Steamwheelers notebook

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By Craig DeVrieze | Friday, June 8, 2007 12:50 AM CDT | () comments

Three's company

Win three. Lose three. Win three.

Enough.

The Steamwheelers hope to grab a fourth straight win tonight in Fort Wayne and put an end to the “three spree.’’

A win would keep the 6-3 Wheelers on a forward roll as they begin their second-half push for prime playoff position. The club is not fretting its streakiness.

“As a coaching staff, it’s not anything we talk to the players about,’’ defensive coordinator Troy Biladeau said of the team’s 3-3-3 beginning. “It’s just win the next game and position ourselves for a good run at the playoffs.”

The Steamwheelers enter the weekend tied with Spokane for the second-best record in the American Conference, and they own the tie-breaker by virtue of an early win in the defending league champion Shock.

That was one of their two wins in five early-season road starts and, on the streak front, the Q-C crew is looking to end a 3-game road losing streak tonight.

“It’s very important to pick it up on the road,’’ receiver Kris Peters said. “We want to get on (Fort Wayne) as quick as we can. If their fans get involved, it’s going to be a tough game.”

Jumping on teams hasn’t been a Steamwheelers problem of late. Finishing them off in fine fashion has been, though.

“We want to continue getting better as the game goes on,” Peters said of a key goal tonight.

A strong finish is the season’s mission, as well, particularly with home games scheduled for four of the final five after road games tonight and next week at Mahoning Valley (Ohio).

“If we can steal a couple here on the road, I think we’ll be in good shape,” Biladeau said. “You want to position yourself in the playoff picture to have some home games. If you really want to make a run in the playoffs, you are probably going to have to do it at home.”

Homecoming for Pike

All eyes won’t be on the holder tonight in Fort Wayne, but when the Steamwheelers step onto the field to kick a PAT or field goal, a sizable section will be rooting for the guy on one knee.

Steamwheelers backup quarterback Matt Pike, who lays claim to being the all-league placekick holder, hales from Huntington, Ind., about 30 miles south of Fort Wayne.

“Very excited,” Pike said of his trip to the first-year af2 Indiana venue, where a group of 40 fans have put in ticket requests. “A few friends, but mostly family. Nieces, nephews, cousins. Dad, stepmother, brothers, sister. All watching me put that finger on the ball.

“Hopefully, (starting Q-C quarterback) J.J. (Raterink) will manufacture some mop-up time for me so I can get some throws in.”

Dodge ball

If Tim Dodge can tear himself away from his newly welcomed baby boy, the versatile Steamwheelers veteran could make his 2007 debut in the coming weeks.

Dodge recently opted to forgo surgery on the knee that bothered him much of last season, and he could opt to try and finish a fifth Q-C season.

“We would expect an answer on Tim in the next week or two,” coach Sean Ponder said.

Despite depth at both receiver and defensive back, Ponder said he wouldn’t hesitate to welcome back the three-time all-league and all-conference honoree out of Iowa.

“He is a heck of a football player, with speed, hands and talent,” the coach said.

Expected next week is a decision on whether defensive end Shonn Bell will be welcomed back off of team suspension, Ponder added.

You can get there from here

Newly signed Chicago Bears receiver Timon Marshall started his career as a member of the ArenaCup champion Tulsa Talons in 2003, and then played in Oklahoma City in 2004.

He spent the last three seasons with the AFL’s Grand Rapids Rampage and led the league in total offense with 2,374 yards in 2006.

He is the second Bear with indoor football experience, joining former San Jose Rampage player Rashied Davis.

Several Steamwheelers — Ira Gooch, Tim McGill, Asa Francis, Chazz Moore and Pete Traynor — have competed in NFL training camps, but only McGill cracked an NFL roster.

Around AF2

-- Tennessee Valley sack leader Farouk Adelekan suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Friday’s loss at The Mark. He is the third defensive lineman the Vipers have lost to injury this year.

-- A 55-51 win over Tri-Cities on Saturday gave the Stockton Lightning the first two-game winning streak in the franchise’s two-year history.

-- The Quincy Carter story continues to fester in Bossier/Shreveport, where the former NFL starter left a practice in a huff this week after learning he’ll remain on team suspension a fourth straight week.