Preview: Cedar Rapids Titans vs. Green Bay Blizzard
February 19, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Cedar Rapids River Kings News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - The Cedar Rapids will kick off the 2016 Indoor Football League regular season Saturday night when the rival Green Bay Blizzard come to town. In a series highly contested the past four season, the two teams meet for their twelfth matchup. Cedar Rapids leads the All-Time Series 6-5 dating back to 2012.
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.
The team announced this week the acquisition of reigning IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Waymon James. James (5'8, 205 lbs.), was traded to Cedar Rapids from Wichita Falls in exchange for Future Considerations. After appearing in 14 games for the Danger last season, James led the league in All-Purpose yards, having notched 1,624. James, also named First-Team All-IFL as a runnin back, added 632 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
When the Blizzard take the field Saturday night, they will be fielding six veterans in accordance with the Veteran Rule: linebacker, and former Titan, Courtney Daniel, offensive lineman Jarrad Hernandez, and wide receivers Markeith Summers, Greg Betterson, Andre London, Marquel Willis, and Bryan Pray.
Heading the Green Bay offense will be Indoor Football League rookie quarterback Matt Behrendt. Behrendt (6'2, 205 lbs.) signed with Green Bay after playing collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. While in Whitewater, Behrendt became the All-Time leader in career completions (647) and passing touchdowns (87) for the Warhawks. He also holds the school record for most pass attempts without an interception, having completed 388 straight passes between 2013 and 2014.
Defensively, the Blizzard return First Team All-IFL defensive back Jamie Bender. Bender (5'11, 210 lbs.) picked off a league-high eight passes, taking one back for a 39-yard touchdown. Bender was also ninth in the IFL in tackles, recording 74 tackles through 13 games played in Green Bay.
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. The game kicks off at 7:05 p.m. from Mediacom Field at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Indoor Football League Stories from February 19, 2016
- Empire Week 1 Game Preview - Spokane Empire
- Preview: Cedar Rapids Titans vs. Green Bay Blizzard - Cedar Rapids River Kings
- Fever Ready to Kick off 2016 - Tri-Cities Fever
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
