A.J. Hairston. {Top Shot Media}
By: Matt Rothman
Despite having to wait three days to play due to Hurricane Ian, the Monarch High School football team defeated Olympic Heights High School 62-0 Monday night at home.
Junior A.J. Hairston went 17-21 for 375 yards and threw seven touchdown passes in the win. He had a quarterback rating of 161.2 and has thrown 15 touchdown passes this season in only six games.
“We liked what defense gave us,” said Hairston. “Coach Davis made the right play calling, and great players make great plays, and we came home with the win.”
Monarch scored 42 points in the first quarter before adding three more touchdowns with a running clock in the second half. Jessie Fields caught three passes for 145 yards and scored three touchdowns. Jabari Brady caught four passes and scored twice, while Joshua Pena and Walter Parrish each had touchdowns.
Defensively, Brayden Slade picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown along with Kevin Powell. Griffin Johnston also intercepted a pass. Gavin Peacock recorded a team-high ten tackles, with five going for a loss. Roderick Parker had seven tackles.
Walter Parrish. {Monarc Football}
“Great game by the kids,” said Head Coach Calvin Davis. “They had fun, really proud of them. After all the canceled games last week, they came out and played awesome.”
The Knights also improved their record to 5-1 with victories now over Boca Raton, Hallandale, Piper, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and Olympic Heights. This is the fourth time Monarch has won at least five of their first six games in the last six years. The Knights were 5-0 before the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Next, Monarch will have a short week with only three days to prepare for McArthur High School on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. The Mustangs are 2-2 this year with victories over Charles W. Flanagan and Cooper City High School. This will be the first time these two teams play since Monarch won 36-33 in 2012.
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