Monroe scores 41 points in second quarter, routs Skyline 58-0

MONROE – Monroe’s football team hosted more than 200 youth football players Thursday night as part of Trojan Pride night.

The youngsters had plenty of reasons to be proud.

The home team put on a dominating performance, routing Ann Arbor Skyline 58-0.

Monroe, which beat Ypsilanti Lincoln 9-0 last week, posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the first two games of the 2003 season and scored its most points since Sept. 22 of 2017.

Seeing the youth players brought back a lot of memories for the current Monroe players.

Prep Football Leaders: Monroe County Region leaders after 3 weeks

High School Football Predictions: Week 3 produces a reality check

“I remember it as clear as day,” said senior running back Dinato Gandara. “I remember watching the game and looking up to those guys.”

One of the young players was the 7-year-old brother of junior linebacker Jax Jones.

“I remember coming out here (for Trojan Pride Night),” Jones said. “Those guys were my heroes.”

Gandara and Jones were among many Trojans who put on a great show for the youngsters.

Gandara gained 105 yards on just 3 carries, including touchdown runs of 9 and 71 yards.

The long scoring run came on the first play of the second quarter, pushing Monroe’s lead to 20-0.

“It’s crazy,” Gandara said “Right before that play I said, ‘I’m taking this one to the house.’ Then I started running and saw nothing but green grass in front of me. I thought, ‘I am taking this bad boy home.’”

Jones intercepted a pass later in the second quarter and raced untouched into the end zone for his first varsity touchdown.

“I just read the quarterback’s eyes,” he said. “That’s probably the fastest I’ve ever run.”

Tanner Collett blocked two punts for Monroe. The first set up a 4-yard TD run by Logan Loveand and the second was recovered in the end zone for a score by Brandon Bice.

Monroe wound up with a school-record 41 points in the second quarter. The old record was 34 in the first quarter against Skyline in 2014.

The 55 points in a half also was a school record, topping the previous mark of 49 against Skyline in 2010.

Other Trojan touchdowns came from Michael Burns (1-yard run), Deshun Richardson Jr. (15-yard pass from Collin Steele) and Ty’Shawn Moore (2-yard run).

Camden Schmidt kicked a 22-yard field goal and six PATs.

Monroe held Lincoln to 29 yards of total offense last week. The numbers on Skyline were not immediately available after the game, but the Eagles had to be on the negative side of the ledger.

“It amazes me,” Jones said. “They didn’t have any yards.”

“That’s two goose eggs in a row,” Gandara added.

Monroe improved to 3-1 under new coach Kyle Reed, including 3-0 at home.

“They just keep on believing and working hard,” Reed said of his players. “They believe in what they are being told.”

A dominating win always is good for team morale.

“It was a good night,” Reed said. “We got everyone in and they got to celebrate with each other.”

The schedule gets tougher next week as the Trojans travel to perennial Southeastern Conference power Saline, which is 3-0 and averaging more than 46 points per game with Notre Dame recruit CJ Carr at quarterback.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe posts back-to-back shutouts for first time since 2003