Jake Medlock, Cedar Rapids Titans topple Green Bay, 47-39

CEDAR RAPIDS — For a quarterback in the Indoor Football League, the narrow passing lanes and condensed playing field can be a recipe for turnovers.

The Cedar Rapids Titans have a man under center known for taking care of the ball.

'I work hard on not having any turnovers,' first-year Cedar Rapids quarterback Jake Medlock said before the Titans (1-1) defeated the Green Bay Blizzard, 47-39, in Cedar Rapids' IFL home opener Friday night at the U.S. Cellular Center. 'I've been like that my whole entire career. I'm always going to take care of the ball and score as many points as possible. It's all about connection with your receivers and running backs. When it's not there, just throw it away. You take care of the ball, you're going to win the game in this type of game that we play.'

Medlock, 25, threw for 223 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 13 yards and a score.

Medlock played collegiately at Florida International from 2011-13, where he was tossing TD passes to current Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton. After a coaching change, Medlock exhausted his collegiate eligibility at Division-II Valdosta State (Ga.). His professional stops included a year in the German Football League and a Canadian Football League stint with Montreal.

'I was done after I got released by Montreal,' Medlock said. 'I was done. I was, 'You know what, it's time for me to get my stuff together, grow up and work.''

A call from the Wichita Force of the Champions Indoor Football League convinced Medlock to put the pads on again. In 12 games last season, Medlock threw for 2,052 yards, 43 TDs and just seven interceptions.

'It definitely lit the spark again,' Medlock said. 'I had a great year. I was very blessed to have so many veteran people around me to teach me.'

When former UNI quarterback Brion Carnes elected to turn his attention to coaching after a productive 2017 season in Cedar Rapids, the Titans aggressively pursued Medlock.

'He's a guy that puts a lot on himself,' first-year Cedar Rapids Coach Marvin Jones said. 'He's one of those guys that puts the team on his shoulders. … He's tough. He's a tough guy. He likes challenges. … He takes that stuff head-on. You want a guy like that.'

Cedar Rapids tailback Tyler Thomas ran for two scores and caught a 32-yard TD pass from Medlock on the final play of the third quarter that gave the Titans the lead for good.

Receiver Connor Hollenbeck led Cedar Rapids with six receptions for 99 yards, while Javin Bell added five for 72. Both caught a TD.

Linebacker Moses White posted 12 tackles for the Cedar Rapids defense, which held Green Bay (0-2) scoreless over the final quarter.

Titans 47, Blizzard 39

AT U.S. CELLULAR CENTER

Green Bay 3 23 13 0—39

Cedar Rapids 13 13 14 7—47

CR —

Jake Medlock 2 run (Micha Georgetti kick)

GB —

FG 34 Jordan Endries

CR —

Tyler Thomas 7 run (Georgetti kick)

GB —

Christian Lemay 1 run (Endries kick)

CR —

Javon Bell 29 pass from Medlock (Georgetti kick)

GB —

Jasen Oden Jr. 3 run (Endries kick failed)

CR —

FG 16 Georgetti

GB —

Lemay 3 run (Endries kick)

CR —

FG 23 Georgetti

GB —

FG 32 Endries

CR —

Conn Hollenbeck 40 pass from Medlock (Georgetti kick)

GB —

Lemay 2 run (Endries kick)

GB —

Lemay 1 run (Endries kick failed)

CR —

Thomas 32 pass from Medlock (Georgetti kick)

CR —

Thomas 2 run (Georgetti kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

RUSHING — Green Bay: Christian Lemay 19-75; Jasen Oden Jr. 10-22; Robert Metz 4-15; Erick Brundidge 1-2; Levi Copelin 1-0. Cedar Rapids:

Raphael Lawson-Gayle 6-33; Tyler Thomas 10-26; Jake Medlock 6-13.

PASSING — Green Bay: Christian Lemay 12-6-0-64; Cedar Rapids:

Jake Medlock 22-17-0-223; TEAM 0-0-0-(-1).

RECEIVING — Green Bay: Chris Malott 3-31; Robert Metz 1-15; Jasen Oden Jr. 1-13; Jereme Jones 1-5; Cedar Rapids:

Connor Hollenbeck 6-99; Javon Bell 5-72; Tyler Thomas 3-35; Jordan Smith 2-11; Raheem Harvey 1-6.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com