8-MAN WEEK 0 RANKINGS AND SELECTIONS
HOOTENS.COM
8-MAN Week 0
RANKINGS
1. Corning (9-1 in 2025)
2. Cedar Ridge (10-1 in 2025)
3. Woodlawn (10-1 in 2025)
4. Izard County (3-7 in 2025, 2A)
5. Magazine (6-4 in 2025, 2A)
6. Strong (5-2 in 2025)
7. J.C. Westside (0-9 in 2025, 2A)
8. Arkansas Christian (6-4 in 2025, HCAA)
9. Rector (5-4 in 2025)
10. Brinkley (5-5 in 2025)
NOT RANKED
WEST: Guy-Perkins (0-7 in 2025), Rose Bud (1-8 in 2025), SS Bee Branch (3-8 in 2025)
EAST: Marvell (2-7 in 2025), Midland (2-5)
SOUTH: Blevins (3-4 in 2025), Dermott (4-5 in 2025), Friendship Asp (0-2 in 2025), Hermitage (4-4 in 2025), Lafayette County (2-8 in 2025, 2A)
UNSANCTIONED: Cave City (3-4 in 2025)
Hootens.com Game of the Week
CAVE CITY at No. 9 Rector
Second-year head coach Robert Dorman guided Rector to a 5-4 record and a playoff win over Brinkley. Rector would lose to eventual state runner-ups, Woodlawn, in the second round. Rector returns all-state player Austin Avery and 4 other starters on both sides.
Cave City enters its second year in 8-man and also under Tommy Cody. The Cavemen went 3-4 last season, and while not playing for a championship, they are still looking to prove themselves as the best 8-man team in the state. Senior all-conference QB Dawson Johnson returns. Johnson threw for more than 1,000 yards and ran for an additional 2,600. The Cavemen return 4 starters on both sides.
Cave City will be the only Unsanctioned/Club team in Arkansas this season, as other Club teams such as Rose Bud and Corning moved to AAA-sanctioned football, while Subiaco Academy and Marshall moved back into 11-man. Cave City’s schedule consists of a variety of 8-man teams.
WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS (favored team in ALL CAPS and highlighted)
8-MAN WEST
Unity Christian (Miss) at No. 8 ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN Arkansas Christian starts its first season competing in the Arkansas Activity Association against an old rival, Unity Christian (Miss). The Knights return 5 starters on offense and 3 on defense, including Kason Sumlar. The Knights are led by 4th-year head coach Ben Thomas. Unity Christian went 3-3 last season, including 2 losses to Arkansas Christian.
No. 7 J.C. WESTSIDE at Quinton (Okla) J.C. Westside moves from 2A 11-man to 8-man football this season under first-year head coach Khris Buckner. The Rebels return 4 starters on both sides, including Huston Moix. The Rebels have not won a game since Sept. 13th, 2024. The Rebels’ opponent, Quinton (Okla.), went 9-3 last season.
South Side Bee Branch at No. 3 WOODLAWN SS Bee Branch enters its third football season under head coach Todd Langrell. The Hornets went 3-8 last year and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Strong. They return Senior QB Caden Mahan, who threw for 1,777 yards last fall. Woodlawn is coming off its most successful season with a 10-1 record and a state runner-up finish under first-year head coach Doug Means. The Bears will return 4 starters on both sides of the ball, including all-state junior Griffin Manes. Parker Arnold takes over for all-state QB Ethan Saeler, who will miss most, if not all, of the season due to an injury he suffered during baseball season.
OPEN: Izard County, Guy-Perkins, Magazine, Rose Bud
8-MAN SOUTH
South Side Bee Branch at No. 3 WOODLAWN. See notes above.
Dermott at MONROE RIVER OAKS (La.) Dermott enters with big expectations after making the playoffs under third-year head coach Michael Wolfe. The Rams return 4 starters on offense and 7 on defense, including Robert Staggers. Monroe Rivers Oaks (La.) went 11-0 last year and won the MAIS 8-Man 1A State Championship.
Friendship-Aspire at No. 1 CORNING Corning comes into 2026 with the most star power among all 8-man teams with 6 starters on offense and 5 on defense, including junior all-state RB TJ Small. Coach Farrell Shelton enters his sixth season having led his Bobcats to 3 consecutive Unsanctioned Club State Championships, including the 2024 state title. The Bobcats were also ranked as high as No. 14 nationally according to some 8-man polls. Friendship Aspire went 0-2 last fall.
Claiborne Academy (La.) at HERMITAGE Hermitage went 4-4 last year under first-year head coach Roger Martin after winning 1 game in a 4-season stretch. The Hermits return the majority of their starters on both sides, with 7 on offense and 6 on defense, including senior all-state QB Carson Curtis. Claiborne Academy went 9-3 last season.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY at Riverdale Academy (La.) Lafayette County Moves into 8-man after going 2-8 in 2A 11-man last year. First-year Coach Chuck Flanery looks to bring the Cougars to 8-man relevancy soon with 5 starters on both sides, including junior Michael Webb. Riverdale Academy (La.) went 0-9 last season.
OPEN: Blevins, Strong
8-MAN EAST
No. 2 CEDAR RIDGE at Abundant Life Defending state champ Cedar Ridge, led by fourth-year coach Scott Morgan, has 15 players, and 4 returning starters on both sides of the ball, including all-conference senior Dawson Engles. Abundant Life went 7-3 last year.
Friendship-Aspire at No. 1 CORNING See South for comments.
OPEN: Marvell, Midland, Brinkley, Blevins
NOTE Augusta has cancelled its 2026 season.