\'Wheelers Blow Another One

Published on April 12, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


The Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Ala., has always been a place where the Quad City Steamwheelers have had a lot of success. The three previous trips that the ‘Wheelers had made to the "Snake Pit," home to rival Tennessee Valley, they came out victorious and have posted a 3-0 mark in the building.

However their luck changed in a hurry. On Friday night the ‘Wheelers felt the venomous bite of the "Snake Pit" falling 62-59 to the Vipers (2-0) as well as falling even harder to 0-2 on the season.

Quad City Kicker Brian Hegnauer may have seen he last game in a Steamwheelers jersey after the performance that he gave Friday night. Hegnauer missed a 46-yard field goal as time expired; one that didn't even hit the 30-foot wide netting that surrounds the sides of the uprights. Hegnauer also missed three PAT attempts, the same difference in the final score.

"I've got to get another kicker. I told Brian that my patience is up," is what head coach Rich Ingold told WOC 1420 AM's Jim Albracht on the post game radio show about Hegnauers performance.

As if things couldn't get worse, they did. QB Tony Zimmerman was having another outstanding game, until he made what Ingold called a "classic of all time" mistake. With the Steamwheelers leading by four in the fourth quarter and on the Vipers' one-yard line facing a first and goal, Ingold made the call for Zimmerman to follow FB Josh Fourdyce to the weak side and run in for the score. The play did not go as scripted. Zimmerman was swarmed by a sea of green jerseys and rather than taking a sack for a loss, he tried to throw it away with his left hand (Zimmerman is a right handed throwing QB). The pass was intercepted by Vipers DS Ernst Ross and returned 49-yards for the touchdown, giving the Vipers a three point lead.

Zimmerman finished the game completing 22 of his 38 passes for 370 yards, throwing eight touchdowns and one costly interception.

This was the second time in two weeks that the ‘Wheelers had a chance to put their opponent away by increasing their lead and failed to do so.

Then things got even worse. In the fourth quarter, DS Eric Thigpen was hit awkwardly on his leg. He needed to be assisted off by head trainer Craig Wainwright and would not return to the game. Ingold then gave his status on the post game show, "He's done for the year." Thigpen toe his ‘Achilles, something that cannot be healed in a season that is only 16-weeks short.

There was a little bit of silver lining in the black cloud that hung over the game. Ingold's decision to move Jeff Hewitt to the OS paid off. Hewitt grabbed ten of Zimmerman's passes for 209 yards, earning him Player of the Game honors.

Ingold also moved Tim Dodge into a starting role and he had a great game as well, catching eight passes for 110 yards. Dodge and Hewitt combined for 319 of the teams 370 receiving yards.

As for Tennessee Valley, QB Matt Sauk finished the game throwing five touchdowns and one interception on 21 of 35 passing. He connected with WR/DB Jerrian James six times for 116 yards. James also had 2.5 tackles on defense to earn Ironman honors.

Ross's 49- yard interception, coupled with 4.5 tackles and two pass deflections earned him ADT Defensive Player of the game honors.

The Steamwheelers will return home Friday, April 18th in a match-up of winless teams where they will take on the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers (0-2) at 7:30 p.m. Good tickets are still available and can be purchased at The MARK box office, at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone, by calling 563.326.1111.

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