Quince Orchard

GAITHERSBURG -- For Western, trying to return the Quince Orchard serves proved tough, coping with its speed difficult and trying to do something at the net nearly impossible.In short, it was a long night.Quince Orchard relied on its speed, power and teamwork to dominate from start to finish and roll to a 15-5, 15-6, 15-0 victory over Western in the Class 4A state semifinal last night at Watkins Mill High School.Quince Orchard (18-1), which advances to the state final on Saturday at Catonsville Community College, needed only 54 minutes to defeat Western (18-1)

Old Mill running back Rob Chesson was named Offensive Player of the Year and River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen shared Coach of the Year honors as the 20th annual Consensus All-State football team was announced Thursday. Chesson, who set a state record for most touchdowns in a season with 49 and led the Patriots to the state Class 4A championship, took top honors on offense while Good Counsel defensive back Stefon Diggs was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Van Deusen, who rallied his team from a 2-2 start to the state Class 3A title, shared Coach of the Year honors with Good Counsel's Bob Milloy, who led his team to an unbeaten season and the No. 1 ranking in the state.

COLLEGE PARK -- Running back Ray Gray had 158 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns to pace Quince Orchard of Montgomery County to a 34-13 win over High Point of Prince George's County last night in the state Class 4A title game before an estimated crowd of 7,500 at Byrd Stadium.Gray had touchdown runs of 4 and 5 yards, and also caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Larry Hurd in the third quarter.Quince Orchard (12-1) out-ained High Point, 338-115, and held the Eagles to 48 yards rushing.

The 20th annual All-State Football Teams for big and small schools were announced Wednesday. The teams were selected through votes by high school football reporters and compiled by Sheldon Shealer of ESPNHS. The big school team includes Class 4A and Class 3A public schools as well as teams from the MIAA A Conference and the WCAC. All others are in the small-school selections. A consensus All-State Team as well as players and coaches of the year will be announed Thursday. Following are the All-State football teams with college commitments:   BIG SCHOOL First Team Offense QB: Thomas Stuart, Calvert Hall, Sr., 5-11, 165 RB: Wes Brown, Good Counsel, Sr., 6-1, 200 RB: Rob Chesson, Old Mill, Sr., 5-9, 175 RB: Mark Green, Quince Orchard, Sr., 5-9, 180 RB: Devon Paye, Hammond, Sr., 6-0, 180 OL: Paul Federinko, Atholton, Sr., 6-5, 310 OL: Brian Gaia, Gilman, Sr., 6-4, 295 [Penn State]

GAITHERSBURG -- For Western, trying to return the Quince Orchard serves proved tough, coping with its speed difficult and trying to do something at the net nearly impossible.In short, it was a long night.Quince Orchard relied on its speed, power and teamwork to dominate from start to finish and roll to a 15-5, 15-6, 15-0 victory over Western in the Class 4A state semifinal last night at Watkins Mill High School.Quince Orchard (18-1), which advances to the state final on Saturday at Catonsville Community College, needed only 54 minutes to defeat Western (18-1)

The Westminster Owls have been going through some tough times this season and things didn't get any better last night against visiting Quince Orchard.The Owls (0-5) squandered an early double-digit lead and then saw their comeback bid fall short in losing 45-41 to the Cougars.It all unraveled midway through the third quarter.With their once 14-point lead down to six at 27-21 with 3:25 left in the quarter, the Owls had possession of the ball when guard Eric Moreau was called for a dead-ball foul -- an automatic technical foul on coach Dave Byers and a loss of possession.

Fifth seed Westminster Owls couldn't make it two in a row against fourth seed Quince Orchard, falling to the host Cougars, 60-40, in an opening-round Class 4A, Region I contest last night in Montgomery County.After scoring the game's opening basket, the Owls had to play catch-up all night long and couldn't overcome the strong inside playof Cougars forwards Tony Mensah (game-high 20 points) and Jamail Pritchett (15).The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Owls -- including a 57-55 overtime win at home against the Cougars Saturday to clinch the fifth spot -- and finished their season at 14-9.

With both C. Milton Wright and Quince Orchard unwilling to give ground on defense, the deciding factor in last night's Class 4A girls soccer championship was which team had the poise to put home penalty kicks. Quince Orchard proved one better. With goals from Kayla Clarke, Emily D'Italia and the decider from Maureen McMeekin, the Cougars from Montgomery County came away with the state title. It's the first time the Maryland public schools have gone to penalty kicks to decide a state crown.

GAITHERSBURG -- There was a brief stretch in the middle of the third quarter last night when the Westminster Owls had some problems with the Quince Orchard press.In a fourth quarter filled with whistles, it was the Cougars' work on the boards that gave the Owls fits.And what was most frustrating for the Owls in their 65-51 loss against Quince Orchard in a Class 4A West region opener was the fine first-half effort that was wasted.After a two-point loss in the regular season, the Owls (10-13)

Westminster didn't exactly charge down the stretch toward the state 4A regional field hockey playoffs, losing two of its last five games after a 7-0 start.But the seventh-ranked Owls were in playoff form yesterday on a blustery, cold day and turned back visiting Quince Orchard, 2-1, in the state 4A North Regional semifinals.Second-seeded Westminster (11-2) will meet the winner of today's semifinal between top-seeded Perry Hall (9-0) and fourth-seeded Gaithersburg.The less-than-impressive finish by the Owls cost them the top seed in the regionals, meaning they will have to travel to Perry Hall tomorrow for the regional championship game if the Gators get past Gaithersburg.

The final year of high school provides an opportunity for seniors to enjoy a last go-round of good times with friends and a chance to reflect on accomplishments. For Meghan Macera, reflection will have to wait. She's too busy right now. But when she does take time to look back at her four years at Westminster High, Macera will have plenty of highlights to remember. If she wasn't busy designing the cover of the school's yearbook or performing myriad community service activities, the Westminster senior was scoring overtime goals to win consecutive state championships for the Owls' field hockey team.

Maryland freshman linebacker Alex Twine was arrested Friday night in Prince George's County. Twine, who turned 18 on Friday, has been charged with disorderly conduct and failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order. Maryland's student newspaper, The Diamondback, first reported Twine's arrest . The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker from Gaithersburg is scheduled to make a court appearance Jan. 30 at 1:15 p.m. in Hyattsville. Twine appeared in 11 games as a freshman, starting four.

Ten Baltimore-area teams finished the season ranked in the Top 25 of the ESPNHS Maryland High School Football State Media Poll. Gilman remained No. 2 and Calvert Hall stayed at No. 4, but Old Mill jumped to No. 3 after its 36-35 overtime win over Quince Orchard in the Class 4A state championship. River Hill wasn't ranked in the last poll - before the playoffs - but jumped all the way to No. 6 after beating Thomas Johnson, 41-13 for the state Class 3A title. Class 1A champion Dunbar is No. 16 and Class 2A winner Middletown, No. 8 Atholton, Catonsville, Poly, McDonogh and Archbishop Spalding were also ranked while Arundel, Aberdeen and Westminster received votes.

For the first time in 38 years of the state football tournament, three Baltimore-area teams won championships over the weekend. No. 3 Old Mill took the Class 4A title in certainly one of the best games state tournament history, 36-35 in overtime, over Quince Orchard. No. 5 River Hill won the 3A crown, 41-13, over Thomas Johnson. Dunbar took its second straight Class 1A title, 32-11, over Perryville. Here's a numerical look at the state championships with thanks to Sheldon Shealer, who compiles state records for the MPSSAA.  2 State championships in the last three years for Old Mill 3 State championships in the last five years for River Hill 4 Most consecutive state titles - Urbana from 1998-2001 6 Of Dunbar's eight state titles won in the last eight years 9 Turnovers by Thomas Johnson against River Hill's relentless defense 10 Straight games won by River Hill to finish the season 12 Most state championships - Seneca Valley, which won its last title in 2002 13 Combined state titles won by Old Mill, River Hill and Dunbar 14 Straight wins for Old Mill, the area's longest active winning streak 34 Unanswered points scored by River Hill against Thomas Johnson 40 Playoff wins in Dunbar history, closing in on Seneca Valley's record 41 49 Touchdowns scored this...

Now that all the champions have been crowned, here's a look at how the final Top 15 football teams finished their seasons: Ranking/Team/Record/Final result/ 1. Gilman/10-1/MIAA A Conference champion 2. Calvert Hall/10-2/MIAA A Conference finalist 3. Old Mill/14-0/Def. Quince Orchard 36-35 OT, state Class 4A champion 4. Catonsville/12-1/State Class 4A semifinalist 5. River Hill/12-2/Def. Thomas Johnson 41-13, state Class 3A champion 6. Dunbar/12-2/Def.

Wagner played a huge role on both sides of the ball in helping No. 3 Old Mill (14-0) to a 36-35 overtime victory over Quince Orchard in Friday's Class 4A state championship. The 5-foot-7, 158-pound slot receiver and cornerback scored two touchdowns - one on a 64-yard pass reception and another on a fumble recovery. He had six catches for 138 yards and also had nine tackles and one interception. Wagner finished the season with nine interceptions and 56 tackles as well as 35 receptions for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Meade wasn't supposed to be playing this late. But the 16th-ranked Mustangs will tip off at 7 tonight at Cole Field House against Gaithersburg's 23-2 Quince Orchard in the Class 4A state boys basketball semifinals. No. 2 Southern-Baltimore (20-5) will play Washington's third-ranked Oxon Hill (22-3) in the other 4A semifinal at 9 p.m. The survivors will play again at the University of Maryland for the state trophy at 8 p.m. Saturday. "I've been telling everybody, we're kind of like a red-haired step-child," said coach Butch Young, in his 23rd season as Meade's only coach and 33rd in Anne Arundel County.

Old Mill's Rob Chesson didn't score a touchdown for the first time all season in the state Class 4A championship game Friday night, but the senior running back scored the only two points that mattered in the end. His two-point conversion run in overtime finished off a stunning recovery from 21 points down to give the No. 3 Patriots a 36-35 victory over Quince Orchard that polished off a 14-0 season at M&T Bank Stadium and gave them their second title...

State Championships (At M&T Bank Stadium) Class 4A No. 3 Old Mill (13-0) vs. Quince Orchard (13-0) When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. TV: Ch. 54 Coaches: Chad McCormick, Old Mill; Dave Mencarini, Quince Orchard Outlook: There's no secret to Old Mill's success. Aiming for their second state championship in three years, the Patriots rushed into the title game on the state record-breaking performance of RB Rob Chesson, who scored seven touchdowns in the 49-20 semifinal win over No. 4 and previously-unbeaten Catonsville to bring his season total to 49. That crushed the old record of 43 set by Wicomico's David Brown in 2007.