Gatto Kicks Steamwheelers to Third Consecutive Victory
May 1, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
MOLINE, Ill. - The Quad City Steamwheelers picked up a dramatic come-from-behind win over the previously undefeated Memphis Xplorers last night on Nick Gatto's last-second, 45-yard field goal to give the Steamwheelers a 45-42 win. The wild win, which came in front of 6,122 fans at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities, was the third straight for Quad City and pushed it into second place in the Midwest Division, just a half game behind the Xplorers for first place.
Gatto's kick closed out an incredible final 54 seconds. The Steamwheelers defense forced a four and out and Jeff Hewitt returned Steven Azar's missed field goal out near midfield. Two plays later Gatto trotted out to attempt a game-winning kick, but Pete Traynor, who was doing the long snapping for the 'Wheelers after the normal snapper, Matt Forbes, was ejected in the third quarter. Traynor's snap was high and the ball bounced back toward the goalline. Gatto scrambled back and picked up the ball in his own end zone before eluding one would-be tackler and kicking it away, leading to a five-yard penalty. However, there was also a personal foul penalty downfield on Memphis' Nate Grace, offsetting Gatto's penalty and giving Quad City another chance to win, a chance that Gatto took with both hands, drilling a 45-yard field goal to set off a raucous celebration in front of the Steamwheelers bench.
The Steamwheelers set up Gatto's spectacular by scoring the game-tying touchdown with 54 seconds left as Sam Clemons hit Jack Walker, Jr. for the second time on the night, making the score 42-42. Walker's score, a 12-yard toss to the front, left corner of the end zone, gave the game it's second tie of the half. With 41 seconds left in the third quarter, Traynor picked up his first sack of the year as he took down Xplorer quarterback Brian Jones for a safety, evening the score at 36-36.
Jeff Hewitt and Tim Dodge each added second half touchdown receptions for the 'Wheelers while Travis Burns and A.J. Novak each ran the ball into the end zone in the first half.
Memphis got three touchdown catches on the night from Terell Adams and Jones added a pair of rushing touchdowns as Memphis led 23-14 at the half. However, Quad City was able to fight its way back into the game defensively thanks in large to its shutting down of Kevin Prentiss.
Prentiss, who was leading the af2 in scoring with 102 point coming into the game, caught 10 balls for a game-high 87 yards, but scored only once, giving the 'Wheelers a chance to get back into the game after trailing by as many ten early in the second half.
The Steamwheelers return to action next Saturday, May 7, at 7 p.m., when they travel to Amarillo to face the expansion Dusters for the first time in team history. They will return home seven days later, on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 later when they take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in a much anticipated rematch at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Tickets for this game and all other Steamwheeler home games on sale now.
To purchase season and group tickets or for more information about the Steamwheelers, call the Steamwheelers office at (563) 324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For single game tickets please call or visit The MARK of the Quad Cities box office or any TicketMaster location.
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