8-Player Football Weekly Spotlight: September 16

Every Wednesday during the regular season we will highlight the 8-Player Football game with a spotlight article on boundwisconsin.com. We'll look back at the action and big stories from the previous week, look ahead at the coming week's big match-ups, and select a Star of the Week.

8-Player coaches, please enter player stats on Bound Wisconsin so that we can continue having the necessary information to produce this weekly spotlight of your game, and feel free to send any news or information to us as well.

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Valley Christian has continued its ascent as a top program in 8-player, cracking the top five of the Coaches Poll last week after a playoff appearance in 2025. They scored a second win over a ranked team on Friday, defeating #8 Algoma 31-14. Sam Gloudemans ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Steven Stiansen made all four extra points and made a field goal.

Assumption stayed unbeaten and continued its hot start to 2026 with a 54-20 win over a solid Athens squad. The Royals’ 388 rushing yards actually lowered their yard per game average, but were certainly enough, led by 204 from senior Wylie Cornwell.

In one of just two games in 8-player decided by less than 10 points, Sevastopol held off Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 40-35. The Pioneers led 22-7 at halftime but saw Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah make a big second half push. Bo Tanck threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the win, averaging 28 yards per completion. Junior Cash Kuehn hauled in three passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 56 yards per catch. Roman LeClaire added 107 yards and two scores on the ground.

In a battle of previously undefeated teams, Suring knocked off Hurley 44-12. Kroix Kempka ran for three touchdowns and caught another for the Eagles.

Old rivals North Crawford and Kickapoo/La Farge square off on Thursday night, as Kickapoo/La Farge is improved this year, sitting at 2-2 overall. Whether they’re ready to challenge last year’s league champion North Crawford is another thing.

A couple of highly anticipated ranked matchups headline Friday’s schedule. Assumption has made the move to 8-player this season very successfully, sitting at 4-0 thus far. The second-ranked Royals will travel to fifth-ranked Owen-Withee, whose only loss this year came to top-ranked Gilman. Assumption still leads the state in rushing yards with 1,743.

In a replacement game for both teams, third-ranked Belmont will welcome in eighth-ranked Iola-Scandinavia. Iola-Scandinavia dropped its 11-player schedule due to low numbers but has looked very good in 8-player, winning all four games so far, including an impressive win over top five North Crawford.

Another replacement game finds Shell Lake making the trip to Hurley after both got cancelations from opponents this week. Shell Lake is undefeated this year, averaging more than 50 points per game. Hurley is coming off its first loss of the year against Suring.

Speaking of Suring, the Eagles have a tough one this week with control of the M&O-8 on the line, as they’ll make the trek to Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas. Both are unbeaten in league play.