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Persistence. Perserverence. Perfection.

In sequential order, Seneca Valley needed the first to get the second and the second to maintain the third in its come-from-behind first-round, 27-26 playoff victory over arch-rival Damascus Friday night.

The defending state champions pushed the Screaming Eagles to the brink, scoring 26 unanswered points in building a 12-point fourth-quarter lead. But the 3A West Region's No. 1 seed stuck with a struggling passing game, ultimately retook a 1-point lead midway through the period, and staved off a last-minute Hornet drive to keep its unblemished season alive.

The reward? A date with perennial Frederick County power Urbana in the regional finals and a chance to move one step closer to the ultimate goal: adding to its record 12 Maryland state championships and end a relatively long — by its standards only — six-year drought.

"Every week's a learning experience," said Seneca senior Joe Rankin, who caught the game-winning, 20-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. "As a team, we just relax under pressure. We're just ballin', man."

"Ballin'" has been a habit on maybe the most balanced team in the county, one in which no one phase of the game is any more capable than another. It's the Seneca defense that's been the most consistent this year, with a plethora of standouts spearheading the county's stingiest unit, which allowed just 4.1 points per game during the regular season.

They've got it all, from sturdy line play from Russell Main and Delaware commit Kenton Powell, to hard-nosed hitters at the second level in Keon Hester and Thomas Best. Its secondary is second to none, with studs such as returning 2007 All-Gazette first-team cornerback Rankin, three-year starter Xavier Hughes at safety and underrated cornerback Mark Henderson.

They mix it up offensively as well. Rankin and junior Jaiquan Moore combined for nearly 1,200 yards on over 7 yards per carry, while senior C.J. Jones rushed for 111 yards a week ago.

Three-year starting quarterback George Lerch didn't have one of his better games last week, but made several big throws when he had to; he hit sophomore Dimitri Parker on a big 58-yard pass late in the third quarter, then fed Rankin for the fourth-quarter score.

The Eagles will once again have their hands full against Urbana, who led midway through their previous matchup before falling, 27-21, in the first round of last year's postseason.

Though they didn't show it during a rain-soaked, 3-0 overtime win last week against No. 3 Tuscarora, the Hawks will be much like their opposition Friday night: balanced and explosive.

Junior quarterback Jesse Heon has come on like gangbusters towards the end of the season, as seen in his 309-yard performance against undefeated rival Linganore. He has a host of weapons, including a 700-yard rusher in halfback Ross Flanigan and a veritable go-to outside receiver in senior Paul Grabowski (780 yards during the regular season).

It could be another barn burner, but Seneca coach Fred Kim already knows his team can survive the ultimate test.

Even if he barely survived himself.

"I definitely aged about 20 years," Kim said. "We know Urbana is very similar to Damascus; they're tough, they have an excellent quarterback who is throwing the hell out of the ball, they spread you and shred you. … The thing about our last game is our kids had a serious gut-check."

No. 2 Urbana (8-3) at No. 1 Seneca Valley (11-0)

What: Class 3A West Region final

When: Friday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.

Where: Seneca Valley High School, Germantown

Last meeting: Seneca Valley 27, Urbana 21 (Nov. 17, 2007)

Location: Ijamsville

Nickname: Hawks

Head coach: Joe Polce, 4th year (28-17)

League affiliation: Monocacy Valley Athletic Conference, Chesapeake Division

Last playoff appearance: 2007 (8th)

Last state title: 2001 (4th)

Leading rusher: Ross Flanigan (700-plus yards, 11 TD)

Leading passer: Jesse Heon (1,600-plus yards)

Leading receivers: Paul Grabowski (700-plus yards, 4 TD)

Leading defenders: DL Bobby Kmetz, DL Joe Novotny, DB Brad Hickman

Points scored: 261 (23.7 per game)

Points allowed: 155 (14.1 per game)

Location: Germantown

Nickname: Screaming Eagles

Head coach: Fred Kim, 5th year (58-18 record; 7th overall, 47-10)

League affiliation: Montgomery 3A

Last playoff appearance: 2007 (24th)

Last state title: 2002 (12th)

Leading rushers: Jaiquan Moore (103 carries, 589 yards, 12 TD), Joe Rankin (64 carries, 607 yards, 7 TD)

Leading passer: George Lerch (77 of 132, 1,363 yards, 17 TD, 4 int.)

Leading receiver: Mark Henderson (25 catches, 451 yards, 12 TD)

Leading defenders: DB Joe Rankin, DB Xavier Hughes, LB/DB Keon Hester

Points scored: 383 (34.8 per game)

Points allowed: 67 (6.1 per game)