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Since a frigid night in Baltimore nearly a year ago, the Linganore High football team has been waiting for another chance. There's been soreness from hours in the weight room, sweat from spring and summer workouts, and dirty uniforms from practice in the fall afternoons.

Now, the Lancers are on the doorstep of redemption. Linganore defeated Baltimore County's Hereford, 41-9, in a Class 3A semifinal contest Friday evening at Oakdale.

It's back to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the Lancers, who will play Huntingtown of Calvert County for the state title next Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Huntingtown (13-0) defeated previously unbeaten Howard County juggernaut River Hill, 10-7, in overtime in the other semifinal Friday evening.

Senior running back Zack Zwinak rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns for the Lancers (13-0), and Kevin Myers added 165 yards and a score. David Woods accounted for Hereford's only score with an 11-yard touchdown. The Bulls finished with a 10-2 record.

Linganore's return to the Baltimore Ravens' home stadium will be a year to the day it fell to Sherwood, 21-3, for the 4A championship. It's been the Lancers' singular motivation for this season.

"Our goal has been to play for a championship," said Linganore head coach Rick Conner. "First the [Monocacy Valley Athletic] League [Piedmont Black Conference], then region. We've learned not to take things for granted."

"Everyone has been dedicated," said Zwinak. "The possibility to win a championship is great."

With 34 returning letter winners, Linganore was considered the best public team in the state heading into the regular season. The Lancers didn't disappoint, winning all 10 games by an average margin of 35 points.

"That loss [last year] left a bad taste in our mouths," said Myers. "We knew we would be back in this position. We got to take advantage of it."

After dispatching Damascus and previously unbeaten Quince Orchard in the West Region playoffs, Linganore pulled away in the second half to dispose of a pesky Hereford squad.

Up 13-3 in the third quarter, Linganore senior kicker Alex Eckard, who also kicked two field goals of 36 and 24 yards for the winners, booted the ball short, catching the visitors off guard, allowing the Lancers' senior special-teamer Chris Baumanis to recover the loose ball. On the next play, Zwinak took a handoff from senior quarterback Nick Marth, and broke down the left sidelines for a 44-yard touchdown for an insurmountable 20-3 lead. Zwinak also scored on a six-yard burst in the first quarter.

"We've been working on it in practice," said Conner. "We thought that would give us a little advantage. This team has great momentum swings."

Zwinak's seven-yard run capped a five-play, 57-yard drive late in the third quarter. Ricky Conner intercepted a Hereford halfback option pass, and Myers bounced out right and sprinted 27 yards for a 34-9 cushion.

The Lancers rushed for 425 yards total as senior Matt Thomas added a 73-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Zwinak, headed to Penn State University next season, said the front of seniors Robbie Havenstein, Kevin Saylor, Kyle Tucker and Shawn Rudeau along with junior Kyle Warchoic set the tone once again.