Cedar Rapids River Kings bring indoor football back to Alliant Energy PowerHouse

CEDAR RAPIDS — Bringing a football championship to Cedar Rapids is the goal for the new River Kings franchise in its first season as a member of the American Indoor Football League.

Dominic Montero, the team owner, and his staff have worked hard to create a team filled with talent while creating many partnerships within the Cedar Rapids community to reach that goal.

“There’s never been a championship team in Cedar Rapids,” Montero said. “I’ve always viewed Cedar Rapids as a football town and I want to bring a championship to this community.”

This is not the first taste of indoor football in Cedar Rapids.

From 2012-2020, Cedar Rapids had a team in the Indoor Football League. Ownership changed and the name went from the Titans to River Kings in 2018. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Cedar Rapids was not included as a league member in 2021.

Montero now has brought indoor football back to Cedar Rapids, keeping the River Kings name. The American Indoor Football League will have seven active teams this year and the plan is to expand to 10 teams for 2025.

Cedar Rapids River Kings roster and coaching staff finalized

The River Kings will be coached by Daron Clark, who brings a “wealth of football knowledge,” Montero said. Clark has an impressive resume that includes a stint in the NFL along with winning multiple championships in the Canadian Football League as a player.

The River Kings roster was finalized Monday and cut down to 25 players. Their training camp took place in the CRSA facility in Hiawatha.

“Clark sought after and did much of the recruiting ” to help build the roster.

Several notable players on the roster are Rickey Neal Jr. and Terrell Carey, who both played college football at the University of Northern Iowa. In 2017, Neil earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference second-team honors, highlighted by leading the conference in sacks with 9.5. In Carey’s one season with the Panthers, he caught seven passes for 95 yards, and finished his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Other notable former collegiate players on the roster include Enoch Smith Jr. (Michigan State and Oklahoma State), Verlon Reed Jr. (Ohio State) and Devonte Butler (Ohio State).

Indoor football is unique and different compared to the usual outdoor version. It is played on a 50-yard field with 10-yard end zones. Eight players are on the field for each team at once — three linemen and five skill players.

“The team is stacked and loaded,” Montero said.

Montero describes the game as “predominantly a passing game” and that a good team will score “60-70 points a game.” Scoring occurs at a much higher rate in indoor football, creating the opportunity for games to be quite entertaining and exciting to watch.

The River Kings kick off their season this Saturday against the Missouri Falcons at home. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Home games will be played at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

Tickets can be found on the team’s website, Ticketmaster and on the CReventslive website.

Montero is hoping to enhance the game-day atmosphere for fans which includes prizes, halftime entertainment and autograph sessions with the players.

Saturday kicks off the beginning of a 10-game season for the River Kings.

Comments: ben.lamparek@thegazette.com