RISON - One school is going to win its first-ever state football championship this Thursday night in Little Rock.The Woodlawn Bears (10-0), the top seed from the eight-man South Conference, will face the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves (9-1), the top seed from the North Conference, to decide the 2025 eightman state championship at 7 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium. Both teams are making their first appearance in a state title game for football.The game will be broadcast live on Arkansas PBS Channel 2. Tickets are $9 for adults and $8 for students and must be purchased in advance.Woodlawn made it to the championship round with a 5020 win over Midland in the first round followed by a 68-44 victory over Rector in the semifinals. Both of those games were played at home.Cedar Ridge advanced by blowing out Dermott, 70-26, to open the playoffs and then getting past defending state champion Strong, 38-20, in the semifinals. The Wolves also hosted both playoff games.Both eight-man state finalists went undefeated in winning their respective conference championships. The Timberwolves lone loss came in a 28-0 setback on Sept. 12 at Class 4A Subiaco Academy. Cedar Ridge is averaging 47.8 points per game while giving up an average of 22 per game. Woodlawn counters with eightman's highest-scoring offense at 58.2 points per game while allowing 30.4 points per game.The Bears will be looking to avenge a 52-44 loss to the Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs last year at Cedar Ridge. Woodlawn jumped out to a 12-0 lead in that one and led most of the way. However, the Wolves took advantage of before some breakdowns in the passing game to not only tie it, but eventually take the lead on a 37-yard pass with 37 seconds left.Many of the key players who fueled that comeback will be suited up for Cedar Ridge Thursday night.Woodlawn Coach Doug Means said the Timberwolves have a couple of dangerous weapons in All-State seni...
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