Monroe's incredible run continues with state quarterfinal win over Buffalo Health Sciences

There certainly was joy among Monroe football players Saturday night, including running back/linebacker Nazhier Wilson.

The Monroe Red Jackets, a team that rolled through a regular season schedule and to a Section V championship, scored early during a Class B state tournament regional and held on to defeat Buffalo Health Sciences/Buffalo Academy of Science Charter 14-6.

While happy to help Monroe advance into the state semifinals for the first time in team history, Wilson had a good idea of what was going to be said by the team's coaches in the postgame speech.

"I feel great, we did what we had to do," Wilson said as a teammates celebrated the state tournament win at Williamsville North High. "We need to work hard."

There was room for improvement with the Monroe offense. Maybe fewer penalties against Monroe would also be a good thing for the Red Jackets.

But the bottom line for Wilson, his teammates and Monroe coaches was that the Red Jackets were on to the next round of the Class B state tournament.

"I'll take a win by a half of a point, a win is a win," Monroe coach Terrell Cunningham told the team's players, before he thanked them for representing the Rochester area. "We will be working early on Thanksgiving."

"Don't lighten up, tighten up," Monroe assistant coach Jason Muhammad said to underline Cunningham's, and in a way, Wilson's message, too.

Here is how the Monroe Red Jackets won and avoided an exit out of the Class B state tournament.

Football: Section V scores for 2023 season

Player of the game

Monroe running back Tahjmir Mullins, who is in junior year at the school in the Rochester City School District. Mullins scored the touchdown that gave Monroe a double-digit lead that would come in handy for the Red Jackets, and later helped run out the clock to preserve the victory, as he finished with 179 yards on 23 carries.

Play of the game

Monroe, with its lead down to eight points, had the ball on its 43-yard line with 3:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was third down and three yards to go when Mullins carried the ball to the Falcons 29. The Red Jackets would run the clock down to 1:11.

By the numbers

5 – Turnovers committed by the Buffalo Health Sciences/Buffalo Academy of Science Charter Falcons, including two fumbles.

2 – Interceptions by Monroe linebacker Nazhier Wilson, who also finished with 15 tackles, including a sack, and a pass defended or knocked away.

56 – Yards covered on a catch and carry for a touchdown by Amari Colon with 11:28 remaining in the first quarter.

91 - Receiving yards for Amari Colon on three catches, including his touchdown.

7 – Yards run for a touchdown by Tahjmir Mullins that gave Monroe a 12-0 lead with 7:09 remaining in the first.

2:54 – Time remaining in the first half when a snap while the Falcons were in punt formation rolled out of the end zone. The result was a safety that extended a

4:30 - Time remaining in the fourth quarter when Falcons running back Kavon Pitts, a sophomore, scored a touchdown at the end of a seven-yard run to make the score 14-6.

1:11 - Time remaining after Monroe turned the ball over on downs in the Falcons' end of the field. The Falcons made it to midfield, but a sack set them back and were followed by two incomplete passes. Time ran out for the Section VI champions during a pass play that turned into a running play.

They said it

"Our running game was efficient, but it needs to be better," Monroe linebacker/running back Nazhier Wilson.

"I've been doing this since I was six years old. I just need to be confident and believe in my coaches and teammates. Even if we mess up, remain confident" Monroe running back Tahjmir Mullins, a junior.

"We put our blood, sweat and tears into this, so that we can dominate," Monroe linebacker/running back Nazhier Wilson said about the team's defense. The Red Jackets have eight shutout wins.

What's next

For the Monroe Red Jackets, the Class B state semifinal at Cicero-North Syracuse on Nov. 25, when the Section V champions face state powerhouse Maine-Endwell. The Spartans are in the Binghamton area.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe defeats Buffalo Health Sciences in state football quarterfinals