Dominant Defensive Performance Leads Titan Back into Win Column
May 1, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Cedar Rapids River Kings News Release
Billings, MT - The veteran defensive line of the Cedar Rapids Titans (6-4) was too much for the young Billings Wolves (4-5) offensive line to handle as the Titans cruised to a 38-31 victory over Billings earlier tonight.
Billings put the first points of the night on the board as they capped a 41-yard opening drive with a one yard rushing touchdown courtesy of Indoor Football League rookie Nate Burney.
Cedar Rapids responded well, scoring 22 unanswered points in the remaining 22 minutes in the first half. The first Titans' touchdown of the night came as quarterback Dylan Favre found a wide open Charles Watkins in the back of the end zone at the 07:45 mark in the first quarter. Watkins finished the game with five receptions for 47 yards. Titans running back Waymon James took the lead for Cedar Rapids as he found the end zone on a two yard rushing touchdown, his fourteenth rushing touchdown through ten games this season.
Reigning league Defensive Player of the Year Jermiah Price recorded his first safety of the year as he sacked Billings quarterback Mason Espinosa in the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. With Price anchoring the Titans' defensive unit, Cedar Rapids sacked Espinosa a total of four times. The Titans defense also added six pass break ups, four tackles for loss, and a pair of forced fumbles.
The last Titans' score of the first half came as Favre connected with Jared Elmore on a 24-yard pass with just over ten minutes to go in the first half. Elmore only caught one more pass in the game, finishing the contest with a pair of receptions for 33 yards.
Billings ended the first half with newcomer Blake Erickson kicking a 26-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter. Erickson joined the team earlier this week and Saturday's game was his first in a Wolves' uniform.
Favre recorded his first rushing touchdown of the night on a five play, 27-yard drive to open the third quarter for the Titans. Nick Belcher added his lone field goal of the night, a 36 yarder, shortly before Espinosa found wide receiver Willie Downs on a 45-yard bomb with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. As the fourth quarter opened, Favre rushed for his second touchdown on the ground from one yard out.
Billings added two final scores in the remaining nine minutes of the game: a six-yard connection from Espinosa to Downs and an 11-yard rush from Burney.
Favre finished the night completing 14 of 22 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns, and a pair of touchdowns. Espinosa, in just his fourth IFL appearance, completed 21 of 40 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Espinosa's lone interception of the night was thrown to Titans linebacker Niko Sierra.
Favre was the main weapon for the Titans offense, rushing for 27 yards and two touchdowns. Downs proved to be the most valuable asset to the Wolves as he hauled in 10 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Along with his interception, Sierra led the Titans with 13 tackles and one blocked kick. In addition to the safety, Price made five stops and two tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Xzavie Jackson made three of the team's six pass break ups.
The Titans will return home next Saturday, May 7 as they take on the Tri-Cities Fever for the second time this season. Cedar Rapids won the earlier contest between the two teams this season, defeating the Fever 39-34 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington on March 11 of this year. Kickoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Mediacom Field at the U.S. Cellular Center.
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