Quince Orchard Football Dominance and a Narrow Damascus Field Hockey Victory!

FOOTBALL

Week one is in the books for Montgomery County Football! Check out where your team stacks up, but remember, it’s still early!

Quince Orchard Football Shuts Down Paint Branch In 28-0 Victory

The Quince Orchard Cougars have won five of the last nine Maryland 4A Championships, including each of the last two. They have won 28 consecutive games. The history of dominance continued Friday night, as they started their attempt for a three-peat by shutting out the Paint Branch Panthers 28-0.

The dominance started early as a safety just seven minutes into the game put the Cougars on the board, and on the ensuing drive, Quince Orchard scored their first touchdown of the 2026 campaign. Senior quarterback Carter Daily found senior wide receiver Rafferty Bankert in stride for the score and it was quickly 8-0. Seth Rubin missed the following extra point, keeping the score the same.

A second touchdown pass from Daily went to Jaiden Hebron, and Rubin converted the extra point to extend the lead to 15-0.

The lead was 18 at the halftime break, as Rubin kicked a 42 yard field goal, and the Panthers showed no signs of stopping in half number two. Rubin drilled a 30 yard field goal, his second of the game, extending the lead to 21-0.

The final score of the game was a second touchdown reception for Bankert, completing a very impressive performance.

It wasn’t however, an impressive night from Panthers senior quarterback Leoul Solomon. He recorded very limited action a season ago behind now graduate Vincent Do, and game one as the pronounced starter was rough. Solomon threw for 3 interceptions, including two in the first quarter alone. The first of those was intercepted by Jamie White Jr., which gave the Cougars momentum and eventually the early lead. Both of which they never relinquished.

For Daily, he was also the backup a season ago, sitting behind Will Drakeford Jr., who now plays for the University of Kentucky. However, getting the nod as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season did not rattle him whatsoever. He was sacked twice, but threw both touchdown passes over 30 yards apiece.

Early in the second half, Rico Jackson was helped off the field with an apparent leg injury and did not return to the game.

Both teams will play their next games from the comfort of home, as they both return to action on Thursday September 10th, as Quince Orchard will host the Walter Johnson Wildcats, while Paint Branch faces off with the Einstein Titans.

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FIELD HOCKEY

Just three Montgomery County field hockey games have been played thus far, but there’s more to come! Check out where things stand!

Damascus Field Hockey Squeaks By Sherwood 5-4 In Overtime Thriller

A back and forth affair between two field hockey powerhouses occurred early Saturday morning as the Damascus Swarmin’ Hornets took down the Sherwood Warriors 5-4.

The scoring started early as Damascus' Mary Miller scored on a penalty corner opportunity eight minutes into the game. Sherwood senior Sophia Kaser responded with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, finding the top corner of the net and sneaking it past Avery Hillman. The first quarter ended knotted up with one goal per side.

Miller scored her second goal of the game just three and a half minutes into quarter number two, but a big response came from Sherwood as senior Emerson Phillips tapped a centering pass in at the 10:14 mark. Kaser then added her second of an eventual three goals as she scored on a penalty corner with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

Heading into halftime, the Warriors held onto a 3-2 lead.

The Swarmin’ Hornets came out in half number two with a huge head of steam, as Nia Marshall scored twice. The first goal was a dribble and shoot, and the second off a penalty corner that came with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter. Kaser then completed the hat trick, scoring her third goal of the game just 34 seconds later. There was a little luck on her side, however, as she was the last Warrior to touch the ball before it was accidentally knocked in by the defending Hornets.

The fourth quarter saw zero goals scored and the match went to overtime tied up at four goals apiece. 

To overtime it went, with both sides trying to take advantage of any holes in their opponents’ defensive lines. Then, eight minutes into overtime, Marshall finished her trifecta of goals, scoring on a long shot down the field that got by Hillman for the walkoff goal. 

The first three quarters of action saw eight total goals before approximately a half hour of gametime with no one able to find the back of the net. Marshall’s score ended the game and gave Damascus their first win of 2026.

Check out the standings for the other fall sports:

BOYS SOCCER

GIRLS SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

FLAF FOOTBALL

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