Story by Kadin Rogers.
The Monmouth-Roseville Titans football team was back in action on Friday night at Coach Dobry Field in Monmouth. The (1-1) Titans welcomed in TRAC-West division rival Erie-Prophetstown. Monmouth-Roseville would open the game strong and did not look back, improving to 2-1 on the season after a 42-14 win over the Panthers.
After Erie-Prophetstown won the coin toss and differed to the second half, Monmouth-Roseville’s offense would open up the game with the ball. The Titans would score quickly on their first drive of the game, with junior running back Payton Thompson capping off a great drive with a score from 11 yards out (PAT good 7-0, Titans). While the Titans marched down the field methodically for their first score of the game, the Panthers would respond with an immediate explosive play from junior running back Demetree Larson, knotting the game at 7-7 after a 71 yard touchdown run. Monmouth-Roseville would go right back to their strong running game however, gashing the E-P defense all the way down to the 1 yard line, before Thompson would punch in his second rushing touchdown to reclaim the lead for M-R (PAT good from Avendano 14-7, Titans). To end the first quarter, the Panthers would be forced to punt after a third down sack from the Titans defense, before a good return from Thompson set up Monmouth-Roseville in Panthers territory to end the first quarter of play.
Opening up the second quarter, Monmouth-Roseville would extend their lead to two scores after a 28 yard touchdown run from senior Tyler Finnicum (Avendano’s PAT good, 21-7). The Titans defense would once again force a quick punt from the Panthers offense, before a long return from Payton Thompson would set up M-R with great field position. Taking advantage of this field position, the Titans would drive down the field again, scoring their 4th rushing touchdown of the game on a goal line run from quarterback Andy Myers (Avendano’s PAT good, 28-7). After the Panthers final drive of the half stalled out, Monmouth-Roseville would try a 38 yard field goal as time expired. The field goal would go just wide right, sending the game into the halftime break with M-R leading 28-7.
The Panthers would receive the second half kickoff after opening the game on defense. Repeating his earlier long touchdown run, Demetree Larson would break free for another 71 yard scamper, breaking numerous tackles on the way to cutting into the Titans lead (EP’s PAT good, 28-14). Monmouth-Roseville would get right back into the endzone on the next drive, taking another long sustaining march down the field, scoring on a goal line touchdown run from Myers (Avendano PAT good, 35-14 MR lead). The Panthers would punt on their next drive, with the Titans ending the 3rd quarter driving inside E-P territory.
In the final quarter of play, the Titans would not come away with points on their drive inside E-P territory. On the ensuing Panthers drive, E-P would turn the ball over on downs in their own territory, after a possession ending sack from Sophomore Nick Huston. The Titans would add another score from Andrew Way to extend their lead to 42-14, before forcing a turnover on downs from E-P, and taking the final kneel downs of the game, securing the 42-14 win.
For Erie-Prophetstown, Jeremiah Kochevar completed 5 passes on 9 attempts for 35 yards, while Demetree Larson rushed for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 carries. For the Titans, quarterback Andy Myers completed one pass on just two attempts for 28 yards to Payton Thompson. The rushing game was the it factor for M-R, with Tyler Finnicum leading the way with 131 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts, while Thompson and Myers both added 2 touchdowns on the ground. The Titans next contest is on the road next Friday night, as M-R travels to Port Byron to take on the Riverdale Rams.
For the replay of the WMOI radio broadcast of the game, click HERE
