Murphy Draws On History, Rallies Cougars

In just his sixth career start, Quince Orchard junior quarterback Drew Murphy faced a 14-point deficit with less than eight minutes to play against undefeated Clarksburg, 85 yards of field ahead of him, the Cougars' undefeated record on his shoulders and, depending upon how he looked at it, a whole lot of history of Quince Orchard completing similarly improbable comebacks.

"I just remembered back to my freshman year when we did it in the state championship game," Murphy said, "and if they could do it then, then I could do it now."

Showing remarkable poise and control, Murphy led the Cougars to two touchdowns in the final four minutes and, after a terrific defensive stand to start overtime, Ben Sasu's clinching score to give No. 7 Quince Orchard a stunning 34-28 victory at Clarksburg.

In 2006, Quince Orchard trailed Damascus by 21 points in the second half, before rallying to win, 35-28. That was the program's first victory over the Hornets. The following season, the Cougars erased a 16-point fourth-quarter margin to defeat Arundel, 36-30, in the Maryland 4A final.

As he gathered his exuberant team on the Coyotes field Friday night, Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini told his players, "This program is about resiliency and a never-say-die attitude."

Murphy clearly adhered to that.

After Clarksburg quarterback Andrew Veith's 38-yard touchdown run -- his third of the game -- put the Coyotes (5-1 overall, 4-1 Montgomery 3A) up 28-14 with 7 minutes 45 seconds left, Quince Orchard (6-0, 4-0) took over at its 15. The Cougars typically run a variation of a no-huddle offense, so Murphy was somewhat prepared.

He completed eight of his next nine passes to three receivers to get the Cougars to the Clarksburg 7. Three plays later, Sasu scored from three yards to make it 28-21.

Quince Orchard squibbed the next kick down the middle of the field. It bounced off three Coyotes before Cougars junior James McCallister fell on it at the Clarksburg 22.

Sasu carried on six of the next seven plays to give Quince Orchard fourth and goal at the 1. Running behind Matthew Bracho and John Stoeser on the right side, Murphy snuck it in with 17 seconds left to tie it.

Clarksburg had the ball first in overtime, but Tyler Magill and Roger Hawkins made stops for losses on the Coyotes' first two plays, before two incomplete passes gave Quince Orchard possession.

Sasu ran for six yards on first down, and three on second before plunging in for the clinching one-yard score on third down.

No. 7 Quince Orchard 35, Clarksburg 28 Carrying the Load: Operating primarily out of the shotgun, Clarksburg quarterback Andrew Veith rushed 29 times for 198 yards and also threw for a touchdown. Carrying the Load and Then Some: Quince Orchard senior Ben Sasu, who entered the game as Montgomery County's leading rusher with 697 yards, was held to 15 in the first half on 10 carries. In the second half and overtime, he rushed 26 times for 115 yards and four scores.