Game Preview: Cedar Rapids vs. Iowa
February 11, 2016 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Cedar Rapids Rampage News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - The Cedar Rapids will kick off their Indoor Football League season Friday night when the in-state rival Iowa Barnstormers come to town. The game kicks off at 7:05 p.m. from Mediacom Field at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.
With just nine players returning from last year's squad, Titans fans will see many new faces as the team will kick off their fifth season. The players returning include offensive linemen AJ Harmon and Sosai Vaitai, defensive linemen Ray Hodgson, Xzavie Jackson, Richard Posey, and Jermiah Price, linebacker Nik Sierra, defensive back Arius Wright, and wide receiver Charles Watkins. At the conclusion of last season, Price took home the IFL's Defensive Player of the Year award.
Cedar Rapids General Manager Chris Kokalis and head coach Mark Stoute made several transactions this offseason, most notably the acquisition of Restricted Free Agent wide receiver Ryan Balentine from the Bemidji Axemen and the signing of rookie quarterback Dylan Favre, the nephew of NFL Hall of Fame inductee Brett Favre.
This season marks the beginning of the IFL's new "Veteran Rule", which prohibits teams to carry no more than seven players who have played more than three seasons of indoor football on their active roster at any given time. In accordance with the Veteran Rule, the Titans have five players on their roster that classify as veterans: Balentine, Jackson, Posey, Price, and wide receiver Jared Elmore.
The Iowa Barnstormers will kick off their second season in the Indoor Football League with a mix of returning players and rookies. Of the forty players listed on their training camp roster, fourteen appeared in games last season including First Team All-IFL linebacker Javicz Jones and Second Team All-IFL wide receiver and Grand View University alum Brady Roland.
Headlining transactions for Iowa this offseason is the addition of Second Team All-IFL quarterback Donovan Porterie. The Barnstormers also added defensive lineman Lebron Daniel, an alum of the University of Iowa and former University of Northern Iowa quarterback Brion Carnes, who appeared in games for the Nebraska Danger last season.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow night as the Titans host their first Ultimate Tailgate Party with live entertainment on the concourse of the US Cellular Center as $2 hot dogs, $2 sodas, and $2 draft beers will be available.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 11, 2016
- Game Preview: Cedar Rapids vs. Iowa - Cedar Rapids Rampage
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