Post by DiamondThief on Apr 28, 2019 14:32:03 GMT -8
FINAL - Bismarck Bucks 51, Quad City Steamwheelers 48
4/28/19 --
BISMARCK, ND - In a wild finish which featured four combined touchdowns in the final minute, the Bismarck Bucks struck last and came away with a 51-48 win over the visiting Quad City Steamwheelers this afternoon at Bismarck Event Center.
After starting the season 0-6, the Bucks have now won two straight. They stand at 2-6 and in eighth place in the IFL standings. Quad City fell to 3-5 and in a two-way tie with the Tucson Sugar Skulls in sixth. The top six teams in the IFL standings following week 17 action will qualify for the playoffs.
It was the first home win of the season for the Bucks and their 51 points was the highest point total thus far in 2019.
It was an intriguing match up as it was the first IFL meeting between these teams. Both moved over from Champions Indoor Football during the off season. They met twice last season in the CIF; their only historical meetings. The road team won both games, with the Bucks claiming a 44-42 win on March 23, 2018 in Moline, and the Steamwheelers winning 45-32 in overtime on May 5, 2018 in Bismarck
After recovering a Bismarck fumble the Steamwheelers scored on a five-yard pass from E.J. Hilliard to Quinton Pedroza. The Bucks countered on a five-yard run from quarterback John Gibbs. Hilliard hit Keyvan Rudd on a 30-yard bomb to put Quad City back up by a touchdown, giving the Steamwheelers a 14-7 lead through the end of the first quarter.
Mike Tatum's 17-yard pass from Gibbs pulled Bismarck even at 14 apiece on the second play of the second quarter. The Bucks then scored on a rouge on the ensuing kickoff. Their defense held on the Steamwheelers ensuing drive and were able to pull ahead 18-14 courtesy Cody Barber's 20-yard field goal. Quad City retook the lead when Pedroza hauled in a 19-yard touchdown from Hilliard. Hiliard's two-point conversion pass to Carlos Wiggins was successful and the Steamwheelers led 22-18 with just under three minutes to go in first half. The Bucks scored on a nie-yard run from Gibbs with 30 seconds remaining. Quad City attempted to put some more points on the board, but their drive was halted by the Bucks' defense. Bismarck went into the break on top, 24-22.
The Steamwheelers took a 29-24 lead when HIlliard found a wide open Wiggins for a 28-yard touchdown strike. After recovering Zavier Steward's fumble, the Bucks scored on a leaping touchdown run of 10 yards from Gibbs. Bismarck held a narrow 30-24 lead heading into the final quarter.
With Quad City driving into Bucks territory, a bad snap led to a fumble which was recovered by Diantae Thomas of the Bucks. Bismarck drove down the field, scoring on Gibbs' one-yard run with 9:05 left in the fourth. The Steamwheelers came back scoring on a one-yard run from Zavier Steward, but Hilliard's two-point conversion pass was caught, but short, leaving Bismarck with a 37-35 lead with just under five minutes left.
Bismarck took the ensuing kickoff with the intention to eat time off the clock, but Gibbs' pass on fourth down was intercepted by La'Kel Bass, giving Quad City the ball at midfield with 2:08 left. The Steamwheelers responded with a 19-yard strike from Hilliard to Pedroza. Mike Tatum returned the kickoff 40 yards to give the Bucks excellent field position to retake the lead, which they did two plays later on his five-yard run with 27 seconds to go. With Bismarck ahead 43-42 it took just one play for Quad City to score. That came on a 42-yard bomb to Keyvan Rudd and the Steamwheelers held a 48-43 advantage with 16 seconds left.
Tatum returned the following kickoff to the 25. On the next play, a scrambling Gibbs found Eric Lauderdale for the 25-yard touchdown. Gibbs hit Frederick Abraham for the two-point conversion and the Bucks were up 51-48 with six seconds on the clock. Hillard threw to the end zone, but the play was broken up by the Bucks' Brandon Henrie. With a second left on the clock, the Steamwheelers attempted a 47-yard field goal by Stytz for the tie, but it was short, giving the Bucks the three-point win.
The Steamwheelers gained 287 yards of total offense, to 185 for the Bucks. They held an advantage of 226 to 110 in the passing game. Bismarck was penalized seven times for 73 yards, while Quad City was flagged eight times for 47 yards. Each team committed two turnovers.
Gibbs, making his first start in several weeks, went the whole way for the Bucks. He completed nine of 17 passes for 11 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 13 times for 58 yards and four scores. In addition to his kick return heroics, Tatum caught three balls for 34 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another score. Lauderdale's game-winning touchdown catch came on his only reception of the game. Lynn Williams led the Bucks with five tackles, and Thomas and LaTreze Mushatt each recovered fumbles for the Bismarck defense.
Hilliard, who came into the game as the league's leading passer, struggled a bit. He went 11 of 26 for 192 yards with six touchdowns. Rudd had two catches for 72 yars and two scores, while Pedroza caught five balls for 67 yards and three scores. Wiggins finished with two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. La'Kel Bass and Danzel McDaniel each recorded six tackles. Bass also had an interception and Antonio Marshall recovered a fumble for the Quad City defense.
The Bucks are back in action on May 4 when they visit the Green Bay Blizzard with kickoff slated for 5:05 p.m. The Bucks and Blizzard will be meeting for the first time. The Steamwheelers host the Sioux Falls Storm on May 4. Kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m. This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams. All times mentioned are pacific standard time.
4/28/19 --
BISMARCK, ND - In a wild finish which featured four combined touchdowns in the final minute, the Bismarck Bucks struck last and came away with a 51-48 win over the visiting Quad City Steamwheelers this afternoon at Bismarck Event Center.
After starting the season 0-6, the Bucks have now won two straight. They stand at 2-6 and in eighth place in the IFL standings. Quad City fell to 3-5 and in a two-way tie with the Tucson Sugar Skulls in sixth. The top six teams in the IFL standings following week 17 action will qualify for the playoffs.
It was the first home win of the season for the Bucks and their 51 points was the highest point total thus far in 2019.
It was an intriguing match up as it was the first IFL meeting between these teams. Both moved over from Champions Indoor Football during the off season. They met twice last season in the CIF; their only historical meetings. The road team won both games, with the Bucks claiming a 44-42 win on March 23, 2018 in Moline, and the Steamwheelers winning 45-32 in overtime on May 5, 2018 in Bismarck
After recovering a Bismarck fumble the Steamwheelers scored on a five-yard pass from E.J. Hilliard to Quinton Pedroza. The Bucks countered on a five-yard run from quarterback John Gibbs. Hilliard hit Keyvan Rudd on a 30-yard bomb to put Quad City back up by a touchdown, giving the Steamwheelers a 14-7 lead through the end of the first quarter.
Mike Tatum's 17-yard pass from Gibbs pulled Bismarck even at 14 apiece on the second play of the second quarter. The Bucks then scored on a rouge on the ensuing kickoff. Their defense held on the Steamwheelers ensuing drive and were able to pull ahead 18-14 courtesy Cody Barber's 20-yard field goal. Quad City retook the lead when Pedroza hauled in a 19-yard touchdown from Hilliard. Hiliard's two-point conversion pass to Carlos Wiggins was successful and the Steamwheelers led 22-18 with just under three minutes to go in first half. The Bucks scored on a nie-yard run from Gibbs with 30 seconds remaining. Quad City attempted to put some more points on the board, but their drive was halted by the Bucks' defense. Bismarck went into the break on top, 24-22.
The Steamwheelers took a 29-24 lead when HIlliard found a wide open Wiggins for a 28-yard touchdown strike. After recovering Zavier Steward's fumble, the Bucks scored on a leaping touchdown run of 10 yards from Gibbs. Bismarck held a narrow 30-24 lead heading into the final quarter.
With Quad City driving into Bucks territory, a bad snap led to a fumble which was recovered by Diantae Thomas of the Bucks. Bismarck drove down the field, scoring on Gibbs' one-yard run with 9:05 left in the fourth. The Steamwheelers came back scoring on a one-yard run from Zavier Steward, but Hilliard's two-point conversion pass was caught, but short, leaving Bismarck with a 37-35 lead with just under five minutes left.
Bismarck took the ensuing kickoff with the intention to eat time off the clock, but Gibbs' pass on fourth down was intercepted by La'Kel Bass, giving Quad City the ball at midfield with 2:08 left. The Steamwheelers responded with a 19-yard strike from Hilliard to Pedroza. Mike Tatum returned the kickoff 40 yards to give the Bucks excellent field position to retake the lead, which they did two plays later on his five-yard run with 27 seconds to go. With Bismarck ahead 43-42 it took just one play for Quad City to score. That came on a 42-yard bomb to Keyvan Rudd and the Steamwheelers held a 48-43 advantage with 16 seconds left.
Tatum returned the following kickoff to the 25. On the next play, a scrambling Gibbs found Eric Lauderdale for the 25-yard touchdown. Gibbs hit Frederick Abraham for the two-point conversion and the Bucks were up 51-48 with six seconds on the clock. Hillard threw to the end zone, but the play was broken up by the Bucks' Brandon Henrie. With a second left on the clock, the Steamwheelers attempted a 47-yard field goal by Stytz for the tie, but it was short, giving the Bucks the three-point win.
The Steamwheelers gained 287 yards of total offense, to 185 for the Bucks. They held an advantage of 226 to 110 in the passing game. Bismarck was penalized seven times for 73 yards, while Quad City was flagged eight times for 47 yards. Each team committed two turnovers.
Gibbs, making his first start in several weeks, went the whole way for the Bucks. He completed nine of 17 passes for 11 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 13 times for 58 yards and four scores. In addition to his kick return heroics, Tatum caught three balls for 34 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another score. Lauderdale's game-winning touchdown catch came on his only reception of the game. Lynn Williams led the Bucks with five tackles, and Thomas and LaTreze Mushatt each recovered fumbles for the Bismarck defense.
Hilliard, who came into the game as the league's leading passer, struggled a bit. He went 11 of 26 for 192 yards with six touchdowns. Rudd had two catches for 72 yars and two scores, while Pedroza caught five balls for 67 yards and three scores. Wiggins finished with two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. La'Kel Bass and Danzel McDaniel each recorded six tackles. Bass also had an interception and Antonio Marshall recovered a fumble for the Quad City defense.
The Bucks are back in action on May 4 when they visit the Green Bay Blizzard with kickoff slated for 5:05 p.m. The Bucks and Blizzard will be meeting for the first time. The Steamwheelers host the Sioux Falls Storm on May 4. Kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m. This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams. All times mentioned are pacific standard time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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