By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — While the rest of Section V and New York State have not been able to slow the offense of the Monroe Redjackets for the past two seasons, East/World of Inquiry has shown signs of being able to accomplish the feat.
But the Eagles have not been able to take those defensive stands and turn them into victories.
That is until Saturday.
East/WOI (6-2) held Monroe (8-1) more than 40 points under its season average and clinched a spot in next weekend’s Class B championship game.
“Everybody doing their job,” East head coach James Vann said of his defense after the No. 4 Eagles’ 14-6 win over top-seeded Monroe. “No one trying to be the hero. Trusting each other, trusting in what we got and trusting the program.”
The Eagles had a pair of fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter including one at their own six-yard line.
“We didn’t feel like they can block us up front,” Vann said. “The defense did what they were supposed to do. We got the job done.”
Jamie Anderson combined with Joshua Calderon on a sack to force fourth down and 24 with a little more than eight minutes remaining in the game. After a delay of game penalty on the Redjackets, the Eagles took over possession with 6:54 left on the clock.
“I really feel like on every position on the field, we’re better,” said Anderson who also was part of a blocked punt and who had a sack in the final minute of the game. “They really can’t stay in front of us. Every boy on our defense can do the job to 100 percent of the time.”
Tymere Gilbert scored from five yards to give the Eagles a lead they didn’t surrender at 7-0 with 3:51 left in the first quarter.
Taye Brown, Jr. made it a 14-6 game with 3:29 left in the third quarter.
“We put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and I’m happy we get to display our talent,” Anderson said.
Monroe had beaten East (12-7) when the two teams met earlier in the season. It was the second straight win for Monroe in head-to-head matchups. Averaging more than 40 points per game, the reigning NYS Class B champs had won 20 straight games heading into Saturday’s tilt.
“You know, the tree bowl, they won that two years in a row,” Vann said. “But, you know, when we beat Canandaigua in the regular season, they said they’re focused on winning the championship. That’s what we do. Not worry about the other stuff. Focus on winning the championship.
“They had a great season, and sometimes great things got come to an end.”
Terrell “Pooty” Cunningham scored the lone Monroe touchdown to make it a 7-6 game with 5:20 left in the second quarter.
East/World of Inquiry will face Honeoye Falls-Lima in the Class B Championship
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