Hooten’s Arkansas Football Rankings
8-Man, Week 11, 2023
Copyright Seventy Seven’s Football Publishing, LLC

Top 10 Sanctioned

1. Rector 7-0

2. Strong 7-0

3. Mountain Pine 5-3

4. Woodlawn 5-3

5. Spring Hill 7-3

6. Brinkley 5-3

7. ICC 5-4

8. Augusta 3-4

9. Midland 1-6

10. Hermitage 0-6

Top 10 Unsanctioned

1. Mountain View 10-0

2. Corning 6-4

3. Subiaco Academy 7-2

4. Cutter Morning Star 6-3

5. Genoa Central 6-3

6. Parker’s Chapel 4-6

7. Fountain Lake 2-7

8. Cedar Ridge 3-5

9. Rose Bud 1-8

10. Marshall 1-8

Congratulations to Mountain View on capturing its second consecutive unsanctioned state title. The Yellow Jackets have won 20 consecutive games since moving to 8-man competition. Mountain View overcame a 4-point deficit with 2:05 remaining in the fourth quarter to beat Corning on a double-pass from Jack Newton to Ladd Cook. 

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK

(North-3) Izard County (5-4) at (South-2) MOUNTAIN PINE (5-3): The Izard County Cougars, the defending sanctioned state champs, will be taking on the Mountain Pine Red Devils in a matchup many thought would take place at War Memorial Stadium with a title on the line. Wyatt Buchannon leads the Cougars offense, but be on the lookout for Xavier McCandlis on defense as ICC attempts to slow down Red Devils RB Zyon Wyatt. Wyatt is the spearhead of a potent running attack that has kept Mountain Pine in ballgames all season. 

ROUND 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)

(South-4) Woodlawn (5-3) at (North-1) RECTOR (7-0): Gabe Mosely anchors a wrecking crew of an offensive line for Rector. Drew Henderson and Jacob Cox lead an explosive running attack that has met very few impediments this season. Woodlawn has gone punch for punch with the division's top competition. This one could be a lot closer than it looks on paper. 

(North-4) Augusta (3-4) at (South-1) STRONG (7-0): The Augusta Red Devils enter the playoffs after defeating Midland 42-14 in the season finale. Their reward is a trip to Strong, where the Bulldogs have been stingy on defense this season,  allowing 10 points per game. The Red Devils also face a tall task of stopping Kaiden McHenry, Jakiem Woods, and Amari McHenry.

(South-3) Spring Hill (7-3) at (North-2) BRINKLEY (5-3): Coach Greg Smith’s Spring Hill Bulldogs know football is a game of inches. The Bulldogs were 10 points from being the conference champions. A 6-point setback to Mountain Pine cost them homefield and a 4-point loss to Strong cost them the conference. However, a resilient rushing attack led by Levin McGuire and TJ Tipton gives them an outside shot against Brinkley.