Cougars Clobber Colonels to Finish Regular Season Unbeaten

Having already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Maryland 4A West region playoffs and facing a two-win Magruder team, could've taken it easy in Friday night's regular season finale.

Instead, the Cougars put together their most explosive offensive performance of the 2011 season, trouncing the host Colonels, 48-0, to give Quince Orchard its third undefeated regular season in the past five years.

"Now the fun begins," said Quince Orchard coach Dave Mencarini, who has now guided Quince Orchard to the playoffs in each his eight season at the school, including 2007 when his team won the 4A state title. "It's time for phase two of the season and it's exciting to be heading back to the playoffs." 

The Cougars closed out the season with three shutouts in their last four games, including a 35-0 win over playoff-bound Gaithersburg on Oct. 28. And Mencarini likes how his team is trending at this key point in the season.

Earlier this year, Mencarini said this year's team reminded him a lot of his 2007 14-0 state championship team. Now, after closing the season 10-0, Mencarini said that those comparisons are still valid.

"The way these guys prepare and work hard every week...and the way they practice, it's very much like that 2007 team," Mencarini said. "We have a ways to go, but these guys have worked hard all year."

On Friday, Quince Orchard got up early thanks to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Billy Plante to Matt Choi on the team’s first possession. On the Cougars' next possession, Mark Green found the end zone from 2 yards out to give QO a 13-0 lead. Green scored again with 7:58 left in the second quarter that put QO on top 20-0 and after a 1-yard Kenny Lang score, the Cougars found themselves up at the break, 27-0.

Meanwhile, Magruder finished the first half with negative total yards and just one first down, which came off of a QO penalty midway through the second quarter. The Colonels earned just two first downs on their own merit in the second half and never threatened to score.

On Quince Orchard's first possession of the second half, Plante scored on a quarterback draw that gave the Cougars a 35-0 lead to earn a running clock with 9:57 left in the third.

QO also got second-half touchdowns from Elliott Davis (a 22-yard pass from back-up QB Lucas Bogart with 29 seconds left in the third) and Keano Wilder. The Cougars' D.J. Broxton also had an interception in the fourth quarter.

Mencarini was able to rest many of his starters in the second half, including Green, who finished with 71 yards off 11 carries. He finished the year with 18 touchdowns and 1,361 yards. Lang finished with 55 yards on the ground while Tyrell Williams finished with 82 yards on seven attempts.

Plante stayed in the game longer than any other starter and Mencarini said this was no coincidence. The Cougars' quarterback was 14-for-23 and 153 yards. It was the most pass attempts for Plante all season. Mencarini said he wanted to give his quarterback some extra time to see where his passing game is with the post-season on the horizon. 

If there was one area of concern for Mencarini after the Magruder game it was the fact that the Cougars committed three turnovers, all fumbles. Mencarini said correcting those mistakes will be a key focal point as they get ready for the playoffs this week.

"I don't care who we play next week, you're not going to win in the playoffs when you turn the ball over three times," Mencarini said. "So we'll get back to work Monday."

QO hosts Bethesda-Chevy Chase on Friday, which earned the No. 4 seed in the 4A West playoffs after a 28-14 win over Walter Johnson.