Post by alecs on Apr 13, 2024 18:47:24 GMT -8
Fighters 54, Steamwheelers 37
4/13/24 --
FRISCO, TX - The Frisco Fighters completed their season-opening three game homestand on Saturday night at Comerica Center against their fellow Eastern Conference rivals, the Quad City Steamwheelers. Fueled by another impressive showing from T.J. Edwards, Frisco remains perfect on the young 2024 campaign, improving to a 3-0 start by way of tonight's 54-37 victory.
The Fighters opened the scoring on their first drive with a familiar act - a rushing touchdown by reigning MVP T.J. Edwards from four yards out. Quad City could not respond, however, with a three-and-out resulting in a missed 58-yard field goal attempt from Kyle Kaplan. Two plays later, the Fighters doubled their lead on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Devon McCoy. That would stand as all the scoring in the first 15 minutes, with Frisco ahead 14-0 after the end of one quarter.
The Steamwheelers were again held out of the endzone with their second possession, but still managed points courtesy of a 36-yard field goal by Kaplan. Frisco put together another scoring drive capped off by a six-yard rumble down the middle for a Martez Carter touchdown. Needing a counter in the worst way, Quad City managed its first touchdown of the game, with a one-yard run by Eddie Vander to cut the lead to 21-10. The Steamwheeler celebration would be short-lived, though, as Frisco needed just two plays to record their fourth touchdown in as many drives. A perfectly executed play fake saw Edwards take a QB keeper down the left side for a 32-yard scoring scamper. Running no-huddle inside of the one-minute warning, Quad City found paydirt again with seven seconds remaining, as Judd Erickson hurled a 16-yard dart to Vander, who impressively hauled the catch in one-handed. Amazingly, it would be the Fighters with the last laugh, with Lionell McConnell taking the ensuing kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown as time expired. Bryce Crawford's PAT was pushed wide right, though, keeping the Fighter advantage at 34-17 midway through.
Entering the second half down by 17, Quad City got another much needed big play, with Jordan Vesey high-pointing a fantastic 30-yard touchdown pass in the endzone from Erickson to further trim into the lead. Frisco kept its perfect offensive efficiency right after, with Edwards lobbing a wide-open pass to Cole Blackman from four yards out. Quad City would then commit its first costly turnover, with a pass from Erickson intercepted by McConnell at the halfway point of the third quarter. A few minutes later, Edwards would get into the endzone again, this time on a five-yard QB keeper up the middle, the final score of the third quarter. Entering the fourth quarter, Frisco led 47-24.
On the first play of the quarter, backup QB Mike Irwin converted a fourth down with a five-yard pass to Vander. After three straight sacks of Edwards, Quad City forced a missed 33-yard field goal attempt from Crawford for their first defensive stop of the evening. The persistent Steamwheelers would capitalize on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Irwin to Keyvan Rudd. The two-point pass attempt failed, intended for Rudd, denying him of the rare "octopus" opportunity. The Fighters worked the remainder of the clock inside the one-minute warning, at which point T.J. Edwards leisurely jogged into the endzone for a one-yard score with six seconds to go for the victory lap. The last-second touchdown, significant for some viewers, made the final score 54-37, with the win going to the Fighters.
T.J. Edwards shined once more for the Fighters, completing eight of ten passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns and rushing 13 times for 72 yards and four touchdowns. Martez Carter chipped in 53 rushing yards and a touchdown. Devon McCoy led Frisco receivers with four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Lionell McConnell provided an interception and kickoff return for touchdown in the win.
Quad City rotated two quarterbacks in the defeat: Judd Erickson (8/16, 111 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT) and Mike Irwin (8/12, 84 yds, 2 TD). Eddie Vander was the most explosive Steamwheeler on the field tonight, logging three rushes for 11 yards and a score while adding four catches for 36 additional yards and two scores. Keyvan Rudd (5/68/1) and Jordan Vesey (4/62/1) each had receiving touchdowns as well for Quad City. KeShaun Moore led the defense with seven tackles and recorded 1.5 sacks.
Frisco held a slight 224-210 advantage in total offense and generated one takeaway to Quad City's zero. The Fighters committed six penalties for 45 yards, and the Steamwheelers were hit with eight calls for 67 yards.
With the win, Frisco goes to 4-1 in the all-time series against Quad City, with the only loss in the series the memorable 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. One meeting remains in the regular season between the Steamwheelers and Fighters, set for Saturday June 8th in Moline.
The Steamwheelers (1-2) will head back home next week to host the Massachusetts Pirates (4-0) on Saturday April 20th, for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Fighters (3-0) will travel to Tulsa on Saturday April 20th to renew their "Red River Rumble" rivalry with the Oilers (1-1), with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
4/13/24 --
FRISCO, TX - The Frisco Fighters completed their season-opening three game homestand on Saturday night at Comerica Center against their fellow Eastern Conference rivals, the Quad City Steamwheelers. Fueled by another impressive showing from T.J. Edwards, Frisco remains perfect on the young 2024 campaign, improving to a 3-0 start by way of tonight's 54-37 victory.
The Fighters opened the scoring on their first drive with a familiar act - a rushing touchdown by reigning MVP T.J. Edwards from four yards out. Quad City could not respond, however, with a three-and-out resulting in a missed 58-yard field goal attempt from Kyle Kaplan. Two plays later, the Fighters doubled their lead on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Devon McCoy. That would stand as all the scoring in the first 15 minutes, with Frisco ahead 14-0 after the end of one quarter.
The Steamwheelers were again held out of the endzone with their second possession, but still managed points courtesy of a 36-yard field goal by Kaplan. Frisco put together another scoring drive capped off by a six-yard rumble down the middle for a Martez Carter touchdown. Needing a counter in the worst way, Quad City managed its first touchdown of the game, with a one-yard run by Eddie Vander to cut the lead to 21-10. The Steamwheeler celebration would be short-lived, though, as Frisco needed just two plays to record their fourth touchdown in as many drives. A perfectly executed play fake saw Edwards take a QB keeper down the left side for a 32-yard scoring scamper. Running no-huddle inside of the one-minute warning, Quad City found paydirt again with seven seconds remaining, as Judd Erickson hurled a 16-yard dart to Vander, who impressively hauled the catch in one-handed. Amazingly, it would be the Fighters with the last laugh, with Lionell McConnell taking the ensuing kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown as time expired. Bryce Crawford's PAT was pushed wide right, though, keeping the Fighter advantage at 34-17 midway through.
Entering the second half down by 17, Quad City got another much needed big play, with Jordan Vesey high-pointing a fantastic 30-yard touchdown pass in the endzone from Erickson to further trim into the lead. Frisco kept its perfect offensive efficiency right after, with Edwards lobbing a wide-open pass to Cole Blackman from four yards out. Quad City would then commit its first costly turnover, with a pass from Erickson intercepted by McConnell at the halfway point of the third quarter. A few minutes later, Edwards would get into the endzone again, this time on a five-yard QB keeper up the middle, the final score of the third quarter. Entering the fourth quarter, Frisco led 47-24.
On the first play of the quarter, backup QB Mike Irwin converted a fourth down with a five-yard pass to Vander. After three straight sacks of Edwards, Quad City forced a missed 33-yard field goal attempt from Crawford for their first defensive stop of the evening. The persistent Steamwheelers would capitalize on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Irwin to Keyvan Rudd. The two-point pass attempt failed, intended for Rudd, denying him of the rare "octopus" opportunity. The Fighters worked the remainder of the clock inside the one-minute warning, at which point T.J. Edwards leisurely jogged into the endzone for a one-yard score with six seconds to go for the victory lap. The last-second touchdown, significant for some viewers, made the final score 54-37, with the win going to the Fighters.
T.J. Edwards shined once more for the Fighters, completing eight of ten passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns and rushing 13 times for 72 yards and four touchdowns. Martez Carter chipped in 53 rushing yards and a touchdown. Devon McCoy led Frisco receivers with four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Lionell McConnell provided an interception and kickoff return for touchdown in the win.
Quad City rotated two quarterbacks in the defeat: Judd Erickson (8/16, 111 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT) and Mike Irwin (8/12, 84 yds, 2 TD). Eddie Vander was the most explosive Steamwheeler on the field tonight, logging three rushes for 11 yards and a score while adding four catches for 36 additional yards and two scores. Keyvan Rudd (5/68/1) and Jordan Vesey (4/62/1) each had receiving touchdowns as well for Quad City. KeShaun Moore led the defense with seven tackles and recorded 1.5 sacks.
Frisco held a slight 224-210 advantage in total offense and generated one takeaway to Quad City's zero. The Fighters committed six penalties for 45 yards, and the Steamwheelers were hit with eight calls for 67 yards.
With the win, Frisco goes to 4-1 in the all-time series against Quad City, with the only loss in the series the memorable 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. One meeting remains in the regular season between the Steamwheelers and Fighters, set for Saturday June 8th in Moline.
The Steamwheelers (1-2) will head back home next week to host the Massachusetts Pirates (4-0) on Saturday April 20th, for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Fighters (3-0) will travel to Tulsa on Saturday April 20th to renew their "Red River Rumble" rivalry with the Oilers (1-1), with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-AS
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