8-Man Week 8 Rankings and Selections
8-Man Rankings
Week 8, 2026
RK.-PV. TEAM (Record; Week 7 result)
- ↑ 3. Magazine (6-0; beat Cave City 28-24)
- ↓ 1. Corning (7-0; did not play)
- ↓ 2. Cedar Ridge (6-0; beat Brinkley 58-14)
- ↔ 4. Strong (3-1; beat Woodlawn 62-12)
- ↔ 5. Izard County (6-1; beat Arkansas Christian 44-6)
- ↑ 7. Lafayette Co (5-1; did not play)
- ↓ 6. SS Bee Branch (5-2; beat Rose Bud 42-38)
- ↑ 9. Rose Bud (3-4; lost to Bee Branch 42-38)
- ↓ 8. Brinkley (2-3; lost to Cedar Ridge 58-14)
- ↑ NR. Rector (2-3; beat Midland 44-24)
NOT RANKED
WEST: Guy-Perkins (1-5), JC Westside (2-5)
EAST: Marvell (1-3), Midland (2-4)
SOUTH: Blevins (0-7), Dermott (1-6), Friendship Aspire (1-7), Hermitage (3-4), Woodlawn (3-3)
UNSANCTIONED: Cave City (4-3)
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
Midland (2-4; 1-2) at No. 9 BRINKLEY (2-3; 0-2): Neither team has a winning record, but both are in the race for the No. 4 playoff seed, and this could be the game that decides it. Brinkley comes in off a 58-14 loss to third-ranked Cedar Ridge. Brinkley has yet to win a conference game, and with only 2 games left on its schedule, it has no room for error. Midland, which lost 44-24 to Rector last week, is playing its third road game in a row, its fifth of the season, and has yet to win on the road. Senior Broden Bonsell (16-79 rushing, TD) needs to anchor Midland’s power run game against a Brinkley team that hasn’t faced that style of offense. Brinkley’s athleticism and speed will be too much for a Midland defense that has struggled against Spread offenses all season.
EAST
No. 3 CEDAR RIDGE (2-0; 6-0) at Marvell (0-2; 1-3): Cedar Ridge extended its win streak to 14 games with 58-14 win over Brinkley Friday. Senior QB Dawson Engles (5-6-119 passing, 2 TDs) and sophomore Jaden Butts (5-124 rushing, TD) led the way. Marvell hasn’t played since it lost to Midland 40-32 three weeks ago. Cedar Ridge rolls as it gears up for another playoff run.
Midland (1-2; 2-4) at BRINKLEY (0-2; 2-3). See HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK, above.
OPEN: Rector, Corning
WEST
No. 1 MAGAZINE (3-0; 6-0) at JC Westside (1-2; 2-5): Magazine jumps to the top of the rankings after a 28-24 win over Unsanctioned rival Cave City. Junior Christian Carey (14-100 rushing, 3 total TDs) scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth. JC Westside got its first win in almost a month, beating Guy-Perkins 48-14. This will be the second time these teams have met this season, and it will most likely go the same way as the first. Magazine wins.
Arkansas Christian (1-3; 3-4) at No. 7 SOUTH SIDE (3-1; 4-2): Arkansas Christian enters after 3 consecutive conference losses, including a 44-6 loss to Izard County. Junior Owen Pitts led his team in total yards. Arkansas Christian is tied with JC Westside and Rose Bud for the 4th seed, but it has lost the head-to-head matchup to Rose Bud. South Side locks up at least a 3 seed with a win Friday. Senior Caden Mahan (32-38-281 passing, TD-INT; 16-87 rushing, 3TDs) had a monster game. South Side gets ready for a big showdown with Izard County next week after this win.
Guy-Perkins (0-3; 1-5) at No. 5 IZARD COUNTY (3-0; 6-1): Izard County pulled out all the trickery in a 44-6 win over Arkansas Christian. Sophomore Kane Johnson (11-15-291 passing, 4 TDs; 11-86 rushing, 2 TDs) had another monster game with senior Brogan Pospisil (5-183-TD) helping at receiver. Guy-Perkins lost 48-14 to JC Westside last week. Izard County gets another win as its prepare for the toughest part of its schedule over the next 2 weeks.
CAVE CITY (4-3) at No. 8 Rose Bud (1-3; 3-4): Unsanctioned Cave City has been one of the most competitive 8-man teams, with all its losses by 1 score, including last Friday’s 28-24 loss to Magazine. Senior Dawson Johnson (9-20-170 passing, TD; 31-138 rushing, 3 TDs) had another huge game. Rose Bud’s two conference losses have been by 1 score, including a 42-38 loss to South Side last Friday. Sophomore Kade Wortham (3-6-94 passing, 2 TDs; 19-157 rushing) had one of his best games. Cave City’s depth and power offense will be too much for Rose Bud.
SOUTH
ABUNDANT LIFE (5-2) at Blevins (0-4; 0-7): Blevins lost 76-0 to Hermitage last Friday; Abundant Life is 2-2 against sanctioned 8-man teams. Abundant Life gets the win.
Friendship (1-3; 1-7) at HERMITAGE (2-2; 3-4): Rashawd Smith had 275 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs as Hermitage won 76-0 over Blevins last Friday. Hermitage’s fast-paced offense will get the best of Friendship.
Dermott (1-2; 1-6) at No. 4 STRONG (3-0; 3-1): Strong comes off a 62-12 road win at Woodlawn. Antonio Hicks (13-213 rushing, 4 TDs) had another monster game. Dermott got its first win last Friday, beating Friendship Aspire 22-6. Strong dominates with speed and athleticism.
Woodlawn (2-1; 3-3) at No. 6 LAFAYETTE COUNTY (3-0; 5-1): Woodlawn suffered 8 turnovers in a 62-12 loss to Strong last Friday. Junior Griffin Manes (17-141 rushing, 2 TDs) was a standout. Lafayette County, averaging 57 points per game, wins this game as Woodlawn continues to struggle with injuries.