Quad City Steamwheelers Thunder Struck 63-34 by Mahoning Valley
June 16, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Youngstown, Ohio) - The Quad City Steamwheelers dropped to 7-4 on the season after a 63-34 loss to the Mahoning Valley Thunder in front of 3,512 at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown, Ohio. After trading scores most of the first half the Thunder outscored the Steamwheelers 29-13 in the second half en route to the 63-34 victory.
Thunder fullback Tim Murphy dominated the âWheelers as he scored five touchdowns (four running and one receiving) on the night. For his efforts he earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game award.
After Steamwheelers quarterback J.J. Raterink threw an interception on the first drive of the game the Thunder jumped on the board first thanks to a one-yard run by Murphy. Two minutes and 33 seconds later the âWheelers took a 7-6 lead after Raterink located Kris Peters for a 25-yard pass. Murphy helped the Thunder retake the lead on a four-yard run that capped a six play 43-yard drive for Mahoning Valley.
With the Thunder leading 13-7 after one Jack Walker Jr caught his only touchdown pass of the night on a 27-yard catch after he eluded five defenders on his way into the end zone. After a three-yard Kenneth Johnson pass from Mike Schneider to put the Thunder back on top, the âWheelers Jeff Macrea notched his first of two rushing touchdowns on the evening on a three-yard run to give the âWheelers a 21-20 lead with just 2:07 remaining in the half.
With less than a minute remaining in the half Murphy tallied his third TD of the night on a two-yard run for the sixth lead change of the night to give the Thunder a 27-21 advantage and the lead for good. With only five seconds remaining in the second quarter, Mike Andrews picked Raterink and scored on a 15-yard touchdown return to put the Thunder up 34-21.
After a five-yard touchdown pass to Chris Archie former âWheeler Reggie Perkins returned another Raterink interception to put the Thunder up 49-21. After the touchdown Perkins ran near Steamwheelers Head Coach Sean Ponder and Ponder was ejected for allegedly trying to trip the wide receiver/defensive back. Macrea ended the scoring in the third quarter on another three-yard touchdown run to cut the Thunder lead to 21.
Peters scored the last touchdown for the âWheelers on a 10-yard pass with 3:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. His catch was sandwiched between Murphy's 14-yard touchdown grab and 10-yard TD run to give the final score of 63-34.
Raterink finished the night with 18 completions for 187 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Peters finished with seven catches and 88 yards for two touchdowns, while Walker Jr., finishd with seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. Macrea had three rushes for nine yards and two touchdowns to cap the âWheelers offense. On defense Malik Jackson, playing for suspended Sidney Lewis, tallied a team-high 5.5 tackles.
For the Thunder Schneider finished with 20 completions for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while his favorite target was Archie, who had eight catches for 58 yards and a TD. Donald Sweeney finished with a game-high seven tackles, while Maurice Taylor tallied two interceptions. Perkins was named the ADT Defensive Player of the game fir his three solo tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.
The Steamwheelers return home to face the undefeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on Friday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. The Pioneers improved to 10-0 after defeating the Alabama Steeldogs 77-62 tonight. The Steamwheelers will have a chance to ensure that they remain the only team in af2 history to go undefeated in a season when former âWheelers coach Rich Ingold brings his Pioneers to town. It is Fan Appreciation night at The MARK and all tickets to the game are just $10 and tickets are good for free admission to Taste of the Quad Cities both before and after the game on Friday night.
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