Steamwheelers roll past Vipers 48-38
June 22, 2002 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. â The Tennessee Valley Vipers remain snake bit at home against the Quad City Steamwheelers.
For the third time in three years, the Steamwheelers rolled into the Von Braun Center and beat the Vipers, this time 48-38 in front of 5,338 fans Saturday night. Quad City never trailed as it improved its to 7-4. Tennessee Valley fell to 9-2.
Quad City wasted little time jumping on the Vipers. Propelled by a 48-yard return of the opening kick, the Steamwheelers scored in three plays. Quarterback Mike Cawley scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown. Brian Hegnauer kicked the extra point to give Quad City a 7-0 lead with only one minute and 27 seconds off the clock.
Vipers starting quarterback Tracy Kendall wouldn't be outdone. His 1-yard sneak on the Vipers' five play of the game â and Todd Latourette's ensuing PAT â tied the game at 7-7 with 10:09 left in the first quarter.
The Steamwheelers moved back into the lead when Cawley connected with Chris Anthony for a 10-yard scoring strike. Hegnauer's kick was good, and Quad City led 14-7 with 5:40 left in the opening period.
The Vipers drove back down the field, only to falter as they moved inside the 15. They had to settle for a 22-yard Latourette field goal with 40 seconds left in the quarter, cutting Quad City's lead to 14-10.
In the second quarter, the Steamwheelers blocked a 53-yard field goal attempt, then scored two plays later on a Cawley to Jeff Hewitt 8-yard pass. Hegnauer's kick failed, and Quad City led 20-10 with 10:42 left in the half.
Following a 30-yard kickoff return by Viper Kelly Snell, Tennessee Valley scored behind backup quarterback Jermaine Alfred's 26-yard pass to Calvin Hall. Latourette added the PAT, cutting the Steamwheelers' lead to 20-17 with 9:40 remaining in the second quarter.
The Vipers would never be that close again.
After each team traded possessions twice, the Quad City defense recovered an Alfred fumble in the end zone â one of five Viper turnovers on the night. Hegnauer's kick gave Quad City a 27-17 lead with 35 seconds left in the half.
Most of the third quarter belonged to the Steamwheelers. The Vipers did strike early on a Kendall to Kelly Fields 14-yard pass. Latourette's kick was blocked, and the Steamwheelers continued to lead, 27-23 with 10:03 left in the third.
Quad City then scored back-to-back touchdowns. Cawley hit Anthony for a 12-yard score. Then on the first play of the Vipers' next possession, Kendall fumbled in the end zone. Steamwheeler linebacker Derrick Davison fell on the loose ball. At the end of the third quarter, Quad City led 41-23.
The Steamwheelers piled on their lead early in the fourth quarter behind a Cawley to Ira Gooch 12-yard touchdown. Hegnauer added the PAT, and Quad City took a 48-23 advantage with 13:25 left in the game.
With Alfred back in the game, the Vipers did score two late touchdowns â the first a 5-yard pass to Reggie Worthy and the second a 45-yarder to Fields. But Tennessee Valley couldn't recover the onside kick, and Quad City ran out the clock.
Gooch led Quad City with six catches for 83 yards. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Snell, who had three interceptions, seven tackles and five pass deflections for the Vipers, was selected the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Steamwheeler wide receiver/defensive back was picked as the Ironman of the Game following a touchdown catch on offense and a fumble recovery on defense.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 22, 2002
- Steamwheelers roll past Vipers 48-38 - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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