C.R. Titans push toward playoffs

Cedar Rapids quarterback Willie Copeland threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, including two to receiver Bryan Pray, as the Cedar Rapids Titans won a pivotal road game over the Green Bay Blizzard, 50-32, on Saturday.

Cedar Rapids (8-4) never trailed but did not put the game away until defensive back Tyree Robinson returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown with 5:02 remaining for the final score. Robinson recovered two fumbles and snared his first interception this season.

Tailback Washaun Ealey ran for two touchdowns, giving him a score in all 12 games this season. Copeland had a game-high 54 yards rushing and has run for 220 yards in three games with Cedar Rapids.

Pray caught five passes for 88 yards, while fellow receiver Justin Helwege had three receptions for 30 yards and a fourth-quarter score to push the Titans' lead to 43-32 with 7:41 left.

The victory moves the Titans two full games above Green Bay (6-6) for the final playoff spot in the United Conference.

Linebacker Nikolas Sierra tallied a game-high 13 tackles in place of Nick Haag, who was participating in a Tuesday tryout with an Arena Football League team.

Kick returner Demetruce McNeal returned a kick 56 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, his third kickoff return score in the last two games.

Former Wisconsin kicker Phillip Welch, who flew in and met the team for the first time at the arena, was 1 of 5 in field goals in his debut.

Former Cedar Rapids receiver Carl Sims caught six passes for 90 yards and a pair of scores for Green Bay,

Cedar Rapids is off this week before returning to the U.S. Cellular Center to face Bemidji June 13.

Titans 50, Blizzard 32

AT GREEN BAY, WIS.

CR GB

First downs 19 14

Rushes-yards 21-72 11-27

Passing 185 167

Comp-Att-Int 17-25-0 18-35-2

Return Yards 11 0

Fumbles-lost 3-0 2-2

Penalties-Yards 11-83 11-59

Time of Possession 35:17 24:43

C.R. Titans 13 9 14 14-50

Green Bay 13 6 13 0-32

CR-Ealey 4 run (Welch kick)

GB-Sawyer 6 yard pass from Porterie (Budzien kick)

CR-McNeal 56 kickoff return. (kick failed)

CR-FG 32 Welch

CR-Ealey 1 run (kick failed)

GB-Summers 30 yard pass from Porterie (pass failed)

CR-Pray 11 yard pass from Copeland (Welch kick)

GB-Sims 20 yard pass from Porterie (kick failed)

CR-Pray 25 yard pass from Copeland (Welch kick)

GB-Sims 27 yard pass from Porterie (Budzien kick)

CR-Helwege 3 yard pass from Copeland (Welch kick)

CR-Robinson 20 fumble return. (Welch kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - CR: Copeland 7-54, Ealey 11-15, Pray 1-2, Brown 2-1; GB:

Walker 5-18, Porterie 3-5, Sawyer 3-4.

Passing - CR: Copeland 17-25-3-201; GB:

Porterie 18-35-2-169.

Receiving - CR: Pray 5-88, Watkins 4-57, Helwege 3-30, Ealey 3-22, Brown 1-6, Copeland 1-(minus 2); GB:

Sims 6-90, Summers 5-53, Wlker 4-17, Sawyer 3-9.