Sioux Falls stuffs Titans, 34-12, in conference title tilt

Getting over the hump will require more climbing from the Cedar Rapids Titans.

For the third year in a row, their season ended at Sioux Falls in the United Conference championship game.

The four-time defending Infoor Football League champion Storm shut down the Cedar Rapids offense and advanced to next week's United Bowl with a 34-12 victory on Saturday.

The Titans jumped on top early, 3-0, on a 50-yard field goal from former Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch. After a Sioux Falls touchdown, another Welch field goal pulled the Titans within 7-6 towards the end of the first quarter, but Brandon Johnson-Farrell returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 Sioux Falls lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Titans were held scoreless in both the second and third quarters as Sioux Falls extended its lead to 24-6 heading into the fourth. A three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Willie Copeland nearly five minutes into the final frame gave Cedar Rapids its first offensive touchdown, but it was all the offense the Titans could muster.

Cedar Rapids' previous season-low point total in a game was 31 last week at Sioux Falls, and they managed just six first downs and 90 total yards the entire game.

Copeland was 11-of-22 passing for 87 yards and an interception. Receiver Charles Watkins tallied a game-high seven catches for 46 yards.

Sioux Falls quarterback Lorenzo Brown threw for 77 yards, ran for 38 and accounted for two touchdowns.

Sioux Falls advances to the United Bowl for the sixth year in a row and will try for IFL championship No. 5 in a row when they host the Nebraska Danger in next week's United Bowl.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com