Story by Kadin Rogers
(Aledo, Ill.) Two weeks into the 2026 football season, the Monmouth-Roseville Titans found themselves in unfamiliar territory compared to the recent history of the program, as M-R dropped back to back games for the first time since the midway point of the 2023 season. Looking for a reset of the season, the Titans got their chance in Aledo, for a Three Rivers Conference crossover matchup with the Golden Eagles. While the kickoff was pushed back a half hour and both sides of players were visibly battling through the scorching hot conditions outside, it would be Monmouth-Roseville pulling out the hard fought 26-14 victory.
The opening quarter was full of offensive fireworks on both sides, as Mercer County needed just three plays on their opening drive before sophomore fullback Eli Boswell ripped off a 36 yard touchdown to get the scoring started. The Titans offense didn’t need much time either, as their first drive took just a few minutes to end with Landon Montroy punching it in from 4 yards out, then adding a 2 point conversion to put M-R up 8-6 with 8 minutes to play in the quarter. The Golden Eagles kept the ball on the ground on their ensuing drive, and they didn’t meet much resistance as they glided down the field and scored on a 3 yarder from Logan Schreurs. Down by six, Monmouth-Roseville got the last say in a back and forth first quarter, as a pass interference on 3rd down continued the drive, ultimately ending with Montroy reaching pay dirt again, this time from 36 yards out to bring the score back to even at 14-14.
In a stark contrast from the first quarter, the second and third quarters would see both squads defenses start to show up. After a Mercer County punt, the Titans would drive into Eagles territory, as Kaden Russell continued the drive on a 4th and 9, breaking multiple tackles en route to a first down. Unfortunately for M-R, their next try at a fourth down conversion would not be as successful, turning the ball over on downs. In the final minutes of the first half, Mercer County would drive down the field with a chance to take back the lead, but their possession would stall out inside the 30, ending the first half with the same score of 14–14. To open up the second half, M-R would have fantastic field position, but their opening possession of the half would end on an interception, making for the first takeaway of the game. Both teams would trade punts on their next possessions, and the Golden Eagles would see themselves inside the Titans 20 yard line, but multiple penalties would push them back to a 4th and 18, and Mercer County’s 45 yard field goal attempt from quarterback/kicker Cannon Link would fall just short. The Titans next drive would take the game into the fourth quarter with the score still deadlocked at 14.
In that decisive fourth quarter, it would be the Titans finding the end zone again first, with Landon Montroy scoring his 3rd touchdown of the game, this time on a 21 yard scamper. Feeling the pressure to respond, Mercer County would drive all the way inside the Titans 15, but on a pivotal 4th down from the 11, Link’s pass to the endzone was ruled incomplete after official deliberation, giving the Titans the ball back, and it would be Montroy on the very next play to deliver the back breaker, ripping off an 89 yard touchdown to put M-R up 26-14. All the Titans would need to do from there is grab an interception from Lars Bergren and run down the final two minutes to officially get in the win column for the first time this season.
In the final statbook for Monmouth-Roseville, Landon Montroy stole the show, notching 210 yards and 4 touchdowns on 18 carries. Lars Bergren also tallied up 62 yards on 18 carries, while backup quarterback Keegan Smith, filling in for the banged up starter Kane Johnson, completed 4 of his 7 attempts for 25 yards. The Titans win pushes their record to 1-2, and they will move on to a big game next Friday night, welcoming in the Princeton Tigers to Coach Dobry Field in Monmouth.
