Post by Monika on Jul 20, 2024 18:23:45 GMT -8
Sharks 43, Steamwheelers 37
7/20/24 --
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Tyler King 's 58-yard missed field goal return as time expired lifted the Jacksonville Sharks to a 43-37 win over the Quad City Steamwheelers in the regular-season finale tonight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
The win lifts the Sharks to 5-11 in their first season in the Indoor Football League. They were eliminated from the playoffs three weeks ago, but were able to ensure the Steamwheelers would not earn the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Instead, the Steamwheelers will be the fourth seed and play the Green Bay Blizzard who earned the top seed in the conference tonight with a 51-30 road win over the Sioux Falls Storm, who will finish their respective games later tonight. Quad City, which fell to 8-8 in the regular season, had a chance to earn the third seed over the Massachusetts Pirates after the Pirates fell to the Tulsa Oilers on July 19.
This was the first-ever meeting between the teams after the Sharks moved from the National Arena League to the IFL over the offseason. They struggled much of the first half of the season, but vastly improved in the past several games, going 3-1 in their final four contests.
The Sharks took the first bite out of the scoreboard when Kaleb Barker hit a leaping Jaedon Stoshak in the right corner of the end zone for a seven-yard score. The Steamwheelers drove down to the Jacksonville two-yard line, but were forced into a turnover on downs by the Sharks defense. Jacksonville led 7-0 at the end of one quarter of play.
Jacksonville added to their lead a minute into the second quarter on a cut run up the middle for one yard from wide receiver DJ Stubbs. The Stewamwheelers got on the board four minutes into the quarter when Edward Vander scampered up the middle for a four-yard touchdown. After Barker was intercepted by Malik Duncan of the Steamwheelers and returned it to the five, Mike Irwin came in and found Raheem Harvey for a catch-and run, 45-yard touchdown around the right side to tie the game. The Sharks went back on top. King's long kickoff return set up a one-yard plunge from Barker. The point-after try was no good due to an errant snap. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball popped up straight in the air off the upright and, by the time Quad City's Jarrod Harrington was able to catch it, he was tackled by two Sharks players resulting in a rouge. The Sharks scored as time expired when Barker found DJ Matthews all alone in the left back corner of the end zone for 15 yards. Jacksonville took a 28-21 lead into the break.
Quad City had the ball first with Irwin being intercepted by the Sharks' Harrison Poole. On Jacksonville's first play after the pick, Barker was intercepted by the Steamwheelers' Josh Jones. Kyle Kaplan's 32-yard field goal cut into the Steamwheelers deficit to make the score 28-24 midway through the third quarter. That would remain the score upon completion of the quarter.
Kevin Didio-Weber connected on a 40-yard field goal with 13:10 remaining to make it a one-touchdown lead for Jacksonville. Vander brought the Steamwheelers back with a three-yard run around the left guard to tie the game with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Jacksonville native Tyler King gave the Sharks the lead back with a two-yard touchdown around the left side. Judd Erickson found Keyvan Rudd for a 25-yard score with just over four minutes remaining. The touchdown tied the contest at 37-37. Didio-Weber attempted a 49-yard field goal which hit the goalpost and bounced back into the field of play. That's when Kaplan attempted his 48-yard field goal and King made him pay for it with the game-winning return.
Barker finished with two touchdown passes and another score on the ground. King had his game-winning return and rushing TD, among his other highlights tonight. Stubbs scored once on the ground, and Stoshak and Matthews each had a touchdown catch. Stoshak was injured during the first half, but got back on the field to hold for extra points and field goals.
Irwin tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Erickson had another. Vander was a beast on the ground with three touchdowns. Harvey and Rudd each had a touchdown catch.
All playoff games with the exception of the National Championship Game will be streamed live on the IFL 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
7/20/24 --
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Tyler King 's 58-yard missed field goal return as time expired lifted the Jacksonville Sharks to a 43-37 win over the Quad City Steamwheelers in the regular-season finale tonight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
The win lifts the Sharks to 5-11 in their first season in the Indoor Football League. They were eliminated from the playoffs three weeks ago, but were able to ensure the Steamwheelers would not earn the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Instead, the Steamwheelers will be the fourth seed and play the Green Bay Blizzard who earned the top seed in the conference tonight with a 51-30 road win over the Sioux Falls Storm, who will finish their respective games later tonight. Quad City, which fell to 8-8 in the regular season, had a chance to earn the third seed over the Massachusetts Pirates after the Pirates fell to the Tulsa Oilers on July 19.
This was the first-ever meeting between the teams after the Sharks moved from the National Arena League to the IFL over the offseason. They struggled much of the first half of the season, but vastly improved in the past several games, going 3-1 in their final four contests.
The Sharks took the first bite out of the scoreboard when Kaleb Barker hit a leaping Jaedon Stoshak in the right corner of the end zone for a seven-yard score. The Steamwheelers drove down to the Jacksonville two-yard line, but were forced into a turnover on downs by the Sharks defense. Jacksonville led 7-0 at the end of one quarter of play.
Jacksonville added to their lead a minute into the second quarter on a cut run up the middle for one yard from wide receiver DJ Stubbs. The Stewamwheelers got on the board four minutes into the quarter when Edward Vander scampered up the middle for a four-yard touchdown. After Barker was intercepted by Malik Duncan of the Steamwheelers and returned it to the five, Mike Irwin came in and found Raheem Harvey for a catch-and run, 45-yard touchdown around the right side to tie the game. The Sharks went back on top. King's long kickoff return set up a one-yard plunge from Barker. The point-after try was no good due to an errant snap. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball popped up straight in the air off the upright and, by the time Quad City's Jarrod Harrington was able to catch it, he was tackled by two Sharks players resulting in a rouge. The Sharks scored as time expired when Barker found DJ Matthews all alone in the left back corner of the end zone for 15 yards. Jacksonville took a 28-21 lead into the break.
Quad City had the ball first with Irwin being intercepted by the Sharks' Harrison Poole. On Jacksonville's first play after the pick, Barker was intercepted by the Steamwheelers' Josh Jones. Kyle Kaplan's 32-yard field goal cut into the Steamwheelers deficit to make the score 28-24 midway through the third quarter. That would remain the score upon completion of the quarter.
Kevin Didio-Weber connected on a 40-yard field goal with 13:10 remaining to make it a one-touchdown lead for Jacksonville. Vander brought the Steamwheelers back with a three-yard run around the left guard to tie the game with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Jacksonville native Tyler King gave the Sharks the lead back with a two-yard touchdown around the left side. Judd Erickson found Keyvan Rudd for a 25-yard score with just over four minutes remaining. The touchdown tied the contest at 37-37. Didio-Weber attempted a 49-yard field goal which hit the goalpost and bounced back into the field of play. That's when Kaplan attempted his 48-yard field goal and King made him pay for it with the game-winning return.
Barker finished with two touchdown passes and another score on the ground. King had his game-winning return and rushing TD, among his other highlights tonight. Stubbs scored once on the ground, and Stoshak and Matthews each had a touchdown catch. Stoshak was injured during the first half, but got back on the field to hold for extra points and field goals.
Irwin tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Erickson had another. Vander was a beast on the ground with three touchdowns. Harvey and Rudd each had a touchdown catch.
All playoff games with the exception of the National Championship Game will be streamed live on the IFL 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-MMM
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