HS Football: Monroe & Brighton To Play For State Titles
Written by Tariq on December 5, 2025
For the first time in the history of the Rochester City School District, one of its teams will have the opportunity to bring home a football state championship this weekend. The Monroe Red Jackets are currently in the midst of their best season in program history. They are 11-0, have outscored opponents by over 460 points, and are one game away from a program-first state title. This season marked the second time in the past three years that Monroe has reached the state final four.
“It means everything,” said Red Jackets head coach Terrell Cunningham said of the state title game after Monroe’s state semifinal win. “We’ve almost accomplished our goal that we set out many years ago. Our goal was to be a championship caliber team and to bring the first state championship to the city of Rochester, RCSD.” “This is bigger than us,” senior wide receiver Messiah Hampton said of the chance to win a state title. “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.” Sleepy Hollow (I) stands in the way of the Red Jackets. The Horsemen enter Saturday’s title tilt after winning their first sectional championship in nearly 50 years, and have won 10 straight games. A win this weekend would result in a program-first state championship.
Brighton made it to the state semifinals in 2024, and got back to that spot in 2025. While the Bruins fell in that game last season, Brighton cruised to a 33-point victory this time around to clinch a spot in the NYS Class A state championship for the first time in program history. It was the second straight blowout win for a Bruins squad that is peaking at the right time. Brighton lost two of its last three games in the regular season, but started rolling once the playoffs started after getting back some of its key starters who were dealing with injury. The Bruins have now won six straight games, three of which against teams who won their section.
Senior linebacker Matthew Heininger is leading the Bruins in tackles and scored the opening touchdown to set the tone in Brighton’s emphatic semifinal win last weekend. “This has been my dream ever since I was a little kid,” Heininger said after last week’s win. “Ever since elementary school, we’ve just been working for this day in and day out. We’re going to give it all we got this week. Just try to bring it home to the city.” Rye (I) is in a very familiar spot. The Garnets have won four state titles in the past 20 years, their most recent one coming in 2023. A win would give Rye its first Class A state title.
WDKX Holiday Stream