Stealth Fall to Steamwheelers

May 16, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release


Moline, Ill. - In a game which pitted the #1 versus the #2 teams in the af2 Coaches' Poll, the #2 Quad City Steamwheelers shocked the #1 Wichita Stealth with a 73-39 victory in front of 6,246 fans at The Mark of the Quad Cities. Steamwheelers quarterback Ronnie Gordon claimed Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game honors for his 19-of-24 for 265 yards and six touchdowns. Gordon also ran in two touchdowns on the night.

After a sack to begin the game by Stealth lineman Cliff Holloman, the Steamwheelers would draw first blood and score on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Quad City offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt from Gordon giving the Steamwheelers a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing possession, the Stealth would fumble on the first play of the drive and Quad City wide receiver/linebacker Carmelo Ocasio would pick it up at the two-yard line and run it in for a quick 13-0 start for the Steamwheelers with 10:26 left in the first quarter.

The Stealth would make their first score of the night on the next drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Sparrow to Damon Thompson to make it 13-7 in favor of the Steamwheelers. The Steamwheelers would strike right back on the next drive as Gordon found wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge from seven yards out to make it 20-7 Steamwheelers. They would increase the lead to 27-7 near the end of the first half when lineman Jamal Cherry would intercept a Sparrow pass and return it 32-yards for a touchdown bringing the first quarter score to 27-7.

At the start of the second quarter, the Stealth would answer with a five play 34-yard drive capped off by a Sparrow two-yard run making the score 27-13. The Steamwheelers would again deal a blow right back to the Stealth in the form of a 17-yard pass from Gordon to Dodge increasing Quad City's lead to 34-13.

The Stealth would begin the next drive on their five-yard line and were moved back to the three-yard line on a personal foul that occurred on the Steamwheelers touchdown. The Stealth would get a 27-yard pass to Michael Dritlein, but again was called back due to an illegal formation penalty by the Stealth pushing them back to the two-yard line. On the next play, the Steamwheeler pressure would get to Sparrow and sack him in the end zone for a safety increasing their lead to 36-13 at the 5:35 mark of the first half. As a result of the safety, the Stealth would have to kickoff to the Steamwheelers and they would take the ball to the Wichita five-yard line before pushing themselves back with a personal foul penalty and had to attempt a 33-yard Ryan Geisler field goal that would increase their lead to 39-13.

On the ensuing drive, the Stealth would reach into their bag of gimmicks and pull out a double pass. Sparrow took the snap threw back to his left to Thompson, who would look downfield and find lineman David Hurst wide open for a 35-yard touchdown pass getting the Stealth closer to the Steamwheelers 39-19. The Steamwheelers would answer right back as Gordon found Sheffield on a 22-yard touchdown pass capping the first half scoring with the Steamwheelers leading 46-19.

The offense would slow down in the third quarter with both teams only getting one score a piece. The Stealth would score on an eight play 38-yard drive capped off by a three-yard run by Carl Richardson. The Stealth would attempt a two-point conversion on the point after but were stopped short, leaving the third quarter score 52-25 in favor of Quad City.

The Stealth would open the fourth quarter scoring after a missed 42-yard field goal by the Steamwheelers, on a 25-yard pass from Sparrow to Anthony Griffin. The Stealth would convert on the two-point conversion closing the gap to 52-33 with 12:26 left in the game.

The Steamwheelers would counter with a touchdown of their own putting them back up 59-33. The Stealth would get back with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Sparrow to Macrea, but that was all the Stealth would get on the night. The Steamwheelers would add two more touchdowns to get the final mark to 73-39.

The sour note of the night would be the loss of Stealth offensive/defensive lineman Dustin Fish. With twenty seconds left in the game, Fish was hit and suffered a compound fracture of the left leg. The officials elected to let the last twenty seconds run off of the clock and conclude the game.

Stealth quarterback Aaron Sparrow would end the night 25-of-45 for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Stealth wide receiver/linebacker Marc Bacote would lead all Stealth receivers with eight catches for 81 yards.

The Steamwheelers would sweep the game awards on the night. Along with Gordon who claimed the Baby Ruth award, Bear Brown would earn the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game and Jamal Cherry would earn the ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.

STEALTH NOTES: Next week the Stealth will conclude their three game road swing when they travel to face the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on May 22nd.The Stealth are still offering a bus trip to the Oklahoma City game for $50. The deadline is Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.The next Stealth home game is set for May 29th versus the Laredo Law. The Stealth defeated the Law on April 10th 44-22 in Wichita.Tickets are available for all remaining Stealth home games by calling 316.755.3307 or Select-A-Seat at 316.755.SEAT (7328).

BOX SCORE

1st 2nd 3rd 4th FINAL

Wichita (5-1) 7 12 6 14 39

Quad City (6-1) 27 19 6 21 73



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