Two undefeated teams. Over 350 combined points through five games. Sherwood nearly brought Quince Orchard to a standstill Friday night, doing something no opponent had managed since 2009… keep the Cougars out of the end zone.
Three field goals from junior kicker Seth Rubin carried QO to a 9-0 win, but this was no routine victory for the county powerhouse. Sherwood made the Cougars grind for every point and nearly pulled off the upset.
QO struggled to find its usual offensive rhythm, thanks to a stubborn Sherwood defense and a parade of penalties. Junior cornerback Brody Schwartz delivered one of the biggest plays of the night, stopping senior running back Jaheim Bond at the 1-yard line in the third quarter. Junior Jason Washington added a sack of quarterback Carter Dailey.
Rubin handled the rest, doing his job when the offense couldn’t find the end zone. The junior credited his offensive line and holder for helping him convert all three field goals in a game where every point mattered.
Sherwood spent much of the night leaning on the running game, but the conservative approach produced little offense. With the game still within reach, senior quarterback Matthew Larsen began airing it out late in the third quarter. The shift nearly paid off.
A 35-yard field goal attempt came up short, and the Warriors later appeared poised to threaten again when junior receiver Rocky Cox hauled in a fourth-down catch to put Sherwood inside the 10-yard line. A holding penalty erased the play and handed possession back to QO with less than a minute remaining, ending Sherwood’s final scoring chance.
The Warriors became the first team this season to keep QO out of the end zone, but couldn’t turn that defensive effort into an upset. QO moves to 6-0. Sherwood drops to 5-1 after pushing the county’s top team to the brink. The Cougars stay unbeaten. For the first time since 2009, they leave without a touchdown, and still leave with the win.
