The Titans opened their season Friday night on the road against a powerhouse opponent, Montini Catholic from the Chicago area. Montini came in as the defending state champs, led by nationally ranked quarterback Israel Abram (#10 in the country) and two Division I wide receivers.

Even with the tough matchup, the Titans proved they belonged on the field. The game was tied 14–14 late in the third quarter, thanks to big plays on both sides of the ball. Senior Sean Walicki set the tone on defense with eight tackles, while junior quarterback Buddy Gaston threw for more than 150 yards, connecting often with Wes Learned and Paul Sattler. Junior Johnny Walters also came up big defensively, making key stops to keep the Titans in it.

The turning point came when Lumen threw an interception late in the third quarter. Montini capitalized with a field goal to go up 17–14, then added another field goal in the fourth to stretch their lead to 20–14. The Titans kept battling, but couldn’t find the end zone again before the final whistle.

After the game, Coach Brogan said the team fought hard but just came up short. Despite the loss, the Titans showed they can go toe-to-toe with one of the best programs in the country.