TL;DR
- Monroe High School football team advances to New York state championship game.
- The Red Jackets defeated Owego Free Academy 48-7 in the NYSPHSAA Class B state semifinal.
- Quarterback Pooty Cunningham passed for four touchdowns and rushed for one.
- This marks the first time a Rochester City School District team reaches a state championship.
Monroe High School is set to journey to JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse the following weekend, carrying the aspirations of an entire community.
A high school football squad from The Rochester City School District had never before reached a New York state championship contest. That changed this year.
The Red Jackets decisively dominated Saturday's NYSPHSAA Class B state semifinal, crushing Owego Free Academy with a score of 48-7. The contest took place at Cicero-North Syracuse.
This has been a momentous expedition to reach this stage. However, Monroe won't be content. They'll be aiming for the ultimate championship.
On Saturday, they seized control early and never looked back.
Monroe opted to go for it on fourth down from the 31-yard line during a tie game, and Pooty Cunningham connected with Brien Walker for a touchdown. Monroe maintained the lead throughout the contest.
On fourth down from the 31, Pooty Cunningham manages to extend the play and connects with Brien Walker for a gain of 6. The subsequent 2-point conversion attempt is deemed successful, making the score 6-0, with @FootballJMonroe, @SecVFootball, and pic.twitter.com/CJ91h4qD1A.
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 29, 2025
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QB Cunningham, whose father is head coach Terrell Cunningham Sr., passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another.
Oregon commit Messiah Hampton caught a touchdown and ran for another while also completing a pass.
Jermaine Montgomery caught a pair of TDs and had 13 tackles.
Monroe will have a chance to make all of Rochester proud.
“This is bigger than us,” Hampton told Paul Gotham of local sports website Pickin' Splinters. “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.”
MORE: How Sleepy Hollow advanced to state final to play Monroe