Pickin' Splinters

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Hampton scores three times; Monroe clinches return to state semifinal

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Redjackets return to state semifinal for second time in three years.

By PAUL GOTHAM

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Messiah Hampton has already etched his name in the Section V record books.

The University of Oregon commit took steps Saturday afternoon to make sure everyone across New York State knows his name.

Hampton scored first then delivered a pair of second-half touchdowns to lead Monroe High (No. 1 NYSSWA Class B) past Section VI champion Lackawanna, 40-14 in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class B Far West Regional from Robert Rich Sr. All High Stadium on the Lewis J. Bennett High School campus.

“He’s going to Oregon for a reason,” said Monroe head coach Terrell Cunningham Sr. “When you get to these points in the season, for me as a coach it’s about calling players not plays. He’s a guy that when we call, he always picks up. The expectation is for him to be put in position to make plays and then just watch the show.”

Hampton returned the opening kickoff deep into Lackawanna territory. Less than four minutes later, he took a pass from Terrell “Pooty” Cunningham and carried a pair of Lackawanna defenders into the end zone.

It was the first of 22-straight points scored by the Redjackets.

But with 10:19 remaining in the third quarter, Lackawanna had made it a one-score game.

Hampton had the response for Monroe.

The 6-foot-1 wide receiver eluded double coverage along the left sideline to haul in a 33-yard pass from the younger Cunningham.

Two drives later, when it looked like Monroe was stopped on third down, it was Hampton who put the finishing touches on a fake punt with a 70-yard sprint for six more points.

“The biggest thing in football is how do you respond to adversity,” he said. “One touchdown game, did we drop our heads? No. We responded to the adversity and that just comes from our years of preparation.”

With the win, the Redjackets return to the NYSPHSAA semifinals for the second time in three years.

“It means the world,” Hampton said of reaching the state final four. “When I came here jn ninth grade, Monroe was every school’s homecoming game, like O-and-12 every year. These past four years, freshman year we lost in the (sectional championship). Tenth grade year, we made it to the (state) semi game and lost. Last year we lost in the (sectional) semi game. This year, we’re back to the semi and looking to win the state.”

Ray Garcia scored from 10 yards out for a 14-0 Monroe advantage.

D’Markos Trammell intercepted a pass from Lackawanna’s Michael Moore to set up the Redjackets at the opposing 15-yard line.

Five plays later, Cunningham hit Garcia for another touchdown.

But Lackawanna rallied.

Moore found Mekhi Scott open down the middle of the field for a 43-yard touchdown strike.

A bad snap then led to a safety and two more points for the Steelers for a 22-8 game heading into halftime.

Lackawanna took the second-half kickoff and went 71 yards in four plays capped by a 45-yard pass from Moore to D’andre Jones to make it a 22-14 game.

“It wasn’t me, it was the offense,” the elder Cunningham said of his team’s response. “Those guys got put one together. They had a nice little drive, sustained it and punched one in the end zone. At that point, we knew it was probably too much for them to overcome. Essentially, it was all the players on the field.”

Earlier this season, Hampton became the career receiving leader Section V.

Monroe will play Section IV champion, Owego in the state semifinals. That game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff next Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

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