Niko Sierra stuffing the opposition for the Cedar Rapids Titans

CEDAR RAPIDS – If a defensive game unfolds Saturday between the Cedar Rapids Titans and Tri-Cities Fever, Niko Sierra will likely have a big say in the developments.

The second-year Cedar Rapids linebacker is coming off his best game of the season in a 38-31 Titans' victory at Billings last Saturday, when he registered 13 tackles, forced a fumble and snared an interception.

'At the linebacker position, you want to be as fast as you can, you want to read your keys, you want to be a strong tackler,” Sierra said. 'So I just try to work for that every day and every day I can try to get better.”

Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The Cedar Rapids defense ranks second in the league in fewest yards allowed per game (217.8), while Tri-Cities (3-6) is second in the IFL with just 44.6 points per game surrendered.

With six games left in the Indoor Football League season, the Titans (6-4) are 2-2 since a three-game win streak and trail Wichita Falls (5-3) for the second playoff spot in the United Conference, which would garner a home playoff game.

'I think they're starting to really jell as a group,” Cedar Rapids Coach Mark Stoute said. 'Still some hiccups here and there, but I think they're really beginning to get the understanding of what we're trying to do.”

Sierra, 24, finished his collegiate career with FCS-level Sacred Heart (Conn.) after the 2012 season, but a hamstring injury limited his pro day opportunities. His semi-pro coach in Connecticut connected him to Stoute, and Sierra saw part-time duty in 13 games last season for Cedar Rapids and tallied 59 tackles.

'This year he's been phenomenal,” Stoute said. 'He's basically the captain on that defense in terms of the checks and the calls. Very smart kid. Great tackling kid. Not too many people slip out of his grasp when he gets his hands on them.”

Sierra earned the starting linebacker position late last season and has solidified his role after the departure of Nick Haag to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts (now back in the IFL with the Spokane Empire). Like Haag last season, Sierra dons the No. 44 jersey and ranks among the league's top tacklers.

'Nick showed me a lot,” Sierra said. 'He taught me the position, especially on the indoor game compared to the outdoor game. He really taught me different things, the angles are a little bit different and the alignments and stuff to expect.”

Sierra is second in the IFL with 83 tackles and third with 9.2 per game. At the current clip, Sierra would shatter the franchise record for tackles in a season (107 by Pasquale Vacchio in 2014) without the need for the two additional games afforded by the league's new 16-game regular season.

'The speed of the game, it's very quick,” Sierra said. 'You really have to read your keys because if you're not going to do that, you might get lost. The ball moves quickly.”

Earlier this week, the club traded receiver Eric Thomas (nine receptions for 78 yards and two TDs in six games) to the Nebraska Danger in exchange for future considerations.

In league news, the IFL announced it is expanding into Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2017 season. The addition of Utah gives the league 11 franchises in nine states, all west of the Mississippi River.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com