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Quad City Steamwheelers game notes

July 27, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Louisville Fire (9-6) vs.
Quad City Steamwheelers (9-6)
Date: Saturday, July 31, 2004
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CDT
Site: The MARK of the Quad Cities (9,437)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Tony Canella (Referee), Pat Bayers (Umpire), Donald Rager (Head Linesman), Reggie Smith (Line Judge), Larry Orrico (Back Judge)
Radio: WFXN 1230 AM and KWPC 890 AM (Jim Albracht – Play-by-Play, John Furlong – Color)
TV: None

Series Record: The Steamwheelers hold a 4-1 edge over the Louisville Fire. The Fire gained their first win over the Steamwheelers earlier in the season.

Last Meeting: In a classic Arena Football game, the Fire edged the ‘wheelers by the slimmest of margins, 62-61. It was the first win over the ‘Wheelers for the Fire.

Streaks: The Steamwheelers are coming off a must win game to win the Division. A win against Louisville tonight would mean an automatic berth into post-season play. The Louisville Fire are on a one game-winning streak after defeating the Green Bay Blizzard last weekend. With the win, Louisville keeps their playoff hopes alive and would need Peoria to lose to win the division.

Coaches:
Quad City — Rich Ingold (8-5; 31-14, Third season)
Louisville — Tommy Johnson (9-6, 13-16, Second season)

THE STAKES: There is a three-way tie atop the Midwest Division, and a win for the Steamwheelers would give them the crown and an automatic berth in the playoffs. If Louisville wins, and Peoria loses' their game, Louisville receives the Division championship. If Louisville and Peoria both win, Peoria wins the Division.

THE SERIES: The Steamwheelers have a 4-1 edge against the Fire. The last match up was a hard-nosed battle with Louisville prevailing by a point.

THE IFs:
If Quad City defeats Louisville, it would ...
· Give Quad City an 5-1 all-time series lead
· Give the Steamwheelers the Midwest Division Championship
· Give Rich Ingold a 34-15 record as a coach

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (9-6, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/3 Manchester 7:30 WIN 71-32
4/10 @Manchester 7:30 WIN 45-42
4/17 Tennessee Valley 7:30 WIN 47-29
4/24 @W-B Scranton 6:00 Loss 40-27
5/1 Green Bay 7:30 WIN 47-26
5/7 @Peoria 7:00 WIN 47-20
5/15 Wichita 7:30 WIN 73-39
5/22 @San Diego 9:00 Loss 62-52
5/29 BYE
6/5 @Louisville 6:30 Loss 62-61
6/12 W-B Scranton 7:30 Loss 46-39
6/18 @Green Bay 7:30 WIN 62-53
6/25 @Arkansas 7:30 WIN 54-29
7/2 Peoria 7:30 Loss 29-13
7/10 @Tennessee Valley 7:30 Loss 48-41
7/17 Birmingham 7:30 WIN 56-22
7/24 BYE
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/31 Louisville 7:30 W-1 QC leads 4-1

LOUISVILLE FIRE (9-6, Won 1)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
4/3 BYE
4/10 Hawaii 6:30 WIN 37-35
4-16 Macon 6:30 WIN 78-42
4/24 @ Albany 6:00 WIN 62-56
5/1 @ W/B Scranton 6:00 Loss 59-51
5/8 @ Memphis 7:00 WIN 70-63
5/15 Albany 6:30 Loss 60-56
5/22 @ Green Bay 7:30 WIN 59-54
5/29 W/B Scranton 6:30 WIN 48-47
6/5 Quad City 7:30 WIN 62-61
6/12 @Peoria 7:00 Loss 35-31
6/19 Peoria 6:30 Loss 51-50
6/25 @ Manchester 6:30 Loss 49-28
7/3 BYE
7/10 Columbus 6:30 WIN 63-61
7/17 @ Hawaii 11:30 Loss 62-59
7/24 Green Bay 6:30 WIN 52-47
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/31 @ Quad City 7:30 W-1 QC leads 4-1

HEAD COACHES: Rich Ingold is in his third season as the Steamwheelers head coach after guiding them to a 2003 National Conference Midwest Division championship. Ingold has a 33-15 record in his two and a half seasons at the helm and has posted 11 of 13 regular season home victories.

Louisville Fire coach Tommy Johnson began his football career as a player at DeFuniak Springs (Fla.) High School. Johnson then attended Alabama, where he played defensive back. In 1992, he was a part of the National Championship team. In 2001, Johnson began his coaching career with the Fire as defensive coordinator. After two seasons as defensive coordinator Johnson was named head coach three games into the 2003 season.

LAST SERIES MEETING: When Jim Foster started the game of Arena Football back in 1987 he wanted games exactly like the one played between the Fire and Steamwheelers on June 5 in Freedom Hall. The game saw non-stop action and scoring with the two teams going back and forth the entire game. Even the game's final minute was exciting as ever. The Fire would end up as the victors on that Saturday night by a mere 62-61 margin. The win was the first in team history for the Fire over the Steamwheelers. Prior to that game, the Steamwheelers had won all four meetings between the teams.

SERIES NOTABLES: It doesn't get any better than this. It is the final week of the season and three teams are tied at 9-6 for the Midwest Division lead. Two of those teams are playing each other this weekend and the winner could wind up as the Midwest Division winner. If Quad City wins, it means the Steamwheelers win the Division regardless of what Peoria does. If Louisville wins, they would need Peoria to lose. Peoria would need to win and have Louisville win in order to win the Division.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:

STEAMWHEELERS' LEADERS
Player Rank Category Stat
Jeff Hewitt 9 Scoring 181
Jeff Hewitt 9 Scoring (TD's) 30
Ryan Geisler 8 Scoring (Kick) 90
Ronnie Gordon 9 Pass Rating 111.5
Tim Dodge 5 Receptions 103
Tim Dodge 2 Receiving Yards 1452
Jeff Hewitt 8 Receiving Yards 1343
Matt Forbes 9 Interceptions 6
Ronnie Gordon 7 Passing Yards 246.9
Jeff Hewitt 5 All Purpose 2350
Ronnie Gordon 4 Total Offense 3836
Ryan Geisler 7 PAT kicking 72-94
Matt Forbes T-6 Fumbles Forced 3
Chazz Moore T-4 Fumbles Recovered 3
Danny Thomas T-13 Fumbles Recovered 2
Matt Forbes 2 Passes Defended 29
Matt Forbes 5 Tackles 77.0
FAMILIAR FACES: This weekend's game will feature a quarterback that the Steamwheelers are familiar to. The only difference is that this quarterback has usually been wearing a different jersey than that of the Louisville Fire. Former Tennessee Valley Vipers quarterback Matt Sauk is now making the play calls under center for the Fire. Sauk has not been so lucky against the Steamwheelers as he has a 1-3 record. In this first game, Sauk was 21-of-36 for 360 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steamwheelers and Fire stack up:
Statistical Steamwheelers Fire
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 10 49.0 4 53.7
Scoring Defense 3 38.6 18 52.1
Total Offense 10 261.7 1 295.0
Total Defense 6 231.5 24 284.8
Pass Offense 9 244.1 1 272.5
Pass Defense 9 220.1 21 257.5
Rushing Offense 16 17.6 10 22.5
Rushing Defense 2 11.4 21 27.3
Scoring (non-kick) 11 632 6 678
Scoring (kicking) 11 91 2 124
Pass Rating 10 110.5 8 110.9
Pass Def Rating 2 92.3 23 115.5
Kickoff Returns 12 20.0 7 20.3
MFG Returns 14 16.1 15 16.0
Turnover Margin 2 1.00 6 .67
Field Goals 11 .316 9 .333
PAT Kicking 13 .768 1 .915
Sacks By 8 22 14 19
Sacks Against 8 15 3 6
First Downs 17 212 2 268
Opponent 1st downs 7 209 20 246
Penalties 11 56.9 19 65.1
Opponent Penalties 11 57.3 10 56.1

STEAMWHEELERS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL Bear Brown Knee LTIR
DS Michael Lewis Shoulder STIR
OL/DL Brandon Williams Knee LTIR
DS Danny Thomas Knee LTIR
OL/DL Brandon Graves Leg STIR

MILESTONES: Three Steamwheelers are knocking on milestone doors — QB Ronnie Gordon, WR/DB Tim Dodge and OS Jeff Hewitt. Gordon broke the Steamwheelers single season rushing touchdown record and is adding to it with his season total climbing to 23. Dodge (1,452) and Hewitt (1,343) have both eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yards plateau and are looking to hit the 1,500 mark in this game.

DROPBACK: The Steamwheelers avoided a second three-game losing skid by sending the Birmingham Steeldogs running with their tails between their legs after a 56-22 victory at The MARK of the Quad Cities on July 17. The Steamwheelers then enjoyed the week off, as it was their "bye" week. The team returned to practice last Friday and Saturday with two sessions lasting just over an hour. They took Sunday off and the skill players had a brief workout on Monday. The full squad returned to practice on Tuesday with its normal sessions.

FORWARD MOTION: The Steamwheelers only have 30 different playoff scenarios, but there is one thing for sure, they win, they're in. And they are in as the Midwest Division champs and would be the number three seed hosting the number six seed on Aug. 7 at The MARK. Who that team would be is still up in the air. Five teams have a shot at it. If the Steamwheelers lose tonight, they have an 80-percent shot at making the playoffs as the fifth or sixth seed, meaning they would be on the road.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS: The Steamwheelers have been a member of the arenafootball2 league since its inception in 2000. In their first four years of play, the Steamwheelers have won at least 10 games. They went 16-0 in 2000, 15-1 in 2001, 10-6 in 2002, and 14-2 last season. If they look to continue that streak, they would have to win their final game of the season, tonight against the Fire. Right now the Steamwheelers sit at 9-6 and need the win in order to reach the 10 wins mark.

10 WINS AND YOU'RE IN: There are six teams still alive for the final three playoff spots in the National Conference playoffs. One of those remaining spots will go to the winner of the Midwest Division, which could be Peoria, Louisville or Quad City. That then leaves five teams battling for the final two wild card spots. Of the 30 different scenarios, there is one that makes perfect sense — win 10 games. Only two teams can do that (with Louisville and Quad City playing each other, that means that one of them cannot win 10 games). That still leaves at least one spot open for a 9-7 team.

SIX IN A ROW: Steamwheelers wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge is on a tear as of late. Anymore, the arenafootball2 league office might want to rename the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game to Tim Dodge Ironman of the Game. For the sixth straight week, Dodge was named U.S. Army Ironman of the Game. This award could not suit Dodge any better as he has already received the nickname of the "60-Minute Man." The last Steamwheelers game against Birmingham, he had four receptions for 74 yards and a seven-yard rush on offense. On defense he added 4.5 tackles, three pass deflections and an interception.

GORDON ON PACE TO BREAK af2 RECORD: In the 2003 season, former Steamwheelers quarterback Tony Zimmerman rushed for 17 touchdowns, a Steamwheelers single season record. Through 14 games this season, quarterback Ronnie Gordon has accounted for 62 passing touchdowns and has now broken the Steamwheelers single season record as he now has 23. He will need to rush for five touchdowns to tie the record set last season by Cape Fear's Wilmont Perry.
THE ‘GOLD' TD RUSH:
Player Games Rush TD's Pace
Tony Zimmerman 16 39 17
Ronnie Gordon 15 68 23 25

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Quarterbacks
Steamwheelers' Quarterback Ronnie Gordon: Gordon has now broken every possible Steamwheelers rushing record that he could break single season and career. Not bad for a 30-year old. He has been just as successful through the air, passing for 62 touchdowns. Putting the two together can be a lethal combination and that is what Gordon has been all season. Gordon is just five rushing touchdowns shy of the af2 single season record. With only a game to go, that feat might not be too far fetched after his performance two weeks ago where he rushed for three scores.

Fire Quarterback Matt Sauk: Steamwheelers fans know Sauk better than any other quarterback in the league. And they have good reason to. Sauk used to play for the hated Tennessee Valley Vipers until this season. Now he is playing for the divisional rival Fire. Sauk got his first ever win against the Steamwheelers on June 5 and will need a stellar performance to notch win #2.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY: July 8, 2000 – On a 1-yard touchdown run by Steamwheelers quarterback Billy Dicken with 1:31remain in a game against Tennessee Valley, the Steamwheelers set the Arena Football record for touchdowns in a single season with 119. The Steamwheelers finished the season with 152 total touchdowns, breaking the record of 118 set by the AFL's Albany Firebirds.

GETTING TO KNOW A STEAMWHEELER: This week's featured player is offensive lineman/defensive lineman Harvie Herrington. Harvie is the second oldest player on the team behind 39-year old Flint Fleming. He played at Western Illinois University and was in camp with the Indianapolis Colts. He is engaged to Tishly Goldie. His nickname is Big Harv.

af2 BABY RUTH REAL DEAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week Team Player
17 Cent. Valley Kenyatte Morgan

af2 U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Week Team Player
17 W-B/Scranton Rocco Forgione

af2 ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week Team Player
17 Laredo Traco Rachal

Trivial Pursuit
Oldest player: 39, Flint Fleming – 3/17/65
Youngest player: 23, Fred Barr – 1/5/81
Tallest Player: 6'8" – Bear Brown
Shortest Player: 5'10" – Four Players
Heaviest Player: 350 – Bear Brown
Lightest Player: 175 – Matt Forbes
Native Iowans: 3
Colleges represented: 23
Iowa Colleges: 3
Illinois Colleges: 3
Players 300+ pounds: 7
Players 6'5" or taller: 4
2004 Roster Breakdown
By College/University
California-Lutheran Purdue
California-Berkley – 2 Cal. St. – Northridge
Northern Illinois San Diego State Eastern Kentucky Simpson North Dakota State Grand Valley State SW Missouri State Illinois Indiana (PA) Vanderbilt Western Illinois – 2 SUNY-Morrisville Iowa – 4 William Penn Wis. – Stevens Point Louisville

QC Home Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Manchester Jeff Hewitt
3 Tenn. Valley Tim Dodge
5 Green Bay Jeff Hewitt
7 Wichita Ronnie Gordon
11 Wilkes-Barre J.R. Thomas (WBS)
13 Peoria Frank West (PEO)
15 Birmingham Ronnie Gordon
17 Louisville

QC Home GAME U.S. Army IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Manchester Harvie Herrington
3 Tenn. Valley Bear Brown
5 Green Bay Brian Berg
7 Wichita Bear Brown
11 Wilkes-Barre Tim Dodge
13 Peoria Tim Dodge
15 Birmingham Tim Dodge
17 Louisville

QC Home GAME ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER AWARD
Week Opp. Player
1 Manchester Danny Thomas
3 Tenn. Valley Matt Forbes
5 Green Bay Danny Thomas
7 Wichita Jamaal Cherry
11 Wilkes-Barre Jamie Hattley (WBS)
13 Peoria Enoch Smith (PEO)
15 Birmingham Chazz Moore
17 Louisville
Steamwheelers "When" Stats
5-2 at The MARK of the Quad Cities
4-4 on the road

4-3 vs. National Conference
5-3 vs. American Conference

2-2 vs. American Northeast
1-0 vs. American South
2-1 vs. American Mid-South
0-0 vs. National Southwest
3-2 vs. National Midwest
1-1 vs. National West

3-1 on Fridays
6-5 on Saturdays

3-1 in April
3-1 in May
2-2 in June
1-2 in July

4-3 when leading after the first quarter
3-3 when trailing after the first quarter
2-0 when tied after the first quarter

8-1 when leading at halftime
1-5 when trailing at halftime
0-0 when tied at halftime

9-1 when leading after the third quarter
0-5 when trailing after the third quarter
0-0 when tied after the third quarter

7-3 in games decided by 10+ points
1-2 in games decided by 4-9 points
1-1 in games decided by 3 points or less

1-2 when opponent scores more than 50 points
8-4 when opponent scores less than 50 points

5-2 when the ‘Wheelers scores more than 50 points
4-4 when the ‘Wheelers scores less than 50 points


4-4 when the ‘Wheelers scores first
5-2 when the opponent scores first

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