QO Football Celebrates 2011 Season at Team Banquet

Just over a week after the 2011 Quince Orchard Cougars' season ended in heart-breaking fashion – losing by one point in the  – the team gathered together one final time to celebrate the accomplishments of the past season and also to give closure to the way the season ended on such a disappointing note.

Head coach Dave Mencarini and members of the staff commented on how it was the most enjoyable coaching season of their careers, despite the loss in the state championship.

"One game does not define who we are," Mencarini told his players and their parents on Sunday at the team banquet held at the Gaithersburg Hilton. "But, we all learned something from that game and are stronger because of it. It's nice to come together today and get that closure and celebrate a great season. When we arrived back at school [after the championship game] after midnight, that was not the way to get closure."

Mark Green was named the team's Most Valuable Player after finishing with 2,057 yards and 28 touchdowns -- both good for third in the state. Green is also one of two Cougars who will be representing Team Washington and playing in Saturday's fourth annual Maryland Crab Bowl, the high school all-star game that features the state's top senior players. Defensive end Darnell Leslie, who was named as the Cougar Award winner, will also be playing in the game.

Quarterback Billy Plante was named as the team's offensive back of the year. Mencarini credited Plante's determination in coming back from a hand injury suffered in the Paint Branch game on Sept. 17 that kept the senior out for four games.

Plante finished the season with nine touchdown passes, seven of which came after he returned from injury on Oct. 21 against Clarksburg. He had two touchdown passes in the state finals against Old Mill – his first two-touchdown game of the season.

Junior Matt Choi was named as the team's top wide receiver. Choi finished with 25 catches and three touchdowns. Chris McPherson was named special teams player of the year and Mencarini called his in the Maryland 4A West regional finals among the top moments in school history.

On the defensive side of the ball, other top awards included Marcus Newby and Carlo St. Regis sharing the top linebacker award. Both juniors, Newby and St. Regis will be among eight starters returning on defense for the Cougars in 2012.

Senior Marty Heyn was named as the team’s top defensive player.

In addition to the honors given out by the team, several Cougars have been given post-season awards. Green was recently named the 4A Montgomery County Offensive Player of the Year by the county's coaches while four of his teammates were also selected as first-team All-County by the coaches, including Leslie and Marty Heyn. Juniors Newby and Bailey Avissar also made the list.

Despite the loss in the state title game, this year's Quince Orchard team will go down as one of the most successful in program history, becoming just the third QO team to finish the regular season unbeaten (2007 and 2009) and just the second time the team had reached 13 or more wins in a single-season (2007).

The team also finished No. 3 in the final state rankings by both the Washington Post and the Maryland High School Football Media State Poll, making the Cougars the highest-ranked public school behind only Old Mill – the team that beat them in the 4A finals. 

But beyond their wins and losses, Mencarini said he will remember this team for its character both on and off the field as well as the work ethic it displayed from the beginning of the season to the end.

"This is what QO football is all about," Mencarini said. "I've never been prouder to be the coach of this football program."

For the seniors on the team, Sunday was one final time to be with teammates and coaches. For the juniors, such as Tyrell Williams, who led the team with 26 catches, it is a great way to begin thinking about the team's 2012 goals.

What are they?

"Simple," Williams said. "Make it back to Baltimore."

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Check back later today for a full list of post-season winners for the Cougars. Additionally, the Washington Post's All-Met team will be announced on Dec. 18.