Just Like That – Steamwheelers Tied For First in Division
Gary Stibolt
Monday June 21, 2004
After falling to the Pirates a week earlier in Peoria, the Fire had them at home and it was the same outcome as the Pirates again defeated Louisville handing the Fire their 4th loss on the season. That loss, coupled with the a Quad City win, gives the Fire and the Steamwheelers identical records at 7-4 and they both have to play one another yet on July 31st at the Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. The Fire hold a one-point advantage over the Steamwheelers after a close 62-61 decision at Louisville on June 5th.
As for the Steamwheelers, they mounted an impressive comeback in Green Bay after falling behind 21-0 with 4:33 to go in the first quarter thanks to two Steamwheeler turnovers. "Our two main guys made a couple of mistakes. Tim Dodge and Jeff Hewitt with those fumbles...they`re the heart and soul of our football team and we never let it get us," stated a confident Coach Ingold following the game. “We stuck to our plan and we fought hard. We were going to win this football game.” Win they did with a defense that held the Blizzard to just two scores in the entire second half.
The win gave the Steamwheelers back their winning identity and proved something they believed in all along…they are a good football team. Coach Ingold described the win as an experience of a family coming together. “Tonight we came together as a family.” The team had just signed two new players and let two others go in preparation for Green Bay. Terrance Dotsy (OL/DL), a rookie fresh out of California Berkley was thrown to the wolves and FB/LB, Nick Constentino joined the Steamwheelers on Thursday after spending the first part of 2004 on the Chicago Rush’s practice squad. Despite the fresh new faces, there definitely was team chemistry working full throttle at Reisch Center for the Steamwheelers.
The remainder of the season for the Steamwheelers is still critical with each passing game and yet another road test at Arkansas on Friday night. Despite the Twisters lacking a winning season this year, the Steamwheelers know that you can’t take that for granted. With a home game against Peoria the following week, the Steamwheelers have to stay the course. After all, the Pirates beat a very good Louisville team two weeks in a row. When the Pirates come to the Mark, it will be personal…it always is. Following the Pirates game on July 2nd, the Steamwheelers then go on the road to battle Tennessee Valley who just upset the Birmingham Steeldogs.
The Steeldogs then come to the Mark on July 17th before a bye week breather that preludes the rematch with Louisville. It is not an easy schedule and all the Steamwheelers are focusing on now is taking care of themselves and not worrying about the division. Evidence of that came this past weekend and now here they are tied for first and a schedule that will challenge their positioning every week till the end.
News/Notes:
OL/DL Jamal Cherry became a father as the Steamwheelers kicked off Friday night. His son was born weighing in at 7 pounds 8.5 oz. and 21 inches long.
Gary Stibolt has covered the Quad City Steamwheelers since their 2000 inaugural season. He also owns, operates and is the Chief Editor/Publisher of SteamwheelerFans.com, a website dedicated to the Steamwheelers and their fans. He coresponds for other media outlets covering arenafootball2. In addition to leading the Steamwheelers Fan Club, Gary serves as Coordinator of the National af2 Fan Club. He is married with two sons and works as an Infrastructure Analyst for Deere & Company in their Corporate Computer Center in Moline, Illinois.