Hootens.com 8-Man Rankings

Week 0, 2023

Top 11 Sanctioned

1. Izard County

2. Spring Hill

3. Brinkley

4. Rector

5. Strong

6. Mountain Pine

7. Woodlawn

8. Midland

9. Augusta

10. Hermitage

11. Guy-Perkins

Top 10 Unsanctioned

1. Mountain View

2. Fountain Lake

3. Subiaco

4. Rose Bud

5. Marshall

6. Corning

7. Cedar Ridge

8. Cutter Morning Star

9. Genoa Central

10. Parker’s Chapel

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

Corning at RECTOR 

The battle for bragging rights in Clay County returns after a 4-year hiatus with the Corning Bobcats’ move to 8 Man. Coach Dave Hendrix’s Rector Cougars lost in the sanctioned state championship game last season. Senior running backs Drew Henderson and Carter Hill operate behind an offensive line that averages 260 pounds. Coach Ferrell Shelton’s Corning Bobcats will rely on junior twins Hayden Cox and Jakob Cox to get the ball moving on the ground. 

WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

BRINKLEY at Rose Bud

First-year head coaches Garret Haag (Rose Bud) and Kevin Mosely (Brinkley) look to earn their first win. The Brinkley Tigers return several offensive weapons, but will be based around the physical running of senior Jeremiah Harris (6-1, 225). Rose Bud needs its defense line, led by all-state candidates Timber Wolf and Angel Jasso, to put the clamps on Harris if it expects victory. 

IZARD COUNTY at Cedar Ridge 

Izard County, behind smooth junior QB Wyatt Buchannon, eyes back-to-back Sanctioned 8-Man titles after winning last year’s championship in its first season of organized football. The Cougars will be moving to 2A next fall. Cedarville (4-4 last season) will be led by first-year coach Scott Morgan.

Spring Hill vs SUBIACO ACADEMY

Spring Hill’s potent run game features TJ Tipton on the inside and Zane Minton on the outside. Subiaco will lean on its front 4 of Cam Raino, Brody Koch, Drew Creek, and Matt Mayhew to slow down the Bears.