The Monmouth-Roseville, Knoxville and Rockridge varsity football teams took part in a joint practice on the scorching hot artificial turf at April Zorn Memorial Field on the Monmouth College campus late Monday morning. The three squads took turns running offense and goal line situations against each other for around two hours. All three schools are coming off playoff appearances in 2022, with Knoxville and Rockridge making it all the way to the Class 2A quarterfinals.
The Monmouth-Roseville Titans qualified for the 3A playoffs for the second straight year. It was the first back-to-back trips to the postseason for the Titan football program since the 2008-2009 seasons. Monmouth-Roseville is coming off a (5-5) playoff-qualifying season but will have to replace three important pieces on offense AND defense in 3-year starting quarterback Silas Braun, a running back in CJ Johnson who had nearly 1,000 yards on the ground and Jerome Jackson, who scored 15 total touchdowns on the season. Those 3 were also in the top 5 on the team in total tackles on defense, as well.
Monmouth-Roseville also took part in the 3-team joint practice last week against United and ROWVA/Williamsfield and will do another 3-teamer with ROWVA/Williamsfield and Farmington at Knox College on Wednesday. Jeremy Adolphson will be entering his 13th season this fall as the head coach of the Titans. Knoxville head coach Ryan Hebard will start his 12th season at Knoxville, hoping to end it with his 10th playoff appearance.
I caught up with Coach Adolphson and coach Hebard after the scrimmage on Monday and got their thoughts on how their teams played and how their summers have gone, so far.
Monmouth-Roseville will open up with perennial power and Three Rivers Conference member Princeton at home at Coach Dobry Field on August 25th. Princeton lost in overtime to eventual state champ IC Catholic in the 3A quarterfinals.
Knoxville will take part in the new LincolnLand Conference this fall. The Lincoln Trail and Prairieland Conference combined to make scheduling easier. They will play in the Large School Division with Macomb, Mercer County, Farmington, Brimfield/Elmwood, Illini West, West Hancock and the Lewistown/North Fulton co-op. They open the year with an important match up with Brimfield/Elmwood on the road
