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The numbers say that the 4A West Region semifinal football game between fourth-seeded Springbrook and No. 1 Sherwood comes down to a battle between two running backs.

Sherwood's Cyrus Britt has carried the ball 160 times, in only eight games, for 1,090 yards. Springbrook's Devon Pestano has 210 totes for 1,108 yards.

Not so fast.

When Sherwood beat Springbrook, 33-13, two weeks ago, Britt had just 50 yards, but quarterback A.J. Pignone went off for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air.

"I wasn't surprised; their quarterback's pretty good," Springbrook coach Rob Wendel said. "We thought we did pretty well against the run, and then he threw all over us. They're a pretty well-rounded team."

Springbrook's two scores both came via Eric Freniere passes to Mitchell Pollard. Pollard also had a 79-yard touchdown catch and an 80-yard kickoff return against the Warriors in their 2008 meeting.

"They have a lot more weapons than their running back," Sherwood coach Pat Cilento said. "Pollard hurt us in the first game, he took a screen and a post for touchdowns, just ran by us. [Chris] Tolbert's not too bad, either."

None of which means Britt and Pestano will be spectators Friday. Springbrook's oversized defensive line cannot overplay the run after seeing Pignone's arm. And Wendel said the Blue Devils' key was still "to control the ball."

The X-Factor in this first-round matchup is Springbrook's quarterback situation. Freniere was taken from the field in an ambulance during last week's 20-0 win over Paint Branch. Wendel said he did not yet know the diagnosis, but "I believe he's out."

Backup Brandon Washington is a capable junior who ran the junior varsity offense last season. He will get the start if Freniere is indeed out, but Springbrook could throw out a few different looks — possibly the Wildcat, possibly with Pollard behind center. Wendel would only say, "We'll have to wait and see how it plays out."

The Blue Devils are coming off an emotional win over a rival; the Warriors are coming off a loss to a rival, 21-9 to Quince Orchard, one in which they struggled in the red zone.

But Springrook's win, over now third-seeded Paint Branch, handed Sherwood home-field throughout the regional playoffs anyway. And Cilento took some positives out of the defeat at Quince Orchard.

"We're very young, and we don't know how to play in that big game yet; we're still learning it," he said. "It was good to play in that type atmosphere, especially away."

No. 4 Springbrook (7-3) at No. 1 Sherwood (8-2)

Class 4A West Region semifinal

7 p.m. Friday

Last meeting: Sherwood 33, Springbrook 13 (Oct. 30, 2009)

-Springbrook Blue Devils

Last playoff appearance: 2003 (11th)

Best finish: Class AA/4A state champions (1979-81, 1985, 1988-89)

Head coach: Rob Wendel (fifth year, 30-20 record)

Leading rusher: Devon Pestano (213 carries, 1,117 yards, 19 TD)

Leading passer: Eric Freniere (62 of 116, 718 yards, 8 TD, 6 int.)

Leading receiver: Mitchell Pollard (28 catches, 352 yards, 5 TD)

Leading defenders: DT Ray Vernet, LB Marquise Anderson, CB Mitchell Pollard

Points scored: 255

Points allowed: 125

-Sherwood Warriors

Last playoff appearance: 2008 (14th)

Best finish: Class 4A state champions (1995-96, 2008)

Head coach: Pat Cilento (first year, 8-2 record)

Leading rusher: Cyrus Britt (160 carries, 1,090 yards, 13 TD)

Leading passer: A.J. Pignone (62 of 116, 872 yards, 11 TD, 2 int.)

Leading receiver: Alex Cole (15 catches, 194 yards, 3 TD)

Leading defenders: DE Greg Grant, LB Phil Durity, CB Jamal Merritt

Points scored: 274

Points allowed: 80