Friday night was not just the start to homecoming weekend for Monmouth-Roseville, it presented the undefeated Titans football team with a chance at a statement win, as Monmouth-Roseville welcomed the undefeated state ranked Princeton Tigers to a packed house at Coach Dobry Field in Monmouth. Princeton has had the upper hand on their conference rival in recent years, including two shutout wins last year one being in last year’s IHSA playoffs, however this night would be different as the Titans clicked on all cylinders in a 31-3 upset win.
Monmouth-Roseville’s offense would get the first opportunity of the game after receiving the opening kickoff, and a surgical 3 minute drive put the Titans on the board first as Andy Myers connected with Payton Thompson from 28 yards out. The Titans defense would come out and force a three and out in their first action on the field, which set up M-R for their next score of the quarter, as a team that does most of their damage on the ground pushed the ball down field through the air once again, ultimately scoring on another touchdown strike from Myers to Thompson, putting the Titans up 14-0 and the Tigers on their heels. Princeton’s ensuing offensive drive would be the final of the quarter, as the first quarter clock expires with the Tigers driving inside the Titans 30.
The second quarter would begin with the continuation of Princeton’s offensive drive, however that drive would end at the Monmouth-Roseville five yard line on 4th down as Lotte’s pass to Noah LaPorte is broken up, however MR’s ensuing drive would go three and out and their punt would be blocked to set Princeton back up on the Titans five yard line. Despite once again being backed up deep in their own territory, the Titans defense holds strong again and keeps Princeton scoreless on 4 straight goal to go stops. Backed up deep in their own territory again, the Titans would be forced to punt after a three and out and Princeton’s punt return set them up inside the Titans 30. Monmouth-Roseville defense would continue to stand tall, holding the Tigers out of the end zone, but Princeton was able to get 3 points on the board on a long 48 yard field goal from Ian Morris. With just under a minute to play in the half, the Titans offense found their way into Princeton’s half of the field, but their field goal attempt was short to send the game to halftime with the Titans holding a 14-3 lead.
Princeton would receive the second half kickoff after differing the opening coin toss. The Tigers drive would end the same way as most of their first half drives, in a punt that would set up Monmouth-Roseville up deep in their own territory. Looking to drain clock and preserve their lead, the Titans would return to their typical smashmouth offense, running all the way down the field and eventually putting the ball back in the endzone with just under a minute left in the third on a break away 41 run from Payton Thompson to push the Titans up 21-3. With one more quarter to go to wrap up a signature win, Monmouth-Roseville’s defense continued to suffocate a talented Princeton offense on their way to upsetting the number 3 ranked team. Ivan Godina added on a field goal, while Thompson’s 4th touchdown put the final touches on a dominant 31-3 statement win for the Titans.
In the stat book for Monmouth-Roseville, Payton Thompson led the way in both rushing and receiving, scoring twice both ways. Passing wise Andy Myers completed 5 of his 6 attempts for 129 yards and 2 scores. Now sitting at 5-0 and clinching playoff eligibility, the Titans will look to keep their undefeated season going when they host the Sherrard Tigers next Friday.
