Post by alecs on Apr 20, 2024 19:35:31 GMT -8
Steamwheelers 54, Pirates 43
4/20/24 --
MOLINE, IL - The Quad City Steamwheelers hosted their Eastern Conference rival Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday Night at Vibrant Arena at the MARK. Riding a fantastic running game and a solid defensive effort, the hosts were able to upend the Pirates by a score of 54-43, marking the first loss for Massachusetts on the season after starting the season undefeated in their first four games.
Quad City received the ball first and used up nearly eight minutes of clock before Eddie Vander made a great cut to his right on a one-yard rushing score. The Steamwheeler defense would step up big directly after, with Raheem Harvey intercepting a goal-line pass from Alejandro Bennifield to further set the tone. At the first quarter buzzer, Judd Erickson executed a perfect read-option, completely fooling the Pirates defense on his way to an uncontested 19-yard touchdown run. The Steamwheelers lead stood at 14 to nil after one quarter.
The Pirates' first score of the game would come early in the second quarter, on a nine-yard pass from Bennifield to Thomas Owens. But the PAT was blocked and returned by Harvey for a defensive two-point conversion to make it 16-6 Quad City. After an interception by Eugene Ford gave possession back to the Pirates, Bennifield would convert a fourth and goal with his legs on a two-yard rushing score, trimming the lead to three points. Just outside the one-minute warning, Erickson found Jordan Vesey for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Massachusetts had one final chance before the half for points, and ended up with three on a 21-yard field goal by Josh Gable. The Pirates would head into the locker room facing a 23-16 deficit at the midway point.
The Pirates tied the game on a nine-yard rush from Bennifield, to which Quad City quickly responded with an 11-yard touchdown run by Vander. The Quad City defense again came up huge, when Malik Duncan ripped away a Thomas Owens catch for the second takeaway by the Steamwheelers defense. Erickson would later find Jarrad Harrington in the corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown pass to bring the lead back to 14 points. Bennifield would cut the lead in half with his third rushing score (one yard). At the end of the third quarter, Massachusetts trailed 37-30.
Quad City would continue to ground and pound, with Vander getting into the endzone once more on a nine-yard rushing touchdown. The Pirates again stayed within striking distance with Tavion Thomas bumbling his way across the goal line for a one-yard score. With exactly a minute to go, Erickson threw a decisive touchdown pass of 11 yards to Ka'Ron Ashley. The Pirates responded quickly, giving themselves a chance after a 17-yard touchdown reception by Teo Redding. A failed two-point conversion kept the score 51-43. After a failed onside kick by the Pirates, the Steamwheelers put the game's outcome on the leg of Kyle Kaplan, trusting him with a 28-yard field goal which he calmly booted through. Time ran out for the Pirates on a last-gasp drive, finalizing the huge win for Quad City, with 54-43 holding as the final score.
After Mike Irwin started the game and left in the first quarter (concussion evaluation), Judd Erickson stepped up and completed eight of 12 passes, for three touchdowns and one interception, adding 23 yards and a touchdown on three rushing attempts. Eddie Vander gashed his way to 93 yards on ten carries with three touchdowns. Jarrod Harrington was the leading receiver, with four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Raheem Harvey had an interception and two-point defensive conversion, while Malik Duncan recovered a fumble for the Steamwheelers in the win.
Alejandro Bennifield connected on 14 of 23 passes for 147 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the losing effort, while also pacing Pirates rushers with 39 yards and three touchdowns on six carries. Jimmie Robinson was held in check, converting eight touches into 44 scoreless yards. Thomas Owens logged six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown as the Pirates' leading receiver. Eugene Ford also logged his fourth interception of the season tonight.
The Pirates slightly outgained Quad City 237-227, but the Steamwheelers logged 132 rushing yards compared to 96 for the Pirates. Quad City was also a plus-one in the takeaway margin. Penalties played a pivotal role in the game's outcome, with the Pirates' eight penalties resulting in 125 yards surrendered, whereas Quad City's nine infractions cost them 52 yards.
Quad City now leads the all-time series three games to two over Massachusetts, staying undefeated at home in two tries. The rematch at Lowell is currently scheduled for a Monday night, July 1st in Lowell.
The Pirates (4-1) will regroup and play next week against the Sioux Falls Storm (0-4) on Saturday April 27 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. That game will be at Scheel's Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. Dubbed the Fargo-IFL Gridiron Classic, the contest will be hosted by the Dakota (formerly Bismarck) Bucks, who are dormant until next season. The Steamwheelers (2-2) will host the Tulsa Oilers (2-2) on Sunday April 28 with kickoff set for 1:05 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.
4/20/24 --
MOLINE, IL - The Quad City Steamwheelers hosted their Eastern Conference rival Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday Night at Vibrant Arena at the MARK. Riding a fantastic running game and a solid defensive effort, the hosts were able to upend the Pirates by a score of 54-43, marking the first loss for Massachusetts on the season after starting the season undefeated in their first four games.
Quad City received the ball first and used up nearly eight minutes of clock before Eddie Vander made a great cut to his right on a one-yard rushing score. The Steamwheeler defense would step up big directly after, with Raheem Harvey intercepting a goal-line pass from Alejandro Bennifield to further set the tone. At the first quarter buzzer, Judd Erickson executed a perfect read-option, completely fooling the Pirates defense on his way to an uncontested 19-yard touchdown run. The Steamwheelers lead stood at 14 to nil after one quarter.
The Pirates' first score of the game would come early in the second quarter, on a nine-yard pass from Bennifield to Thomas Owens. But the PAT was blocked and returned by Harvey for a defensive two-point conversion to make it 16-6 Quad City. After an interception by Eugene Ford gave possession back to the Pirates, Bennifield would convert a fourth and goal with his legs on a two-yard rushing score, trimming the lead to three points. Just outside the one-minute warning, Erickson found Jordan Vesey for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Massachusetts had one final chance before the half for points, and ended up with three on a 21-yard field goal by Josh Gable. The Pirates would head into the locker room facing a 23-16 deficit at the midway point.
The Pirates tied the game on a nine-yard rush from Bennifield, to which Quad City quickly responded with an 11-yard touchdown run by Vander. The Quad City defense again came up huge, when Malik Duncan ripped away a Thomas Owens catch for the second takeaway by the Steamwheelers defense. Erickson would later find Jarrad Harrington in the corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown pass to bring the lead back to 14 points. Bennifield would cut the lead in half with his third rushing score (one yard). At the end of the third quarter, Massachusetts trailed 37-30.
Quad City would continue to ground and pound, with Vander getting into the endzone once more on a nine-yard rushing touchdown. The Pirates again stayed within striking distance with Tavion Thomas bumbling his way across the goal line for a one-yard score. With exactly a minute to go, Erickson threw a decisive touchdown pass of 11 yards to Ka'Ron Ashley. The Pirates responded quickly, giving themselves a chance after a 17-yard touchdown reception by Teo Redding. A failed two-point conversion kept the score 51-43. After a failed onside kick by the Pirates, the Steamwheelers put the game's outcome on the leg of Kyle Kaplan, trusting him with a 28-yard field goal which he calmly booted through. Time ran out for the Pirates on a last-gasp drive, finalizing the huge win for Quad City, with 54-43 holding as the final score.
After Mike Irwin started the game and left in the first quarter (concussion evaluation), Judd Erickson stepped up and completed eight of 12 passes, for three touchdowns and one interception, adding 23 yards and a touchdown on three rushing attempts. Eddie Vander gashed his way to 93 yards on ten carries with three touchdowns. Jarrod Harrington was the leading receiver, with four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Raheem Harvey had an interception and two-point defensive conversion, while Malik Duncan recovered a fumble for the Steamwheelers in the win.
Alejandro Bennifield connected on 14 of 23 passes for 147 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the losing effort, while also pacing Pirates rushers with 39 yards and three touchdowns on six carries. Jimmie Robinson was held in check, converting eight touches into 44 scoreless yards. Thomas Owens logged six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown as the Pirates' leading receiver. Eugene Ford also logged his fourth interception of the season tonight.
The Pirates slightly outgained Quad City 237-227, but the Steamwheelers logged 132 rushing yards compared to 96 for the Pirates. Quad City was also a plus-one in the takeaway margin. Penalties played a pivotal role in the game's outcome, with the Pirates' eight penalties resulting in 125 yards surrendered, whereas Quad City's nine infractions cost them 52 yards.
Quad City now leads the all-time series three games to two over Massachusetts, staying undefeated at home in two tries. The rematch at Lowell is currently scheduled for a Monday night, July 1st in Lowell.
The Pirates (4-1) will regroup and play next week against the Sioux Falls Storm (0-4) on Saturday April 27 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. That game will be at Scheel's Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. Dubbed the Fargo-IFL Gridiron Classic, the contest will be hosted by the Dakota (formerly Bismarck) Bucks, who are dormant until next season. The Steamwheelers (2-2) will host the Tulsa Oilers (2-2) on Sunday April 28 with kickoff set for 1:05 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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