After a month into the 2023 season, the Marion Wildcats have a stranglehold on the top spot in the Little Egypt Football Poll, like they have in most years. The Wildcats won over preseason favorite Mt. Vernon on Friday night 20-14 to cement themselves as the team to beat in the region.
Murphysboro and Carterville seem destined for an SIRR Ohio Title Game in Week 8 when they finally do meet with just a point separating the two teams for the #2 and #3 ranks.
Johnston City and Nashville both made the largest jump of the week, moving up three spots each. Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon and Carbondale both took the biggest slide at -3.
Sesser-Valier-Waltonville’s big 22-12 win over Fairfield at the Trainyard propelled them into the Top 10 for the first time this year.
Here’s a look at the Full Rankings:
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Points | Rank Last Week |
| 1 | Marion (9) | 114 | 1 (-) |
| 2 | Murphysboro(3) | 87 | 3 (+1) |
| 3 | Carterville | 86 | 2 (-1) |
| 4 | Du Quoin | 67 | 4 (-) |
| 5 | Johnston City | 54 | 8 (+3) |
| 6 | Nashville | 48 | 9 (+3) |
| 7 | Mt. Vernon | 45 | 4 (-3) |
| 8 | Harrisburg | 40 | 10 (+2) |
| 9 | Sesser-Valier-Waltonville | 39 | UR |
| 10 | Carbondale | 25 | 7 (-3) |
Also receiving votes: Benton 17, Fairfield 9, Herrin 6, Carmi-White County 4, Massac County 3, West Frankfort 3, Centralia 2, Anna-Jonesboro 2, Hamilton County 1