Edge live on the edge

By Mike Condon

Correspondent

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Bloomington Edge lived up to their nickname Friday night.

The Edge defense came around the corner early and often, pressuring Cedar Rapids quarterback Kenneth Black Jr. into hurried throws and several sacks. When it was all over, the Edge went back to Bloomington with a 29-13 win over the Titans before about 2,500 fans at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, putting an end to any playoff dreams Cedar Rapids had during its first season in the Indoor Football League.

The loss dropped the Titans to 3-8 while Bloomington clinched an United Conference playoff spot, upping its mark to 8-3.

Coach Kyle Moore-Brown's team could muster little against an Edge defense that used its quickness to deny the Titans at every turn.

"We got whipped up front," Moore-Brown said. "We couldn't get anything going offensively. We got into a rut early and couldn't get anything going."

The Titans were held scoreless until Scott Enos converted on a 35-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining in the first half. Cedar Rapids got a safety of its own when Jamil Abdullah tackled Edge running back Andre Raymond in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. The lone Titan TD came when reserve quarterback Colton Hansen connected with Antuan Bloom for an 11-yard scoring pass with 3:17 remaining.

Meanwhile, Bloomington's offense made just enough plays against a Titan defense that forced three first-half turnovers and blocked a kick. Edge quarterback Dusty Burk hooked up for three scoring passes to nifty receiver Ricardo Lenhart before the break. Bloomington also got a safety when, after the Titans had forced a fumble and recovered on the goal line, Cedar Rapids tried a running play to Tyler Batts, who was tackled two yards deep in the end zone.

The Edge led 23-0 before the Titans could get on the board.

"Our defense gave us enough chances," Moore-Brown said. "That's all you can ask for. We just didn't block well for our quarterbacks. We have to get better play out of our offensive line."

One bright spot for the Titans was the play of Hansen, who relieved Black early in the fourth quarter. He lost one first down run on a fake field goal when the play was called back for holding. Then, on the scoring drive, he scrambled for a first down and got away from the rush to complete a couple others before hitting Bloom for the score.

"Colton is a good quarterback," Moore-Brown said. "I've got two good quarterbacks."

Cedar Rapids is off next weekend before hitting the road on June 1 for a game at Omaha. The Beef beat the Titans, still in search for their first road win, earlier this season in Cedar Rapids.

"We will be working during the off week," Moore-Brown said. "We have plenty of work to do."