Steamwheelers Fall to Lightning 60-46
April 23, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Moline, IL) - The Quad City Steamwheelers lost to the Stockton (California) Lightning by a score of 60-46 and fell to 0-3 for the first time in franchise history. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Lightning, currently in their debut year in the af2. Both teams are currently ranked at the bottom of their respective divisions.
The game, played on Orthopaedic Specialists Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities, was marred by penalties (22 total for a combined 164 yards) and the ejection of Lightning head coach Richard Davis early in the third quarter of the game. The ejection occurred after an on-field argument following a Stockton attempt at an on-side kick.
Unlike the offensive and defensive line problems of their first two games, Steamwheeler's coach Rick Frazier said he was concerned about the team's kicking game and lack of risk taking on the part of his defensive backs. Speaking at an on-field press conference immediately following the game, Frazier said: "If you've been to our practices, you know that I've been telling these defensive backs that in this league you've got to take risks or the other team will make you pay."
The 'Wheelers started the game on a strong note, scoring first on a Jeff Macrea 1-yard run just three minutes into the game. Kimo Naehu missed the PAT, however, a sign of things to come for the Steamwheeler's kicker. Stockton then rallied to score twice (once off a change of possession resulting from a fumble recovery) to make the score 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams scored in the second quarter, keeping the margin at just seven points going into the half.
The two teams alternated scores throughout the second half, with Stockton scoring first. Naehu continued to miss extra points for the Steamwheelers, however, whiffing three more times in the second half. The 'Wheelers did manage a two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter in an attempt to narrow the margin between the two teams.
But the Lightning's determination to not go 0-3 outlasted the Steamwheeler's last attempts to bring the game within striking distance when they responded to a last-minute Quad City touchdown with one of their own with only :34 left on the game clock.
Quarterback Tim Hicks threw for 24 completions on 33 attempts and 253 yards. His opponent, Josh Blankenship attempted 40 passes and completed 21 for 216 yards and seven touchdowns. Tim Dodge catch 8 passes for 95 yards, while the Lightning's leading receiver was George Williams with 119 yards on 9 catches.
Defensively, Sidney Lewis led Quad City with 8 tackles and one fumble recovery, while Jerome Dennis finished with 10.5 tackles and an interception for Stockton.
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