WOODLAWN - Ethan Saeler rushed for 345 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Woodlawn Bears used a second-half surge to pull away from the Rector Cougars, 68-44, in an eight-man semifinal game Friday night at the Carl Jones Sports Complex.By virtue of its win, Woodlawn (10-0) will face the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves (9-1) in the eight-man state championship game set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at War Memorial Stadium. Cedar Ridge defeated Strong, 38-20, in the other semifinal game.With a total of 112 points put on the board, the fireworks started early as Woodlawn recovered an onside kick to begin the game, and two plays later, the Bears’ Griffin Manes found the corner for a quick 47-yard touchdown strike less than a minute into the game. The Cougars stopped Manes on the conversion to leave the Bears up 6-0.Woodlawn then forced Rector to a three-and-out on its first series of the game, but the Bears muffed the punt and the Cougars recovered at the Woodlawn 13. Four plays later, Rector’s All-State quarterback Jonas Elmas scored on a fourth-down run from seven yards out and then converted the conversion pass to put the Cougars on top, 8-6, with 7:22 left in the first.It basically became a track meet after that.The Bears answered quickly when Saeler took the second snap of the ensuing series 55 yards for the score. This time Manes added the two-pointer to put Woodlawn up 14-8 with 6:33 left.Rector responded with a six-play, 42-yard scoring drive capped by a 17-yard run at the 3:44 mark of the first. The Cougars tacked on the conversion to regain the lead 16-14.Woodlawn was facing 4th-and-6 at the Rector 42 on its next series when Saeler broke free for a 42-yard score with 1:36 left in the first, putting him at 101 yards rushing in the opening period. Manes added the conversion to make it 22-16 Bears.But the Cougars would not go away as they recovered another onside attempt, and marched 51 yards in six play...
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