Ohm, Titans ‘shake off rust’ in win

CEDAR RAPIDS – It was a half of uncharacteristically sloppy football for the Cedar Rapids Titans.

A team which lost just one fumble in the last four games and seven all season coughed it up four times in the first half alone – accounting for two defensive touchdowns, 19 points and a 32-28 halftime lead for the visiting Texas Revolution.

'We had butter on the ball in the first half,” Cedar Rapids quarterback Spencer Ohm said after the Titans pulled away in the second half for a 49-35 win Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center. 'Coach (Mark Stoute) took us aside at halftime, the skill position guys, and really gave it to us.”

Whatever Stoute said at halftime seemed to settle his offense down. The Titans protected the ball and the defense, bolstered by the return of standout lineman Xzavie Jackson, held Texas to just a field goal in the second half.

'Xzavie was huge for us down the stretch,” Stoute said. 'Him and (Jermiah) Price are workhorses.”

Jackson tallied a game-high 1.5 sacks and added three tackles.

'It felt great to be back with my teammates,” Jackson said. 'The scoreboard told you at the end. As a team we had fun, and at the end we got a win.”

After sitting out last week's win at Texas with an undisclosed injury, quarterback Spencer Ohm returned to the starting lineup and threw for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Cedar Rapids (8-1), winners of eight straight games.

'I shouldn't have to shake off rust after being out one week,” Ohm said. 'But that's what happened at the beginning of the game, and we moved forward from it.”

The win sets up a showdown next Saturday at three-time defending IFL champion Sioux Falls (8-0).

'We just got to go up and play mistake-free football,” Stoute said. 'We can't turn the ball over.”

LaRon Council added to his league-leading rushing numbers with 94 yards and two touchdowns. His two-yard burst with 44 seconds left provided the game's final margin. Ricky Johnson and Jefferson Hayes each returned first-half kickoffs for scores for Cedar Rapids, which wore pink wrist and ankle tape in support of breast cancer awareness.

Former Iowa receiver Clinton Solomon had nine catches for 85 yards for Texas (2-6).