By DAVID DOBRASZ
ROCHESTER N.Y — Late touchdowns continue to be story for the Monroe High (8-2), this time fueling the Red Jackets to a one-score win on Saturday in the Section V Class B semifinals from James Monroe High School.
No. 2 Monroe defeated reigning Class B finalists No. 3 Honeoye Falls- Lima, 12-7. Freshman Messiah Hampton’s touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was just the play the Red Jackets needed.
On 4th-and-6 from HF-L’s 6-yard line, Hampton made a diving grab in the back of the end zone on a pass from Khaya Moses to put his team up 12-6 at 0:56 of the fourth quarter. Moses went to Hampton on back-to-back plays, with the first pass falling just short of the receiver’s outstretched arms. On the drive, Hampton ran a quick comeback route to gain 12 yards after he gained four yards after the catch, bringing the ball to the 11-yard line.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO HERE.
Nazhier Wilson finished off an eleven-play drive in the third quarter when he side-stepped his way into the end zone on a 3rd-and-5 from the 6-yard line. The junior broke two Cougars’ tackles before breaking the plane. The play was set up by a defensive pass interference call on a 3rd-and-12 that brought the ball half the distance to the goal. Wilson rushed four times on the drive, including a 26-yard gain on 3rd-and-2. The back powered through a tackle that came short of the first-down marker before being tripped up at the 11-yard line. The scoring drive came on the second possession of the second half and was setup by a Cougar punt, after a six-play, 20-yard unsuccessful drive.
Roberto Robinson gained 25 yards on four carries during the drive, recording runs of seven and 10 yards on the third and fourth plays of the drive. Robert Arnold bolted by the right guard and tackled running back, Patrick Donahoe for a five-yard loss on a 1st-and 10, faltering Honeoye’s opening drive of the half.
Monroe (No. 14 NYSSWA Class B) has now won seven straight games and have averaged 37.4 points per game during that stretch, with three shutout wins. A 26-7 victory over HF-L on October 8th gave the Red Jackets their third consecutive win and ended the Cougars’ five-game unbeaten streak at the time.
Moses completed 11-of-16 passes for 130 yards. Hampton finished with five catches for 50 yards. Jayden Ferrell had one catch for 40 yards. On the defensive side, Ferrell made eight tackles and 2.5 sacks. Wilson rushed for 73 on 15 carries and had 10 tackles including one for a loss along with an interception. Robinson had eight carries for 40 yards. Dashon Constantine made eight tackles. Noah Mather had seven tackles and one pass break up.
Last week, Monroe knocked off No. 7 Geneva, 16-0 to earn a spot in the semifinals.
The Red Jackets will next play 2021 Class B champion, No. 1 Batavia (No. 7 NYSSWA) which are coming off a 56-14 win over No. 4 Livonia. This will be the Blue Devils fourth time in the last five seasons to appear in the sectional finals. During the regular season meeting, Batavia earned a 28-6 win over the Red Jackets in the third game of the season.
The Section V Class B championship will take place at SUNY Brockport next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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