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Montgomery County Football Week Ten: Previews and predictions
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#1 Ranked Quince Orchard
To say the playoff picture in Maryland 4A and 3A is slightly muddled is an understatement as we head into the final week of the season. The good news is that teams most affected by the muddle play one another this weekend so they have their fates in their hands. Let’s get right to the games that matter the most (MCM Top Ten in parenthesis).
Sherwood (2) at Quince Orchard (1): Not only is this game for bragging rights in the county, a win by either team would lock up home field for both rounds of the region playoffs. Where to start? How about the Sherwood offense, which will need to be much more effectively versatile than usual, against the Quince Orchard defense, which is maybe the second best defense in the county. Why only second? Because Sherwood has arguably the best defense in the county. The difference here is that QO has a multiple attack and talent offense; they can run (Ben Sasu), and throw (Pernell Brantley and Karim Jones) equally effectively. Drew Murphy has grown into his role at quarterback completely, making this the best offense Sherwood will see all year. One other factor: it is a home game for Quince Orchard. Go on out and see this one if you can. My Pick: Quince Orchard.
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Churchill High School
Whitman (5) at Churchill (6): If Springbrook loses to Paint Branch, this game does not matter for the playoffs except for seeding purposes. I covered a Whitman game earlier this year and again last week against Seneca Valley (Whitman vs Seneca Valley) and will make this observation: they have trouble scoring. It isn’t because they don’t have the talent, it’s that they don’t finish drives or opportunities. That will be a problem against Churchill because they can score, and at times very quickly. On the other side of the ball, Churchill is a talented defense that I believe can handle the Whitman offense. Churchill’s seniors played in a similar game last year, when they lost to Wootton and did not make the playoffs. Quinn, Kantor, Swepson and all the other will not let that happen again. My Pick: Churchill
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Paint Branch High School
Springbrook (8) at Paint Branch (4): This one is easy: if Springbrook wins they are in the playoffs since one of Churchill or Whitman will lose and Springbrook will leapfrog the loser. A loss will knock Springbrook out entirely. For Paint Branch, a win and a loss by Sherwood gets them home field advantage for the playoffs. Springbrook has been up and down all season, although Devon Pestano has been nothing short of sensational all year. But I think this is Coach Mike Nesmith’s time; Paint Branch has been building all year, getting better game-by-game. Their offense includes great playmakers, and their defense is playing extremely well, evidenced by their win over Clarksburg. My Pick: Paint Branch.
Damascus (3) at Kennedy: Damascus is locked into the #3 seed in 3A right now, and they are peaking at the right time. No way they lose this game. My Pick: Damascus
Poolesville at Kent County: My Pick: Kent County
Rushing:
- Crusoe Gongbay, 1,201 yds, 17 tds
- Ben Sasu, Quince Orchard 1,127 yds, 16 tds
- Ryan Quinn, Churchill 998 yds, 5 td’s
- Marquis Morgan, Magruder 985 yds, 11 tds
- Jimmy Hessler, Northwood 1,793 yds 9tds
- Jarrhett Butler, Northwest 1,324 yds 9 tds
- Casy Fitzgerald, B-CC 1,305 yds 8 tds
- Cole Ahnell, Walter Johnson 1,167 yds 8 tds
- Gary Vaughn, Northwood 41 receptions
- Anatoly Moschkin, Northwood 32 receptions
- Pernell Brantley, Quince Orchard 32 receptions
- Ivan Tagoe, Paint Branch 32 receptions
- Michael Pitsenberger, Walter Johnson 28 receptions
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