Wheelers notebook: Peters on verge of TD record

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By Eric Page and Craig DeVrieze | Thursday, June 19, 2008 |

Kris Peters has pulled in a lot of touchdown passes in his two-plus seasons with the Quad-City Steamwheelers.

Three more tonight, and he’ll secure his place as the most prolific scoring pass-catcher in team history. With three touchdown receptions against the Mahoning Valley Thunder, Peters will tie former Wheeler Tim Dodge for the all-time record of 87.

“As a coach you try to be impartial, you try not to play favorites. But KP is just one of those guys who, as a coach, you just really like,” Wheelers coach Troy Biladeau said. “He’s a fighter. He’s one that just feeds off the crowd. He likes having the muzzle off now, and it’s showed in his play. He’s a warrior, just a great player.”

Peters, along with the Wheelers, has struggled a bit this season. But he did have five receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns last week. He has 47 receptions for 751 yards and 16 scores through nine games.

Quarterback J.J. Raterink, who last week became the Wheelers’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns, hopes he can help Peters clear the milestone.

“I do hope KP gets it, especially at home,” Raterink said. “He’s done a lot of great things here for three years. For the home crowd to be a part of that and enjoy it, that would be special.”

Around af2

Twinkle-toes SchmidtJesse Schmidt has shown some slick moves on the af2 carpet so far this year.

On June 22, the Steamwheelers standout receiver will try to trip the light fantastic.

Or maybe he’ll just try not to trip.

Schmidt will be among nine local celebrities competing in the spring “Ballroom with the Quad-City Celebrities” at the Outing Club in Davenport.

He and his partner will be dancing the paso doble routine perfected by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor when he finished as runner-up in the recent “Dancing with the Stars” competition on ABC.

Tickets are $20 and available at local Co-op Record shops. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show scheduled to start at 7:30.

- Davenporter Matt Forbes set a new career high for interceptions in a season, picking off a pair in a Louisville win at Lexington to run his 2008 total to 10 and his af2-record count to 42. Forbes had back-to-back seasons of nine picks apiece in 2004 and 2005 for his hometown Steamwheelers.

- The Steamwheelers maintained the top two positions for most consecutive wins in af2 history after Tulsa lost for the first time this year Saturday at Bossier-Shreveport, ending its two-year run of wins at 16. The Steamwheelers won 24 straight to launch their existence in ’00 and ’01, then ran off 17 straight after their lone second-season loss at Tulsa.