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Regional Champions Crowned in Flag Football While Other Brackets Get Underway!

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Regional tournaments continue and the final regular season games take place! Check out the brackets as well as updates from this past week around Montgomery County.

FOOTBALL

The final buzzer has sounded, concluding the Montgomery County football regular season. Quince Orchard came out on top with an undefeated record. They finished the regular season with an impressive point differential of 339-6, averaging just over 37 points per game.

Sherwood finishes at 8-1, who gave the Cougars the most competition in any one game this season. It was a 9-0 loss for the Warriors, but was by far the best job any one team did at shutting down the Quince Orchard offense.

Other top contenders include Winston Churchill, Wheaton and Bethesda-Chevy Chase, who each ended the season with a winning streak of at least four games.

FLAG FOOTBALL

Three Montgomery County teams emerged victorious in the 2026 4A/3A regional brackets, while one team won their bracket in the 3A/2A division. Walt Whitman, Blake and Clarksburg were the three squads who came out on top in 4A/3A and Sherwood won in the 3A/2A. Read below to see how each team fared throughout the season.

Walt Whitman: 4A/3A South I:

The Vikings finished the regular season 8-2 with their losses coming vs. Clarksburg in week one and Walter Johnson in week five. Clarksburg was the regular season champion and Walter Johnson came in second. Their season was highlighted by a five-game winning streak to close out the season including a narrow 26-24 victory over Poolesville.

In the regional bracket, the Vikings used their first round bye to their advantage. They didn’t allow a single point all tournament in their two victories. After shutting down Richard Montgomery, the Vikings got their revenge vs. the Wildcats in a huge way to close out the regional title. The shut out completed their back-to-back regional championship run.

Head coach Shawn Winans explained that the entire squad played their roles in unison, which led to this result. They trust the process and believe in each other, which they believe can lead the team to a deep run at the state level.

The team will begin their preparations for the state tournament, in which they are a 5-seed, and will play another MCPS opponent, Blake, in the first round.

Blake: 4A/3A South II:

The Bengals finished the regular season 8-2. They started out the season hot, winning each of their first seven games, but then dropped back-to-back games against Wheaton and Damascus late in the season. They turned it around in a big way, however, as they shut out Blair 38-0 to close out the regular season before shutting them out again 13-0 in the semifinal round.

They then faced Paint Branch for the second time in 2026. Their first matchup resulted in a 6-0 win and the championship game was even closer. A 26-25 win closed out the regional championship for the Bengals.

Head coach Jenna Essenmacher emphasized how much the victory means to the program, calling it a representation of the hard work and commitment the team put in throughout the season.

“To me personally winning the Regional Championship is a tangible moment of fruition of believing in and being dedicated to my girls and the game,” Essenmacher said.

Every game brings new challenges that need to be overcome. Essenmacher explained that the regional title brings confidence, but the team needs to be sure to remain focused on the next goal, a state title.

“At this stage of the season, talent alone is not enough. We must be mentally prepared, physically ready, and committed to playing football to the final whistle,” Essenmacher said.

The squad is led by senior captain Nya Jackson, who plays both wide receiver and defensive back, sophomore captain and quarterback Saniyah Watson as well as senior twins Annie and Anna Smith. All of which have made key plays throughout the season that have led to the team's’ overall success.

“The most special thing about this team is from 1-16 every player brings a skillset that contributes to our success on the field,” Essenmacher said.

The Bengals are a 4-seed in the state bracket and will take on 5-seeded Walt Whitman in the first round.

Clarksburg: 4A/3A West II:

The preseason favorites to win it all in Montgomery County did not disappoint, breezing their way through the regional bracket. The Coyotes finished the regular season 9-1, with their lone loss coming vs. Damascus. The Coyotes averaged 38 points in each of their victories, while allowing just 5.1 points per game on defense.

In the regional bracket, they had a round one bye and crushed Seneca Valley 41-0 in the semifinal round before adding their second victory over Quince Orchard on the year to win the title.

At the state level, Clarksburg enters as a 3-seed and will take on Parkdale from Prince George’s County.

Sherwood: 3A/2A West II:

Sherwood finished the regular season 8-1 vs. MCPS opponents, with the loss coming vs. Blake. They earned a first-round bye and then defeated Northwood and Poolesville en route to the regional championship.

At the state level, they are a 7-seed and will take on Linganore of Frederick County.

Below is the 2026 4A/3A flag football state tournament bracket. Three teams from Montgomery County are represented, but Blake and Whitman will face each other in the quarterfinal round, meaning one will be eliminated early.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The highly anticipated Sherwood vs. Richard Montgomery matchup was as advertised. A five-set victory for the Warriors was the first five-set game for either side in 2026. Sherwood finishes the season an undefeated 14-0, while Richard Montgomery finishes at 13-1. The one matchup was the difference.

Clarksburg and Wootton are another couple of top contenders who will look to make runs in the regional brackets, while Walt Whitman and Seneca Valley each finished the year strong with long winning streaks and look to fight their way to the top.

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GIRLS SOCCER

Scroll below for the 2026 girls’ soccer regional brackets!

4A North II:

Richard Montgomery and Einstein will battle for the regional title on Wednesday night. These two teams faced each other earlier on this season, resulting in a 4-1 win for the Rockets.

4A South I:

Blair will represent MCPS in the championship match in this bracket, as they will take on Eleanor Roosevelt from Prince George’s County.

4A West II:

Winston Churchill and Bethesda-Chevy Chase are the two remaining teams in this bracket. These two squads faced off earlier this season, but neither emerged victorious, a 0-0 tie was the match result. This time, there will be a winner crowned.

4A West I:

Northwest represents MCPS in this bracket, as they will take on Urbana of Frederick County.

In the 3A South I bracket, Sherwood takes on Reservoir of Howard County.

In the 3A West II bracket, it’s Magruder vs. Wootton for the title. These two squads faced off earlier this season with Magruder winning 2-0.

In the 2A West I bracket, Poolesville will take on Glenelg of Howard County for the championship.

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BOYS SOCCER

Scroll below for the 2026 boys’ soccer regional brackets!

4A North II:

Wheaton and Einstein will do battle for the title, following a huge upset victory for the Knights over 1-seeded Richard Montgomery. The Knights and Titans faced each other earlier this season in a match that ended in a 0-0 tie.

4A South I:

Paint Branch’s match for the title will be against Northwestern from Prince George’s County.

4A West II:

Winston Churchill and Walt Whitman face off in this bracket. The Vikings upset Walter Johnson to make it to the finals to face a familiar opponent. The Bulldogs beat the Vikings earlier this season 1-0.

4A West I:

Clarksburg will take on Urbana from Frederick County for the regional title in this bracket.

In the 3A South I bracket, Sherwood was defeated in the semifinal round to Reservoir. No MCPS teams are represented in the finals.

In the 3A West II bracket, Wootton and Magruder will battle for the title. In their prior match this season, Magruder emerged victorious, winning 4-1.

In the 2A West I bracket, Poolesville was defeated in the semifinal round by Glenelg. No MCPS teams are represented in the finals.

FIELD HOCKEY

Scroll below for the 2026 field hockey regional brackets!

4A North II:

Blake will take on Richard Montgomery for the title in this bracket. This will be their first matchup of 2026.

4A South I:

Winston Churchill defeated Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2-1 earlier this season and will look to repeat to get a regional title.

4A South II:

Blair defeated Einstein 2-0 earlier this season, and now it is the rematch, with the winner taking home the title.

4A West I:

Clarksburg will take on Urbana of Frederick County for the title in this bracket.

4A West II:

Quince Orchard defeated Seneca Valley 3-0 earlier this season and will look to duplicate the result, which would result in the regional title.

In the 3A North II bracket, Damascus takes on Westminster of Carroll County for the title.

In the 3A West II bracket, Rockville and Wootton will battle it out for the title. This is the first time this season that these teams will play each other.

In the 2A West I bracket, Poolesville was eliminated by Manchester Valley in the semifinal round. NO MCPS teams will battle for a title in this bracket.

GOLF

Walt Whitman had an extremely successful season on the golf front, winning the 4A/3A state championship. This includes Andie Greenberg who became Whitman’s first female state champion in golf. She shot a 151 en route to the title.

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