Monroe continues dominance with eighth shutout to win Section V football title
The formula Monroe used to win football games all season gave the Red Jackets the look of a champion Saturday night.
Senior quarterback Khaya Moses threw four passes for touchdowns, while the Monroe defense shut out another opponent, this time Honeoye Falls-Lima, during a 26-0 win in the Section V Class B final at SUNY Brockport.
Monroe (10-0) is a Section V football champion for the first time since 1979 and became the second team in the Rochester City School District to win a title this season. East High/World of Inquiry defeated Brighton in the Class A sectional final Friday. The last time two teams in the city school district won titles in the same year was 1996, when East High and Marshall advanced to state tournament semifinals.
This season's Monroe team defeated Honeoye Falls-Lima (8-3) 54-6 in Week 1 of its schedule, so by not allowing them to score this time around, the Red Jackets have shut out all of the opponents they played in 2023 so far.
Player of the game
Monroe senior receiver Amari Colon caught two touchdown passes, as he had made four receptions overall for 159 yards.
Plays of the game
HF-L trailed 14-0 during its first possession of the second half, when the Cougars put together a drive to the Monroe 5-yard line. On third down-and-goal, a run by the Cougars went for no gain. Monroe's defense caused a fumble during a sack on fourth-and-goal.
By the numbers
8 - Number of opponents Monroe has shutout this season.
289 - Yards passing for Monroe senior quarterback Khaya Moses, who completed 11 of 14 attempts, was intercepted twice and threw touchdown passes to Colon (two), Styhles McKenzie-Baker and Landan McKnight.
2 - Turnovers produced by the Monroe defense, both were interceptions.
208 - Yards of total offense for the HF-L Cougars.
They said it
"This year was completely different, as you can see. We got the win today, 26 to zip. Last year was way different. When we gave up that touchdown, everybody was hurt. We couldn't let the city go through that again" - Monroe junior defensive back/receiver Styhles McKenzie-Baker on Batavia defeating Monroe on the last Blue Devils' last play from scrimmage in the 2022 Section V Class B final.
"It's surreal. We've worked hard for this. Everyday of the year we worked for this and we see that it paid off. It proves that hard work pays off. If you keep working you are going to get the results"- Monroe senior receiver Amari Colon.
"Nobody brought (a championship) home (last season). Now, we've got two teams who brought it home, Monroe and East, so there is respect throughout the city now" - Monroe junior defensive back/receiver Styhles McKenzie-Baker.
What's next
Monroe advanced to the state tournament regional or quarterfinal round, where the Red Jackets face Health Sciences/Buffalo Academy of Science Charter/Global Concepts, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Williamsville South High.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe beats Honeoye Falls-Lima for Section V football title
