I am so stumped and now have to get temp tags

 

I'm stumped, I don't see why those plugs don't work. You could try having someone crank the engine while you have the plugs out of the head but plugged into the plug wires and see if they get spark and compare with the plugs that work to see if there's any difference in spark. Also, I imagine they're the same but, are the contacts on the plugs where the wire connects the same size? If the 22RE plug contacts are smaller the wire won't make a good connection.

 

So instead of focusing on the spark plugs, maybe you should try looking for why it is failing emissions right now and then move on to the plugs. Check your timing and make sure that is on, make sure your TPS is adjusted properly along with your idle.
If you find what is making you fail emissions, it may be a connection to the motor running good with one type of plug but not another.

 

That's a good point I was going off this plug problem being the reason

 

Good call, set the valve lash too. Those HC levels are pretty high. In my old Geo Metro when I got high HC readings it meant my exhaust valves were burnt out. Easy way to check that is with a leak down tester.