8-Man Week 5 Rankings and Selections
RK.-PV. TEAM (Record; Week 5 result)
- ↔ 1. Corning (4-0; beat Rector 28-0)
- ↔ 2. Cedar Ridge (4-0; DNP)
- ↑ 4. Magazine (3-0; beat Rose Bud 28-0)
- ↑ 5. Strong (1-1; beat Blevins 64-0)
- ↓ 3. Izard County (3-1; lost to Cave City 43-30)
- ↔ 6. SS Bee B (2-1; beat JC Westside 68-30)
- ↔ 7. Brinkley (3-1; beat Marvell 20-16)
- ↑ 9. Lafayette Co (3-1; Beat Friendship Aspire 66-12)
- ↓ 8. Rose Bud (2-2; Lost to Magazine 28-0)
- ↑ NR. Arkansas Christian (3-1, DNP)
NOT RANKED
WEST: Guy-Perkins (1-2), JC Westside (1-3)
EAST: Marvell (1-2), Midland (1-2), Rector (1-2)
SOUTH: Blevins (0-4), Dermott (0-4), Friendship Aspire (0-5), Hermitage (2-2), Woodlawn (1-2)
UNSANCTIONED: Cave City (2-2), Barton (0-1)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 6 STRONG (1-1) at Hermitage (2-2): Hermitage comes into this week as a big home underdog against recent 8-man power Strong, but Hermitage averages more than 50 points per game. Strong has played the fewest games among all 8-man teams. This sets up for a big upset to brew in Bradley County this Friday. Strong comes into this game off a 64-0 win over Blevins last Friday. The Bulldogs’ defense held the Hornets to minus-24 total yards with Ga’Zayden Heard (6 tackles) and Kaleb Goldsby (7.5 tackles) leading the way. Antonio Hicks leads the offense with 168 total yards and 3 total TDs. Strong head coach Jason Porter says Hermitage is much improved from last year. “They have a dynamic running back, and they are hungry to make the playoffs,” Porter says. “They have scored a lot of points so far this year, and they have given up a lot of points this year. We are gonna have to make some stops in defense and score every chance we get in the red zone.” Hermitage has put itself on notice ever since it lost a shootout to South Side Bee Branch. The Hermits won a game last week after Dermott forfeited due to low numbers. The Hermits’ high-powered offense has been running off of junior Robin Carroll, who averages 300 total yards per game. Strong’s fierce defense and Hermitage’s 4-wheel drive offense will be the show of the night. The Hermits’ defense will have to step up Friday if it wants to have a shot at beating the Bulldogs. Strong should roll this week, but the underrated Hermits could be playing spoiler.
WEST
No. 3 MAGAZINE (3-0) at No. 10 Arkansas Christian (3-1): Magazine has posted 3 consecutive shutouts thus far, the only team in the state that has not been scored upon. The Rattlers beat Rose Bud 28-0 last week, led by junior Gunner Sterling (6 tackles, 1 sack). Arkansas Christian has its first test in AAA-sanctioned football against a top-3 team in 8-Man this week. The Knights are led by junior Owen Pitts (613 total yards). Arkansas Christian might score on Magazine, but a win is unlikely.
No. 6 SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH (3-1) at Guy-Perkins (1-2): Bee Branch has been on a tear offensively ever since a Week 0 loss to Woodlawn, scoring 60 points in every game this season. The Hornets won 68-30 last week against JC Westside and were led by senior Caden Mahan (22-28, 239 yards; 10-31 rushing; 6 total TDs). Guy-Perkins had a bye week after losing to Arkansas Christian 56-20 2 weeks ago. South Side’s offense will be too much for the Thunderbirds.
No. 5 IZARD COUNTY (3-1) at No. 9 Rose Bud (2-2): Izard County split its series with Cave City last week, losing 43-30 on the road. Sophomore Kane Johnson (11-21-202 passing; 16-125 rushing, TD) led the way. Rose Bud’s momentum stalled after a 28-0 loss to Magazine. Sophomore Kade Wortham (5-15-136 passing, INT.; 14-52 rushing) led the way.
CAVE CITY (2-2) at JC Westside (1-3): Cave City got its revenge last Friday with a win over Izard County. Junior Dawson Johnson ran for 313 yards, threw for 120 yards and accounted for 5 total TDs. JC Westside lost 68-30 last week to Bee Branch. Cave City takes a big road trip this Friday and gets the win over the Rebels.
SOUTH
No. 7 Brinkley (3-1) at No. 1 CORNING (4-0): Brinkley won 20-16 over Marvell last Friday; Corning got a big conference win over Clay County rival Rector. Senior lineman Ty Price had 5 tackles, including 1 sack, and rushed for 2 TDs. Corning continues its run of dominance with a win this Friday.
Rector (1-2) at No. 2 CEDAR RIDGE (4-0): Cedar Ridge was on a bye last week and enters this game led by junior Bradley Pankey (959 total yards to lead 8-Man). Rector lost 28-0 to Corning last Friday, with sophomore Christian Scott having 4 tackles on defense. Playing the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in back-to-back weeks will better prepare Rector for the season, but Cedar will take this one because of how skilled they are.
Marvell (1-2) at MIDLAND (1-2): Midland, on a bye last week, is led by senior Broden Bonzell with 374 rushing yards. Marvell lost 20-16 to Brinkley last week. Midland looks to get back to its winning ways.
EAST
No. 6 STRONG (1-1) at Hermitage (2-2). See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
No. 8 LAFAYETTE COUNTY (3-1) at Blevins (0-4): Blevins lost 64-0 to Strong last week after being held to minus-24 yards. Lafayette County beat Friendship Aspire 66-12. Senior Jaz’mond Radford (4-6-109 passing; 11-190 rushing, 2 TDs) led the way. The Cougars will get another win Friday as they ease into conference play.
Friendship Aspire (0-5) at WOODLAWN (1-2): Friendship Aspire has played more games than anyone so far in 8-man, but is winless. Rashawd Smith ran for 150 yards and 2 TDs. Woodlawn took a much-needed bye week after a 60-8 loss to Izard County 2 weeks ago. Woodlawn needs a win here to get back on the right track this season.
OPEN: Dermott