Hootens.com 8-Man Rankings

Week 8, 2024

BY Kyle Sutherland

Top 12 Sanctioned

1. Strong (4-0)

2. Midland (6-0)

3. Rector (3-1)

4. Cedar Ridge (6-1)

5. Brinkley (4-1)

6. Woodlawn (5-2)

7. South Side Bee Branch (4-2)

8. Marvell (3-3)

9. Augusta (1-6)

10. Dermott (1-5) 

11. Hermitage (0-7)

12. Guy-Perkins (1-6)

Top 4 Unsanctioned

1. Corning (6-1)

2. Marshall (3-5)

3. Subiaco Academy (4-3)

4. Rose Bud (2-6)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 2 MIDLAND (6-0) at No. 3 Rector (3-1): Midland showed its determination in a 34-6 win over Cedar Ridge last week. Midland was tied with Cedar Ridge at halftime before reeling off 28 points in the second half as Jayce Adams (107 rushing yards, 2 TDs) led the offensive charge. It does not get any easier with a road trip to defending sanctioned state champion Rector, which was idle last week. The Cougars have been led by skill players Austin Avery, Grayson Bryant and Chance Lopez, plus senior 2-way standout lineman Dalton Lamar. 

WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

No. 5 Brinkley (4-1) at NO. 1 STRONG (4-0): Christian Williams (156 yards total offense, 1 TD, 2 INTs.) led the Tigers to a win over Marvell after they got the previous week off. They are a game back of sanctioned No. 1 Strong in the South conference standings and look to upset the Bulldogs. Strong has only played 4 games, but looked the part in each of them as the Bulldogs have outscored their opposition 159-28 behind do-it-all quarterback Kaiden McHenry.

CEDAR RIDGE (6-1) at Guy-Perkins (1-6) Cedar Ridge suffered its first loss when it was outscored 28-0 Midland in the second half last week after being tied at 6-6. Cedar Ridge had outscored its opponents 236-60 before Friday’s loss, Cedar Ridge takes on Guy-Perkins at Hendrix College, and faces the fledgling Thunderbirds, who are still hunting their first victory on the field. 

Rose Bud (2-6) at CORNING (6-1): The Ramblers have won 2 of their past 3 after last Friday’s 64-48 win over South Side Bee Branch. Herschel Hart gashed the Hornets with 422 yards and 5 touchdowns on 18 carries, while Glenn Hunkapiller added another 110 yards and 4 scores on 10 carries. They look to keep that momentum, plus embrace the role of the underdog, when they travel to take on top-ranked Corning in the unsanctioned semifinal round of the playoffs. Haydon Cox (9 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs) led the way for Corning in the conference championship triumph over Marshall. 

Dermott (1-5) at MARVELL (3-3): Both squads are fighting for postseason life and in major need of some momentum. Dermott has scored 6 points in the past 3 games while Marvell had last week off to rest after enduring losses to Cedar Ridge and Strong.

SUBIACO ACADEMY (4-3) at Marshall (3-5): A rested Subiaco Academy team looks to earn redemption after Marshall slipped past the Trojans with a 6-point victory in 2 OTs back on Sept. 20. Senior Jonathan Sam, plus juniors John Crank and Landon Koch have led the way for Subiaco, while sophomore Hayden “Stretch” Childers and junior Keegan Robbins have stepped up for Marshall.