Titans overcome offensive woes

CEDAR RAPIDS — The offense sputtered and stammered. Missed field goals, penalties, overthrows to open receivers and early abandonment of the running game had the Cedar Rapids Titans trailing winless Green Bay for nearly the entire first half.

It was up to the defense to change the game.

Trailing 17-12, Cedar Rapids defensive back Darnell Burks' interception and return set up a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Spencer Ohm to receiver J.J. Hayes just 8.9 seconds before halftime to provide the Titans their first lead on the way to a 47-37 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard last night at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'We needed that big time,' Burks said. 'Switched the momentum of the game.'

With the win, Cedar Rapids (9-2) clinches a spot in the United Conference championship game for the second year in a row. Undefeated Sioux Falls (10-0) will again be the opponent, which ended the Titans' season 44-20 last year. The three remaining regular season games will decide who will host the game, with the winner advancing to the United Bowl. Sioux Falls visits Cedar Rapids on June 14 to close the regular season.

'Defense has led the way the whole season,' Cedar Rapids Coach Mark Stoute said. 'In order to win a championship, we have to step up offensively.'

For the Titans to pose a threat to the three-time defending IFL champions, they need a healthy LaRon Council at running back. Cedar Rapids entered the game as the league's only team averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game, but with Council and his league-leading 695 rushing yards tucked away in a walking boot on his right foot, the Titans ran just four designed rushing plays in the first half and finished the game with 50 yards on the ground.

'We just have to get more consistent on the offensive side of the ball,' said Stoute, who doesn't expect Council back until the regular season finale.

Cedar Rapids had a chance to extend its lead on the first drive of the second half, but kicker Rockne Belmonte hooked a 40-yard field goal attempt, his third miss of the game. Belmonte also missed an extra point, was penalized for sending a kickoff out of bounds, and twice set Green Bay up in excellent field position by failing to get the kickoff past the Blizzard front wall.

Green Bay dual-threat quarterback Nathan Wara reclaimed the lead at 24-19 for the Blizzard with his 15th rushing touchdown this season from a yard out midway through the third quarter. With 4:44 left in the third, Cedar Rapids receiver Carl Sims snared his 10th touchdown reception of the season for a 26-24 lead. Defensive lineman Kyle Jenkins preserved the lead for good by blocking a Blizzard field-goal attempt, and four plays later reserve running back Martin Ward extended the Titans' lead to 33-24 with a five-yard surge to begin the final quarter.

'Our defense has done a phenomenal job of keeping us in games and making stops,' said Ohm, who finished with 151 yards passing and four scores.

Green Bay pulled within a field goal with just over a minute left, but couldn't convert the ensuing onside kick.

Cedar Rapids travels to Green Bay (0-11) next Saturday.

l Comments: douglas.miles@sourcemedia.net