|
Last Updated: 12:07 am, Sunday, May 16th, 2004
Wheelers smash Stealth
By Craig DeVrieze
.
A battle between the two top-ranked teams in arenafootball2 started ugly and finished that way.
.
The No. 1 Wichita Stealth suffered a 73-39 dusting by the second-ranked Quad-City SteamWheelers before a season-high 6,246 fans Saturday at The Mark of the Quad-Cities.
.
The game almost featured a pregame brawl between the coaches and teams and was called by officials
20 seconds early after Wichitas Dustin Fish suffered a compound fracture of his left leg as the two sides exchanged cheap
shots with the game essentially over.
.
The SteamWheelers improved to 6-1, moved to the front of the National Conference standings and almost certainly
will supplant the Stealth atop the af2 coaches poll later this week. They also took a game-and-a-half lead in the Midwest
Division over Louisville, which lost to Albany Saturday.
.
Wichita (5-1) had surrendered an average of 28 points per game coming in, but the Wheelers had 27 by the end of the first quarter. They had 46 points by intermission, one less than their previous
second-highest scoring output for a game.
.
SteamWheelers coach Rich Ingold ignited a firestorm last week when he said his defense was better than the
top-ranked af2 defense of the Stealth. The Stealth took exception and put a lunch pail at midfield before the game to state
their workmanlike intentions. Then the teams almost came to blows when, according to Stealth coach Sean Ponder, Ingold kicked
the pail.
.
We put a lunch pail on our side of the field, signifying we are going to work, Ponder said. That
was our way to get our guys fired up.
.
.
They were cursing coming off the bus, said Q-C lineman Jerry Montgomery, who set the tone for
the game by forcing a touchdown-producing fumble on the Wheelers first defensive play of the contest.
.
Said Q-C fullback-linebacker Brian Berg: They came in talking and went out talking even though
when you look at the scoreboard they shouldnt have been. We made our point.
.
Maybe.
.
Ponder said early officiating calls took his team out of a contest the SteamWheelers led 46-19 at intermission.
.
I wouldnt say they are the better team, but they came out ahead, said the Stealth coach.
.
The SteamWheelers feel like they proved who is No. 1 not only in the league rankings but on defense as well. The
73 points were a Q-C season high against a Stealth defense that came in giving up 28.4 points per game.
.
The SteamWheelers forced veteran Stealth QB Aaron Sparrow into 25-for-45 night and also scored 14 points.
.
I dont know if we are No. 1 or what, said Montgomery, but we will play with anybody in the league.
.
Montgomery set the tone on the Wheeler defenses first play on the football field, jumping the
snap count, bulling through center and forcing a fumble that linebacker Carmelo Ocasio scooped up on a bounce and returned
two yards for a score.
.
Harvie Herrington also had a tackle for a safety, but the pivotal play may have been Defensive
Player of the Game Jamaal Cherrys 32-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the opening quarter. It was caused when
nose guard Bear Brown hatcheted Sparrows arm while he was attempting to throw. Cherry caught the bobbled ball in mid-air and
waltzed into the end zone to give the hosts a 27-7 lead.
.
Gordon meanwhile made a mess of a Wichita defense that supposedly was inspired by an Ingold quote
in Wednesdays QUAD-CITY TIMES which insisted the Q-C defense was better than the Stealths.
.
Gordon was named Player of the Game as he completed his first nine throws and finished 19 for
24 for 265 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran in a pair of scores.
.
It was a good night, Gordon conceded with some prodding.
.
Tim Dodge had eight catches for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns.
.
The last of three Jeff Hewitt touchdowns came inside the final minute and was payback for a personal
foul that got Wichitas Jeff Macrea thrown out of the game on the prior play. Fishs broken leg was suffered on the ensuing
kickoff. Angry Q-C players cheered before they knew the severity of the injury because the two teams had been going at each
other all night.
.
Ingold, who celebrated his 41st birthday Saturday, said he didn't regret going for the final
score.
.
I was going to run the clock out, he said of the play before, but after that cheap shot I said
Hey, lets go.
.
I never said anything derogatory about (Wichita), Ingold added. They seem to think I did, but
I just thought we were better.
.
Box Score (Final)
Wichita Stealth vs Quad Steamwheelers (May 15, 2004 at MOLINE, Ill.)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Wichita Stealth..... 7 12 6 14 - 39 Record: (5-1)
Quad Steamwheelers.. 27 19 6 21 - 73 Record: (6-1)
Scoring Summary:
1st 12:02 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 29 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 4-35 2:58, WIC 0 - QCS 7
10:26 QCS - OCASIO, Carmelo 2 yd fumble recovery (GEISLER, Ryan kick
failed), , WIC 0 - QCS 13
07:35 WIC - THOMPSON, Damon 15 yd pass from SPARROW, Aaron (POHLMAN,
Dylan kick from SPARROW, Aaron), 3-37 2:51, WIC 7 - QCS 13
03:00 QCS - DODGE, Tim 7 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan kick
from GORDON, Ronnie), 5-45 4:35, WIC 7 - QCS 20
01:30 QCS - CHERRY, Jamaal 32 yd interception return (GEISLER, Ryan
kick), , WIC 7 - QCS 27
2nd 09:10 WIC - SPARROW, Aaron 2 yd run (POHLMAN, Dylan kick failed), 5-34
4:27, WIC 13 - QCS 27
07:04 QCS - DODGE, Tim 17 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 2-27 2:06, WIC 13 - QCS 34
05:35 QCS - HERRINGTON, Harvie safety, , WIC 13 - QCS 36
01:22 QCS - GEISLER, Ryan 33 yd field goal, 7-22 4:13, WIC 13 - QCS 39
00:41 WIC - HURST, David 35 yd pass from THOMPSON, Damon (POHLMAN, Dylan
kick failed), 3-45 0:41, WIC 19 - QCS 39
00:22 QCS - SHEFFIELD, Char 22 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER,
Ryan kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 2-30 0:19, WIC 19 - QCS 46
3rd 07:58 QCS - GORDON, Ronnie 7 yd run (GEISLER, Ryan kick failed), 3-26
2:10, WIC 19 - QCS 52
02:15 WIC - RICHARDSON, Carl 3 yd run (WILLIAMS, Daren rush failed),
8-38 5:43, WIC 25 - QCS 52
4th 12:50 WIC - GRIFFIN, Anthony 25 yd pass from SPARROW, Aaron (BACOTE,
Marc pass from SPARROW, Aaron), 3-36 1:15, WIC 33 - QCS 52
10:23 QCS - GORDON, Ronnie 1 yd run (GEISLER, Ryan kick), 3-12 2:27, WIC
33 - QCS 59
06:50 WIC - MACREA, Jeff 12 yd pass from SPARROW, Aaron (SPARROW, Aaron
rush failed), 6-26 3:33, WIC 39 - QCS 59
04:29 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 17 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 1-7 2:21, WIC 39 - QCS 66
00:25 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 29 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 1-39 0:11, WIC 39 - QCS 73
WIC QCS
FIRST DOWNS................... 21 16
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 4-2 7-18
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 293 245
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 46-26-1 24-19-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 52-295 34-263
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 1-2
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 8-185 5-72
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-6 1-32
Fumbles-Lost.................. 3-2 0-0
Penalties-Yards............... 13-81 15-80
Possession Time............... 32:37 27:23
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 3-20 2-9
RUSHING: Wichita Stealth-RICHARDSON, Carl 1-3; GRIFFIN, Anthony 1-0;
SPARROW, Aaron 2-minus 1. Quad
Steamwheelers-GORDON, Ronnie 4-8; BERG, Brian 2-8; HEWITT, Jeff 1-2.
PASSING: Wichita Stealth-SPARROW, Aaron 25-45-1-267; THOMPSON, Damon
1-1-0-35; TEAM 0-0-0-minus 9.
Quad Steamwheelers-GORDON, Ronnie 19-24-1-265; TEAM 0-0-0-minus 20.
RECEIVING: Wichita Stealth-BACOTE, Marc 8-81; DRITLEIN, Michael 7-88;
THOMPSON, Damon 3-36; GRIFFIN,
Anthony 3-36; RICHARDSON, Carl 3-14; HURST, David 1-35; MACREA, Jeff 1-12.
Quad Steamwheelers-DODGE,
Tim 8-107; HEWITT, Jeff 6-94; SHEFFIELD, Char 3-45; OCASIO, Carmelo 2-19.
INTERCEPTIONS: Wichita Stealth-BACOTE, Marc 1-6. Quad Steamwheelers-CHERRY,
Jamaal 1-32.
FUMBLES: Wichita Stealth-THOMPSON, Damon 2-1; SPARROW, Aaron 1-1. Quad
Steamwheelers-None.
Stadium: The MARK of the QC Attendance: 6246
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm End of Game: 10:25 Total elapsed time: 2:55
Officials: Referee: Tony Canella; Umpire: Pat Bayers; Linesman: Donald
Rager;
Line judge: Robert Smith; Back judge: Larry Orrico; Scorer: Dave Beyer;
BABY RUTH REAL DEAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME-
Ronnie Gordon (QC)
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN AWARD- "Bear" Brown (QC)
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME- Jamaal Cherry (QC)
Wichita Stealth vs Quad Steamwheelers (May 15, 2004 at MOLINE, Ill.)
SACKS (UA-A): Wichita Stealth-HOLLOMAN, Cliff 1-0; WOODS, Markevius 1-0;
HURST, David 1-0. Quad
Steamwheelers-BERG, Brian 1-0; HERRINGTON, Harvie 1-0.
TACKLES (UA-A): Wichita Stealth-ARDOIN, Ty 4-2; DRITLEIN, Michael 3-2;
JOHNSON, Charles 2-2; HURST,
David 2-0; HOLLOMAN, Cliff 2-0; BACOTE, Marc 1-2; GRIFFIN, Anthony 1-2;
WOODS, Markevius 1-0; OCHOA,
Rico 1-0; POHLMAN, Dylan 1-0; HOLLOMAN, Ervin 0-1; WILLIAMS, Daren 0-1;
MACREA, Jeff 0-1;
RICHARDSON, Carl 0-1. Quad Steamwheelers-MOORE, Chazz 8-0; FORBES, Matt 6-1;
BERG, Brian 4-0; DODGE,
Tim 2-2; HERRINGTON, Harvie 2-0; THOMAS, Danny 2-1; SHEFFIELD, Char 1-2;
BROWN, Bear 1-0; BECKOM,
Jesse 1-1; OCASIO, Carmelo 1-1; GRAVES, Brandon 1-0; MONTGOMERY, Jer 0-1;
VERDEGAN, Jon 0-1.
Game Starters:
Wichita Stealth Quad Steamwheelers
POS ## OFFENSE POS ## OFFENSE
QB 10 SPARROW, Aaron QB 4 GORDON, Ronnie
OS 80 DRITLEIN, Micha OS 22 HEWITT, Jeff
WR 23 GRIFFIN, Anthon WR 7 DODGE, Tim
WR 82 BACOTE, Marc WR 83 OCASIO, Carmelo
FB 45 WILLIAMS, Daren FB 3 BERG, Brian
TE 79 CONLEY, Tim OL 91 MONTGOMERY, Jer
C 50 OCHOA, Rico C 55 VERDEGAN, Jon
G 77 HOLLOMAN, Ervin OL 43 CHERRY, Jamaal
K 12 POHLMAN, Dylan K 9 GEISLER, Ryan
POS ## DEFENSE POS ## DEFENSE
DS 7 ARDOIN, Ty DS 5 FORBES, Matt
DS 4 JOHNSON, Charle DS 26 THOMAS, Danny
DB 23 GRIFFIN, Anthon DB 7 DODGE, Tim
LB 82 BACOTE, Marc LB 83 OCASIO, Carmelo
LB 45 WILLIAMS, Daren LB 3 BERG, Brian
DT 79 CONLEY, Tim DL 91 MONTGOMERY, Jer
NG 55 WOODS, Markeviu DL 55 VERDEGAN, Jon
DT 9 HOLLOMAN, Cliff DL 43 CHERRY, Jamaal
Player participation:
Wichita Stealth: 2-THOMPSON, Damon, 3-MACREA, Jeff, 25-RICHARDSON, Car,
72-HURST, David.
Quad Steamwheelers: 2-PIKE, Matt, 8-SHEFFIELD, Char, 10-EYERMAN, Brian,
24-MOORE, Chazz, 32-BECKOM, Jesse, 42-GRAVES, Brandon,50-HERRINGTON, Har,
79-BROWN, Bear.
|
 | |
|
|
|
