Steamwheelers Improve to 2-4 Overall with 68-62 Overtime Victory over the Louisville Fire
May 13, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Moline, Ill.) - The Quad City Steamwheelers improved to 2-4 with an exciting 68-62 victory over the Louisville Fire in overtime, on OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities, to the delight of 4,563 fans.
Quarterback Tim Hicks, who finished the game with 405 yards (a Steamwheeler's record) and six touchdowns on 29 completions, hit wide receiver Tim Dodge down the sideline on a 12-yard pass play that sealed a sudden-death victory for the âWheelers. Both teams had already traded scores - both missing their respective PAT attempts - on their first possessions of overtime.
Both teams made mistakes and capitalized on their opponents' throughout the game. On the first play from scrimmage in the first quarter, the Fire got on the board after just 14 seconds had elapsed in the game. Louisville DL Nick Brockinton recorded a safety by forcing Steamwheeler QB Tim Hicks to intentionally ground the ball in the end zone. Both teams went on to trade the lead and scoring possessions the remainder of the first half with Louisville holding a 36-30 halftime lead. The final score of the half was a one-yard pass to Fire WR Lance Taylor with 17 seconds remaining in the half.
One of the highlights in the first half was a 36-yard touchdown reception by tight end David Hurst, the Army Ironman of the Game. The 6' 3", 285-lb lineman caught the ball about 3-yards from the line of scrimmage and rumbled his way down the field for a touchdown, giving the Steamwheelers a 24-22 lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy. After the half, the Fire scored on the opening possession of the third quarter with a 24-yard pass from QB Brett Dietz to WR Lance Taylor. Dietz, one of the most accurate passers in the af2, finished with 346 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception on the night.
The teams continued to trade possessions in the third quarter with the Steamwheelers scoring last with 1:26 remaining in the period. The 10-yard pass from Hicks went to Steamwheeler's OS Kris Peters, who tallied a game-high 148 yards. Peters scored two touchdowns on 10 receptions.
In the fourth quarter, the Steamwheelers registered the first stop of the night by forcing the Fire into a 28-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright. Hicks took over and led a five-play, 45-yard drive down the field. The drive ended with a 10-yard pass to Jack Walker Jr., putting Quad City back on top 50-49 with 7:55 remaining in the contest.
On the ensuing drive, the âWheeler's Troy Graham, voted the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, made a vital interception in the end zone to give Quad City the ball and a chance to extend their lead. The Steamwheelers did that just three plays later when Jeff Macrea ran the ball into the endzone on a one-yard run to give Quad City a 56-49 lead with 26 seconds remaining. The go-ahead run by Macrea was set up by Kris Peter's acrobatic catch of a 37-yard pass from Hicks.
The Fire would tie the game, however, after Deitz led the Louisville 45 yards down the field and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Fryzel with no time remaining. The successful extra point attempt forced overtime.
In overtime, Quad City drew first blood after a seven play, 34-yard drive ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Macrea. A missed extra point attempt by Kimo Naehu set the stage for Louisville to win the game on their attempt in overtime.
Louisville tied the game again when Dietz hit Taylor on a 25-yard pass. Louisville's kicker, Dave Hendrix, made the extra point to seal a Louisville victory. A false start penalty was called on the Fire on the attempt, giving Quad City one last chance at a stop. After marking the ball off five yards, the Fire attempted their game-winning, extra point attempt once again.
This time, Hendrix missed it wide right. With the miss, the overtime switched to sudden death. Quad City received the ball on the ensuing kickoff and drove the field, winning the game on the touchdown pass to Dodge.
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