The Quest for Three: Quince Orchard Reloads for Another Championship Run

By Mason Holstein

Back to Back Champs

Quince Orchard capped off their season last year with a 26-21 win over Wise High School in the 4A state championship. This win gave QO their second consecutive state championship, and they have been putting the pieces together for another run.

Replacing Will Drakeford

The main question heading into this offseason was at the quarterback position. Senior Will Drakeford led the team last year with nearly 2,000 passing yards, 700 rushing yards, and 37 total touchdowns. Drakeford found his new home at the University of Kentucky, where he will continue to play football. Quince Orchard has found the answer in Junior Carter Dailey. After playing at St. Francis in Baltimore last season, Dailey has impressed during their joint practices and scrimmages, earning the trust of his teammates and coaches. Dailey’s strengths at QB include his accuracy and strong arm, which allow the offense to open up with a mix of deep and short passes. During an interview with @_Take2visuals_ on Instagram, Dailey stated

“The statement I’m trying to make is to break every record and go 3-peat for the first time in program history.”

Reloading the Offense

Dailey will be surrounded by a mix of experienced returners and new contributors as QO looks to reload offensively. The receiver room has the most returning production, with seniors Rafferty Bankert, Jake Dawson, and junior Isaiah Simms. Alongside them, running backs Cordell Young, Jaiden Hebron, and Damien Hurtado round out one of the most talented and deep skill position rooms in the county. Hebron was a standout for QO last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury halfway through the season.

QO also faces significant turnover on the offensive line, with nearly the entire unit needing replacement. Michael Kafando and Kayden Smith are among the players expected to help rebuild the unit. At tight end, Sawyer Hart and Jonah Miller look to replace All-State first team tight end Diego Rodriguez from last year, who now goes to SUNY at Albany.

Secondary Anchors the Defense

While QO has a very talented offense, the defense is where they really shine. The most notable names are found in the secondary, where a combo of four-star Drakeford, three-star commit Rico Jackson, and Junior standout Amaree Wilson roam the field. Wilson had more than five interceptions last season, but Drakeford has gotten the most hype this offseason as he has offers from nearly every power-four college, including Indiana, Miami, Ohio State, and more. Three-star Pitt commit Jaheim Bond also returns after contributing at edge, linebacker and running back last season. While QO lost JMU edge Kacey Gilliam, the coaches are confident in returning junior Urijah Lyles to fill in the role that Gilliam played last year. Some other noteworthy names will be transfer linebackers Cordell Young and Rinaldo Royster.

Undefeated Projection, Three-Peat Bid

Despite a schedule featuring several potential challenges, Moderately MOCO projects Quince Orchard to finish the regular season undefeated at 10-0. If the Cougars can successfully replace their departed quarterback and rebuild the offensive line, they could once again find themselves in position to make history with a third consecutive state championship.