Sports stats



Steamwheelers Weekly Report

June 14, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


Recap: For only the second time in team history, the Quad City Steamwheelers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. But there are not many worries for the Steamwheelers despite being 6-4. All three of the losses have come within 10 points or less, and the ‘Wheelers only trail the Midwest Division leading Louisville Fire (7-3) by a game. The Fire lost 35-31 at Peoria this past weekend. The most recent loss came this past weekend against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (8-2). With 16 seconds remaining in the game, Pioneers quarterback Tim Hicks found wide receiver/linebacker Leroy McFadden in the endzone for the go ahead score. Hicks then found Jurron Kelly on the two-point conversion to put the Pioneers up 46-39. On the ensuing possession, Steamwheelers quarterback Ronnie Gordon's pass to wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge was intercepted by Pioneers defensive specialist Ameer Riley to seal the win for the Pioneers.

Next Up: It will be a short week for the Steamwheelers as they prepare for Friday night's contest at Midwest Division rival Green Bay. The Steamwheelers defeated the Blizzard the first time around at The MARK of the Quad Cities by a count of 47-26. The Blizzard were playing without the services of quarterback Chris Griesen, who did not make the trip for personal reasons. The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CDT, at the Resch Center in Green Bay, this Friday night.

Last Time: Despite former Steamwheelers wide receiver/linebacker turned Blizzard offensive specialist Randall Lane catching nine passes for 144 yards and three scores, the Blizzard could not overcome the Steamwheelers balanced attack. The Steamwheelers rushed for three scores and passed for four en route to a 47-26 victory at The MARK. Steamwheelers offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt had nine receptions for 128 yards and three scores to go along with 94 kick return yards to be named Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game honors.

Forget No. 1, Who Wants To Be No. 2: It is the first season that the arenafootball2 league has had a weekly Coaches' Poll. That idea might be scrapped here shortly. Some of the coaches in the af2 might start to not turn in ballots each week, or maybe even send out requests to not be voted No.1. For the eighth consecutive week, the poll's top seeded team fell. This time it was the Louisville Fire who got caught in the No. 1 ranking curse, losing 35-31 at Peoria this past weekend. The curse first started after the Steamwheelers first loss the top ranking in Week 4 after holding the ranking for the first four weeks of the season. After the loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers that week, the curse began. The Steamwheelers regained the No. 1 ranking in Week 8, but fell that weekend at San Diego. So far five different teams have changed hands atop the poll over the past eight weeks. The top seed is now 3-7 when holding the ranking and the second seed is 9-2.

Can't Stop the Run: Steamwheelers quarterback Ronnie Gordon doesn't run like most 30-year olds. No he is not slower, he is much faster and has enough moves to break some ankles along the way. Gordon did just that on his 8-yard touchdown run to start the scoring in the second quarter of last weekend's game. Gordon rushed for another in the fourth quarter, giving him 16 on the season. With one more rushing touchdown, Gordon will tie the Steamwheelers record set by quarterback Tony Zimmerman last season. The af2 single season record is 28, also set last season by Wilmont Perry of Cape Fear. Two for Dodge, Again: No matter what Steamwheelers wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge does, he is unable to score more than two touchdowns in a game. Dodge has played in all ten games for the Steamwheelers this season and in nine of those ten, he has scored exactly two receiving touchdowns, no more, no less. He was held scoreless on May 1 against the Green Bay Blizzard with that being the only game in which Dodge has not scored.

Upcoming Steamwheelers Appearances: The Steamwheelers have four appearances this week starting on Monday, with players trying to out-drive the ladies in efforts to raise money for Gildas Club. The event goes on all day at Glynn's Creek Golf Course. Then the DeckMate Cheerleaders and players will be busy this weekend following Friday's game, appearing at both 3-on-3 basketball tournaments. The first taking place at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island, Ill. The Hoop in the Hood tournament runs from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. At Sterling High School, the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament Slam Dunk Contest is taking place at 6 p.m. with Steamwheelers players making an appearance and perhaps getting involved in the activities. Then the KWPC/KWCC Dash for Cash is taking place in downtown Muscatine from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday as well.

Practice Times: Coach Ingold has given the players Monday off, despite this week's game being on Friday. The players will return to practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. The team departs for Green Bay on Thursday and will hold a light walk-through that evening at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Practice runs from 5-7 p.m. and this week will be at MAXSports (formerly Marycrest Events Center). Practice starts at 5 p.m. with a film session that usually runs for 20-30 minutes. Practice then runs for about an hour to an hour and a half. Most players begin to arrive at practice around 4:30 p.m. and are around after practice for at least 20 minutes. Interviews are best to be conducted before or after practice. If there are any problems, contact Steamwheelers Media Relations Manager Ryan Holtmann.

Travel Plans: The Steamwheelers will depart for famed Green Bay, Wis., on Thursday afternoon and arrive in Green Bay that evening. They will have a light walk-through at the Resch Center that night. They will return immediately following the game.

On the Air: "In the Boiler Room" is in full effect and airs every Monday night on WFXN 1230 AM at 7 p.m. "In the Boiler Room" host Jim Albracht will be joined by Steamwheelers coach Rich Ingold as well as select players.

You can also listen in to Q106.5's Dwyer and Michaels every morning as they discuss the ‘Wheelers periodically on the "Mornings with Dwyer and Michaels" show that runs from 5:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Also, the "Voice of the Steam" Jim Albracht also hosts "Albracht in the AM" from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WOC 1420 AM. Throughout the show he discusses a variety of topics as well as the Steamwheelers.

Every Sunday night on NBC affiliate KWQC-TV6, following the 10 p.m. news, sports director Thom Cornelis hosts ‘Wheeler Watch" which features highlights of the previous weekend's game and a discussion with head coach Rich Ingold.

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from June 14, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Quad City Steamwheelers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central