Report: Quince Orchard Transfer Racking Up Early Scholarship Offers

WaPo: Adam McLean, a sophomore transfer defensive lineman, has received scholarship offers from three prominent Division I football programs.

Adam McLean has gone from one Gaithersburg school to another, and he's taking a strong football pedigree with him. The former Avalon School defensive lineman will play for Quince Orchard in the fall, and he's already received a number of scholarship offers, The Washington Post reported. Florida State, Nebraska and Virginia Tech have all made offers to the 6-foot-2, 260-pound standout, according to the report. Scouting service Rivals.com reports McLean has also received interest from Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, NC State, Ohio and Rutgers. Cougars coach Dave Mencarini told The Washington Post he's expecting big things from his newest weapon on defense. “The thing that stands out to me is how hard he plays,” said Mencarini. “He plays really…

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Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill Football Players Commit On National Signing Day

Players from Quince Orchard and Watkins Mill high schools signed letters of intent Tuesday to continue their football careers in college.

Football players from two Gaithersburg area high schools made official their college choices Tuesday, signing national letters of intent to play football at their respective destinations. Maryland 4A division runner-up Quince Orchard had five players commit to football programs, including star linebacker Marcus Newby, who heads to Nebraska. Other Quince Orchard commitments include Kieran Gregory (Richmond), Andrew Ankrah (James Madison), Matt Choi (Monmouth) and Tyrell Williams (Georgetown), head coach Dave Mencarini said. Watkins Mill High School featured a lone commitment, Quinton Littlejohn (Stony Brook), according to head coach Kevin Watson. Watkins Mill Athletic Director Reginald Spears said the school hopes to have more players sign …

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QO, Gaithersburg Dominate Post's All-Montgomery 4A Football Team

One-third of all players and coaches recognized by The Washington Post play for Quince Orchard or Gaithersburg high schools.

The Washington Post released Friday its 2012 All-Montgomery County 4A Football Team, and it's dominated by Gaithersburg-area athletes. Players from state runner-up Quince Orchard and Gaithersburg high schools make up one-third of the honorees, including Coach of the Year Dave Mencarini (Quince Orchard) and Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Newby (Quince Orchard, senior linebacker). Other honorees include: The full All-Montgomery 4A Football Team can be viewed on The Washington Post.

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Henry A. Wise Defeats Quince Orchard To Win 4A State Title

Pumas defeat Cougars, 12-7, on go-ahead 23-yard touchdown pass with 2:14 remaining in fourth quarter.

Henry A. Wise Defeats Quince Orchard To Win 4A State Title

Pumas defeat Cougars, 12-7, on go-ahead 23-yard touchdown pass with 2:14 remaining in fourth quarter.

Onlookers expecting a close, defensive battle between Quince Orchard and Dr. Henry Wise High School in the 4A State Championship on Friday evening at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore got more than anticipated. In a game where points and first downs came at a premium, Wise (14-0) capped an undefeated season by edging Quince Orchard, 12-7, for its first football state championship. Quince Orchard (12-2) had also suffered a narrow setback in last year's 4A state title game. The Pumas and Cougars arrived with similar recent pasts, with both knowing what it was like to walk off the field at Ravens' Stadium having suffered one-point setbacks to Old Mill. Wise had dropped a 17-16 decision to Old Mill in the 2009 title game, while Quince Orchard was …

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QO-Wise: Patch Previews 4A State Title Game, Pt. II

Quince Orchard head football coach Dave Mencarini previews Friday’s Maryland 4A state title game against Henry A. Wise.

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part Q&A about the Quince Orchard-Henry A. Wise state championship game. Part I ran Wednesday on Gaithersburg Patch. Gaithersburg’s Quince Orchard High School will meet Upper Marlboro’s Henry A. Wise High School in Friday night’s Maryland 4A Division state football championship game. Quince Orchard hopes to avenge last season’s loss in the state title game, 36-35 to Old Mill, while Wise returns to the title game for the third time in four seasons. QO head coach Dave Mencarini took some time to share his thoughts with Gaithersburg Patch on Friday’s game. Gaithersburg Patch: Wise has handled its opponents with relative ease this season. Do you see any weakness in Wise that you're looking to exploit …

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QO-Wise: Patch Previews 4A State Title Game, Pt. I

Quince Orchard head football coach Dave Mencarini previews Friday’s Maryland 4A state title game against Henry A. Wise.

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part Q&A about the Quince Orchard-Henry A. Wise state championship game. Check back with Gaithersburg Patch Thursday for Part II. Gaithersburg’s Quince Orchard High School will meet Upper Marlboro’s Henry A. Wise High School in Friday night’s Maryland 4A Division state football championship game. Quince Orchard hopes to avenge last season’s loss in the state title game, 36-35 to Old Mill, while Wise returns to the title game for the third time in four seasons. QO head coach Dave Mencarini took some time to share his thoughts with Gaithersburg Patch on Friday’s game. Gaithersburg Patch: Playing in your second consecutive title game, many of your players have experience from last year's long playoff …

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Quince Orchard To Face Henry A. Wise For State Football Title

The Cougars advance to second straight title game with a 21-19 win over Westminster.

Quince Orchard High School's varsity football team had the Maryland 4A state championship ripped from its hands last year because of a successful two-point conversion in overtime by Old Mill. On Friday, the Cougars have a chance to take it back. The Gaithersburg school advanced to its second consecutive title game, narrowly escaping Westminster, 21-19, on a missed field goal as time expired, The Gazette reported. Quince Orchard had seen its 14-0 lead turn into a 19-14 deficit before taking the lead for good on an 83-yard touchdown pass to Elliott Davis from backup quarterback Matt Choi midway through the third quarter, according to the report. Westminster drove 77 yards in the game's final 1:19 to set up a potential game-winning 37-yard …

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Quince Orchard's Mencarini, Garner Finalists In Favorite Coach Contest

Quince Orchard head football coach Dave Mencarini and varsity swim and dive coach Todd Garner are finalists in The Gazette's favorite coach contest.

Two Gaithersburg coaches are finalists in The Gazette's "My Favorite Coach Contest." Quince Orchard High School's Dave Mencarini, head varsity football coach, and Todd Garner, varsity swimming and diving coach, are among the finalists for boy's varsity coaches, joining coaches from James Hubert Blake, Clarksburg, Paint Branch, Sherwood and Northwest High Schools. The contest also named finalists for boy's junior varsity, girl's varsity and junior varsity coaches, although no other Gaithersburg area coaches were named finalists. Visit The Gazette for profiles of the coaches and to vote for the your favorite coach.

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