The regular season sprint hits the homestretch and the county picture is coming into focus. A few teams have separated themselves with physical ground games and lock-down defenses, while a handful of programs are jockeying for playoff positioning and seeding. Here’s our take on the Top 10 in Montgomery County heading into the final week of the regular season.
1) Quince Orchard (8-0) | Last Week: 1
Quince Orchard leaned on its bruising run game and a veteran, no-nonsense defense to pull away from Northwest in another classic Rivalry tilt. RB’s Damien Hurtado and Jaheim Bond imposed themselves in the trenches, two rushing TDs apiece, and the Cougars shut out the Jaguars in the second half to seal it. QO’s balance and playoff experience make them the team to beat as they travel across town to face Gaithersburg.
2) Paint Branch (7-1) | Last Week: 2
After a 35-0 loss to QO opened the season, Paint Branch has quietly built one of the county’s stingiest defenses. RB Alijah Bah is a wrecking ball (233 rushing yards) and the Panthers’ defense continues to do the heavy lifting. This week’s clash at #4 Churchill will tell us whether Paint Branch is ready for a deeper postseason run.
3) Sherwood (7-1) | Last Week: 3
Sherwood’s 28-7 win over Damascus wasn’t pretty, but it was efficient: control the line, run the clock, and take the ball away. RB AJ Lopez paced the ground attack with a two-TD night and QB Matthew Larsen found Adrian Hamilton for a pair of scores. The Warriors close the regular season at Rockville and will want to carry that physical identity into the playoffs.
4) Churchill (7-1) | Last Week: 4
Churchill dominated rival Wootton 34-6, continuing a remarkable run in this series. QB Hunter Humphries, facing his former team, managed the game well, while RB Noah Zhang (three rushing TDs) finished off drives. The Bulldogs look like a bona fide contender; a victory over Paint Branch would cement that belief and give them serious momentum.
5) Northwest (4-4) | Last Week: 5
Northwest started hot in the Cougar Dome and looked like an upset threat early, but untimely mistakes and missed opportunities squandered their second-half chances. QB Jayden Vongprachanh-Nelson showed versatility (156 total yards). First order of business: bounce back versus Blair. If the Jags hit their stride, they’ll be dangerous.
6) Richard Montgomery (6-2) | Last Week: 6
RM escaped Rockville 27-26 in a thriller, QB Dylan Webster threw for 304 yards and four scores, two to WR Gerard Woods Jr. The Rockets’ aerial attack can carry them, but playoff seeding will hinge on visiting Sherwood. Expect an intense environment where execution and turnovers decide the winner.
7) Bethesda-Chevy Chase (5-3) | Last Week: 7
BCC didn’t take a night off against winless Springbrook, rolling to a 44-13 win behind a committee ground game, seven different ball carriers getting touches and several breaking long runs. The Barons sit in good position for a top-three seed in the 4A North; holding serve against rival Whitman will be critical to that plan.
8) Wheaton (6-2) | Last Week: 10
Wheaton handled rival Kennedy 28-16 behind balanced scoring. QB James Destine and RB Michael Tatso each added rushing scores. The Knights wrap the regular season against Einstein (Down County Consortium rival) and will look to fine-tune a playoff formula that combines ball control with complementary defense.
9) Blake (5-3) | Last Week: 8
Blake fell 20-7 at Paint Branch despite a solid effort from QB Will Cameron (147 passing yards, 1 TD). The Bengals get Walter Johnson at home in Week 9, a winnable game that could be the difference in seeding and momentum heading into the postseason.
10) Damascus (6-2) | Last Week: 9
Damascus’ offense was largely bottled up in the 28-7 loss to Sherwood; QB Logan Romeo’s 59-yard TD pass in the first quarter was the lone spark. The Hornets travel to Magruder to close the regular season and will need to find some consistency on offense to keep their playoff seeding high.
That’s the Top 10 for Week 9. Expect hats, gloves and playoff intensity as the county heads into the final regular-season weekend.
