Post by alecs on Apr 22, 2023 19:34:48 GMT -8
Steamwheelers 49, Pirates 44
4/22/23 --
MOLINE, IL - The Vibrant Arena at the MARK was the setting for an Eastern Conference clash between two powerhouse teams, as the Quad City Steamwheelers hosted the Massachusetts Pirates in a bid to extend their winning streak to four games. A back-and-forth affair would end with a walk-off touchdown with three seconds remaining, as the Steamwheelers prevailed over the Pirates by a score of 49-44.
The Steamwheelers received the opening kickoff, at which point the E.J. Hilliard show began, as he accounted for all 17 of Quad City’s yards on their scoring drive. His touchdown rush came from one yard out, but Chase Allbaugh missed the extra point, keeping the score 6-0. The Pirates responded with Jimmie Robinson, and a five-yard touchdown run by the Bethune-Cookman standout put the Pirates ahead 7-6. EJ Hilliard provided the immediate response, however, connecting with Mike Carrigan on a wide-open 44-yard pass down the right sideline. Hilliard would then find C.J. Windham on the two-point conversion, making up for Allbaugh’s earlier miss. The Pirates then responded in two plays, with Anthony Russo tossing to Isaac Zico for a 27-yard score to knot the game up at 14 apiece and wrap up the first quarter.
Quad City began the second quarter, with a four-yard run from Mike Carrigan, restoring Quad City’s lead to 21-14. On a drive requiring a crucial 4th down conversion, the Pirates would again find paydirt, with Ricky Person taking a direct snap and pushing through contact for a one-yard TD plunge. The Pirates defense would stand strong on Quad City’s next drive, featuring their first two sacks of the season on consecutive plays, forcing a long-range missed field goal to take possession and the opportunity to re-gain the lead. Two big plays later, Russo would connect with Thomas Owens on a 26-yard catch and score to give the Pirates the 28-21 lead. Inside the one-minute warning, Quad City tried to find the endzone again to level the game, but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal from Allbaugh. Standing strong, the Pirates took a 28-24 road lead into the locker room.
The Steamwheelers kicked off to start the second half, needing a stop to regain momentum. And that’s exactly what they got, as Darreon Jackson got his hands on a tipped ball for a game-changing interception. On a 3rd and 16 on the next drive, E.J. Hilliard made another huge play, a 34-yard strike to Jerron McGaw. Allbaugh would miss his second extra point of the game, but Quad City regained the lead 30-28. After the ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Pirates’ Ricky Person deep in Quad City territory, Jimmy Robinson ran his second touchdown of the game from 12 yards out. The Pirates defense held Quad City to a 22-yard field goal by Chase Allbaugh to stay ahead 35-33, with another opportunity to add points while having the lead. But after Jimmie Robinson got shaken up on the kickoff, the Pirates defense stalled on a four-and-out. Before the 3rd quarter closed, Hilliard once again found McGaw for a ten-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 40-35 Quad City after 45 minutes of play.
The next drive for the Pirates would take up the first eight minutes of the quarter, ending with Anthony Russo’s first rushing TD of the season on a 6-yard keeper. Jimmie Robinson was unable to convert on the two-point conversion, but Massachusetts still held on to the 41-40 lead. After a 4th down conversion was negated by penalty on Quad City, the Steamwheelers ran Allbaugh out for his third field goal attempt of the game, and he connected for 35 yards to give Quad City a 43-41 advantage. The Pirates would take their next drive deep into the one-minute warning, but could only run the clock to 16 seconds remaining. Josh Gable successfully booted a 29-yard field goal to give the Pirates a one-point lead, but 13 seconds remained on the clocked. That would prove to be costly for the Pirates. With three seconds remaining, E.J. Hilliard tossed a 20-yard dime down the left sideline for Keyvan Rudd, who secured the catch and gave Quad City the lead. A failed two-point conversion left the game at 49-44 in favor of the Steamwheelers. Jimmie Robinson tried to make an electric play on the ensuing kickoff, but he was stuffed as time expired.
E.J. Hilliard completed 13-of-19 passes for 170 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in the winning effort, while also lead Quad City in rushing (11 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD). Keyvan Rudd caught five of six targets for 53 yards and the walk-off touchdown. Mike Carrigan turned three touches into 59 yards and two scores (one receiving, one rushing). Jarren McGaw rushed four times for 23 yards and caught seven of eight targets for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Allbaugh had an "IFL Player of the Week" caliber performance, going a perfect three-for-three on field goal attempts despite missing a pair of extra point attempts.
In his third straight start, Anthony Russo completed 12-of-20 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, also factoring in as a runner with eight carries for 11 yards and a score. Jimmie Robinson carried eight times for 38 yards and two touchdowns, and secured his lone target for six additional yards. Isaac Zico led the team in receiving this evening, catching four of seven targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Darren Carrington was the most targeted Pirate receiver for a second straight week (nine targets), hauling four of those in for 35 scoreless yards. Thomas Owens hauled in all three of his targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. Ezekiel Rose had two of the three sacks for the Pirates tonight (their first three sacks as a team on the year).
Quad City advances to 4-1 on the season, keeping themselves within one game of Frisco for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Massachusetts drops consecutive games for the first time since their move to the IFL, and their 2-2 mark puts them level with Sioux Falls for third in the East. One more meeting remains between these two Championship hopefuls, with the Pirates hosting the reverse fixture during Week 10. That game will take place Saturday, May 20.
Both teams are in action in Week 7. The Pirates host the Iowa Barnstormers on Friday, April 28 with kickoff set for 4:35 p.m. The Steamwheelers will visit the Sioux Falls Storm on Saturday, April 29 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
4/22/23 --
MOLINE, IL - The Vibrant Arena at the MARK was the setting for an Eastern Conference clash between two powerhouse teams, as the Quad City Steamwheelers hosted the Massachusetts Pirates in a bid to extend their winning streak to four games. A back-and-forth affair would end with a walk-off touchdown with three seconds remaining, as the Steamwheelers prevailed over the Pirates by a score of 49-44.
The Steamwheelers received the opening kickoff, at which point the E.J. Hilliard show began, as he accounted for all 17 of Quad City’s yards on their scoring drive. His touchdown rush came from one yard out, but Chase Allbaugh missed the extra point, keeping the score 6-0. The Pirates responded with Jimmie Robinson, and a five-yard touchdown run by the Bethune-Cookman standout put the Pirates ahead 7-6. EJ Hilliard provided the immediate response, however, connecting with Mike Carrigan on a wide-open 44-yard pass down the right sideline. Hilliard would then find C.J. Windham on the two-point conversion, making up for Allbaugh’s earlier miss. The Pirates then responded in two plays, with Anthony Russo tossing to Isaac Zico for a 27-yard score to knot the game up at 14 apiece and wrap up the first quarter.
Quad City began the second quarter, with a four-yard run from Mike Carrigan, restoring Quad City’s lead to 21-14. On a drive requiring a crucial 4th down conversion, the Pirates would again find paydirt, with Ricky Person taking a direct snap and pushing through contact for a one-yard TD plunge. The Pirates defense would stand strong on Quad City’s next drive, featuring their first two sacks of the season on consecutive plays, forcing a long-range missed field goal to take possession and the opportunity to re-gain the lead. Two big plays later, Russo would connect with Thomas Owens on a 26-yard catch and score to give the Pirates the 28-21 lead. Inside the one-minute warning, Quad City tried to find the endzone again to level the game, but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal from Allbaugh. Standing strong, the Pirates took a 28-24 road lead into the locker room.
The Steamwheelers kicked off to start the second half, needing a stop to regain momentum. And that’s exactly what they got, as Darreon Jackson got his hands on a tipped ball for a game-changing interception. On a 3rd and 16 on the next drive, E.J. Hilliard made another huge play, a 34-yard strike to Jerron McGaw. Allbaugh would miss his second extra point of the game, but Quad City regained the lead 30-28. After the ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Pirates’ Ricky Person deep in Quad City territory, Jimmy Robinson ran his second touchdown of the game from 12 yards out. The Pirates defense held Quad City to a 22-yard field goal by Chase Allbaugh to stay ahead 35-33, with another opportunity to add points while having the lead. But after Jimmie Robinson got shaken up on the kickoff, the Pirates defense stalled on a four-and-out. Before the 3rd quarter closed, Hilliard once again found McGaw for a ten-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 40-35 Quad City after 45 minutes of play.
The next drive for the Pirates would take up the first eight minutes of the quarter, ending with Anthony Russo’s first rushing TD of the season on a 6-yard keeper. Jimmie Robinson was unable to convert on the two-point conversion, but Massachusetts still held on to the 41-40 lead. After a 4th down conversion was negated by penalty on Quad City, the Steamwheelers ran Allbaugh out for his third field goal attempt of the game, and he connected for 35 yards to give Quad City a 43-41 advantage. The Pirates would take their next drive deep into the one-minute warning, but could only run the clock to 16 seconds remaining. Josh Gable successfully booted a 29-yard field goal to give the Pirates a one-point lead, but 13 seconds remained on the clocked. That would prove to be costly for the Pirates. With three seconds remaining, E.J. Hilliard tossed a 20-yard dime down the left sideline for Keyvan Rudd, who secured the catch and gave Quad City the lead. A failed two-point conversion left the game at 49-44 in favor of the Steamwheelers. Jimmie Robinson tried to make an electric play on the ensuing kickoff, but he was stuffed as time expired.
E.J. Hilliard completed 13-of-19 passes for 170 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in the winning effort, while also lead Quad City in rushing (11 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD). Keyvan Rudd caught five of six targets for 53 yards and the walk-off touchdown. Mike Carrigan turned three touches into 59 yards and two scores (one receiving, one rushing). Jarren McGaw rushed four times for 23 yards and caught seven of eight targets for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Allbaugh had an "IFL Player of the Week" caliber performance, going a perfect three-for-three on field goal attempts despite missing a pair of extra point attempts.
In his third straight start, Anthony Russo completed 12-of-20 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, also factoring in as a runner with eight carries for 11 yards and a score. Jimmie Robinson carried eight times for 38 yards and two touchdowns, and secured his lone target for six additional yards. Isaac Zico led the team in receiving this evening, catching four of seven targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Darren Carrington was the most targeted Pirate receiver for a second straight week (nine targets), hauling four of those in for 35 scoreless yards. Thomas Owens hauled in all three of his targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. Ezekiel Rose had two of the three sacks for the Pirates tonight (their first three sacks as a team on the year).
Quad City advances to 4-1 on the season, keeping themselves within one game of Frisco for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Massachusetts drops consecutive games for the first time since their move to the IFL, and their 2-2 mark puts them level with Sioux Falls for third in the East. One more meeting remains between these two Championship hopefuls, with the Pirates hosting the reverse fixture during Week 10. That game will take place Saturday, May 20.
Both teams are in action in Week 7. The Pirates host the Iowa Barnstormers on Friday, April 28 with kickoff set for 4:35 p.m. The Steamwheelers will visit the Sioux Falls Storm on Saturday, April 29 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
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.
- AS
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