Rivercrest/Newport rank in 3A top five

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

The latest edition of the Arkansas Sports Media Football Polls were released Monday and the Rivercrest Colts moved up a spot this week to number three in the Class 3A rankings receiving 3 first place votes and 81 votes overall. The 5-0 Colts are well ahead of unbeaten Fordyce (5-0) who received one first place vote and previously third ranked Newport 4-1 whom the Colts defeated 48-44 Friday.

Booneville continues to lead Class 3A with 14 first place votes and 108 votes overall. Also unbeaten and second ranked Prescott received seven first place votes and 87 votes overall. Bismarck is also unbeaten at 5-0 and is tied with Newport for fifth place this week with 24 votes. Mayflower is seventh and Osceola enters the poll for the first time in eighth place with 3 votes. Previously ranked number five Walnut Ridge slipped to ninth this week with 2 votes and Rison is in 10th place with a single vote.

In Class 2A Marked Tree (4-1) is ranked third. The Indians received one first place vote and 61 votes overall. Des Arc remained in fourth place at 4-1 with 43 votes. Bigelow (3-2) moved into the top five with two first place votes and 25 overall. Other are teams in the poll included eighth place East Poinsett County which received 2 votes and is tied with Poyen.

There are no area teams ranked in the Class 4A Top five however Southside Batesville is sixth with 15 votes and the Highland Rebels are one spot back in seventh with 14 votes.

The top rated teams in each division this week are overall - Bryant, Class 7A - Bryant (5-0), 118 points; Class 6A Greenwood (5-0) unanimous number one with all 25 first place votes and 125 overall; Class 5A -Little Rock Parkview (4-1) unanimous number one 25 first place votes and 125 overall; Class 4A - Elkins (5-0) 117 votes; Class 3A Booneville (5-0) 14 first place votes and 108 overall, Class 2A - Carlisle (5-0) 20 first place votes and 117 overall and in 8-man Strong (2-0), 24 first place votes and 73 overall.