Titans face defending champions for conference title

CEDAR RAPIDS - Jermiah Price sees a lot of similarities between the Cedar Rapids Titans and the three-time defending Indoor Football League champion Sioux Falls Storm.

The first-year Titans defensive lineman, who helped win IFL titles the past two seasons as a member of the Storm, will attempt to help Cedar Rapids end Sioux Falls' 40-game home winning streak in Saturday's United Conference championship game.

'These two teams are probably the most talented in the league,” Price said. 'It's going to be a dogfight the entire game.”

The winner will host next Saturday's United Bowl against the Nebraska Danger, a 45-15 winner Thursday over Colorado.

With two games in two weeks against his former team (Cedar Rapids won, 49-37, in the regular-season finale), Price admits his cellphone has been busy with messages to and from his former teammates.

'We don't discuss any plans about the game; we just talk a little trash,” Price said. 'It will be good to see them again, but we're going to win. Stuff like that.”

Price finds additional inspiration in the legacy left behind by his second cousin, the late Steve McNair. Before his murder five years ago next month, the former NFL quarterback of the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens mentored his cousin who shared similar football aspirations in rural Mississippi.

'He taught me about football and taught me certain aspects of the game,” Price said. 'He taught me how to play, and how you should play at all times. You play every play like it's your last play, because you never know. ... It's all those type of things that he instilled in me. That you've just got to go out and just give it your all at all times.”

Now in his fourth IFL season, Price has proved not only to be an integral part of the Titans' defensive line (12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), he's displayed versatility with his self-taught long snapping duties on the field goal team.

'A great kid; he works very hard,” Cedar Rapids Coach Mark Stoute said. 'Without him and (All-IFL defensive lineman Kyle) Jenkins, we would probably not be where we are today.”

Stoute hopes three of Price's defensive mates - Tim Shelley and Ricky Johnson in the secondary, and lineman Xzavie Jackson - will be available tonight following injuries. They will be game-time decisions.

Offensive lineman Albert Erni Jr. is out with an undisclosed injury.

'We had a good week of practice,” Stoute said. 'We're as ready as we're going to be for this one.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@sourcemedia.net