Sasu Carries Football, Defense Carries Cougars
The Cougars improved their undefeated record to 4-0 while Northwest falls to a surprising 1-3 start in a game that featured two of the area's finest running backs; Ben Sasu for Quince Orchard and the speedy Hassan Dixon of Northwest.
Photo By: John Frank / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Quince Orchard won last night with a final score of 37-15 and continues what has been an impressive start to the 2009 season for both Ben Sasu and the Cougars.
Photo By: John Frank / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Jarrhett Butler was just 6-12 for 68 yards passing, but contributed a great deal with his legs running in for two touchdowns and contributing in many ways not seen on the stat sheet.
Photo By: John Frank / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Written By: Adam Chasen
GAITHERSBURG, MD - In a Friday night classic, much closer than the final score would indicate, the Quince Orchard Cougars overcame an early deficit and road the back of their workhorse runner, Ben Sasu, to beat the traveling Northwest Jaguars 37-15 in a battle of neighboring rivals.
The Cougars improved their undefeated record to 4-0 while Northwest falls to a surprising 1-3 start in a game that featured two of the area's finest running backs, the above mentioned Sasu for Quince Orchard, and the speedy Hassan Dixon of Northwest.
Much was expected of the star running backs and running game for each team and senior Ben Sasu clearly did not disappoint as senior Ben Sasu would be the story of the game with a game high 33 carries for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The definition of a workhorse in the traditional sense is: a horse that is used for plowing, hauling, and other heavy labor, that performs dependably under heavy use. If ever the workhorse label is properly used for a football player, it would describe Sasu's game and what he did for his team tonight.
Sasu's stat line does not lie and even more impressive was the hardnosed running style he used, gaining the majority of his yards on inside running plays while taking substantial punishment from a hard hitting Northwest defense.
While not as impressive statistically as Sasu, Northwest senior running back Hassan Dixon 19 carries for 61 yards, made his mark on the game as well. Dixon was called on all night to carry the load for the Jaguars and he often made the first and second tacklers miss fighting for every yard, predominately to the outside.
He also setup both Northwest touchdowns with runs near the goaline, eventually allowing senior teammate quarterback Jarrhett Butler to run for each score. Not to be overlooked, Butler 6 for 12 for 68 yards passing and 2 rushing touchdowns, was under duress for much of the night by a dynamic Quince Orchard defense, but managed to make many fine scrambles to moves his offense often dodging multiple defenders before even getting back to the line of scrimmage.
Northwest got the action started quickly with a 60 yard reverse option pass from senior wide receiver Javann Stewart to fellow receiver junior Eric Frye on the first play from scrimmage to setup a first and goal.
After a short stand by the Cougar defense, quarterback Jarrhett Butler called his own number on 3rd down and plunged into the end zone to give Northwest the early 7-0 lead.
Quince Orchard would not waste their first possession as a heavy dose of Ben Sasu was called moving the ball methodically down the field. Quince Orchard would cross midfield only to stall and leave a 3rd and very long situation for the offense.
In what turned out to be one of the key early plays of the game, down 7-0 at home and just eaten up most of the first quarter on a long drive running the football, Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini called for a play action rollout for junior quarterback Drew Murphy.
Murphy rolled out right and found a tightly covered, senior receiver Karim Jones, just passed the first down marker keeping the drive alive, which would eventually lead to a 9 yard touchdown run to tie the game by Ben Sasu. The Murphy, (4 for 11 for 51 yards passing,) connection to Jones should not be overlooked, even though neither star had huge numbers in the game.
At that point in the game Northwest led and was carrying the momentum, a stop on defense could have really made things interesting, but the big play was made by Jones and Murphy not the Jaguars.
On the next possession Northwest would ride Butler and Dixon down to a first and goal, but big plays in the backfield by Cougars senior defensive end Tyler Magill and a pair of procedural penalties on Northwest would leave a 4th down attempt from the Quince Orchard 15 yard line.
Cougar junior defensive lineman John Stoeser, shot out of a cannon on the snap, along with a host of other Quince Orchard players swarmed quarterback Jarrhett Butler and brought him down for a sack and turnover.
Quince Orchard would once again drive the field, highlighted by a 36 yard pass connection between Murphy and senior receiver/running back Jason Bishop. The long strike would lead to a 32 yard field goal attempt by kicker Harry Long. Long's successful try made the score 10-7 with less than 6 minutes left in the half.
The two teams would trade possession but struggle to move the ball until Ben Sasu broke a 30 yard run with only 30 seconds left in the half moving the ball deep into Northwest territory. Quince Orchard seemed within striking distance, but Northwest senior lineman Chris Woods broke through the line to sack Murphy on the what would be the final play of the first half.
The second half got started with fireworks as Cougars return man senior Pernell Brantley caught the kickoff on his own 25 yard line. He began by following a host of blockers straight up the gut, but quickly saw daylight on the left sideline right in front of the Northwest bench, and cut sharply outside using his speed for the rest to lift his team to a 17-7 lead.
Nobody came close to catching Brantley, although Cougars Head Coach Dave Mencarini anticipating the big return was so excited he may have ended up the closest person to Brantley on the play, as he ran down his own sideline mirroring the return.
"I'm glad they kicked him the ball to start the second half. We got momentum to start the second half. They (Northwest) scoring first wasn't a big deal because their good. We had no panic," Coach Mencarini explained.
The remainder of the second half would be the Ben Sasu show supplemented by big plays by the Quince Orchard defense. Sasu would run for 138 of his 255 yards rushing in the second half as the Cougars offense would rely heavily upon him to keep the chains moving.
The next score to take place would be with just 1 minute remaining in the 3rd quarter as Quince Orchard senior defensive back Kevin Adams beautifully picked off a Butler pass and returned it deep into the Northwest half of the field. The Adams interception would lead to Sasu's 2nd touchdown on the night and a 23-7 lead after a missed PAT entering the 4th quarter.
Butler would score his second rushing touchdown after a Hassan Dixon defensive play to setup the drive. Deep in Quince Orchard territory Dixon scooped up a fumble in the backfield and took off for the end zone just being pushed out before he could go the distance.
Dixon and Butler would combine to move the ball before Butler dove in on the right side of the line and into the end zone. Adding a successful two point conversion would make the score 23-15, but that's as close as it would get.
On the next drive Ben Sasu came up with his longest run of the day for 45 yards to setup a first and goal for the Cougars.
Sasu displayed great patience on the run, hesitating just enough on the inside counter play to allow his blocking to reach the second level of the Jaguar defense, and then smoothly angling his run away from the defense to create the long gain.
Sasu would add one final touchdown run, along with a late score from fellow senior running back Jason Bishop, to push the final score to 37-15 and continue what has been an impressive start to the 2009 season for both Ben Sasu and the Quince Orchard Cougars.
Northwest Head Coach Mark Maradei recently reinstated after missing Northwest's last game due to suspension was positive after the tough loss, "It's wonderful to be back on the sideline, back with my guys. We had some guys open, we could have made some plays, but we'll watch film tonight and tomorrow and see what happened. You keep playing hard, now we're going to go prepare for Churchill."
The tough Churchill Bulldogs team will be a sturdy test for the Jaguars as they hope to get a win and start to turn what has been a very hard season, on and off the field, around next week.
Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini explained why his defense was so stout on the perimeter where Northwest seemed to most often attack on the night, "Butler is a great quarterback. We were using a slow rush off the end and trying to keep a confined space for him to work in."
"The kids are awesome! Best fans around, their out in the parking lot tailgating for hours, like a college game, minus the alcohol of course," chuckled Coach Mencarini after being asked about the tremendous crowd which was relegated to standing room only in parts of the Quince Orchard stadium due to the huge attendance.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Northwest - Jarrhett Butler QB, Senior
Butler was just 6-12 for 68 yards passing, but contributed a great deal with his legs running in for two touchdowns and contributing in many ways not seen on the stat sheet. Many plays that looked to be certain loss of yardage for Northwest were saved by the ultra quick moves from Butler, darting around, inside, and sometimes through defenders to making something out of nothing. Butler kept his team in the game for nearly three quarters using everything he had in his repertoire.
Quince Orchard - Ben Sasu RB, Senior
33 carries for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns isn't enough? Well considering Sasu's longest run was 45 yards and he only had three carries of 20 yards or more, the huge numbers are that much more impressive. Coach Mencarini is convinced saying after the game, "I think Ben Sasu is the best running back in the county." Coach Mencarini will get no argument from this game reporter that's for sure.
Honorable Mention: Quince Orchard Pass Rushers
The Quince Orchard defensive front was in the Northwest backfield all night, first slowing down the rushing attack of Hassan Dixon, then not allowing Jarrhett Butler anytime to look downfield in the second half. The rush was led by senior captain Tyler Magill, senior Arnold Olali, junior John Stoeser, and saw many contributions from others such as senior middle lineback Danny Tonelson. The unit was a force as a whole, hitting hard and swarming to the football preventing big plays from the dynamic Northwest attack.
