The job required some dirty work, but the fifth-ranked Edmondson football team kept its record squeaky clean.
In a rain-hampered game on Poly's sloppy Lumsden-Scott Stadium field, the Red Storm trudged to a Class 2A state quarterfinal victory over No. 13 City, 14-0.
Edmondson (11-0) accounted for all of its points in the final 5:43. Quarterback Daryl Smith scored on a 1-yard run, then James Hall returned his 11th interception of the year for a 23-yard touchdown. Greg Hawkins' conversion run followed Hall's score.
The Red Storm got its sixth shutout behind the defense of Hawkins, Corey Scott (fumble recovery), Jonathan Sykes, Mark Hicks and Ken Whitley (interception).
In its second state playoff since finishing runner-up to Urbana in 1998, Edmondson meets second-ranked and defending state champion Hereford (11-0) in a semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Poly.
Edmondson had trouble getting started in the mud puddles all over the field.
In the first half, the Red Storm fumbled at City's 11 and 14, respectively. And after Hall's first interception gave it possession at City's 34, the Red Storm was dropped for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-three at the Knights' 28. In the third quarter, Edmondson fumbled at City's 4-yard line.
"They're a pound-it-in-your-face type of team, but this field and the rain took away our speed," said Smith, whose score was set up by Roderick Wolfe's 30-yard punt return. "We couldn't run what we wanted to, but we showed a lot of heart in overcoming that."
Wolfe had his first punt return, a 75-yarder for a touchdown, negated by a penalty. His second, a 60-yarder, gave the Red Storm first-and-goal at City's 5. But Edmondson fumbled two plays later and City recovered.
Wolfe made City (7-4) pay for giving him a third chance by setting up Edmondson's first score.
"They thought I was lucky. They kept testing me. When they came back to me, I showed them," said Wolfe, whose team defeated City, 26-6, in the regular season. "We weren't like, 'Yeah, we already beat them.' We said, 'This is the playoffs and they're a different team.' "
City's final drive ended with an interception by Whitley, who, with Hall and Terence Arter, is part of a secondary that has not allowed a touchdown pass this season.
City's defense played admirably. Terrence Spriggs recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Kevin Brown recovered two fumbles, and Daniel Powell and Terrell Lyles, one fumble each.
"Their special teams beat our special teams," Brown said. "We played our hearts out, but they got us. I hope they go out and represent the city by beating Hereford."