The
Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.)
football team won the battle of unbeatens on Friday night with a
surprising 41-6 rout of city rival Gaithersburg and appears to be a team
on a mission after finishing second the past two years in the Class 4A
state tournament.
For that effort, Dave Mencarini has been named the Capital One Bank Washington, D.C. Coach of the Week.
Dave Mencarini, Quince Orchard head coach
Courtesy photo
Mencarini told MaxPreps that the award "Is a great honor and credit to our kids and coaching staff."
He
called the team's eighth straight win over its city rival, "A huge win
for the team and program, because it solidifies our position for the
playoffs. It was a total team victory. In my tenth year as coach, it was
one of the most complete team victories. The kids played their hearts
out."
Quarterback
Mike Murtaugh (5-11, 175) completed seven of nine passes for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Junior
Kyle Green
(5-9, 175) ran 17 times for 144 yards and one touchdown. The defense
allowed just 149 yards and the offense never had to punt. Tackle
Adam McLean paced the defense with two sacks and three other tackles for losses.
Mencarini
has compiled an outstanding 105-16 record — including the Class 4A
state title in 2007 — in his tenth year as head coach. The first
assistant he hired was his father, Joe Mencarini, who coaches the
secondary and has been in the business for 44 years.
There was never a doubt Dave Mencarini wanted to be a football coach.
"I grew up as the ballboy and waterboy," he said. "It was what I always wanted to do."
He
was a standout wide receiver for Rockville (Md.) where he was a senior
captain and still ranks No. 2 in career receptions. After graduating in
1992, he attended Millersville University in Lancaster, Pa., where he
played wide receiver for two years. He graduated from College in 1996
and was an assistant coach at three schools before landing at Quince
Orchard, now a school of 1700 students in grades 9-12, in 2002. Two
years later he got the head job.
The Cougars have posted four shutouts this year and haven't given up more than seven points in a game.
"At this point of the year, the schedule we've played has
prepared us for anything we'll see in the postseason," he said.
That postseason could bring another matchup with Gaithersburg. The battle-tested Cougars are ready, however. Five of them played on both runner-up teams.
"Those were heart-breaking defeats," Mencarini said with the pain still apparent in his voice.
