Former Steamwheelers' Anthony Featured this Week on NBC

February 13, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa — NBC is hoping for a repeat after last weekends record –breaking viewership of the AFL on NBC. The final rating of 2.1 surpassed the NHL's All-Star game (1.8), which aired during the same time period.

This Saturday's match-ups that will be featured on NBC include: Chicago @ New York, New Orleans @ Indiana and Los Angeles @ Las Vegas.

This weekend's games are being played on Saturday due to the Daytona 500 on Sunday. All three games will kickoff at 2 p.m. (CT).

Fans in the Steamwheelers region of the country will see the Chicago Rush take on the New York Dragons. Steamwheelers fans will be quick to note that a former Steamwheeler is a current member of the Dragons.

After a very productive season in 2002 with the Steamwheelers, wide receiver/linebacker Chris Anthony moved up the af2's parent circuit to play for the Dragons.

In 2002, while with the Steamwheelers, the Iowa State product was named the teams MVP and was a finalist for af2 Ironman of the Year. He led the team in receptions (125) and receiving yards (1,613) and finished third and fourth, respectively, in the af2 in those categories. He averaged 100.8 receiving yards a game. Anthony, 6-foot-3, 205 lbs., was also one half of the only receiving duo in Arena Football history to have at least 100 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns.

Last season with the Dragons, Anthony was second on the team in receiving with 70 receptions for 880 yards and 18 touchdowns. On defense he had 21 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a pass deflection.

Anthony helped guide the Dragons to a 2003 Eastern Division championship. The game will be broadcast on the "Official Station of the Quad City Steamwheelers," KWQC-TV6 at 2 p.m.

The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 25 teams in medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.

Several players have moved on to the NFL from the af2 including the ‘Wheelers standout defensive rush end in 2003, Asa Francis, who last month signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.

The Steamwheelers are gearing up for their Fifth Anniversary season as one of the charter members of the league. Season tickets are currently on sale starting as low as $54. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets may contact Steamwheelers Director of Ticket Sales Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For all the up to the minute Steamwheelers news, visit www.steamwheelers.com.



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