Quad City Steamwheelers game notes

Published on May 6, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Quad City Steamwheelers (3-1)
At Amarillo Dusters (3-1)
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Site: Amarillo Civic Center (4,870)
National Anthem: N/A
Coin Toss: N/A
Officials: Matt Loeffler (Referee), Eric Griffin (Umpire), Gerald Woodruff (Head Linesman), Keith Garmond (Line Judge), Walt Coleman (Back Judge)
Radio: WFXN 1230 AM (Jim Albracht and Jim Foster)
Webcast: www.steamwheelers.com
TV: None
Series Record: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A
Streaks: This is the first ever meeting between Quad City and Amarillo.
Coaches: Rick Frazier (11-9; 0-0 playoffs, Second Season)*
Steve Perdue (1-0; 0-0 playoffs, First Season)*
*Signifies career marks in af2 only.

THE STAKES: The Steamwheelers are attempting to extend their winning streak to four games and snap the Dusters two-game winning streak at the same time. The ‘Wheelers last four-game winning streak came during the 2003 season when they won 14 straight.

THE SERIES: This is the first ever meeting between the Steamwheelers and Dusters. The only other team that remains on the Quad City schedule that it has never played is the Albany Conquest.

THE IFs:
If Quad City defeats Amarillo, it would ...
· Give Quad City a 4-1 record on the season
· Give the Steamwheelers a 1-0 all-time series lead over the Dusters
· Give Rick Frazier a 12-9 record as an af2 head coach
· Give the Steamwheelers a 4-0 record in the Midwest Division
· Give it a four-game winning streak for the first time since the 2003 season.
· Snap the Dusters franchise best two-game winning streak

Quad City Steamwheelers (3-1, W3)
(All Times Central)

Date Opponent Time Score Res. Record
4/10 @ Wilkes-Barre 3:00 64-28 L 0-1
4/16 BOSSIER CITY 7:30 36-29 W 1-1
4/23 @ Oklahoma City 7:30 61-43 W 2-1
4/30 MEMPHIS 7:30 45-42 W 3-1
5/7 @ Amarillo 7:00
5/14 WILKES-BARRE 7:30
5/21 @ Green Bay 7:00
5/28 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:30
6/4 LOUISVILLE 7:30
6/11 @ Memphis 7:00
6/18 ALBANY 7:30
6/24 @ Manchester 6:30
7/9 GREEN BAY 7:30
7/16 AMARILLO 7:30
7/23 @ Bossier City 7:00
7/30 @ Louisville 6:30

Quad City Steamwheelers Injury Report
Out- Andre Banks- (R-Ankle) - Long Term I.R.
Out- Brandon Graves- (R- Shoulder) - Long Term I.R.
Out- Mikey Novak – (L- Knee) – Short-Term I.R.
Out- DeOnte' Taylor- (L- Ankle) – Short Term I.R.
Out- Brandon Williams- (R- Knee) - Long Term I.R.

Steamwheelers vs. Amarillo All-Time Results

This is the first ever meeting between the Steamwheelers and Dusters.

LAST GAME RESET
Quad City Steamwheelers vs. Memphis Xplorers
April 30, 2005
OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities
Steamwheelers 45, Xplorers 42

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 improbable final minute for 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, snapped the ball too high for holder Matt Pike 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. Gatto took that chance 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 grab in the front, left corner of the end zone, gave the game its second tie of the half. The first time that the scoreline was level after the halftime break came with 41 seconds left in the third quarter. Pete Traynor picked up his first sack of the year, taking down Xplorer quarterback Brian Jones in the end zone 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 found 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 points coming into the game, caught 10 balls for a game-high 87 yards, but scored only once, giving the ‘Wheelers a chance to grab the eventual victory after trailing by as many ten early in the second half.

Team 1 2 3 4 Score
Memphis Xplorers.... 13 10 13 6 - 42 Record: (4-1)
Quad Steamwheelers.. 7 7 22 9 - 45 Record: (3-1)

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter
13:36 MEM - ADAMS, Terrell 13 yd pass from JONES, Brian (AZAR, Steven kick), 1-13 1:24, MEM 7 - QCS 0
10:43 QCS - BURNS, Travis 4 yd run (GATTO, Nick kick), 4-47 2:53, MEM 7 - QCS 7
08:44 MEM - ADAMS, Terrell 21 yd pass from JONES, Brian (AZAR, Steven kick failed), 2-41 1:59, MEM 13 - QCS 7
Second Quarter
13:44 QCS - NOVAK, A.J. 2 yd run (GATTO, Nick kick), 7-45 4:17, MEM 13 - QCS 14
03:37 MEM - JONES, Brian 4 yd run (AZAR, Steven kick), 2-30 1:54, MEM 20 - QCS 14
00:22 MEM - AZAR, Steven 32 yd field goal, 4--2 0:38, MEM 23 - QCS 14
Third Quarter
13:07 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 19 yd pass from CLEMONS, Sam (GATTO, Nick kick failed), 2-30 1:53, MEM 23 - QCS 20
11:15 MEM - ADAMS, Terrell 30 yd pass from JONES, Brian (AZAR, Steven kick), 2-30 1:52, MEM 30 - QCS 20
07:56 QCS - DODGE, Tim 15 yd pass from CLEMONS, Sam (GATTO, Nick kick), 4-30 3:19, MEM 30 - QCS 27
05:58 MEM - PRENTISS, Kevin 18 yd pass from JONES, Brian (AZAR, Steven kick failed), 2-27 1:58, MEM 36 - QCS 27
02:24 QCS - WALKER, Jack Jr 8 yd pass from CLEMONS, Sam (GATTO, Nick kick), 5-47 3:34, MEM 36 - QCS 34
00:41 QCS - TRAYNOR, Pete safety, MEM 36 - QCS 36
Fourth Quarter
03:52 MEM - JONES, Brian 1 yd run (AZAR, Steven kick failed), 7-45 5:08, MEM 42 - QCS 36
00:54 QCS - WALKER, Jack Jr 12 yd pass from CLEMONS, Sam (GATTO, Nick kick failed), 6-45 2:58, MEM 42 - QCS 42
00:00 QCS - GATTO, Nick 45 yd field goal, 3--2 0:40, MEM 42 - QCS 45

LAST GAME RESET---STATS
Quad City Steamwheelers vs. Memphis Xplorers
April 30, 2005
OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities
Steamwheelers 45, Xplorers 42

MEM QCS
FIRST DOWNS 12 24
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 5-9 9-31
PASSING YDS (NET) 230 295
Passes Att-Comp-Int 26-18-0 46-31-3
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 33-239 55-326
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards 4-127 6-93
Interception Returns-Yards 3-5 0-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 14-80 5-45
Possession Time 24:26 35:34
Third-Down Conversions 1 of 4 1 of 5
Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 0 3 of 4
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-4 3-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards 0-0 2-11

RUSHING: Memphis Xplorers- JONES, Brian 2-5; GIDDENS, Deon 1-3; ADAMS, Terrell 1-1; STAMPER, Nick 1-0.
Quad City Steamwheelers- NOVAK, A.J. 3-14; CLEMONS, Sam 2-5.

PASSING: Memphis Xplorers- JONES, Brian 18-26-0-241. Quad City Steamwheelers- CLEMONS, Sam 31-46-3-295.

RECEIVING: Memphis Xplorers- PRENTISS, Kevin 6-87; ADAMS, Terrell 5-90; BATTLE, Stephen 3-33; KARR, Ryan 3-22; GIDDENS, Deon 1-9.
Quad City Steamwheelers- DODGE, Tim 11-89, WALKER, Jack Jr. 10-84; BURNS, Travis 6-62; HEWITT, Jeff 5-35; MORRIS, Torey 3-37.

SACKS (UA-A): Memphis Xplorers-None. Quad Steamwheelers-TRAYNOR, Pete 1-0; NOVAK, A.J. 0-1; HUGHES, Pat 0-1.

TACKLES (UA-A): Memphis Xplorers-SINGFIELD, Dahn 6-4; ADAMS, Terrell 6-0; KARR, Ryan 3-6; LOCKLYN, Carlos 4-3; GIDDENS, Deon 3-4; BATTLE, Stephen 2-2; CUNNINGHAM, Sco 2-2; GRACE, Nate 2-0; LUCAS, Treveco 1-0; AZAR, Steven 0-1. Quad City Steamwheelers-FORBES, Matt 4-0; SMITH, Kofi 3-1; CULP, John 2-0; DODGE, Tim 2-1; BROWN, Corey 2-1; WALKER, Jack Jr 1-2; GATTO, Nick 1-0; TRAYNOR, Pete 1-0; WATSON, Antonio 1-1; BARR, Fred 0-1; MORRIS, Torey 0-1; HUGHES, Pat 0-1; NOVAK, A.J. 0-1.

INTERCEPTIONS: Memphis Xplorers- CUNNINGHAM, Scott 2-5; SINGFIELD, Dahnel 1-0.
Quad City Steamwheelers- None.

FUMBLES: Memphis Xplorers- GIDDENS, Deon 1-1. Quad City Steamwheelers- CLEMONS, Sam 1-1.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Kevin Prentiss (MEM)
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME – Scott Cunningham (MEM)
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Terrell Adams (MEM)

Stadium: OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities Attendance: 6,122
Kickoff time: 7:35 End of Game: 10:00 Total elapsed time: 2:25
Officials: Referee: Gus Golembiewski; Umpire: Pat Bayers; Linesman: Donald Roger; Line judge: Robert Smith; Back judge: Larry Orrico.

MISCALLANEOUS TEAM NOTES

Second to None: With his 45-yard field goal as time expired on Saturday night against Memphis, Quad City kicker Nick Gatto became just the second player in Steamwheeler history to hit a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of regulation. While this kick, which was the third longest in franchise history, handed the Xplorers their first loss, Ryan Geisler's 17-yard field goal at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. on April 10, 2004 denied the Manchester Wolves their first ever win.

Kickin' It When It Counts: He has hit only two field goals as a member of the Steamwheelers, but Gatto surely has a flair for the dramatic. In addition to Saturday's game-winner, Gatto's only other field goal came on April 16 against Bossier-Shreveport in the fourth quarter of an eventual 36-29 Steamwheeler win. With 6:19 left in that game, Gatto split the uprights from 39-yards out to give the ‘Wheelers a seven point lead and squelch the Battle Wings' momentum.

Just Win Baby: Through Week Five of the af2 season, it has become quite easy to differentiate between the haves and the have nots. Ten teams are over .500 and just one of those is a game above. The other nine teams are all either undefeated or saddled with one loss. Of those ten teams, only the Steamwheelers have a negative point differential, scoring 170 points in four games while surrendering 178. The next closest team to the Steamwheelers in point difference is the Green Bay Blizzard who have scored eight more points than they have allowed.
The Memphis Xplorers, despite their loss to Quad City last weekend, have the biggest point margin in the league at the moment, scoring 285 points while surrendering 147, for a 138 point difference.

Calling in the Closers: One of the mantra's that Head Coach Rick Frazier drives into his team on a daily basis is that in order to be a successful football team, you must be strong enough to win in the fourth quarter. His Steamwheelers have proven to be just that, outscoring teams 38-18 during the final quarter of this three-game winning streak.
Those numbers are just part of an overall second half dominance that the ‘Wheelers have shown as of late. Over the final 30 minutes of the last three Steamwheelers games, they are outscoring opponents 74-44.

Nice to Meet You 2005 Version 2.0: The Dusters will be the 31st different af2 team that the Steamwheelers have played against in franchise history. In the previous 30 games, Quad City has a record of 30-0 with all but four of those wins coming by 10 points or more. Two weeks ago, the ‘Wheelers took on the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz for the first time in team history, and emerged with a convincing 61-43 win at the Ford Center.

Not Your Typical Expansion Team: While this is the Dusters first season in the af2, they are hardly an expansion team. In 2004, the Dusters played in the six-team Intense Football League, an indoor football league in Texas. Following its only season of existence, the IFL shut down. Five IFL teams went to the National Indoor Football League while the Dusters, with many of the same players that they had in 2004, moved to af2.

TALE OF THE TAPE: The Steamwheelers are ranked 5th in the latest Weekly Coaches poll with 142 points while the Dusters are ranked 10th with 76 points. Here is a complete look at the statistical breakdown of the two teams.

STATISTICAL STEAMWHEELERS DUSTERS
CATEGORY RANK STAT RANK STAT
Scoring Offense 14th 42.5 1st 59.5
Scoring Defense 9th 44.5 T-15th 54.5
Total Offense 6th 265.8 2nd 301.5
Total Defense 13th 260.5 11th 256.0
Pass Offense 5th 255.2 3rd 270.0
Pass Defense 14th 248.5 13th 244.8
Rushing Offense 15th 10.5 4th 31.5
Rushing Defense 7th 12.0 6th 11.2
Pass Rating 7th 114.3 3rd 126.0
Pass Def. Rating 11th 109.6 15th 112.0
Kickoff Returns 12th 18.1 9th 18.6
MFG Returns T-16th 19.0 T-17th 0.0
Turnover Margin 9th +0 6th +3
Field Goals T-11th 2 T-18th 0
PAT Kicking T-12th .750 3rd .848
Sacks By T-3rd 9 T-11th 6
Sacks Against T-11th 8 9th 6
First Downs T-10th 74 5th 83
Opp. First Downs 2nd 58 9th 68
Penalty Yards 4th 47.0 17th 72.0
Opp. Penalty Yards 10th 60.8 7th 70.2

Quad City Steamwheelers Recent Transactions
4/06/2005 Assigned QB Sam Clemons
4/06/2005 Assigned WR/DB DeOnte' Taylor
4/06/2005 K Stephen Scaldaferri was placed on the other league exempt list and signed with Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
4/08/2005 Assigned WR/DB Tim Dodge
4/08/2005 Assigned K Nick Gatto
4/08/2005 Moved OL/DL Brandon Williams from Short-Term Injured Reserve to Long-Term Injured Reserve and placed WR/DB Danny Thomas on Short-Term Injured Reserve
4/13/2005 Traded OL/DL Antonio Dingle to the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz for OL/DL Will Goodloe and Future Considerations. Goodloe was then placed on the Refused to Report list.
4/15/2005 Activated WR/LB Alfonso Pugh Jr. from Short-Term Injured Reserve and placed OL/DL Ryan Bell on Waivers.
4/22/2005 Activated WR/DB DeOnte' Taylor and WR/DB Danny Thomas from Short-Term Injured Reserve. Placed FB/LB Scott Power and WR/LB Alfonso Pugh, Jr. on Short-Term Injured Reserve.
4/28/2005 Activated OL/DL Mikey Novak from Long-Term Injured Reserve. Placed WR/DB DeOnte' Taylor on Recallable-Reassignment.
4/29/2005 Recalled WR/DB DeOnte' Taylor and placed WR/DB Danny Thomas on Team Suspension.
5/06/2005 Activated FB/LB Scott Power and WR/LB Alfonso Pugh, Jr. from Short-Term Injured Reserve. Placed WR/DB DeOnte' Taylor and OL/DL Mikey Novak on Short-Term Injured Reserve.

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