The Charlotte Monarchs found the response that mattered most at Charleston Admirals Stadium, marching back in front after Charleston had tied the game and then finishing the job with a takeaway. Tyler Bannerman caught both Charlotte touchdown passes in a 20-13 victory that lifted the Monarchs to 4-5-0 and dropped the Admirals to 3-5-1 in Season 6, Week 9.
It was a composed road performance from Charlotte after a game that spent long stretches tight and unsettled. The Monarchs absorbed an early Charleston field goal, answered with one of their own, and remained patient after a fumble stalled a promising possession. That patience ultimately showed in the way Charlotte controlled the key scoring drives and protected its lead when the Admirals had one final opportunity to force the issue.
Matteo Juarez provided the steadiness behind that effort, completing 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. His most productive connection came with Bannerman, who turned 14 receptions into 141 yards and both of the Monarchs’ touchdowns. Charlotte also had a reliable ground complement in Jabari Osei, whose 23 carries produced 99 yards and helped keep the offense moving through its longer possessions.
The Monarchs first moved ahead for good with a touchdown drive that put them in front 13-6. Charleston answered immediately with its own 12-play touchdown possession, powered by Cameron Whitaker’s rushing score, to bring the game level at 13-13.
That was the game’s pivot. Charlotte took possession after the tie and delivered its longest answer of the day, a 14-play touchdown drive capped by Juarez’s second scoring pass to Bannerman. The sequence gave the Monarchs a 20-13 edge and put the pressure squarely on Charleston’s closing possession.
The Admirals moved the ball on their final drive, but the possession ended with an interception. It was the decisive defensive finish Charlotte needed after Charleston had spent much of the afternoon finding productive work on the ground and through its high-volume receiving targets.
Whitaker was a central force for Charleston, carrying 23 times for 116 yards and the rushing touchdown. Trenton Vale caught 10 passes for 96 yards, while Terrell Addison added 6 receptions for 65 yards. But Charleston quarterback Darius Coleman, despite completing 16 of 27 passes for 161 yards, could not find a touchdown through the air and was intercepted on the final possession.
Charlotte’s passing game was not limited to Bannerman. Connor Reeves recorded 7 catches for 94 yards, giving Juarez another dependable option as the Monarchs built their scoring drives. The balance between Juarez’s efficient passing and Osei’s consistent rushing allowed Charlotte to stay composed even when the game was tied and field position became more valuable.
The result carries meaningful movement in the current standings. Charlotte now sits seventh in the league and third in the conference, with a point differential of 21 and a one-game winning streak. Charleston is tenth in the league and sixth in the conference, carrying a minus-14 point differential after the loss.
Just as importantly for the developing matchup, the victory pulled the Monarchs even in the series. Charlotte and Charleston are now tied 3-3, with the Monarchs leaving Charleston having earned the cleaner finish in a game decided by one late touchdown drive and one final defensive stand.
Game Summary
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season | Season 6 |
| Round | Week 9 |
| Venue | Charleston Admirals Stadium |
| Final | Charlotte Monarchs 20 – 13 Charleston Admirals |
| Simulation | standard |
| Eligible players | CAR 9; CHA 9 |
| Attendance | 5,000 / 5,000 |
Complete Drive Log
| # | Offense | Result | Points | Score after drive | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAR | PUNT | 0 | CAR 0–0 CHA | Drive 1: CAR PUNT for 33y on 10 plays. QB 4/6 24y, RB 4-9y. |
| 2 | CHA | FG | 3 | CAR 0–3 CHA | Drive 2: CHA FG for 70y on 9 plays. QB 3/5 42y, RB 4-28y. |
| 3 | CAR | FG | 3 | CAR 3–3 CHA | Drive 3: CAR FG for 41y on 7 plays. QB 3/4 30y, RB 3-11y. |
| 4 | CHA | PUNT | 0 | CAR 3–3 CHA | Drive 4: CHA PUNT for 18y on 5 plays. QB 2/3 12y, RB 2-6y. |
| 5 | CAR | TURNOVER | 0 | CAR 3–3 CHA | Drive 5: CAR TURNOVER for 33y on 4 plays. QB 1/2 19y, RB 2-14y. fumble. |
| 6 | CHA | PUNT | 0 | CAR 3–3 CHA | Drive 6: CHA PUNT for 25y on 7 plays. QB 2/4 14y, RB 3-11y. |
| 7 | CAR | FG | 3 | CAR 6–3 CHA | Drive 7: CAR FG for 56y on 7 plays. QB 3/4 41y, RB 3-15y. |
| 8 | CHA | FG | 3 | CAR 6–6 CHA | Drive 8: CHA FG for 52y on 10 plays. QB 3/5 29y, RB 5-23y. |
| 9 | CAR | TD | 7 | CAR 13–6 CHA | Drive 9: CAR TD for 82y on 12 plays. QB 5/7 60y, RB 5-22y. pass TD. |
| 10 | CHA | TD | 7 | CAR 13–13 CHA | Drive 10: CHA TD for 63y on 12 plays. QB 4/6 36y, RB 6-27y. rush TD. |
| 11 | CAR | TD | 7 | CAR 20–13 CHA | Drive 11: CAR TD for 89y on 14 plays. QB 5/8 61y, RB 6-28y. pass TD. |
| 12 | CHA | TURNOVER | 0 | CAR 20–13 CHA | Drive 12: CHA TURNOVER for 49y on 7 plays. QB 2/4 28y, RB 3-21y. INT. |
Complete Player Box Score
| Team | Player | Pos | Cmp/Att | Pass Yds | Pass TD | INT | Rush | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Rec/Tgt | Rec Yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAR | Connor Reeves | WR | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7/13 | 94 | 0 |
| CAR | Jabari Osei | RB | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 99 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| CAR | Matteo Juarez | QB | 21/31 | 235 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| CAR | Tyler Bannerman | WR | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14/18 | 141 | 2 |
| CHA | Cameron Whitaker | RB | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 116 | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| CHA | Darius Coleman | QB | 16/27 | 161 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| CHA | Terrell Addison | WR | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6/11 | 65 | 0 |
| CHA | Trenton Vale | WR | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10/16 | 96 | 0 |
Updated DFL Standings
These standings are recalculated from final regular-season games immediately after this result.
| Lg | Conf | Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | Diff | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Conference #1 | Denver Summit | 7 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 86 | +63 | L1 |
| 2 | National Conference #2 | Delta Blues | 6 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 106 | +13 | W3 |
| 3 | Commonwealth Conference #1 | Washington Senators | 6 | 2 | 1 | 171 | 100 | +71 | L1 |
| 4 | National Conference #3 | Louisville Colonels | 4 | 3 | 1 | 101 | 101 | +0 | L1 |
| 5 | Commonwealth Conference #2 | Tampa Bay Storm | 4 | 4 | 1 | 132 | 118 | +14 | T1 |
| 6 | National Conference #4 | Atlanta Fire | 4 | 4 | 0 | 102 | 119 | -17 | W1 |
| 7 | Commonwealth Conference #3 | Charlotte Monarchs | 4 | 5 | 0 | 170 | 149 | +21 | W1 |
| 8 | Commonwealth Conference #4 | Miami Beach Breakers | 3 | 4 | 2 | 117 | 109 | +8 | T1 |
| 9 | Commonwealth Conference #5 | Richmond Capitols | 4 | 5 | 0 | 156 | 155 | +1 | W1 |
| 10 | Commonwealth Conference #6 | Charleston Admirals | 3 | 5 | 1 | 124 | 138 | -14 | L1 |
| 11 | National Conference #5 | San Antonio Coyotes | 3 | 5 | 0 | 118 | 142 | -24 | W1 |
| 12 | National Conference #6 | Dallas Iron Horse | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 136 | -136 | L8 |
Latest Published Power Rankings
Power rankings reflect the latest previously published Gridiron Standard edition and may predate this final.
Latest published snapshot: Aug 17, 2026, 10:30 AM ET.
| Rank | Team | Record | Diff | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver Summit | 7-1-0 | +63 | L1 |
| 2 | Washington Senators | 6-1-1 | +74 | W3 |
| 3 | Delta Blues | 6-2-0 | +13 | W3 |
| 4 | Louisville Colonels | 4-3-1 | +0 | L1 |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Storm | 4-4-0 | +14 | L1 |
| 6 | Atlanta Fire | 4-4-0 | -17 | W1 |
| 7 | Miami Beach Breakers | 3-4-1 | +8 | W2 |
| 8 | Charleston Admirals | 3-4-1 | -7 | W1 |
| 9 | Charlotte Monarchs | 3-5-0 | +14 | L2 |
| 10 | Richmond Capitols | 3-5-0 | -2 | L3 |
| 11 | San Antonio Coyotes | 3-5-0 | -24 | W1 |
| 12 | Dallas Iron Horse | 0-8-0 | -136 | L8 |
Relevant History and Records
The series is tied 3–3.
No league single-game or career record was tied or broken in this game.
Public Statements
No qualifying press releases or social posts were published by related players, coaches, or owners during the seven-day coverage window.