Preview: Cedar Rapids at Sioux Falls
April 8, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Cedar Rapids River Kings News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Cedar Rapids Titans (4-2) will look to expand on a three-game winning streak when they take on the Sioux Falls Storm (4-1) tomorrow night. Saturday's game will be the third game this season between Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls, with each team having won one of the previous two games. The Storm won the first contest by nine points (54-45) in Sioux Falls on February 27 of this year while the Titans ended the Storm's 22-game winning streak by winning 60-57 on March 26 in Cedar Rapids.
Through six games on the season, Titans quarterback Dylan Favre has been a large part of the Cedar Rapids offense. Favre currently ranks second in the Indoor Football League in completion percentage, having completed 86 of 126 passes (68.3%) on the season. The rookie signal caller has also proved his versatility on the ground, adding 169 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 55 carries.
The Sioux Falls offense is paced indoor football veteran Lorenzo Brown. Brown, a seven-year indoor pro, has completed 51 passes (85 attempts) for 588 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Brown leads the Storm in rushing touchdowns, rushing for 168 yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries.
Even with sitting out the majority of last weekend's game against the Green Bay Blizzard due to injury, Cedar Rapids running back Waymon James ranks near the top of the league in many rushing categories, including rushing attempts (63 - third highest in IFL). James, reigning IFL Rookie of the Year, also ranks second in the league in total All-Purpose yardage with 688 yards through six games (114.7 per game).
Rookie running back Angelo Pease leads the Storm in rushing yardage, rushing for 256 yards (42.7 per game) and five touchdowns and 48 attempts. Pease has added six receptions and 41 receiving yards.
A newcomer to the team, wide receiver Jared Elmore has made himself at home leading the Titans receiving corps as the league moves towards the half-way mark of the season. Elmore leads the league in receiving touchdowns (28) and is tied for first and receptions with 33 (5.5 per game). Elmore 396 receiving yards third-highest in the league behind the Colorado Crush's Demarius Washington and the Iowa Barnstormers' Lemans Casimier.
The Sioux Falls receiving corps is led by a duo of indoor football veterans: Mike Tatum and Korey Williams. Tatum has recorded 19 receptions for 247 yards and six touchdowns while Williams has added 214 yards and five touchdowns on 17 receptions. Williams have proven himself to be a special team maestro, returning a league-high three kicks for touchdowns. Williams has 312 kick return yards on the season.
An anchor for the staunch Titans defense the past season and a half, linebacker Niko Sierra leads the Cedar Rapids defense in tackles (41.5). Defensive lineman Xzavie Jackson, the Indoor Football League's career sacks leader, leads the league with five sacks. Fellow defensive lineman Jermiah Price leads the team in tackles-for-loss with ten. Price has also notched four and a half sacks this season, second-highest in the league.
Ty Knight, the IFL career tackles leader, continues to anchor the Storm defense with a league-high 47 tackles. Defensive backs Matt Hermanson (38.0 tackles, 2 pass break ups) and Jon Setzer (20.5 tackles, three interceptions) pace the Sioux Falls defensive backfield.
Kickoff for tomorrow night's game is slated for 7:05p.m. at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, SD. For those Titans fans not traveling to Sioux Falls, an online video feed will be available at IFLLive.tv, the official online broadcasting platform of the Indoor Football League. Score-by-score updates will also be provided on the Titans Twitter feed (@CRTitans) while major highlights and quarter-end updates will be shared on the Titans Facebook (facebook.com/cedarrapidstitans) and Instagram (@CRTitans).
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Indoor Football League Stories from April 8, 2016
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- Preview: Cedar Rapids at Sioux Falls - Cedar Rapids River Kings
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