Teams set for 8-Man title game

The 8-Man championship game isn’t until Dec. 1, but the matchup was set Friday night in dramatic fashion.

Rector upset the 8-Man favorite, Mountain Pine, 3028 on the road.

The Cougars (8-2) converted a hook and lateral play on fourth down and 12 late in the fourth quarter to keep their final drive going. Two plays later, Rector scored and completed a 2-point conversion to take the lead.

On the other side of the bracket, 8-Man North champion Izard County (8-2) won on a 26-yard touchdown pass as time expired to win 62-56 over Woodlawn.

Izard County quarterback Wyatt Buchanan was afforded plenty of time by his offensive line, and he used it to find Malachi Cruz leaping over two Woodlawn defenders to make the scoring grab.

This season’s 8-Man championship will guarantee a first-time state champion as both teams are making their first trips to the state final.

That isn’t the only first for Izard County in 2022. Nearly everything the Cougars do is a first as the program is in its first year of existence.