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The top-seeded Quince Orchard football team was sound in all phases of the game Friday night in a 33-12 drubbing of No. 4 Tuscarora. But perhaps most important to head coach Dave Mencarini was the way his team responded to a Titans score late in the first half of the 3A West Region semifinal.

"In the playoffs, you never know when you're going to have to drive with less than a minute left," he said. "Teams that want to contend for championships respond; they bounce back; they're resilient."

The undefeated Cougar juggernaut has been riding its defense recently, but early on, it was the offense that made the plays for Quince Orchard (11-0). Senior Ben Sasu is still enjoying his first season as the featured back.

The first score of the game came on the Cougars' second possession, a 61-yard drive all courtesy of Sasu, culminating in a 39-yard burst through the middle of the line for a 7-0 lead.

"I can't say enough about my offensive line," Sasu said. "I get most of the interviews, but behind the scenes, they're the guys who really deserve everything."

He finished with 126 rushing yards in the first quarter alone and had three touchdowns for the game.

The Cougars' win sets up a showdown Friday for the 3A West Region title with another unbeaten, second-seeded Linganore (11-0). The two teams are the top two in playoff points in the entire state.

"I'm excited," Sasu said. "This is supposed to be the big bad public school."

Added Mencarini: "We're where we want to be playing at home, but I'll celebrate the win tonight and worry about Linganore tomorrow."