Riptide Steamed, Pressed and Rolled 69-36
July 12, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
MOLINE, IL â The San Diego Riptide took on the af2's top offense and the league's top sack artist Saturday night and both definitely showed up as the Quad City Steamwheelers won their twelfth in a row drowning the Riptide 69-36.
The game opened with Quad City OS Ira Gooch scoring the first of five first half touchdowns on a 15-yard touchdown tossed by Tony Zimmermann.
Riptide quarterback Kane Claunch slipped in for a two-yard rushing score to tie the game at seven. Gooch responded with two more receiving scores before Claunch connected with a wide-open Eddie Miller for a 25-yard score and the Riptide trailed 21-14 with 17 seconds left in the first quarter.
It would be 35 minutes and 14 seconds before the San Diego offense would score again as they failed to score a point on their next five drives.
The Riptide defense, however, would score the next Riptide points as Zach LaMonda scooped up a fumble and rumbled 17 yards for a touchdown. The fumble originated when Zimmerman attempted to take a keeper for a score and fumbled at the goal line. Quincy LeJay picked it up an raced down to sideline only to be stripped by Tim Dodge. The ball bounced right in hands of LaMonda who rumbled the rest of the way for the San Diego score.
The Steamwheelers doubled up the Riptide 40-20 early in the third quarter when Zimmermann bombed a 45-yard strike to LaRico Cole just a play after Danny Thomas intercepted a Claunch pass in the end zone. The following two Riptide possessions ended with Claunch getting sacked; the first on fourth and 19 and the other in the end zone for a safety.
Riptide backup quarterback Wesley Phillips entered the game with the team down 57-20 in the fourth. He took the team down for two touchdowns late in the game as he hit Lamont Webb on a 5-yard pass and Jesus Reyes on a 41-yard strike.
Zimmermann lead the league's top offense with eight scores giving him an af2-leading 81 scoring strikes and Asa Francis added two sacks extending his af2 lead with 11.5. The Steamwheelers overall sacked Riptide quarterbacks five times on the night.
The Riptide return home to the Sports Arena to finish off the season with Friday home games against Hawaii (7/18) and Green Bay (7/25).
Tickets can purchased at any TicketMaster location, by calling 619.220.TIXS, online at ticketmaster.com or through sandiegoriptide.com or by at the Riptide offices by calling 866.RIPTIDE.
All active U.S. Military can purchase up to four Terrace-level tickets to this and all remaining Riptide home games for $5 a piece. Military Appreciation tickets can ONLY be purchased at the San Diego Sports Arena with your Military identification.
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