Do Your Job: Quince Orchard 2022 Football Team

For ten years, Lead ‘Em Up has worked to develop leaders and build cohesive teams. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re looking back at some of the championship teams that exemplify the power of culture and leadership.

Next up in our series is the Quince Orchard High School Football team, a program that built a legacy of accountability and leadership on its way to a historic season. In 2022, the team put on a dominant performance at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, defeating the Damascus Cougars 32-7 to secure their second straight state title and their third championship victory in a row.

We talked with Head Coach John Kelley and senior players Zach Anderson and Kendall Johnson to get their perspective on what made this team so special and what it truly takes to win at the highest level.

A Culture of High Standards

From day one, the Quince Orchard team was singularly focused on a championship. According to Coach Kelley, their success was fueled by an unwavering commitment to a high-performance culture that left no room for error. It was a foundation of self-leadership that empowered every player.

“That championship year, we had no distractions,” Coach Kelley said. “Everyone led themselves well, and our leadership helped lead each other well. We showed up at a high level every day, and the players held the standards high all year long.”

This culture of accountability was the engine of their success. Senior lineman Zach Anderson felt this difference firsthand, noting that it was a collective effort that made the team unstoppable. “I think there was no way we could have accomplished what we did if our culture and leadership wasn’t at the level it was,” he said. “Every player on our team played a significant role, and we continued to stress that all season.”

The “Do Your Job” Mentality

At the heart of Quince Orchard’s championship culture was a simple, yet powerful, mantra: “Do Your Job.” This phrase was a constant reminder for every player to prioritize their specific role and the team’s success over any personal accolades. It wasn’t just a phrase they used; it was a way of life that created a shared understanding of their purpose.

“We communicate to everyone they need to ‘Do Their Job’, and that culture of accountability and high-performance helped get everyone being their best,” Coach Kelley explained. “Being green!”

This focus on the “Green Team,” a Lead ‘Em Up concept for teammates who are consistently positive and supportive, gave the team a clear framework to maintain their high standards. This was a daily commitment that required intentional effort. Senior Kendall Johnson noted that this simple idea was key to their success. “The idea of transforming each teammate into a ‘Green’ teammate was a great way for us to maintain a certain standard all season long,” he shared. Beyond individual effort, the team was also responsible for one another. They actively worked to keep their teammates on track, creating a powerful system of mutual accountability. Zach Anderson explained that a particular Lead ‘Em Up exercise helped them embody this mindset.

“The Lifeguard exercise stuck with me, as we never wanted any of our teammates to slip into the ‘red’ (bad) habits. We stressed that one a lot.” For Quince Orchard, it wasn’t enough to simply be your best; you also had to ensure your teammates were doing the same.

A Championship Built on the Present

The team’s success was a direct result of their ability to stay in the moment and avoid worrying about anything else. They knew that their future hinged entirely on their focus on the present.

Kendall Johnson felt this was a defining part of their championship culture. “The culture that year was so special,” he said. “What stood out to me was how everyone played into the role they were given, how everyone played for each other, and we weren’t worried about the next level. We were focused on the present and winning a championship.”

This selfless mindset was a key to getting over the final hump and winning a championship. The players, including those with collegiate aspirations, chose to put the team first, which made their success possible.

Ultimately, Quince Orchard’s championship was built not just on talent, but on a collective commitment to excellence. Their culture of accountability, self-leadership, and being present allowed them to reach a level of performance that others simply couldn’t match. As Zach Anderson perfectly put it, “Everyone was accountable to themselves and others.” That shared accountability was the true key to their historic success.