Results of semifinal playoff games involving MCPS schools can be seen below. Scores will be updated as we receive them (an F will signify the score is final, no F means the score is from the game while it is/was in progress). If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game.
4A: Quince Orchard 42 Broadneck 9 F
It is a rare privilege to still be playing high school football on Thanksgiving. Damascus & Quince Orchard Alumni gathered this morning to support the players & coaches of their respective schools as they prepared for Friday nights semifinal state playoff games. This will be Damascus’ 19th semifinal appearance and Quince Orchard’s 8th.
The Atlanta Falcons are coming to town to try to slow down the surging Washington Commanders, who have won five of their last six games. Head Coach Arthur Smith is a graduate of Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda), Arnold Ebitekie is a graduate of Einstein High School, and defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo (practice squad) is a graduate of Bullis in Potomac.
Arthur Smith played a big role in the development of Derrick Henry as one of the best running backs in the NFL, turning the Titans offense around, and helping the team make the playoffs in consecutive years before earning the head coaching job in Atlanta. Smith, who graduated from Georgetown Prep in 2001, guided the Little Hoyas to an undefeated season and an IAC championship as a senior. He was inducted into the Georgetown Prep Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017, just two years before being promoted to offensive coordinator for the Titans. Smith started his NFL coaching career when he was named the defensive quality control coach for Washington back in 2007. You may have also heard of his father’s company. Arthur Smith’s father, Frederick W. Smith, is the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx.
(*) = Seed
4A
Sebastian Salazar joined ESPN in late 2016 as a host, reporter and play-by-play announcer. Salazar appears regularly on ESPNFC as well as the network’s Major League Soccer coverage. Currently, the Bethesda native is covering the World Cup at ESPN.
About Sebastian Salazar: In the summer of 2018, Salazar covered the Mexican national team at the FIFA World Cup, appearing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio from Russia. Since joining the network, Salazar also has covered the International Champions Cup, the USWNT and the Little League World Series. He also regularly contributes to the ESPN podcasts TwoOnTri, Max & Herc and ESPNFC.
Montgomery County native Mack Hollins caught 8 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown for the Las Vegas Raiders in his week 3 breakout game that solidified him as a starting wide receiver. Though he is already a Super Bowl champion, he currently has 36 catches for 468 yards and 2 touchdowns in what has become his best NFL season out of five in the league. He was voted a captain prior to the start of the season.
Hollins attended Robert Frost Middle School and Wootton High School. After not receiving any scholarship offers out of high school, Hollins attended Fork Union Military Academy where he received several offers to join teams, including a walk-on opportunity on the University of North Carolina football team if he could get accepted to the university on his own. Hollins got accepted and was able to walk-on, playing three seasons for the Tarheels before getting drafted by the Eagles in the 4th round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
“What I witnessed yesterday at Quince Orchard high school is a glimpse into how I envision athletic programs in the high school and collegiate space operating in the future.” said Adam Bradley, founder of Lead ‘Em Up. He completed a leadership session with the Quince Orchard High School girl’s soccer team prior to a big game and headed towards the boy’s basketball coach to finalize the team’s leadership plans for the upcoming season. On his way to that meeting, he walked by Poms in the dance studio, who were finishing a Lead ‘Em Up exercise before they jumped into practice.
Lead ‘Em Up, a leadership and character program created by Watkins Mill alumnus Adam Bradley, provides coaches with drills and exercises they can use to develop their players into the leaders needed to win…on and off the field. Bradley started the program in 2015 at Watkins Mill and has been used by over 1,000 teams 10,000 + athletes throughout the country. Lead ‘Em Up has been featured at some of the top camps and clinics nationally, including, Nike, Spalding, Glazier, PGC Basketball and the Committed Combine.
TCU’s Johnny Hodges was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in 4th ranked TCU’s victory against Texas. Hodges is a 6’2, 240 pound junior linebacker from Darnestown, who graduated from Quince Orchard High School in 2019.
Hodges had a team-best and season-high 11 tackles, more than double the next-closest Horned Frog, to lead a strong defensive effort in No. 4 TCU’s 17-10 win over No. 18 Texas. The Horned Frogs held Texas to three offensive points, 199 yards and 1-of-13 third-down conversions. The junior LB had 1.5 tackles for loss as part of his 11 stops and combined on a tackle for no gain on a 4th-and-1 Bijan Robinson rush on Texas’ opening series to set the tone for the game.
Results of quarterfinal playoff games involving MCPS schools can be seen below. Scores will be updated as we receive them (an F will signify the score is final, no F means the score is from the game while it is/was in progress). If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game.
Gaithersburg Varsity Head Football Coach Tyler Bierly has stepped down from his position with the football program. He was hired by the school in April 2019. His full statement, originally posted on social media, can be seen below:
Featured photo courtesy of @GHS_CoachBierly on Twitter
The Poolesville HS boys cross country team and the Damascus HS cheerleading team won their respective 2A State Championship titles over the weekend. This is the first-ever cheerleading championship title for MCPS.
Congratulations to teams who also made it to the championship finals – Winston Churchill HS boys’ cross country and girls’ field hockey, Walter Johnson HS girls’ cross country, Poolesville girls’ cross country, and Sherwood High School’s cheerleading team which came in third.