Quad City Steamwheelers Drop Season Opener to the Arkansas Twisters, 68-58
March 31, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
Moline, Ill. - The Quad City Steamwheelers dropped their season opener for the second straight season with a 68-58 final against the Arkansas Twisters on Friday, March 31 on Orthopaedic Specialists Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Arkansas scored 25 unanswered points mid-way through the second half to take a dominating 61-37 lead. The deficit was too much for the Steamwheelers.
Quad City found itself down 36-19 with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter. Three straight touchdowns, including am 11-yard pass down the middle to Jack Walker Jr., with seven seconds left in the half to pull Quad City to within 11, 36-25.
The Steamwheelers opened the third quarter with a 40-yard fade from Tim Hicks to Bo Smith with 11:59 left to make it a 36-31 game. Quad City briefly took the lead, 37-36, on a 10-yard out-route when Smith and Hicks hooked up for the second time in the quarter with 6:35 left.
The Twisters' 25 point run to close out the third quarter and open the fourth resulted in a 61-37 lead they would not relinquish. The run was initiated by Steve Watson's fumble recovery in the end-zone with 2:31 left in the third that gave Arkansas the momentum and a 47-39 lead.
Quarterback Hicks threw seven touchdown passes tying for third place with 15 others in Quad City history for most touchdown passes in a game. He also completed 29 passes on 43 attempts for 349 yards.
Smith caught 11 passes for 139 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 16 yards on one carry to lead the Steamwheelers. On defense, Sidney Lewis led Quad City with 5.5 total tackles on the evening. Patrick Horne forced a fumble and grabbed an interception on the night.
For Arkansas Walter Church would throw 20 paces for 277 yards on 27 attempts. Robert Kilow would catch six passes for 95 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively the Twisters were led by Mitchell-Hughey Bryon with 10.5 tackles and two breakups.
Following the game the Steamwheelers and ALCOA held a jersey auction to raise money for the Child Abuse Council. The charity auction raised over $3,300 dollars with Matt Pike's jersey netting $525 dollars.
The Quad City Steamwheelers will next be in action on Saturday, April 15 at 7:15 p.m. when they host the Green Bay Blizzard. For tickets visit The MARK of the Quad City box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (563) 326-1111.
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