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The Linganore football team traded body blows and chances to self-destruct with visiting Damascus, but finally sealed a Class 3A West semifinal win, 33-20, on Friday.

The Lancers (11-0) and Swarmin' Hornets (8-3) swapped the lead five times in the first half before Linganore finally pulled away when senior running back Zach Zwinak scored on a 78-yard touchdown run.

Zwinak had already rumbled for a 48-yard score in the second quarter, and was well onto his way to a game-high 327 yards rushing. But he carried only once in the first two Lancer drives.

"I was excited when my number was called," Zwinak said. "But it was all the line opening up the holes for me and [senior running back] Kevin [Myers]."

Zwinak responded with runs of 7, 30, 48, 1 and 33 yards on his next five touches, while Myers worked the edge with 81 yards and an 8-yard touchdown. Even senior Nick Marth got loose on several quarterback sneaks, adding 70 yards and a touchdown on only six carries.

"We expected maybe 4 or 5 yards a pop on that play," Marth said. "My passes weren't working as well as I'd like, so we went to more of a rush."

The passing attack did manage 77 yards, 70 of those to senior wide receiver Ryan Dixon. But Marth also had two interceptions, and the Lancers lost two fumbles.

Zwinak even gave the crowd a moment of panic, fumbling the ball into the end zone and keeping the Hornets within two scores midway through the fourth quarter. It's the second time in three weeks that has happened to him.

"I don't know what's wrong," Zwinak said. "I'll have to check the film and fix it. I've got some work to do."

Damascus halfback Brian Lucas bashed out 82 yards on 18 carries, facing what he said was one of the biggest lines he's faced all season.

"They were big," Lucas said. "We saw them on tape and we knew they were big coming out. They come out and they bring it."

The most consistent way for the Hornets to keep the ball moving was through the air, with quarterback Connor Frazier passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Phelps was the main beneficiary, grabbing five passes for 100 yards. Senior Chris Betts tallied the Hornets' last score, a 38-yard pass from Frazier.

While Damascus didn't commit a single turnover, penalties were its bane in the first half.

The Hornets were able to take the lead twice, each time on big plays. Phelps caught a 76-yard pass from Frazier, while Lucas scored on a 34-yard run.