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Moravia's 8-man football team has a chance to join that exclusive club Saturday when it takes on the No. 2-ranked Frankfort-Schuyler in the state championship game at the Scarry Athletic Complex.

The game also marks the second year in a row the Blue Devils have advanced to the state finals. In their first trip last season, they were bested by Pembroke 36-0.Ìý

This year, the 12-0 Frankfort-Schuyler punched its ticket to the title game by taking down the No. 1-ranked defending champion by a score of 52-26.Ìý

Pembroke was averaging 44 points per game, but a Maroon Knights defense that has held opponents to just 12.6 points a game was too much for the Green Dragons to handle.

Outside of two games this year, Frankfort-Schuyler has not surrendered more than 20 points. Moravia will meet that defense on the gridiron with an offense that is scoring an average of 48 points per game. The Blue Devils have scored at least 40 points in seven of their last eight, most recently their 42-40 victory over Trumansburg in the regional semifinals.

In the win, Moravia found most of its success through the air as Joe Baylor caught nine passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, while Hunter Boynton had six catches for 91 yards and two scores. Riley Jones rounded out the Blue Devils’ 347 total receiving yards with six receptions for 78 yards.Ìý

Moravia has racked up 2,498 receiving yards on its way to a 9-2 record. Baylor paces the group with 986 yards and 17 scores, while Jones and Eli Landis have totaled 570 and 512 yards, respectively.Ìý

Making the most of that dynamic receiving room has been quarterback Thomas Palmer. The senior signal caller has thrown for 2,441 yards and 36 touchdowns on 132 completions.Ìý

While the Blue Devils have found the majority of their offensive success through the air, it’s been a different story for Frankfort-Schuyler.

The Maroon Knights are averaging 324.7 yards a game on the ground this season and have rushed for 1,520 yards in their last four combined. The bulk of their yardage has come from quarterback Martino Rocco and Lionell Coulthrust, who have combined for 48 rushing touchdowns and are responsible for 69% of the team's rushing yards.

That dominant rushing attack has resulted in Frankfort-Schuyler scoring at least 46 points in every game this season, and an average of 58.2. The Moravia defense that will be tasked with stopping that run game has allowed 17.5 points per game on average. In its most recent outing, it gave up 249 rushing yards and three scores on the ground to Trumansburg.Ìý

If Moravia is able to slow down the Maroon Knight rushers, and prevent a passing attack that is averaging 124 yards a game from exploding, it will be in a position to win its first 8-man state championship in program history — in front of what is sure to be a packed hometown crowd.