Steamwheelers Fall With Three Seconds Left in Game
July 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â One of the old sayings in Arena Football is that in a close game, you want to have the ball last. That statement held true for the Tennessee Valley Vipers in their 48-41 victory over the Quad City Steamwheelers in front of 5,780 fans at the Von Braun Center on Saturday night.
Vipers quarterback Josh Kellett found offensive specialist Jerrian James for a 25-yard score with three seconds remaining in the game to seal the win for the Vipers (9-4). Kellett only completed 9-of-24 passes for 195 yards, three touchdowns, but a key zero interceptions. Kellett also rushed for two scores as well.
"It seems like we have been saying it all year, but these are the games that you love to win and hate to lose," Steamwheelers associate head coach and line coach Jon Roehlk said following the game on the FOX Sports Radio AM 1230 post-game radio show.
The loss, coupled with a Louisville Fire 63-61 victory over Columbus now puts the Steamwheelers a half game back in the race for the Midwest Division title. The Steamwheelers (8-6) and Fire will meet on the final week of the regular season.
The Steamwheelers started the game off just the way they wanted to by using the clock, as they ate up 5:16 on nine plays, which was capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ronnie Gordon to wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge. Kicker Ryan Geisler made his 20th consecutive extra point to put the Steamwheelers up 7-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jamaal Cherry caught James in the endzone for a safety to put the âWheelers up 9-0 and receiving the kickoff.
On the Steamwheelers second offensive possession, Gordon had his pass tipped and then intercepted by Vipers offensive lineman/defensive lineman Andy Fuller, who returned it 2 yards for the touchdown, cutting the Steamwheelers lead to 9-7.
The Steamwheelers built their lead to 15-7 when defensive specialist turned wide receiver/linebacker Danny Thomas hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gordon. Geisler missed the ensuing extra point to end his streak of consecutive extra point conversions.
Thomas would leave the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return. The severity of the injury was enough to have coach Rich Ingold place him on the long-term injured reserve list on Monday.
The Vipers then came roaring back to score two plays later on Kellett's 1-yard score, then sandwiched around a Geisler 24-yard field goal the Vipers added another touchdown, this one a 39-yard pass from Kellett to wide receiver/linebacker Ronney Daniels on their first play of the drive, which gave the Vipers their first lead at 20-18. Despite both teams having a chance to score, neither converted before the first half horn sounded.
The Vipers continued their one-play scoring action to start the second half. James received the kickoff seven yards deep in the endzone and returned it all the way back for a touchdown to put the Vipers up 26-18.
The Steamwheelers would counter with a Gordon 1-yard run to cut the lead to 26-25 with 6:48 remaining in the third quarter. The Vipers then ate the rest of the third quarter clock and took the one-point lead into the final frame.
Despite eating a lot of the clock, it did not pay off for the Vipers as kicker S. Lee missed a 30-yard field goal. The Steamwheelers came right down and scored on a Gordon 12-yard pass to wide receiver/defensive back Billy Cook to regain the lead at 32-26.
The Vipers answered right back to go up 33-32. The Steamwheelers would get all the way down to the Vipers 1-yard line, and on fourth down, Ingold elected to have Geisler attempt a 16-yard field goal. The chip shot split the uprights and the Steamwheelers led 35-33 with 2:57 remaining in the game.
The Vipers then ate up some clock and scored with :55 remaining in the game, this time Kellett added his second rushing touchdown, a 1-yard scamper. Wide receiver/linebacker Travis McAlpine rushed in for the two-point conversion to put the Vipers up 41-35.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 56 yards by Cook to tie the game up at 41 with the extra point still to go. But Geisler missed the extra point to leave the game tied with :48 remaining in the game. James' touchdown then capped the night.
James was named Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game as he caught five passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Vipers wide receiver/defensive back Marquis Floyd was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game as he recorded seven tackles, 1.5 for a loss and two pass deflections.
The Steamwheelers will try to turn things around this Saturday night when they host recently top ranked Birmingham at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Good tickets are still available and can be purchased through TicketMaster by calling 563-326-1111 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
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