Senior running back Marquem Monroe registered three touchdowns to help Cranston East keep its playoff hopes alive against South Kingstown High School with a 35-14 win last Friday night at Cranston Stadium.

Monroe gashed the Rebels’ defense for 226 yards on the ground, with 160 of them coming on eight plays in the first half alone. Junior John Anderson filled in for starting quarterback Darrio Carter, who was sidelined with an injury, and collected 115 all-purpose yards with a rushing touchdown.

The ‘Bolts only took three plays to get on the board early after forcing a three-and-out on South Kingstown’s opening drive. Monroe found a seam on the left side of the line and dashed 47 yards for a touchdown to give East the early advantage.

“[Monroe] just came to play,” East head coach Tom Centore said. “When Marquem comes to play, he’s the best player in Rhode Island. We haven’t even had to throw the ball to him yet. He had a great, great game tonight. I’m proud of him.”

The Rebels drove late in the first quarter after senior Patrick Carlson recovered Andre Garcia’s fumble at their own 28-yard line. Four consecutive rushing plays set them up at their own 49-yard line, where junior Reymi Acevedo took the ball 51 yards to the end zone to seemingly tie the game. The score was called back, though, after a Rebels’ facemask penalty and an East personal foul forced the down to be replayed. South Kingstown gained only four more yards before punting the ball back to the ’Bolts.

Cranston East operated quickly once again, only needing 90 seconds to get to the end zone after sophomore Anthony Shepherd’s punt pinned it at its own 1-yard line. Two plays later, Monroe sprinted 86 yards down the left sideline past South Kingstown’s defense for his second score of the night. He had 96 of the 99 total yards during the possession.

“All week we told them it was 11-on-1,” South Kingstown head coach Eric Anderson said. “We did a pretty good job, I thought, containing everybody else, but [Monroe]’s dangerous. When he breaks through the first level, he puts a move on the safety, a move on the corner, you’re not going to catch him. Our game plan was to try and double him up on the outside, and try and bottle him up on the inside, but obviously we had trouble bottling him up.”

Anderson took control on the last Thunderbolts’ drive before halftime. He rushed for 29 yards and threw for 33 more on a fourth-and-9 in Rebels’ territory to lead his team into the red zone for the first time. Anderson evaded a few tackles on his way to a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give Cranston East a 21-point cushion with 55 seconds remaining in the half.

East’s defense held the Rebels to 78 total yards in the first half. South Kingstown sophomore quarterback Brendan Blessing went 2-for-3 with 11 passing yards and was sacked by senior captain Ryan Lackey.

The ’Bolts’ offense and defense were efficient, but special teams proved to be the difference on the opening drive of the second half. Senior Michael Castillo recovered the onside kick for East to start the half, setting it up at its own 44-yard line. South Kingstown appeared to have forced a stop, but Monroe took the direct snap on the fake punt up the middle 48 yards for his third touchdown.

South Kingstown’s next possession ate up nearly all the remaining time in the third quarter and resulted in a turnover-on-downs at the East 5-yard line. Acevedo contributed 56 rushing yards on the march down field, but was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-goal.

Acevedo’s next touch was even less successful. The fullback, who was filling in for starter and captain Rafael Pires, fumbled the ball and East senior Amir Pettiway carried it 48 yards back to the end zone for the Thunderbolts’ fifth score on the night.

“Defensively I thought we did some good things,” Centore said. “We’ve played better. Our first defense hasn’t given up a point in two weeks. I’m pleased with that. They’re playing hard and they’ve got to continue doing that in a week or so against Barrington.”

The Rebels collected touchdowns on each of their last two possessions. Shepherd found a hole on the left side and rushed 69 yards to put up South Kingstown’s first points of the game. They recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove 28 yards before Blessing connected with Carlson from 19 yards out for the only receiving score on either side.

Shepherd led South Kingstown (1-6) with 111 rushing yards and Acevedo followed closely behind with 89. Carlson had 33 total yards, with 14 coming on the ground and 19 receiving. Blessing threw for 78 yards on the night.

The ’Bolts (3-4) will play their final two games of the season at Cranston Stadium, but only one as the home team. They host Barrington High School, which is one game ahead of them in the Division I standings at 4-3, for Senior Night this Friday. With a victory against the Eagles, Cranston East would clinch the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, assuming undefeated La Salle defeats Cumberland on the same night.

“Another big game that we need to win,” Monroe said. “It’s Senior Night next week, so that’s going to be an emotional game for me. Hopefully we can get the ‘W’ and get into the playoffs.”