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The regular season may have taken its toll on Sherwood's football field, but the defending Class 4A state champions picked up Saturday morning where they left off last December.

The Warriors — whose field was deemed unplayable after absorbing several days of rain — overcame a slow start on Blair High's turf field and rolled to a 24-2 win over fourth-seeded Springbrook (7-4 overall, 4-1 Montgomery 4A East Division) in the 4A West Region semifinals.

The victory allows No. 1 Sherwood (9-2, 5-0) to host the 4A West final Friday against third-seeded Paint Branch, 18-7 winners over No. 2 Whitman Friday.

"We were concerned about [moving the game], but the kids handled it well," Sherwood coach Pat Cilento said. "It's always good to come out with a victory."

After practicing in a gymnasium for three days, the Warriors struggled to get up to speed against Springbrook's big, aggressive defensive line. After driving to the Blue Devils' 11-yard line early in the second quarter, Sherwood was backed into fourth-and-31 when quarterback A.J. Pignone was sacked on three consecutive plays.

"It was a protection-scheme breakdown," Cilento said. "They were bringing more guys than we could block. We adjusted after a while, but the first couple plays, they got to us."

Sherwood began to take control on the next drive, with senior running back Cyrus Britt finishing a 54-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run 1 minute, 31 seconds before halftime. The Warriors also scored on their next drive, getting a 35-yard field goal from senior Andy Estrain early in the third quarter.

"They really do a good job of spreading you out," said Springbrook coach Rob Wendel, whose team also lost to the Warriors, 33-13, on Oct. 30. "They run the ball extremely well, and they can throw it. [Pignone] did a nice job; I think he's responsible for our two losses."

After connecting on his first seven passes in the first half, Pignone got into trouble with back-to-back interceptions in the third quarter. But Sherwood's defense held the Blue Devils both times.

Then came the dagger: Pignone's 76-yard touchdown pass to Alex Cole — on third down-and-12 — to put the Warriors up 17.

"It wasn't a great ball — it was kind of wobbly — but it was there on time, and Alex Cole made a great catch and took it to the house," said Pignone, who completed 9 of 14 passes for 139 yards. "All of my receivers played great, and so did the offensive line. We're proud of what we did in the second half. We got it done."

The only two points Springbrook (7-4, 4-2) scored came with 8:10 left in the fourth quarter, when the Warriors snapped the ball out of the back of the end zone.

Springbrook senior Chris Tolbert, filling in for injured starting quarterback Eric Freniere, completed 10 of 20 passes for 91 yards and two interceptions.