Titans Face off against Wolves in Regular Season Home Finale
June 10, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Cedar Rapids River Kings News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - Although the Cedar Rapids Titans (10-4) have already clinched a playoff spot, Saturday's game against the Billings Wolves (6-7) still has big playoff implications for both teams involved. Provided the Titans win, they'll be one step closer to hosting their first-ever home playoff game while if Billings wins, they'll clinch their first-ever playoff berth in the team's short two-year history.
For the fifteenth straight game, Titans signal caller Dylan Favre will lead the team onto the field Saturday night. Favre (5'11", 200) has completed 187 of 304 attempts for 2,131 yards and 48 touchdowns on his way to becoming one of the Indoor Football League's premiere quarterbacks. Favre has proven himself as a dual-threat quarterback as he has added 388 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, both team-highs.
Billings' leading passer is Mason Espinosa. Although being sidelined for the past two games due to injury, Espinosa (6'4", 210), an alum of Ohio Wesleyan, leads the Wolves with 100 completions (186 att.) for 1,102 yards and 20 touchdowns. Should Espinosa not be healthy enough to play tomorrow, rookie quarterback Cory Murphy will get the starting nod.
Murphy (6'1", 210) has completed 29 of 46 passes for 302 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his past two starts. Murphy also leads Billings on the ground, rushing for 255 yards and 11 touchdowns on 58 attempts.
With wide receiver Jared Elmore likely sidelined for the rest of the regular season, with a lower leg injury, the Titans have looked to two newcomers to pick up the slack left by the team's leading receiver: DeJay Lester and Lemans Casimier. Lester (6'3", 210) joined Cedar Rapids three weeks ago and has led the team in receiving in both games he's appeared in. Through two games, Lester has caught 10 passes for 125 yards and four touchdowns. Casimier (6'4", 190), former All-IFL receiver with the Iowa Barnstormers, joined the squad last week and recorded three receptions for 32 yards in his debut with the Titans.
Receiver Willie Downs (6'3", 205) has been the primary target for all Wolves quarterbacks this season, hauling in 58 receptions for 646 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The biggest staple of the Titans' defense continues to be the defensive line anchored by defensive end's Xzavie Jackon and Jermiah Price. Jackson, the IFL's career sacks leader, has a league-high 14.5 sacks this season while Price leads the league with 22 tackles for loss. Linebacker Niko Sierra leads the team with 89.5 total tackles, third highest in the IFL behind Sioux Falls' Tyler Knight and Nebraska's Jabari Gorman.
Defensively, Billings has been led by defensive back Michael Green. Green (5'11", 200), in his second season of indoor football, leads the Wolves in tackles (66), pass breakups (10), and interceptions (8). Green leads the league in passes defended (18) while fellow defensive back Norris Wrenn II leads the league with 11 pass breakups.
Saturday's game kicks off from Mediacom Field at the U.S. Cellular Center at 7:05 p.m. Doors open for the Titans Ultimate Tailgate Party on the arena concourse at 5:00 p.m. $2 hot dogs, $2 sodas, and $2 beers will be available until 6:00 p.m.
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Indoor Football League Stories from June 10, 2016
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- Titans Face off against Wolves in Regular Season Home Finale - Cedar Rapids River Kings
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