Quad City Steamwheelers Huddle
Published on July 17, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
Quad City Steamwheelers Notes/Story Ideas
Quad City Streaks: Kris Peters streak of at least one touchdown reception a game has been extended to 11 games... Tim Dodge has caught at least one receiving touchdown in the past nine games and has had two or more receiving touchdowns in the past fivesix games .... Dodge's streak of at least one rushing touchdown in his past four games cane to an end against Louisville...Jermaine Petty has forced a fumble in his past three games.
Quad City Trio Looks to Make More History: Kris Peters, Tim Dodge and Jack Walker Jr. became the third trio to catch over 1,000 receiving yards for one team in the same season on July 8th. Now the trio is looking to become the first in league history to catch 100 passes and register 1,000 receiving yards. Walker became the first of the three players to record 100 receptions in Louisville last Saturday. Dodge is currently sitting at 99, while Peters needs eight more for the trio to accomplish the feat.
Record Setting Pace: Quad City quarterback Tim Hicks and Albany quarterback Ryan Vena are both still on a record setting pace to shatter the league record for total passing yards in a single season. It appears that Vena will hold the league record at the end of the season as he is on pace to finish with 4,763 yards passing, 227 yards more than Hicks. Hicks is on pace to finish the season with 4,536 passing yards breaking the league record of 4,489 yards in the final game of the regular season at Manchester. Hicks is also on pace to destroy the team record of 4,357 yards set by former 'Wheeler Tony Zimmerman in 2003. At his current pace Hicks will surpass Zimmerman in the regular season finale as well.
Never Giving Up: Quad City Steamwheelers WR/DB Troy Graham started the season on the Steamwheelers bench, not playing in two of the team's first three games. The rookie did not give up however and kept battling in practice. The work paid off as he has started in nine straight games. During that stretch of games Graham also broke his hand but he refused to quit playing. Even with the broken hand Graham has become on the 'Wheelers best defensive players. He leads the team in tackles (67.5), pass breakups (17) and interceptions (4), including a 41-yard return for a touchdown against Louisville last week, that effort earned Graham defensive player of the game honors.
Help Needed: With the tough loss at Louisville last Saturday, the Quad City Steamwheelers no long control their own playoff destiny. While the Steamwheelers have not been mathematically eliminated, they now are forced to win out and hope for some help from the rest of the league.
Looking for his 25th: Quad City Steamwheelers head coach is looking for his 25th af2 victory this season. If the team wins out he will finish the season at 25-24 in his af2 career. These numbers do not include his AFL head coaching totals.
A Not So Happy Homecoming: The Quad City Steamwheelers hope that it will not be a happy homecoming for former Steamwheelers head coach Rich Ingold. The former Steamwheelers head coach led the Steamwheelers to a league-best record of 14-2 in 2004.
Scouting the Pioneers: The Quad City Steamwheelers felt they should have defeated the Pioneers on 6-17, however they suffered a 55-52 set back. That win was the Pioneers last as they have gone 0-3 since. The Pioneers are also 3-6 in their last nine games. The Steamwheelers need to hand the Pioneers their fourth straight loss if they are to have any hope of making the playoffs. The Pioneers will look to keep their own playoff hopes alive on the arm of quarterback Mike Granieri. Granieri has thrown for 3,096 yards on 263 completions and has notched 52 touchdown passes. His favorite target of late is Leroy McFadden. McFaddenhas 413 yards and nine touchdown receptions in his past four games with the Pioneers. McFadden, who made his 2006 debut for the Pioneers against the Steamwheelers, and Granieri connected for four of the six touchdown receptions in the game. Defensively, Jamie Hatley is leading the team with 73 total tackles and five tackles for a loss. He also is second on the team in picks with four. Former Steamwheeler, Matt Forbes, is leading the team in picks with five and pass breakups with 14.
Recent Steamwheeler Transactions: 7/10 league placed Matt Manuma on league suspension; 7/7 Assigned Jimme Levins (WR/DB), Activated Adrian Wilson from STIR, Placed Maurice Harris on STIR, Placed Alfonso Pugh on Team Suspension; 6/29 Transferred Lavar Stepter from Short-Term to Long-Term IR; 6/23 Placed Adrian Wilson on Short-Term IR, Activiated Maurice Harris from Short-Term IR; 6/22 Assigned Mikey Novak; 6/15 Placed George Williams on Re-Assignment, Activated Jermaine Petty from Refused to Report, Placed Jeff Macrea on Long-Term IR, Placed Lavar Stepter on Short-Term IR.
Get 'em while their hot: Single game tickets are currently on sale. Tickets start as low as $13.00 for adults and $6.50 for children 14 and under. In addition, high school and college students with a valid student ID can purchase one upper deck ticket for $3.00 off the regular ticket price per ID.
Next Game
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pionners, 7:15 p.m. (CDT) on Orthopaedic Specialists Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities (Moline, Ill.)
Last Game
Saturday, July 15 2006
Quad City Steamwheelers 60
Louisville Fire 67
Freedom Hall (Louisville, Ky.)
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