By PAUL GOTHAM
CICERO, N.Y. – Terrell Cunningham Sr. promised Syracuse University head coach Fran Brown that he’d see him at the end of the season.
On Saturday afternoon, the Monroe High football team made good on its coach’s words.
The Redjackets (11-0) scored the first four times they touched the ball and were never really challenged in a 48-7 victory over Section IV champion Owego Free Academy (9-4).
With the win at the Michael J. Bragman Athletic Complex on the campus of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, Cunningham’s squad clinched a spot in next weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class B final where the Redjackets will have a chance to become the first team from the Rochester City School District (RCSD) to win a state championship in football.
“It means everything,” Cunningham said of next weekend’s game. “We’ve almost accomplished our goal that we set out many years ago. Our goal was to be a championship caliber team and to bring the first state championship to the city of Rochester, RCSD. We have an opportunity to do that next weekend.”
Monroe, which came into the game averaging better than 45 points per game, needed six plays and less than three minutes of game time to put points on the board.
Terrrell “Pooty” Cunningham Jr. connected with teammate Brien Walker on a 31-yard passing play on fourth down to give the Redjackets a lead they did not surrender.
The next Redjacket “drive” lasted 14 seconds as the younger Cunningham handed off to Messiah Hampton, and the University of Oregon commit went 77 yards for his first of two touchdowns on the day.
“This is bigger than us,” Hampton said of the chance to win a state title. “This is for the future and past generations. It’s not just for Monroe. It’s for the whole city of Rochester, the whole 585.”
Cunningham scored on a seven-yard keeper then Ray Garcia found the end zone on a two-point conversion for 20-0 advantage.
Cunningham and Jermaine “Baby J” Montgomery combined on a 48-yard passing play to give Monroe a 28-7 lead heading into halftime.
The Redjackets didn’t lose their momentum during the break getting a pair of three-and-out stops on defense and scoring at the other end to start the third quarter.
“We knew we had to come out hungrier than ever,” Montgomery said. “Any play could be our last. We don’t know when it’s going to be our last, so let’s get it.”
Two years ago, an unbeaten season ended in a 29-24 loss to Maine-Endwell in the same state semifinal game. On Saturday, the Redjackets left nothing to chance.
Ray Garcia returned a punt 55 yards to give Monroe a 42-7 lead with 7:23 left in the third quarter.
“A lot of these guys were there,” the elder Cunningham said. “A lot of these guys were witnesses. Messiah, ‘Baby J’, a couple of these guys were heavy participants. It showed we have what it takes to get there, but we also learned what it was like to lose, to lose in that game, to feel like we were real close. We made it a point that if we ever got back to that point, that we wouldn’t have that same feeling that we had last time.”
The younger Cunningham completed 11-of-16 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns to go with his one rushing score.
Hampton had four catches for 129 yards and one score. Along with his rushing touchdown, the senior receiver completed a pass for 48 yards.
Montgomery had two catches for 60 yards and two scores along with 13 tackles to lead the defense.
Walker finished with two receptions for 55 yards.
D’Markos Trammell Jr. had nine tackles and an interception. Christen Franklin also accounted for nine tackles. Alijah Jones forced a fumble and had eight tackles.
4th down from the 31, Pooty Cunningham buys himself some time and finds Brien Walker for 6. 2-point conversion is mood good, @FootballJMonroe 6-0 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/CJ91h4qD1A
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
NYS Class B: After a stop on fourth down, Messiah Hampton takes the handoff on first down and goes 77 yards. 2-point is conversion is no good, @FootballJMonroe 12 Owego Free 0 @NYSPHSAA pic.twitter.com/Db3dl6RBoa
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
NYS Class B: Fourth and goal from the 7, Pooty Cunningham takes it himself. 2-point conversion is good. @FootballJMonroe 20-0 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/SunNXmpAZo
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
NYS Class B: After Owego FA attempts an onside kick, Pooty Cunningham finds Jermaine “Baby J” Montgomery for a 48-yard pass-and-catch. 2-point conversion is good. @FootballJMonroe 28-7 That score stands at halftime. @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/IxIxFNPOHk
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
NYS Class B: After getting a stop on a 3-and-out to start the third quarter, Pooty Cunningham hits Messiah Hampton for 56 yards. 2-point conversion is good. @FootballJMonroe 36-7 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/BQJ94W8Ckc
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
NYS Class B: Another 3-and-out, this time Ray Garcia returns the punt 55 yards. @FootballJMonroe 42-7. @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/RljIDGUOCb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
Monroe will play Section I champion, Sleepy Hollow next Saturday in the championship game. A 3 pm kickoff is scheduled at the JMA Wireless Dome – the home of Syracuse Orange football.
“As I told Coach Fran Brown this summer at the 7 on 7 championship (held at Syracuse) we’ll be back. I expect these guys to play even better than they did today next week in the Dome.”
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