Freshman Football: Monroe Leads Cranston East to State Championship

Cranston East took on Westerly in the Division II Freshman Football State Championship game on Saturday afternoon at . The Thunderbolts ground attack dominated all afternoon, leading to a 44-18 rout. Cranston East's Marquem Monroe was the star of the afternoon, rushing for over 200 yards and five touchdowns.

Monroe's success started on the first drive of the game. On a 4th and 1 from Westerly's 22 yard line, he scampered down the left sideline for his first touchdown. Monroe carried it in for the two point conversion, giving the Bolts an 8-0 lead.

Westerly began to move the ball down the field on the next possession and racked up first downs with a successul running attack. However, the drive was halted with a costly turnover. After running the ball on five straight plays, and picking up three first downs, they decided to attempt a pass. The Bolts Ashford Peal made a diving catch, intercepting the ball and giving East the ball at their own 37 yard line.

A few plays later, Monroe's playmaking ability was on display. He received a pitch to the left side, cut back towards the middle of the field and took it down the right sideline, for a 46 yard touchdown run. After a successful two point conversion, East led 16-0.

"My line did a great job blocking today and I can’t wait to play on Thanksgiving," Monroe said after the game. Peal and Monroe will be playing in the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Cranston West.

Westerly again marched the ball down the field, but failed to put any points on the board. They faced fourth down and two at the Bolts 33, but after a false start it was 4th and 7. After an incomplete pass, Cranston East took over at their own 38.

Ashford Peal's 16 yard run put the ball at Westerly's 43 yard line and Monroe took the sweep down the left sideline for another touchdown run. Michael Castillo caught Logan Mcconaghy's pass for the two point conversion, upping the lead to 24-0 with about two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Bolts defense provided the dagger on the first play of the second quarter. Facing a third down and 12 from their own 21 yard line, Westerly attempted a wide receiver screen. Castillo read it all the way, picked it off, and took it to the house, giving East a 30-0 lead.

"That interception took the air out of them and essentially clinched the game for us," Rafael Medina, East's head coach said.

On their next possession, Westerly was forced to punt, and the punt only went about 15 yards, giving the Bolts the ball at Westerly's 40 yard line. Monroe took the sweep to the left sideline and raced into the end zone, for his fourth touchdown in the first 16 minutes of the first half. With 8:35 left in the half, Cranston East led 38-0.

Westerly would get on the scoreboard late in the first half, as Hunter Obermann punched it in from three yards out, cutting the deficit to 38-6.

After Westerly had scored another touchdown in the second half, trimming the deficit to 38-12, Monroe made his most impressive run of the afternoon.

He received the ball on a delayed hand-off and could have easily been tackled for a 5 yard loss on the play. With a defender flying at him in the backfield, he spun to the outside, juked another defender and took it down the left sideline for a 39 yard touchdown. Cranston East went on to win it 44-18 and finished the season undefeated.