Football, Monroe tops Sleepy Hollow in NY state championship
Monroe defeated Sleepy Hollow in the state football Class B championship game at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse Dec. 6, 2025.
- Sleepy Hollow went from 3-3 a year ago to 12-2.
- The first half came to a close in a scoreless tie.
SYRACUSE – There was nowhere to run.
A memorable Sleepy Hollow postseason run that re-ignited the program and re-energized the community ended abruptly in the NYSPHSAA Class B championship game. The Horsemen ran into the one team with enough speed and physicality to neutralize Brayden Richardson and fell 34-0 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The game was scoreless at the half.
“We just weren’t getting what we typically get in terms of scheme and movement,” Sleepy Hollow coach Anthony Giuliano said. “That was a very physical team, a very fast team and we really didn’t have an answer.”
It was easy to see why the Red Jackets have only given up 32 points this season. They had all the angles covered. And once Monroe cleaned up some of the mistakes that allowed the Horsemen to maintain some optimism in the first half, the deficit grew quickly.
“That was not my best game,” said Richardson, who set a Section 1 record for rushing yards in a game last week, wound up with 50 yards on 20 carries.
He was unable to establish any kind of momentum before multiple tacklers latched on.
Sleepy Hollow managed just one first down over three-plus quarters.
Jermaine Montgomery snapped the scoreless deadlock, capping Monroe’s initial drive in the second half with a 19-yard touchdown run. It practically inspired a sigh of relief on the Red Jackets sideline.
When the fourth quarter got underway, Sleepy Hollow was down 28-0.
“This group of guys was amazing, and we showed everyone we can do this,” Horsemen lineman Brandoll Almonte said. “We didn’t get the job done, but I’m still proud of the team.”
A season to remember
Sleepy Hollow posted its first winning season since 1978 and defeated Westlake for its first Section 1 title since 1978. Expectations were high in the locker room on Day 1 and the Horsemen learned how to win on the fly.
“This group is very special,” Giuliano said. “And the community support was something like I’ve never, ever seen before and that was so appreciated. I’m going to miss that and hope that we get it again and again, hope that becomes the norm. The bar has been set high by this group and we plan on being competitive in the future. I’m going to miss these guys, but this was a lot of fun.”
A healthy Richardson was a big part of the magic and he delivered a record-setting year.
“I’m going to remember us being underdogs,” the Rhode Island commit said. “We didn’t let anything deter us from accomplishing our goals. We just kept working toward a section championship and then a state championship. Obviously, we fell short, but we have a lot to be proud of. Now that the season’s over we can relax and realize how much we accomplished.”
By the numbers
Sleepy Hollow (12-2): Michael Variano recorded four sacks and Thaddeus Kromelis registered two sacks. … The lone first down by the Horsemen in the first 40 minutes was a 19-yard run by Jeremiah Bowen on the second play from scrimmage.
Monroe (12-0): Terrell Cunningham Jr. ran for a four-yard score and connected with Messiah Hampton for a 58-yard touchdown. Ray Garcia and Luis Falu also got into the end zone for the Red Jackets.
Mike Dougherty covers high school football for The Journal News/lohud.com.