After watching second-ranked Hereford overpower his fourth-ranked Red Storm yesterday, Edmondson coach Pete Pompey said: "One thing's for sure: My kids won't duck the weight room anymore."
Adam Goloboski rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns, Pat Butt had 105 yards and two scores, and Ryan Shupert ran for 74 yards as the Bulls won a Class 2A state semifinal battle of unbeaten teams, 35-8, over the physically larger Red Storm before 2,500 at Poly's Lumsden-Scott Stadium.
The victory, the 25th straight for Hereford (12-0), earned a berth in next weekend's state title game at Ravens Stadium against Middletown (11-1), a 35-0 winner over Wicomico (10-2) on Friday night.
Hereford, which will meet Middletown at 3 p.m. on Friday, is seeking its second straight state title and third overall.
It was the 85th win against 10 losses for eighth-year coach Steve Turnbaugh, who is 12-4 in playoff games, including 3-0 against Baltimore City schools. The Bulls beat Forest Park, 55-8, in the 1998 quarterfinals, and City College, 9-0, in last year's semifinal.
"This past week of practice was the best we had all year. We practiced hard because Edmondson is tough," Goloboski said. "They have some big boys on their line and they gave us a good fight."
The average size (6 feet 2, 262 pounds) of Edmondson's eight two-way linemen was a full two inches and 22 pounds greater than Hereford's. But the defense of the Red Storm (11-1), which had six shutouts and had allowed fewer than six points a game, couldn't prevent Hereford's backfield from having a record-breaking day.
Goloboski raised his school-record, single-season yardage total to 2,046. His 29 rushing touchdowns tied the single-season school record established in 1997 by Jason Murphy, and his 30 total touchdowns are one shy of Todd Leitzel's single-season mark set in 2000.
Butt has 1,270 yards and 18 scores, and Shupert has 806 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hereford's Zach Armiger had his 10th sack and Ray Wittelsberger his 11th interception. Jamie Estep's sack helped Hereford to hold Edmondson (37.2 points per game) to 31 rushing yards.
The Bulls' zone defense limited Edmondson quarterback Daryl Smith (12-for-26, 219 yards) to short-range passes to 6-2, 195-pound Roderick Wolfe (eight receptions, 146 yards), who was double-teamed by Wittelsberger and Brett Yoder.
Estep was part of the defensive line with Armiger, Henry Julio, Joe Akers and Billy Reuter. Julio, Akers, Armiger, Ben Brendel, Greg Lehrl and Ben Adams formed the offensive line.
"Their size was nearly overwhelming and they were good, but we were a little quicker," Estep said. "They had more guys going both ways, so we wore them down."
It was 21-0 at halftime as Hereford scored on three of its first four possesions. Goloboski's 15-yard run ended a nine-play, 61-yard drive late in the first period, then Butt's 9-yard run, set up by Shupert's 51-yarder, made it 14-0 early in the second.
At 3:13 before halftime, Goloboski broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and sprinted past the Red Storm secondary on a 71-yard scoring run.
After a scoreless third period, Goloboski's 2-yard run ended a 13-play, 66-yard drive, and Butt's 6-yarder a three-play, 45-yard march. John Dinkins made all five extra-point kicks.
Smith found Wolfe on a 60-yarder against Hereford's reserves with 1:45 to play.
"They went up 14-0 and just grounded it out," Smith said. "Once we were forced to pass, they dropped back into a zone. It was a great game plan."
It also hurt that Hereford's linemen can bench-press an average of 275 pounds.
"We just couldn't match the strength of their kids," Pompey said.
"They beat us on the line of scrimmage," said linebacker Mark Hicks. "They beat us with power."
Hereford 7 14 0 14 -- 35
Edmondson 0 0 0 8 -- 8
H--Goloboski 15 run (Dinkins kick) H--Butt 9 run (Dinkins kick) H--Goloboski 71 run (Dinkins kick) H--Goloboski 2 run (Dinkins kick) H--Butt 6 run (Dinkins kick) E--Wolfe 60 pass from Smith (Hawkins run)