Mencarini, QO Football Get Back to Work

Dave Mencarini takes nothing for granted.

The Quince Orchard football coach, now entering his eighth season at the North Potomac school, knows that winning in Montgomery County, which has produced more state champions than any other county in Maryland, doesn't come easy.

So the fact that Quince Orchard has been the county's most successful program since Mencarini took the reigns in 2004 is basically meaningless to him. Instead, he remains focused on ensuring his players are committed to working hard and are focused on continuous improvement. And he's keeping his expectations modest as they head into the 2011 season. 

"Our goal is to just get to the first game healthy," Mencarini said. "Our expectations don't really change from year to year. I challenge these guys every day to just work hard and push themselves to be better than they were the day before."

Mencarini's philosophy has always been about the work more than the end result. It's been a strategy that has paid dividends. Quince Orchard has made eight consecutive playoff appearances,  the second-longest streak in the county behind only Damascus. Its 2007 team went undefeated en route to capturing that year's 4A state title. Mencarini's .847 winning percentage is the highest among active coaches in Montgomery County.

But the school's move back to 4A after a brief stint in 3A makes the road back to the playoffs much more difficult. It's a challenge, though, that Mencarini embraces.

"The schedule is brutally hard," Mencarini admitted. "We play some great teams in the 4A West. If you get to the playoffs you have to see those teams again. And if you're lucky enough to get out of the regional playoffs the rest of the state is loaded too. But I'm glad we play the schedule we do because you become battle-tested and really can understand what kind of football team you have."

For Quince Orchard, the challenge begins Week One when it welcomes the visiting Sherwood Warriors, a perennial 4A contender, to the "Cougar Dome" on Sept. 2. Sherwood, too, has consistently been one of the county's top teams over the years and is riding a six-year playoff streak of its own, which includes winning the state championship in 2008.

"Since the schedule came out in March, all our kids have been talking about is getting a crack at Sherwood right out of the gate," Mencarini said. "That's all we've been focused on. What better way to start the season than against one of the best teams in the state and against one of your biggest rivals?"

Mencarini is leaning on his tailback Mark Green to carry the load offensively this season. Green rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010.

"He's a work horse," Mencarini said of Green, adding that he thinks he is the best running back in the county. "We're going to lean on him heavily."

Additionally, junior tight end, Kieran Gregory, who Mencarini called a "Division I football player," and offensive tackle Brandon McDowell, are among the veterans that Mencarini is expecting big things from in 2011.

On the defensive side of the ball, Mencarini is expecting senior lineman Darnell Leslie, one of the team's captains, to make an impact along with Marcus Newby, who the QO coach said might be the "best player I've ever coached by the time his high school career is over."

In addition to some of those stand-outs, Mencarini likes what he is seeing in his team collectively since two-a-days began on Saturday.

"What I like about this group is we all have the same attitude," Mencarini said. "They're hard-working, all want to get the job done and they all have a swagger to them. Which is what you want to see."