Steamwheelers Defense Swarm Cincinnati; Win Seventh Straight

June 2, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


Nobody said winning had to be pretty. "A ‘W' is a ‘W' and we'll take it." head coach Rich Ingold said after the game. The Quad City Steamwheelers got off to an unusually slow start but finished strong to dominate the Cincinnati Swarm and win their seventh straight 48-21.

"The slow start was frustrating big time, I felt we were pressing a little bit," Ingold said. "We weren't real sharp, they would not play man on us. I knew that once we settled down we would be great, but coming out of the gates we were a little slow.

In the first quarter the number one scoring offense in the af2 was held to a zero points. The offense seemed to get off to a slow start just missing the passes and catches. A questionable WR/DB Tim Dodge fumble also added to the ‘Wheelers (7-2, 4-0) first quarter struggles. However the defense stepped up big, making crucial stops when necessary. Matt Forbes just missed an interception early on in the quarter and the defensive line really got after Swarm QB Chris Batcheller.

However, Forbes would leave the game later on in the first quarter and will have an MRI on Monday to get a better understanding of the total injury, but Ingold stated after the game that he would be out for the remainder of the season.

"It's tough, but we've lost him for the season, there was some ligament damage," Ingold said. "He is in the locker room in tears right now, I gave him the game ball after the game for all the work that he has done this season.

Dodge continued his roll as a "natural" af2 star, catching five passes for 69 yards and led the team in tackles with eight, while adding three pass deflections and a forced fumble.

"Tim Dodge is a natural born Arena Football player," Ingold said. "He has good movement, great speed and is very athletic.

Ira Gooch, started off slow, one step shy of returning a missed FG for a touchdown by one step and was limited to 12 return yards in the first quarter, but finished strong. Gooch finished with six receptions for 101 yards, five for touchdowns. He also had two missed field goal returns for 21 yards and two kickoff returns for 57 yards. All of this racked up to another Game MVP award for Gooch, his x on the season.

The Swarm (3-6, 2-2) were the first to strike after a few missed tackles on a WR/DB Miguel Merritt five-yard rush to the left side to give the Swarm a 7-0 lead after K Andy Payne added the extra point. It didn't take the ‘Wheelers long to respond.

It took the Steamwheelers five plays to go 43 yards in 3:23 to knot the game up at seven. QB Tony Zimmerman hooked up with Ira Gooch on a 14-yard strike for the first of the five touchdowns.

Zimmerman got things going in the second quarter and finished the game 17-of-31 for 234 yards, six for touchdowns. Zimmerman, for the second time this season failed to t rush for a touchdown. He did throw his third interception of the season.

With 00:18 left in the third quarter and the Steamwheelers looking to add to their 21-7 lead, Zimmerman threw two straight interceptions, the first one negated because of a penalty. The second one was picked by DS Rob Green on a pass intended for Tim Dodge.

With the loss of Forbes, and backup DS Lee Wiggins still battling a hamstring injury (and did not make the trip to Cincinnati), it was Jeff Hewitt who was asked to step up, and he did so in a big way. Hewitt intercepted three passes on the night, returning them for 37 yards. Hewitt also added five tackles and five pass deflections on the defensive side of the ball.

On the offensive side, Hewitt had five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Hewitt, who basically switched to the DS after Forbes went out, took home two awards on the night, Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

"I thing that Hewitt has taken five reps at DS all season, but he stepped up huge, he played amazing," a very pleased Ingold said.

"Just like I have said since the beginning of the year, I will do whatever it takes for this team win," Hewitt said, "I am just happy that we got the win.

To start of the third quarter, the ‘Wheelers, who were looking to add to their 21-7 lead, received the second half kickoff. Gooch broke three tackles and took off for the endzone, only to be caught from behind by Merritt, who knocked the ball loose with Swarm OS James Scott recovering the ball at the Cincinnati six-yard line.

The Swarm failed to capitalize on the turnover, once again, as Hewitt got his third interception, returning it 37 yards for the touchdown and a Steamwheelers 28-7 lead.

The teams traded scores before the Swarm committed their seventh turnover, on downs and the Steamwheelers capitalized when Zimmerman hooked up with Gooch for the fourth of five times to give the Steamwheelers their largest margin (27) of the game.

"When you go 2-0 on the road back-to-back, then get to go back to your place (The MARK), it is huge," Ingold said. "Now these teams have to travel to our house, playing on the road is tough, but we got out of it with two wins. I am going home, and going to enjoy this win, then I got some work to do on Monday.

The Steamwheelers will finally return home for two games to take on the same two teams, beginning with Cincinnati on Saturday, June 7th and then take on the Louisville Fire the following Saturday, June 14th. Both games will take place at The MARK of the Quad Cities, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still on sale at The MARK box office or through TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 563.326.1111. Tickets start as low as $5.



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