Building off breakthrough season, Monarch football ready to make deep playoff push
A.J. Hairston doesn’t get much time to rest during a Monarch football practice.
When the Knights’ third-year starting quarterback isn’t throwing a pass or calling plays at the line, he’s making sure everything is in perfect working order.
Almost like a coach on the field, He’ll drift over to his wide receivers to make sure routes are being run correctly. He’ll even go over to a defensive player with some instructions.
It’s all part of Hairston’s evolution into the leader of his team.
“I’ve just been trying to show everybody that if they put in the work we can all get better at our craft,” Hairson said.
Hairston isn’t the only one evolving at Monarch.
The Knights, who are coming off their best season in school history and a berth in the Class 4M regional semifinals, have gradually become one of South Florida’s most improved programs.
“We’ve learned not to fold under pressure,” sophomore receiver Jabari Brady said. “I feel like we have the best offense in Broward. We should be really good this year.”
Led by Hairston, a 6-3, 215-pound senior who is committed to UMass, and 14 returning starters, Monarch is poised for a potential deep playoff run in Region 3-4M.
“This was always a three-year process for us so state championship or bust for us,” Monarch coach Calvin Davis said. “Everything else would be unacceptable. We have a really good group coming back and this is the year we have to make that jump. We feel like we have the guys to do it.”
Hairston passed for over 3,100 yards and threw 32 touchdown passes last season to lead Monarch to a 9-3 record before losing to Palm Beach Central in the playoffs.
Hairston said he spent the offseason working on his mechanics and working with what could be one of the top receiving corps of any team in Broward County.
“AJ makes throws that no other quarterback can make,” Brady said. “He’s a leader and if you’re not doing the right things, he’ll tell you…even the defensive players, he’ll tell them if they’re doing something wrong.”
Brady and junior Samurai Reed lead the Knights’ talented receiver group.
Brady, who caught 10 touchdown passes last season and amassed over 867 yards receiving, has already garnered FBS-level offers. Reed caught 11 touchdowns and finished with over 600 yards receiving.
Monarch also added senior Clayton Cannon, a transfer from rival Stoneman Douglas who totaled over 600 yards receiving and recorded seven interceptions as a defensive back.
“Those guys practice like their college football players,” Davis said. “(Brady)’s brought a hard work ethic since he came in last year and that’s carried over to the other players because they want to match that and they understand that’s what it takes.”
But if Monarch is to really take the next step and be able to contend with South Florida’s heavyweights in Class 4M such as Columbus and Western, it will have to start up front on both sides of the line.
Seniors Holden Zeltner (6-7, 250 pounds) and Melvin Puckett (6-4, 305), junior Bryan Auguste (6-5, 240) lead the Knights’ offensive line.
The defensive line got a big boost with the addition of senior lineman Gabriel Birnbaum (6-3, 260), an All-State selection last season.
“We have little more depth this year which will help come playoff time,” Davis said. “But this year we just have more leadership and that’s what it comes down to, guys that can make plays and hold each other accountable.”
