Story by Kadin Rogers
(MONMOUTH, ILL). The Monmouth-Roseville Titans football team was back in action on Friday night, adding another chapter to one of their many storied rivalries, welcoming in the Princeton Tigers to Coach Dobry Field in Monmouth. M-R tallied their first win last Friday night with a 26-14 win over Mercer County, and they were looking to start building a winning streak against Princeton. The past two matchups between these squads were dominated thoroughly by the Titans, however this year would serve as a measure of revenge for Princeton, as they would pull away in the fourth quarter with a big 29-14 road win.
M-R would get the game started in dream fashion for Titans fans, as the Titans recovered their onside kick on the game’s opening kickoff, then on the very first play from scrimmage senior back Lars Bergren ripped off a 51 yard touchdown run, while his brother Henrik punched in the two point conversion to give the Titans the early 8-0 lead. Princeton’s first offensive drive would end inside M-R territory, and after a Titan punt, the Tigers would take their second offensive drive into the second quarter. Opening up the second quarter, Princeton faced a pivotal 4th and 6 inside Titan territory, and they would convert that fourth down in a big way, as quarterback Jack Oester would scramble 26 yards to the end zone to get the Tigers on the board at 8-6 (failed 2 point try). Lars Bergren, not comfortable with just one long touchdown in the game, immediately had an answer for the Tigers first touchdown, running the ensuing kickoff back to the house for an 86 yard score to push the Titans lead back to 8. Jack Oester continued the back and fourth on the next drive, as he found receiver Deacon Gutshall through the air from 34 yards out to tie the game up at 14-14 after a successful two point conversion. After a Titans punt, the Tigers had a chance to take the lead right before the halftime break, however their 32 yard field goal was pushed to the left and the game would remain knotted up at half.
Monmouth-Roseville’s first drive of the second half would end prematurely, as a holding penalty killed their momentum at around midfield, however a great punt from Keegan Smith would pin the Tigers down at their own one yard line. Unable to do anything with the ball backed up at their own goal line, the Tigers would forced to punt the ball away, giving M-R the ball with great field position at the Princeton 32. Princeton’s defense would answer the call in a big way, sacking quarterback Kane Johnson on 4th down to force a turnover on downs that would end the third quarter with the score still stuck at 14 all. In the fourth and final quarter of the ball game the Princeton offense would wake back up in a big way, as they took the opening drive of the quarter all the way inside the M-R red zone, ultimately finding the end zone on a 13 yard touchdown run from Reece Pearson to put Princeton up 21-14 in the early portion of the 4th. The Tigers defensive line continued to give Monmouth-Roseville’s offense fits, as Johnson was dropped once again on a 4th down to give the ball back to Princeton. On the plus side of the field, the Tigers were looking for a final knock out blow, however Landon Montroy would come away with a fumble at the 21 yard line that kept M-R in the game for the time being. The offense for the Titans however was not able to come away with points on their ensuing drive, and a few plays later Princeton would put the final nail through the coffin on a 5 yard touchdown from Pearson to reach the game’s final score of 29-14.
Titans Statbook: Monmouth-Roseville was led in rushing by Lars Bergren with 65 yards on 7 carries. He also provided a splash play on special teams with an 86 yard kickoff return touchdown. Elsewhere, Landon Montroy continued his bell cow role with 12 carries for 47 yards. The loss for the Titans drops their overall record to 1-3, and they will look to get back in the win column next Friday night on the road taking on the Spring Valley Hall/Putnam County Red Devils.
