Box Score (Final)
Louisville Fire vs Quad Steamwheelers (Jul 31, 2004 at MOLINE, Ill.)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Louisville Fire..... 10 14 7 7 - 38 Record: (9-7)
Quad Steamwheelers.. 6 13 26 21 - 66 Record: (10-6)
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:58 LOU - STALLINGS, Tony 1 yd run (KIGHT, Danny kick), 4-41 4:02, LOU
7 - QCS 0
09:32 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 25 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick failed), 1-30 1:26, LOU 7 - QCS 6
02:10 LOU - KIGHT, Danny 45 yd field goal, 5-7 3:31, LOU 10 - QCS 6
2nd 14:19 QCS - CHERRY, Jamaal 7 yd run (GEISLER, Ryan kick), 4-37 2:51, LOU
10 - QCS 13
10:58 LOU - STALLINGS, Tony 23 yd pass from SAUK, Matt (KIGHT, Danny
kick from SAUK, Matt), 4-45 3:21, LOU 17 - QCS 13
07:26 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 21 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick failed), 4-43 3:32, LOU 17 - QCS 19
05:08 LOU - KIGHT, Danny 39 yd pass from SAUK, Matt (KIGHT, Danny kick
from SAUK, Matt), 2-47 2:18, LOU 24 - QCS 19
3rd 13:44 QCS - DODGE, Tim 45 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 1-45 1:16, LOU 24 - QCS 26
06:19 QCS - GEISLER, Ryan 46 yd field goal, 5-14 3:47, LOU 24 - QCS 29
04:45 QCS - SHEFFIELD, Char 9 yd interception return (DOTSY, Terrance
rush), , LOU 24 - QCS 37
02:56 LOU - PAYTON, Anthony 45 yd pass from SAUK, Matt (KIGHT, Danny
kick from SAUK, Matt), 1-45 1:49, LOU 31 - QCS 37
01:14 QCS - HEWITT, Jeff 39 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (DOTSY, Terrance
rush from GORDON, Ronnie), 1-39 1:42, LOU 31 - QCS 45
4th 10:54 QCS - FORBES, Matt 18 yd interception return (GEISLER, Ryan kick),
, LOU 31 - QCS 52
07:51 QCS - DODGE, Tim 35 yd pass from GORDON, Ronnie (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from GORDON, Ronnie), 2-45 1:57, LOU 31 - QCS 59
03:55 QCS - SHEFFIELD, Char 14 yd pass from PIKE, Matt (GEISLER, Ryan
kick from PIKE, Matt), 1-14 0:57, LOU 31 - QCS 66
00:55 LOU - PAYTON, Anthony 13 yd pass from SAUK, Matt (KIGHT, Danny
kick from SAUK, Matt), 5-46 3:00, LOU 38 - QCS 66
LOU QCS
FIRST DOWNS................... 15 16
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 5-30 8-9
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 250 332
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 35-18-5 28-15-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 40-280 38-341
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 7-75 4-62
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-1 5-43
Fumbles-Lost.................. 0-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards............... 10-58 9-71
Possession Time............... 32:57 27:03
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 2-16 0-0
RUSHING: Louisville Fire-FRYZEL, Dennis 1-26; STALLINGS, Tony 4-4. Quad
Steamwheelers-CHERRY, Jamaal
4-11; FLEMING, Flint 1-2; PIKE, Matt 1-1; RUSSELL, Lee 1-minus 2; GORDON,
Ronnie 1-minus 3.
PASSING: Louisville Fire-SAUK, Matt 18-35-5-250. Quad Steamwheelers-GORDON,
Ronnie 14-27-1-334;
PIKE, Matt 1-1-0-14; TEAM 0-0-0-minus 16.
RECEIVING: Louisville Fire-PAYTON, Anthony 6-82; STALLINGS, Tony 4-44;
FURUTANI, Takuya 3-29; KIGHT,
Danny 2-70; FRYZEL, Dennis 2-17; FORNEY, Demetrius 1-8. Quad
Steamwheelers-DODGE, Tim 5-144; HEWITT,
Jeff 5-102; SHEFFIELD, Char 3-37; COOK, Billy 2-65.
INTERCEPTIONS: Louisville Fire-SAUK, Matt 1-1. Quad Steamwheelers-FORBES,
Matt 3-34; MOORE, Chazz
1-0; SHEFFIELD, Char 1-9.
FUMBLES: Louisville Fire-None. Quad Steamwheelers-RUSSELL, Lee 1-0.
Stadium: The MARK of the QC Attendance: 7285
Kickoff time: 7:35 pm End of Game: 10:10 Total elapsed time: 2:35
Officials: Referee: Tony Canella; Umpire: Pat Bayers; Linesman: John
O'Neill;
Line judge: Reggie Smith; Back judge: Larry Orrico; Scorer: Dave Beyer;
BABY RUTH PLAYER OF THE GAME- Jeff Hewitt (QC)
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN- Tim Dodge (QC)
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME- Matt Forbes (QC)
**QC wins Midwest Division**
Louisville Fire vs Quad Steamwheelers (Jul 31, 2004 at MOLINE, Ill.)
SACKS (UA-A): Louisville Fire-MYERS, Nick 2-0. Quad Steamwheelers-None.
TACKLES (UA-A): Louisville Fire-MYERS, Nick 3-0; KEYS, Jermaine 3-1;
STALLINGS, Tony 2-0; LAWRENCE,
Antwa 2-0; MACK, Tremain 1-1; FERGUSON, Jason 1-0; FORNEY, Demetrius 1-1;
WALKER, Jabir 1-0; KIGHT,
Danny 1-0; FRYZEL, Dennis 1-0; FORNEY, Demetrius 1-1; SHEPARD, Derrick 1-1;
PAYTON, Anthony 0-2;
DYSON, Brandon 0-1. Quad Steamwheelers-FORBES, Matt 6-2; DODGE, Tim 3-2;
BARR, Fred 3-0; COOK, Billy
1-3; MOORE, Chazz 0-4; CHERRY, Jamaal 1-0; BERG, Brian 1-0; SHEFFIELD, Char
1-1; DOTSY, Terrance
0-3; TRAYNOR, Pete 0-1; FLEMING, Flint 0-1; HERRINGTON, Harvie 0-1.
Game Starters:
Louisville Fire Quad Steamwheelers
POS ## OFFENSE POS ## OFFENSE
QB 7 SAUK, Matt QB 4 GORDON, Ronnie
OS 9 SCOTT, James OS 22 HEWITT, Jeff
WR 12 PAYTON, Anthony WR 7 DODGE, Tim
WR 21 21 WR 6 COOK, Billy
FB 41 41 FB 51 BARR, Fred
TE 47 FERGUSON, Jason OL 43 CHERRY, Jamaal
C 59 59 C 55 VERDEGAN, Jon
G 77 VRABEL, Vic OL 91 MONTGOMERY, Jer
K 17 KIGHT, Danny K 9 GEISLER, Ryan
POS ## DEFENSE POS ## DEFENSE
DS 32 KEYS, Jermaine DS 5 FORBES, Matt
DS 25 WALKER, Jabir DS 24 MOORE, Chazz
DB 11 MACK, Tremain DB 7 DODGE, Tim
LB 12 PAYTON, Anthony LB 6 COOK, Billy
LB 45 CONSTANT, Marvi LB 51 BARR, Fred
DT 47 FERGUSON, Jason DT 43 CHERRY, Jamaal
NG 88 SHEPARD, Derric NG 55 VERDEGAN, Jon
DT 6 TIPPINS, Andrew DT 91 MONTGOMERY, Jer
Player participation:
Louisville Fire: 1-WALKER, Jabir, 2-STALLINGS, Tony, 8-FRYZEL, Dennis,
22-FURUTANI, Takuy, 36-LAWRENCE, Antwa,40-FORNEY, Demetri, 44-FORNEY,
Demetri, 56-MYERS, Nick, 58-DYSON, Brandon.
Quad Steamwheelers: 1-RUSSELL, Lee, 2-PIKE, Matt, 3-BERG, Brian,
8-SHEFFIELD, Char, 10-FLEMING, Flint, 50-HERRINGTON, Har,67-DOTSY,
Terrance, 99-TRAYNOR, Pete.
07-31-2004 - LOU @ QUA
QUAD CITY TAKES MIDWEST TITLE
MOLINE, Ill. – Talk about a second half. On the season, the Quad City Steamwheelers
had been an all but perfect 8-1 when leading at halftime and a dismal 1-5 when trailing at halftime.
So when the Steamwheelers were trailing 24-19 at the half to the Louisville Fire, things were not looking good. But coach
Rich Ingold had something to say at halftime.
“After the first half, what I said in the locker room, you can’t put in print I was so frustrated,” Ingold
said. “(Kicker Ryan) Geisler and (offensive specialist Jeff) Hewitt, I confronted both of them and told them they’ve
got to play better, and they both came out and had a great second half.”
That they did as the Steamwheelers outscored the Fire 47-14 en route to a 66-38 win in front of a season best 7,285 fans
at The MARK of the Quad Cities. The win clinched their fourth Midwest Division title in five years and a home playoff game
on Saturday, Aug. 7., against the Fire. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at The MARK.
Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at The MARK box office at 10 a.m.
The game was a tale of two halves. The teams traded scores back and forth the entire first half. Then the Steamwheelers
took over in the second half.
On the first play after the second kickoff, Steamwheelers quarterback Ronnie Gordon found wide receiver/defensive back
Tim Dodge at the 10-yard line, Dodge then “dodged” every Louisville defender and scampered the remaining 40 yards
for the go-ahead score. The Steamwheeler would not trail the rest of the game.
Geisler then added a season best 46-yard field goal. On the next possession, wide receiver/linebacker Charles Sheffield
picked off a quarterback Matt Sauk pass and returned it 8 yards for the score. Sauk, who entered the game as the league’s
top passer in passing yards, threw five interceptions on the night with two of them returned for scores. He finished the night
18-of-35 for 250 yards and four scores.
Steamwheelers defensive specialist Matt Forbes had three of those picks and one of them was returned for a touchdown. He
finished the night with seven tackles and five pass deflections to earn ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
Dodge was named U.S. Army Ironman of the Game for the seventh consecutive week as he hauled in five passes for 144 yards
and two scores to go along with four tackles on defense.
Hewitt finished the night with five receptions for 102 yards and three scores as well as three kickoff returns for 48 yards
to earn Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game honors.
Gordon, who had a tremendous game when the Steamwheelers played the Fire at Freedom Hall on June 5 in a 62-61 loss, had
another big night as he completed 14-of-27 passes for 334 yards (second best outing of the season) and five touchdowns. He
did throw one interception. For the fifth consecutive season, the Steamwheelers have qualified for the playoffs (participating
in four as they were banned from the 2002 playoffs). Ingold guaranteed that the Steamwheelers would win their final two games
of the regular season and the Midwest Division. And the Steamwheelers did just that.
Last Updated: 11:52 pm, Saturday, July 31st, 2004 Wheelers intercept playoff bid By Craig DeVrieze
.
The Quad-City SteamWheelers literally picked off a National Conference Midwest Division title and an af2 playoff berth in front of the season’s
largest crowd Saturday at The Mark of the Quad-Cities.
.
Matt Forbes had three interceptions, one for a touchdown, while Charles Sheffield
had a pick for a score and Chazz Moore added another interception to key a 66-38 SteamWheelers victory in a season-ending showdown for the division crown with the Louisville Fire.
.
The win clinched a playoff home game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday — against the same
Louisville outfit.
.
Greg Boll/QUAD-CITY TIMES Steamwheelers quarterback Ronnie Gordon celebrates with the
Q-C bench after the first of his five touchdown passes. View Photo
In front of 7,285 fans, the SteamWheelers outscored the visitors 47-14 in the second half. The contest featured a bench-clearing brawl and a pair of fourth-quarter
ejections — Moore and Louisville lineman Brandon Dyson — after Forbes took his third interception back for a touchdown
and a 52-31 lead, stopping at the 1 to taunt the Fire players.
.
After players were separated in the corner of the end zone,
Q-C coach Rich Ingold and a Louisville assistant engaged in a shouting match. Dyson filed a complaint against Ingold with
the Moline police after the game.
.
Forbes was named Defensive Player of the Game and did not regret his fourth-quarter
his goal-line taunt, even if it means facing a fired-up Fire in the playoffs.
.
“I was just doing a little something to get across the goal line,” Forbes
said.
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Forbes and the Steamwheeler defensive backfield got a point across with four second-half
interceptions of Matt Sauk, the league’s leading passer.
.
“We watched film all week, and we knew them pretty good,” Forbes said,
noting he read the receiver and reacted. “It feels good to make big plays in a big game. That’s what good players
do, and I consider myself a good player.”
.
The former Davenport Assumption standout certainly was a difference-maker Saturday,
rallying for his game-changing interceptions even after falling down twice to allow easy Louisville touchdowns.
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Ronnie Gordon threw for five touchdowns, Jeff Hewitt caught a pair and the SteamWheelers defense dominated the league’s fourth-leading offense, holding Sauk to 18-of-35 passing and 250 yards.
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The SteamWheelers trailed 24-19 at halftime, and Ingold said he challenged his team.
.
“I got after them,” he said. “The guys came out, played focused and
took over the game.”
.
“We just decided to leave it all out on the field,” said Gordon, who was
14-for-27 for 334 yards.
.
The SteamWheelers outscored the Fire 26-7 in the third quarter to take a 45-31 edge into the final frame, and then things got interesting.
.
First, Moore intercepted a Sauk throw in the end zone and Billy Cook raced 43 yards
with a catch to set the Wheelers up at the 3. They came up empty on three runs, and then Ryan Geisler missed a 19-yard field as the SteamWheelers appeared to have missed a chance to apply the body blow.
.
A play later, though, Forbes picked off Sauk on the sidelines and ran toward the end
zone. He stopped at the 1, taunting the would-be tackler, and then stepped over the goal line as a Louisville player closed
in. The bench-clearing brawl ensued.
.
A play after all of that, Forbes took the ball away from Louisville receiver Takuya
Furutani in the end zone. Gordon then hit Dodge for a 35-yard strike a play later to put the SteamWheelers on top 59-31 and clinch the title.
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The division title is the SteamWheelers’ fourth in their five seasons, and they finished 10-6, the fifth straight time they have posted double-digit wins.
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“It’s awesome,” Tim Dodge said after catching five passes for 144
yards and two touchdowns while contributing to the lockdown pass defense. “Winning this game, it erases all the bad
things that happended all season. We won the division, and we have home-field advantage next week.”
