Hootens.com 8-Man Rankings

Week 9, 2024

Top 12 Sanctioned

1. Strong (5-0)

2. Midland (7-0)

3. Rector (3-2)

4. Cedar Ridge (7-1)

5. Brinkley (4-2)

6. Woodlawn (5-2)

7. South Side Bee Branch (4-2)

8. Marvell (4-3)

9. Augusta (1-6)

10. Dermott (1-6) 

11. Hermitage (0-7)

12. Guy-Perkins (1-6)

Top 4 Unsanctioned

1. Corning (7-1)

2. Subiaco Academy (5-3)

3. Marshall (3-6)

4. Rose Bud (2-7)

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 4 Cedar Ridge (7-1) at NO. 3 RECTOR (3-2): Rector registered its second-highest point total of the season in a 74-44 loss to undefeated Midlaand. Grayson Bryant (23-245-3 rushing) and Austin Avery (17-101 rushing) had big nights for Rector.

Cedar Ridge all but has the sanctioned North No. 2 seed in hand as the Timberwolves beat Guy-Perkins 48-0 on the road. Jonas Elms completed 11 of 14 passes for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns, Bentley Bullington finished with more than 100 yards of offense and 2 scores; while Keithen Dunn led the charge defensively with 10 tackles. 

WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

South Side Bee Branch (4-2) at NO. 2 MIDLAND (7-0): An undefeated season continues for Midland, which went on the road to defeat defending sanctioned state champion Rector 74-44. Jayce Adams and Chase Rascoe each surpassed 200 yards rushing and combined for 8 touchdowns, while Brayden York added 150 yards on the ground and a score. Aaron Bozeman, Hunter May and Hunter Williford all collected double-digit tackles. A win would ensure Midland an outright sanctioned North conference title. South Side Bee Branch, off a bye week, is aiming to snap a 2-game skid after starting its inaugural football season 4-0. 

No. 2 Subiaco Academy (5-3) at NO. 1 CORNING (7-1): Subiaco Academy earned a spot in the unsanctioned championship game by avenging an earlier loss to Marshall with a 60-22 redemption victory. Subiaco Academy lost to Marshall by 6 points in 2 overtimes on Sept. 20. John Crank rushed for 236 yards and 5 touchdowns and Landon Koch added 154 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. The Trojans face another vengeful situation against Corning, which beat Subiaco Academy by 40 points on Oct. 4. Corning is unbeaten against in-state competition and as motivated as ever having reached the championship game for the second year in a row. The Bobcats led Mountain View by 10 points in the fourth quarter in the championship game last fall before surrendering 20 unanswered points to the Yellowjackets. Corning beat Rose Bud 49-0 last Friday behind Jakob Cox (5-132-2 receiving) and Haydon Cox (9-155- 2 rushing), along with Seth Smith who completed 6 of his 7 passes for 134 yards and 2 scores. 

WOODLAWN (5-2) at No. 8 Marvell (4-3): Marvell ended a 2-game losing streak with a 42-14 win over Dermott, getting over .500 and keeping postseason hopes alive. Terry Bledsoe scored 3 touchdowns and Tre Cambell added 2 more, while Laron Harris (2 tackles for loss) and Justin Burrell (7 tackles, 1 for loss) led the Mustangs. Woodlawn had last week off after a dominant win over Dermott on Oct. 18, and the Bears can lock up the sanctioned South No. 2 seed if it beats Marvell and then Brinkley. Woodlawn, Marvell and Brinkley are tied for second in the standings.