In a season where MoCo football fans have come to expect a certain inevitability from Quince Orchard (8-0), this Friday night showdown at Sherwood (7-1) feels different.
The Warriors have emerged as more than a footnote in a county often dominated by the Cougars and their archrival Northwest. In fact, Sherwood’s resurgence this year might mark its best squad since the powerhouse 2015 season, a team as talented as the 2020 Warriors that was denied a full showcase. This Sherwood team, guided by “Old Coach turned First-year Coach” Pat Cilento, is itching to break QO’s six-year regular season win streak. Which ironically was started after Cilento’s Bullis squad defeated Quince Orchard back in 2018.
Sherwood’s sole blemish, a hard-fought Week 2 loss to Paint Branch, arguably stands as the team’s best resume highlight. Sherwood held Paint Branch’s star running back, Alijah Bah, under 100 yards and managed to put points on a defense that has been all but impenetrable. There’s a sense in Montgomery County that this Sherwood team has the right blend of skill and resilience to at least threaten, if not topple, the mighty QO Cougars.
Cilento’s familiarity with the Cougars is no small advantage. He joins Northwest’s Bucky Clipper as the only other coach in the county with a win against QO. Though in his last stint at Sherwood 15 yrs ago, the Warriors came up short against QO, this roster may be better equipped for the challenge. As they prepare for QO, the Warriors will likely be mining Northwest’s recent game film, seeking opportunities in the short pass game where the Jaguars found occasional success.
The key to Sherwood’s offense lies in sophomore quarterback Matthew Larsen, whose calm command at the position belies his youth. With a versatile array of weapons, Larsen has found ways to attack defenses through a mix of screens and reverses, testing opponents’ tackling on the edges. The Warriors’ ground attack, led by Gantt Hagins and Ryan Johnson, may lack a single star, but the committee approach keeps legs fresh and defenders guessing. If the offensive line can hold up against QO’s front, the Warriors have the tools to threaten downfield—particularly with wideouts Khalil Wilson and Brendan Heyer, who can turn a quick slant into a backbreaker.
But QO’s defense is a fortress. The Cougars have excelled against the run all season, though Sherwood’s backfield committee could put them to the test. If Sherwood can grind out three to five yards per carry, Larsen’s passing game will be in a prime position to wreak havoc. Still, much depends on how well the young quarterback handles QO’s relentless pass rush and whether he can stay in rhythm when pressure inevitably comes.
On offense, QO showed both firepower and flashes of inconsistency last week. Head coach John Kelley has increasingly tapped into Travon Jackson’s dual-threat abilities, pairing him with Iverson Howard in a one-two option punch that stretched Northwest’s defense thin. For Sherwood, containing Jackson’s short-pass game could be crucial, as Northwest recently showed some of the Cougar QB’s limitations with arm strength and accuracy on longer throws. Sherwood’s secondary, studded with several two-way stars, could give Jackson and his receivers a run for their money, but they’ll need to be sharp to contain QO’s big-play potential.
With Sherwood’s stars playing both ways and QO rotating fresh legs on defense, time of possession may tilt the scales in QO’s favor as the game wears on. While both teams feature their share of two-way players, Sherwood may feel the fatigue more if QO successfully controls the ball with their methodical, ground-heavy approach.
Special teams may well be a deciding factor in a close game, and here, the Cougars hold an edge. Sherwood’s kicking game has struggled with missed extra points—a flaw that could loom large against a team as relentless as QO. Those missed opportunities won’t go unpunished against a team like the Cougars, who can put points on the board with frightening efficiency.
Ultimately, QO enters this matchup with more weapons and a track record of consistent, lethal execution. While Sherwood has every reason to feel confident and should indeed see the end zone more often than most QO opponents, the Cougars’ experience and depth may be too much to overcome. It’s a game bound to give Sherwood all the momentum they need for the 3A playoffs, win or lose, but the smart money says QO will prevail. Prediction: Quince Orchard 42, Sherwood 27
