In a room full of high school football coaches, Edmondson's Pete Pompey didn't need to look far for his adversary or, for that matter, the coach with whom he could most relate.

Hereford's Steve Turnbaugh was sitting right next to him.

"We represent something I think that unfortunately a lot of people in the state of Maryland don't have a lot of respect for, and that's Baltimore-area football," Pompey said at a news conference this week. "There are places like Montgomery County and Prince George's County where people really feel that the game is played on a higher level than we're playing on. That's why it's important for our teams to go out there Saturday and put on a good show."

Pompey's fourth-ranked Red Storm (11-0) plays Turnbaugh's second-ranked Bulls (11-0) at 1 p.m. today in a Class 2A state semifinal at Poly. The winner will play Middletown, a 35-0 victor last night over Wicomico, in the state final next weekend at Ravens Stadium.

Fourteen area teams earned playoff spots in the 32-team field (eight teams in four classifications), but only Hereford, a 14-7 winner over Southern-AA, and Edmondson, a 14-0 winner over City, survived.

"I've heard the same things that Pete's heard about Baltimore football: Your schedule is weak; you don't play anybody," said Turnbaugh, who graduated from Hereford in 1978 before playing at Towson State. "But I know all about the tradition at Poly, even though it's my first time playing there. It's going to be electric and exciting, and it's the only game in town."

Said Pompey: "The bottom line in what it's all about is that we both want to win and one of us has to represent Baltimore in the state championship game. If his team's fortunate enough to win, I'll be there in Ravens Stadium rooting just as hard for Steve as he would if we're fortunate enough to win.

"If you look at it, these are the two highest-ranked public schools in Baltimore. This is the public school championship. And I don't think you could have it at a better location in terms of history."

In his 29th season, Pompey, 62, is Baltimore City's winningest active coach. Pompey is going after his 210th win against only 93 losses. His Red Storm are in their third 2A state playoffs - having been runners-up in 1999.

Meanwhile, Turnbaugh, 43, is winning at a rate (just over 10 games a season) that is faster than any coach since the inception of the state tournament in 1974. His career record is 84-10. During that time, Hereford has won two state titles, including last year's, and reached seven straight state semifinal games. Hereford brings a 24-game winning streak into the semifinal.

"There's no doubt that you have two of the area's better football coaching minds going against each other," said Baltimore City athletic director Bob Wade. "For the local fans here who have never seen Hereford play, this is a great opportunity to see them play in your own back yard. And, of course, Pete Pompey runs a first-class program."

"The two districts already have a good working relationship. And this only adds to it because it's a positive local rivalry and a football fan's dream," said Ron Belinko, Baltimore County's coordinator of athletics. "You have a new kid on the block playing one of the legends of Baltimore City. A veteran coach that has been a consistent winner and a relative newcomer that runs one of the better teams in Baltimore County."

The Bulls have averaged 45.2 points in a wing-T offense that boasts 1,000-yard rushers Adam Goloboski and Pat Butt and an offensive line that averages 240 pounds. Its defense, led by Zach Armiger, Nate Wdowiak and Ray Wittelsberger, has three shutouts in allowing eight points a game.

The Red Storm defense has allowed just under six points a game and registered six shutouts. The offense boasts two potent running backs (Greg Hawkins and Terence Arter), a 1,000-yard receiver (Roderick Wolfe) and a core of two-way linemen (led by Lonnie Harvey and Jonathan Sykes).

"They have two running backs, a quarterback and a receiver whose offensive numbers have them leading the area. Then you top that off with the athleticism and the size of their offensive linemen," Turnbaugh said. "When you have the skill-level and athleticism they have, you're a dangerous team, certainly the best we've faced so far."