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Steamwheelers Weekly Report

June 21, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


Recap: The Quad City Steamwheelers showed what they were all about this past weekend when they journeyed up to Green Bay, Wis., to take on their Midwest Division rival Blizzard. The Steamwheelers fell behind 21-0 after fumbles by offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt and wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge on the Steamwheelers first two possessions. But the Steamwheelers fought to within 10 at halftime, closing the gap to 38-28, including three big defensive stops at their own 2-yard line before the halftime break. The Steamwheelers then scored on their next three possessions to take a 49-38 lead. The Blizzard's attempt at a comeback fell short when ‘Wheelers wide receiver/linebacker Carmelo Ocasio fell on the Blizzard onside kick at the 11-yard line. The Steamwheelers added another score to go up 62-53 with five seconds remaining in the game to put the game out of reach.

Next Up: It is rematch time for the Steamwheelers once again as they will look to avenge last season's 63-61 last second ArenaCup quarterfinal loss to the Arkansas Twisters. The Twisters opened this season with a victory, but since then have lost nine straight and are looking for their first win since Week 1. The Steamwheelers will travel down to ALLTEL Arena in Little Rock, Ark. for Friday night's contest, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Last Time: The last time these two teams hooked up was Aug. 9, 2003, in the ArenaCup quarterfinals and for the first time in team history, the Steamwheelers lost a playoff game and a playoff game at home. Twisters' kicker Mark Norris drilled an 18-yard field goal as time expired to give the Twisters a 63-61 victory over the top ranked Steamwheelers. The Steamwheelers led from the start of the game until there were 2 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the game, when the Twisters took their first lead at 60-55. The Steamwheelers regained the lead at 61-60, but a failed two-point conversion left them up only one.

The Curse Is Finally Broken: For the first time since Week 3, the No. 1 ranked team in the af2 Coaches' Poll won. Starting with the Steamwheelers loss in Week 4 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, the top seed lost that next weekend with no team holding the seed for more than one week. Wichita was the only team to not lose a game and fall in the rankings, as they fell to No. 2 during their "bye" week. Five different teams were atop the poll at one point or another for those nine weeks. But the Pioneers kicked the cure of the No. 1 ranking this past weekend with a 69-43 victory at Albany. The Pioneers have held the top ranking three times this season and will likely make it four when the new poll comes out this week. The Steamwheelers have held it twice including starting the season atop the polls for the first four weeks and again in Week 8. Wichita has held it twice, with Louisville and Birmingham each holding the top spot once.

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 made another move towards the af2 single season record for rushing touchdowns in a season as he rushed for his 17th and 18th touchdowns of the season. The 17th tied the Steamwheelers single season record and the 18th set a new mark. Gordon needs to keep up the two rushing touchdowns a game pace in order to tie the af2 single season record of 28 set by Cape Fear's Wilmont Perry last season. Gordon is on pace to finish the season with 26.

Two for Dodge, No More: Steamwheelers wide receiver/defensive back Tim Dodge had only been held scoreless once this 2004 season — Week 5 against the Green Bay Blizzard. In every other game, the man known as the "60-Minute Man" had exactly two receiving touchdowns, no more, no less. That was true until Dodge went against the Blizzard yet again. Dodge was not held scoreless, as he walked away with one touchdown reception. Offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt had the big game, grabbing five touchdown passes. Also broken was wide receiver/linebacker Carmelo Ocasio's streak of consecutive touchdown passes. Ocasio's last five receptions coming into last Friday night's contest all went for scores. But at Green Bay, Ocasio was held to two receptions for 25 yards and no scores.

Upcoming Steamwheelers Appearances: The Steamwheelers will have a short work week, but a long weekend, putting the players, DeckMate cheerleaders and staff out and about this week. On Tuesday, the DeckMates will be holding a Youth Services Cheerleading Camp at the Rock Island Arsenal from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Then on Saturday, the DeckMates will be holding a car wash at the Moline Community Center from 11 a.m. – 2p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, players, DeckMates and staff will be on hand at the Quad City Air Show from 8 a.m. – 5p.m. both days.

Practice Times: Coach Ingold and the Steamwheelers return to practice on Monday after taking the weekend off to heal up some sore bodies. The Steamwheelers will be practicing Monday – Wednesday at The MARK of the Quad Cities prior to departing for Little Rock, Ark., on Wednesday night. Practice usually runs from 5-7 p.m. beginning 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 on Wednesday night at 11 p.m. and travel overnight to Little Rock, Ark. The team will arrive approximately in Little Rock around 11 a.m. on Thursday. The team will hold a brief walkthrough that evening, with the game set for Friday night.

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 is on vacation and Steamwheelers Media Relations Manager Ryan Holtmann will be joined by Steamwheelers coach Rich Ingold as well as offensive specialist Jeff Hewitt.

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, but will be off this week as he is enjoying his vacation. 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.



arenafootball2 Stories from June 21, 2004


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