Steamwheelers Reclaim 'Belt,' Return To Top of af2
May 19, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â Last weekend it was a battle of the arenafootball2's top two teams, according to the Coaches' Poll. The top ranked Wichita Stealth entered The MARK of the Quad Cities last Saturday as the only unbeaten team left in the league. The second ranked Quad City Steamwheelers not only wanted to make it so that there were no undefeated teams left, but they wanted to make their case to return to the top of the league's weekly poll.
The âWheelers made their case early and often, as they scored 27 first quarter points on the leagues top defense. Entering the game, the Stealth had only been giving up an average of 28.4 points per game. The scoring did not stop there for the âWheelers, who went on to win the game 73-39 in front of the seasons largest crowd of 6,246.
With the win, the Steamwheelers (6-1) moved back to the top of the poll as the leagues No. 1 ranked team. Receiving 18 of the possible 25 first place votes, and totaling 276 points, places the Steamwheelers in first place by 29 points. With the win, the Steamwheelers became the first team to win six games this season, and are the only team with that many wins.
The Steamwheelers only loss came at the hands of the now second ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (5-1). The Pioneers received five first place votes and a total of 247 points. The Pioneers were the team that knocked the âWheelers from the top of the poll with a 40-27 victory at Wachovia Arena on April 24. The Pioneers lone loss came two weeks ago to the Albany Conquest.
The Steamwheelers and Pioneers will meet again this season when the Pioneers visit The MARK on June 12.
Of the remaining teams in the Top 12 poll, five are on the âWheelers schedule, all five rank directly behind the Steamwheelers at positions 2-6.
Moving up a spot to No. 3 were the Tennessee Valley Vipers (5-1) with a first place vote and 232 points. The Vipers lone loss came at the hands of the Steamwheelers on April 17, a 47-29 setback at The MARK. The Vipers and âWheelers will go at it once again on July 10 at the "Snake Pit" in Huntsville, Ala.
With the loss to the Steamwheelers the Stealth (5-1) fell to the No. 4 slot with a first place vote and 206 points. Last weekend's game is the only regular season matchup of the two teams, but the two could easily hookup in the playoffs.
Jumping two spots to No. 5 were the Birmingham Steeldogs. The Steeldogs have started the season 5-1 with their lone loss coming the first week of the season to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. The Steeldogs received 199 points in this week's poll. The Steeldogs visit The MARK on July 17 to take on the âWheelers.
Falling a spot to No. 6 were the Steamwheelers National Conference Midwest Division rival Louisville Fire (4-2). The Fire fell to the Conquest this past weekend 60-56. The Steamwheelers and Fire have yet to play either of their two scheduled meetings, with the first to come on June 5 at Louisville 's Freedom Hall. The Fire and Steamwheelers will then close out the season on July 31 at The MARK.
Closing out the Top 12 are the Cape Fear Wildcats (3-2), Hawaiian Islanders (4-2), expansion Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (4-2), Florida Firecats (3-3), expansion Bakersfield Blitz (4-2) and Memphis Xplorers (3-3). The expansion Manchester Wolves (43 points) and Green Bay Blizzard (30 points) were teams who received a significant amount of votes.
The league releases a new Coaches' Poll every Wednesday. This is the fifth week that the Steamwheelers have sat atop the poll.
The Steamwheelers will hit the road this weekend for the first of a two-game road trip. This weekend the âWheelers will travel to the West coast to take on the San Diego Riptide (1-5). Saturday night's contest will kickoff at 9 p.m. CDT. The âWheelers will have next week off and then continue their road trip the following week when they take on the Louisville Fire on Sat., June 5, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.
The Steamwheelers will then return home on June 12 looking for revenge against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, the only team who has defeated the Steamwheelers this season. The Saturday night contest at The MARK will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
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