Last month, Quince Orchard easily — and surprisingly — beat their rivals Northwest 31-0. The second time around Friday night was a hard fought, down-to-the wire affair.
In the highly anticipated rematch between Montgomery County’s top public school football teams, Quince Orchard won again but this time by the slimmest of margins, 14-13, to advance the 4A state championship game.
A sellout crowd at the CougarDome in Gaithersburg endured temperatures in the 30’s but was treated to a nail-biter. Down 14-7 in the 3rd quarter, the Jaguars (11-2) scored a touchdown but the Cougars blocked the extra point which proved to be the difference in the game.
Despite missing two field goals in the 4th quarter, the Jaguars had one last chance but they did not convert on 4th and 26 as the clock expired and the Cougars began their celebration.
QO @QO_Coach_Kelley has the final words after their 14-13 win in the 4A State Semi-Finals held at the Cougar Dome. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/dGFSRqsHdZ
— Phil Fabrizio (@Photoloaf) November 27, 2021
Cougars’ linebacker Martavin Davis told MyMCM, “There’s no better feeling.”
“This is a game you never forget man. Their kids played hard. Our kids played hard. We were just on the right side coming out of this thing,” said Quince Orchard head coach John Kelley.
The championship game will be played Friday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis at 7:30 pm. The Cougars (13-0) will face the winner of the Wise-CH Flowers game which will be played Saturday at 1 pm.
The Cougars last won a state title in 2018.
Here’s postgame reaction from both teams.
(Photo by Phil Fabrizio)
