Steamwheelers to Take on Rejuvenated Pirates

July 2, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Quad City Steamwheelers will be facing a much different Peoria Pirates team tonight at The MARK of the Quad Cities. It will almost be a complete opposite Pirates team that the Steamwheelers will face this time around.

As reported in the Quad City Times this morning, only 11 Pirates remain on the 21-man league mandated roster from when the first time these two teams played. Among the noticeable changes are at quarterback and defensive specialist.

In the first matchup of these two rivals, the Steamwheelers saw two different quarterbacks. Pirates coach Bruce Cowdrey started Troy Edwards, who was quickly chased from the game after completing only 1-of-5 passes and throwing an interception.

Cowdrey then elected to go with backup quarterback Mike Souza. Souza helped pull the Pirates to within a score of tying the Steamwheelers and finished the night 16-of-30 for 203 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Now, neither of the two quarterbacks remains on the Pirates roster.

Instead, the Pirates will counter with Talmadge Hill. Hill has completed 49-of-91 passes for 882 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Hill has guided the Pirates, who were 2-5 to start the season, to back-to-back wins over Midwest Division foe Louisville. The same Louisville team that knocked off the Steamwheelers 62-62 on June 5, to take the Midwest Division lead by a game. The Fire have now lost three straight and sit a game behind the Steamwheelers for the division lead.

Another weapon added to Cowdrey's arsenal is that of defensive specialist Kevin Brown. Brown has recorded 17 tackles, snagged an interception and added five pass deflections in five games of work for the Pirates. He is also averaging 16.4 yards ok kickoff returns.

All of this has rejuvenated the Pirates, who have won two straight and three of their last four entering tonight's game. Their 5-6 record and current win streak has brought new life to a team that looked like it would not even compete for the division just one month ago.

If the rivalry had lost any of its fire, there is plenty of fuel now. It has gotten so bad that neither team has said anything in the newspapers that would be considered "bulletin board material." The recent surge of wins from the Pirates has inspired a record for media credential requests (not including playoffs) and at least one charter bus of fans making the journey up to the Quad Cities.

The game will also feature eight former Pirates who now don the navy blue and gold of the Steamwheelers. They are: defensive specialist Chazz Moore, quarterbacks Matt Pike and Ronnie Gordon, wide receiver/defensive back Billy Cook, wide receiver/linebacker Charles Sheffield, and linemen Jon Verdegan, Bear Brown and Rasche Hill.

The Steamwheelers hold a 5-2 edge over the Pirates including this seasons 47-20 victory in Peoria, Ill., where the Steamwheelers jumped out to a 27-0 lead. The Pirates fought back and came to within 27-20 early in the third quarter, but the Steamwheelers defense shut down the Pirates offense the rest of the way en route to the victory.

Each season that the "War on I-74" has taken place, either the Pirates or the Steamwheelers sweep the season series. The Steamwheelers won the first ever contests in 2001. The Pirates then swept the 2002 series on their way to an ArenaCup championship. The Steamwheelers answered back in 2003 sweeping the series. This year, if history holds true, the ‘Wheelers will retain the rights to the "Ruler of the River" trophy for yet another season.

The traveling trophy, which consists of a Pirates ship and a Steamwheelers steamboat, goes to the winner after each game. The trophy then is displayed in the winner's front offices until the next game.

Tonight's game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Good seats are still available and can be purchased at The MARK box office or through TicketMaster by calling 563-326-1111 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.



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