Story by Kadin Rogers
(Monmouth, Ill) Coach Dobry Field in Monmouth was once again active on Friday night as the Titans held their home opener of the 2026 season, welcoming in a long time rival in the Rockridge Rockets. The Titans, coming off a down to the wire loss last Friday night in Prophetstown, were looking for a big win over a team that has had their number in recent history. Unfortunately for Monmouth-Roseville however, the Rockets continued their overall dominance of the rivalry in a 56-8 road statement win.
The Rockets offense had no trouble lifting off right out of the gate, as after a penalty on the opening kickoff gave the unit great field position, Rockridge maintained an over six minute drive, ultimately finding their way in the endzone on a 5 yard quarterback keeper from Western Illinois University commit Cullen Schwigen. On the ensuing possession, Monmouth-Roseville would start to put together a promising drive, but that would end in a fumble inside Rockets territory. Rockridge turned this into another score right before the end of the first quarter on a 23 yard connection from Schwigen to Wyatt Osborne. Down 13-0 to start the first, M-R would be forced to punt on their opening possession of the quarter and several game time minutes later the Titans defense had a chance to get off the field on 4th down, but Schwigen delivered another touchdown toss from 17 yards out to Chase Wheatley to increase the Rockets cushion to 20.
Zane Mason provided a sign of life for the Titans on special teams, returning the Rockets next kickoff all the way back to the house for an 80 yard return touchdown, and Kane Johnson’s 2 pt conversion cut the Rockridge lead to 12. From this point though, the Rockets would gain control of the game, putting together another long drive right before the halftime whistle, seeing Cullen Schwigen punch in his 4th total touchdown of the half to increase the Rockets lead to 27-8 at the half. The first four drives of the third quarter followed a very similar script, as a Monmouth-Roseville turnover was followed by a 27 yard score from Thomas Sowards, and a turnover on downs by the Titans lead to another Schwigen rushing score, ballooning the Rockets lead to 41-8 heading into the final quarter of play. Needing one more touchdown and extra point to put the game into running clock territory, Schwigen ended his night with a 13 yard scamper to the endzone, bringing way for both teams backups to enter the game in a very quick 4th quarter. Rockets backup quarterback Levi Hoover would tack on another touchdown for the Rockets before triple zeroes and bring the game to its resting score of 56-8.
Turning to the game’s final stats, Rockets running back Thomas Sowards finished with a full stat line of 211 yards and a score on 21 carries. While Cullen Schwigen tallied six total touchdowns in a big time showing for the four year starter. On the Titans side, Landon Montroy would finish as the team’s leading rusher with 40 yards on 12 carries. The loss for Monmouth-Roseville drops their record to 0-2 on the season, and they will look to grab their first win of the season next Friday night on the road in Aledo taking on the Mercer County Golden Eagles.
