ESPN RISE

DAMASCUS, Md. -- While Drew Murphy was near-perfect, Ben Sasu was elusive. It added up to a surprising 37-13 victory for No. 15 Quince Orchard over No. 6 Damascus in a battle of state top-25 programs and new Class 3A West region rivals.

Sasu rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries as Quince Orchard improved its record to 2-0. Murphy completed 11 of 12 passes for 140 yards, connecting on all seven first-half attempts and his first nine overall attempts.

Damascus falls to 1-1 overall.

KEY PLAY: Damascus had just pulled within 20-13 midway through the third quarter and Quince Orchard was facing second-and-15 at its 15-yard line. Sasu broke a 15-yard run to move the chains and jump-start an 80-yard, 12-play scoring drive. Appropriately, Sasu capped the series with a 10-yard run. He had runs of 15, 4, 19, 5, 9, 4, 13 and 10 yards on the drive. The drive consumed 5:45 on the clock and Damascus never recovered, giving up 10 more points in the next six minutes of play.

WHAT IT MEANS: Quince Orchard moves to 2-0 in the Class 3A West region, along with Linganore, which also won Friday. Other 2-0 teams in this loaded region include Clarksburg, Einstein and Tuscarora. Damascus' 1-1 record puts it alongside Frederick, Northwood and South Hagerstown.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Danny Tonelson and Nick Thomson picked off passes in the second half, both leading to scores. Tonelson's pick came on Damascus' first play after falling behind 27-13 and the senior returned it to the 2, setting up a three-yard score (following a penalty) by Sasu. On the very next Damascus possession, Thomson, a junior lineman, picked off a pass and took it back to the 14 where Quince Orchard eventually settled on a field goal.

CRUNCHING THE CLOCK: Quince Orchard ran off 8 minutes and 14 seconds of the fourth quarter while only gaining one first down and a total of 24 yards. The bizarre sequence started after Thomson's interception return to the Damascus 14 with 10:29 left in the game. Quince Orchard ran five plays (not including two penalties), moving the ball to the 3 before settling on a 20-yard field goal by Harry Long with 6:35 left. Quince Orchard got the ball back with 4:45 left. The Cougars went three-and-out and the punt to Damascus was muffed and recovered by Quince Orchard. The Cougars again ran four plays and turned the ball over on downs with 25 seconds remaining.

BY THE NUMBERS: Sasu rushed for 110 of his 220 yards in the third quarter.

THEY SAID IT: "I'm more elusive when it's not raining," Sasu said, in sizing up his performance.

SEEING YELLOW: Damascus and Quince Orchard were flagged a combined 18 times for 162 yards, with Quince Orchard getting hit 11 times for 90 yards. This was not the byproduct of early-season jitters and simple encroachment and false-start penalties. The penalties included the seldom-seen delay of game on the kicking team on a kickoff, a horse collar on Damascus and two unsportsmanlike penalties that pushed PATs back 15 yards each.

UP NEXT: Damascus next plays host to Blake and Quince Orchard travels to Walt Whitman. Both games are scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Game Summary

Quince Orchard 37, Damascus 13

Quince Orchard 6+7+14+10=37
Damascus 0+6+7+0=13

First Quarter
QO - Ben Sasu 3 run (kick failed), 3:25

Second Quarter
QO - Drew Murphy 1 run (Harry Long kick), 10:39
D - Connor Frazier 2 run (kick failed), 5:59

Third Quarter
QO - Sasu 5 run (Long kick), 8:29
D - Brian Lucas 2 run (Shelby Carrow kick), 6:25
QO - Sasu 10 run (Long kick), :40

Fourth Quarter
QO - Sasu 3 run (Long kick), 11:15
QO - Long 20 field goal

Sheldon Shealer is a senior editor with ESPNRISE.com and can be reached via e-mail at Sheldon.Shealer@espn.com