Steamwheelers drop second straight 63-55 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
May 15, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
MOLINE, Ill. â The Quad City Steamwheelers suffered their second straight loss and fell to 3-3 on the season with a 63-55 defeat at the hands of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in front of 6,322 fans at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Tim Dodge had 128 yards receiving on eight catches, including two of quarterback Sam Clemons' seven touchdown passes, but it was not enough to overcome the Pioneers who picked up their second win of the year over Quad City and their fourth straight overall.
The âWheelers had a chance to send the game into overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but Clemons was sacked at the Wilkes-Barre eight-yard line by David Barnard and Chris Ekwueme on the game's final play to send the Pioneers home from The MARK victorious for the second straight season.
In addition to Dodge's two scores, Jack Walker, Jr. also had a pair of scores while Travis Burns, Jeff Hewitt and Torey Morris all added single touchdown grabs from Clemons. The Quad City quarterback, who completed 26-of-35 passes for 310 yards, also added a rushing score to round out the âWheelers scoring.
The turning point of the game came midway through the third quarter when, following a Pioneer score to go ahead 41-34, Burns fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the football near midfield. On the very next play, Kyle Rowley hooked up with JR Thomas on a 33-yard strike to give their squad a two score lead, an advantage that it would never relinquish. That was the fifth of Rowley's six touchdown passes on the evening, and the first of two to Thomas.
The two teams continued to trade scores for the rest of the second half, putting the âWheelers in a position to win the game or at least send it to overtime. Clemons tallied a one-yard rushing score with 54 seconds left, but Ameer Riley returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown, stretching the Pioneer lead back to eight points where it would stay, though without some controversy. AJ Novak blocked the ensuing extra point and following a lengthy scramble, Antonio Watson picked up the loose ball and returned it for a score. However, the referee's conferred and ruled that the ball, after being blocked, caromed off of the side boards, making it a dead ball and keeping the score at 63-55.
The Steamwheelers return to action next Saturday, May 21, at 7 p.m., when they travel to Green Bay to face the rival Blizzard, a game that can be seen live on Mediacom Channel 22. They will return home seven days later, on Saturday, May 28 at 7:30 later when they take on their divisional rival Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Tickets for this game and all other Steamwheeler home games on sale now. To purchase season and group tickets or for more information about the Steamwheelers, call the Steamwheelers office at (563) 324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For single game tickets please call or visit The MARK of the Quad Cities box office or any TicketMaster location.
Offensive Player of the Game: Kyle Rowley (WBS)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Ronnie Kaymore (WBS)
U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Tim Dodge (QCS)
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