's 48-12 win over Huntsville.
Morrilton at ALMA (3): The winner takes control of the 5A West. Morrilton senior Jamar Criswell has rushed for 322 yards the past two weeks, while QB Tony Hawkins has generated more than 400 total yards and six TDs in that span. Morrilton created six turnovers in last week's 38-point win over Shiloh Christian. Alma senior QB Gage Jensen has thrown five TD passes the past two weeks.
VILONIA (7) at Shiloh Christian: Vilonia generated just 189 yards offense but scored 56 points last week against Harrison. 5A West newcomer Shiloh Christian has lost three straight games since beating Warren by a point in the opener.
Class 4A
Stuttgart (4-0)
Malvern (4-0)
Dollarway (4-0)
Arkadelphia (4-0)
Pottsville (4-0)
Warren (1-3)
Prairie Grove (3-0)
Nashville (2-2)
Heber Springs (2-1)
Highland (4-0)
CAC (2-1)
Ozark (3-1)
Ashdown (2-2)
Farmington (4-0)
Monticello (2-2)
Star City (3-1)
Booneville (2-2)
Dardanelle (4-0)
Maumelle (1-2)
Valley View (2-2)
Lonoke (2-2)
Clinton (2-2)
Pea Ridge (4-0)
Pocahontas (4-0)
Lincoln (4-0)
Hamburg (2-2)
Newport (2-2)
Mena (1-3)
Gravette (1-3)
Dumas (1-3)
Southside Batesville (2-1-1)
Crossett (1-3)
Arkansas Baptist (1-2-1)
Pulaski Robinson (2-2)
Gosnell (1-3)
Gentry (1-3)
Cave City (0-3-1)
Trumann (0-4)
DeWitt (0-3)
Dover (0-4)
Lake Village (1-3)
Berryville (1-2)
Brookland (2-1)
Subiaco Academy (2-2)
Bauxite (0-4)
Marianna (0-3)
Jonesboro Westside (1-3)
Waldron (0-4)
WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
1-4A
Farmington at PRAIRIE GROVE (7): A battle of unbeatens. Farmington has beaten the Tigers four of the past six seasons. The Cardinals trailed Gentry 14-0 in the first quarter last week before winning 61-20. Prairie Grove has outscored its three opponents 124-6 this year. Senior Jon Halbert returned an interception 62 yards for a TD last week against Ozark.
Gentry at GRAVETTE (10): Gentry hasn't beaten Gravette since 2003. Gentry gave up 47 unanswered points to Farmington last week. Pioneer running back Jarod Cousins has rushed for more than 500 yards this year. Gravette QB Chase Brody completed eight straight passes in the second half against Pea Ridge.
OZARK (28) at Berryville: Ozark must bounce back after losing to Prairie Grove last week. Ozark senior QB Jonathon McKenzie has accounted for five TDs this fall. Berryville's Ethan Chapin has rushed for almost 300 yards this year.
PEA RIDGE (2) at Lincoln: A battle of unbeatens that could decide playoff positioning. Lincoln sophomore QB Drew Harris and junior Dalton Simmons each accounted for a pair of TDs in last week's 31-point win over Berryville. Pea Ridge senior Dayton Winn has rushed for 617 yards and 10 TDs this fall. Pea Ridge's eight-point win over Gravette last week was its first over the Lions since 1994.
Class 3A
Glen Rose (3-1)
Harding Academy (3-0)
Fountain Lake (3-1)
Fordyce (4-0)
Charleston (3-1)
Barton (4-0)
Prescott (3-1)
Paris (3-1)
Smackover (4-0)
C. Harmony Grove (2-1-1)
McGehee (3-1)
Osceola (2-2)
Rivercrest (2-2)
Jessieville (4-0)
Corning (2-2)
Earle (2-2)
Yellville-Summit (2-2)
Lamar (3-1)
Mansfield (2-2)
Greenland (2-2)
Hoxie (2-1)
West Fork (1-3)
Mayflower (2-2)
Bald Knob (2-2)
Riverview (2-1)
Atkins (3-0)
Danville (0-4)
Rose Bud (2-1)
Cedarville (2-2)
Horatio (4-0)
Harrisburg (0-2-1)
Lavaca (1-3)
Melbourne (2-2)
B. Harmony Grove (1-3)
Centerpoint (0-4)
Two Rivers (2-2)
Fouke (1-3)
Genoa Central (2-2)
Episcopal (1-3)
Manila (1-3)
Piggott (1-2)
Mountain View (0-4)
Perryville (1-3)
Green Forest (0-3)
Bismarck (0-4)
Elkins (0-4)
Drew Central (0-3)
WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
1-3A
Greenland at YELLVILLE-SUMMIT (1): Greenland junior RB Calvin Giddens ran for 260 yards and four TDs in last week's 54-38 win over Melbourne. Yellville-Summit junior FB Seth Morgan ran 15 times for 135 yards and two TDs in a 42-6 win over Elkins.
Elkins at MOUNTAIN VIEW (2): A battle of winless teams. Elkins totaled 124 yards (73 of which came on the last two plays) in last week's 42-6 loss to Yellville-Summit. Mountain View beat the Elks 12-6 last year to claim the No. 5 playoff seed.
Green Forest at MELBOURNE (6): Green Forest was idle last week. The Tigers lost to Berryville 21-16 two weeks ago. Melbourne averages 29 points per game. Junior QB Kyler McLaughlin threw a 92-yard TD pass in last week's 54-38 loss to Greenland.
West Fork is open.
Class 2A
Junction City (3-1)
Bearden (2-2)
Carlisle (3-0)
Rison (2-2)
E. Poinsett County (4-0)
Gurdon (4-0)
Hackett (4-0)
Mineral Springs (2-1)
Norphlet (3-1)
Salem (4-0)
Walnut Ridge (2-0)
Parkers Chapel (2-1)
McCrory (2-1)
Magnet Cove (3-1)
Strong (2-2)
Conway Christian (3-1)
Mountainburg (3-1)
Mount Ida (2-1)
Dierks (3-1)
Bigelow (3-0)
Murfreesboro (3-1)
Quitman (2-2)
Magazine (1-3)
England (2-1)
Marked Tree (2-2)
Hazen (2-2)
Des Arc (2-2)
Cross County (2-1-1)
Foreman (3-1)
Clarendon (0-3)
J.C. Westside (2-2)
Hampton (0-1)
Augusta (2-2)
Brinkley (0-3)
Spring Hill (0-4)
Woodlawn (0-4)
Decatur (1-3)
Poyen (0-4)
Union Christian (0-4)
Cutter M. Star (2-1)
Hector (2-2)
Palestine-Wheatley (1-3)
Mountain Pine (0-3)
Cedar Ridge (0-4)
Hermitage (1-3)
Lafayette County (0-4)
Western Yell County (0-4)
Marvell (0-4)
Hartford (0-4)
WEEK 5 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
4-2A
J.C. WESTSIDE (12) at Decatur: J.C. Westside is more physical and appears on its way to playoff berth for first time since 2009. A third playoff win in school history a real possibility. Senior RB and leading rusher Taylor Houston (5-6, 200) is hard to handle.