Steamwheelers keep cool against Thunder

Font Size:

By Craig DeVrieze | Thursday, June 19, 2008 |

Steamwheelers defender Russell Monk pulls down Mahoning Valley’s Melvin Matlock Friday at the i wireless Center. (Elisa Petersen/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

His team was in a street fight Friday night at the i wireless Center, but backup Quad-City Steamwheelers quarterback Brian Zbydniewski strolled off the bench in relief of injured starter J.J. Raterink like it was just another day at the beach.

Dude!

“He’s from Florida,” Steamwheelers receiver Kris Peters said of the unflappable demeanor Zbydniewski displayed in helping the Wheelers to yet another last-minute, comeback victory, this a 60-54 escape from the 2-8 Mahoning Valley Thunder. “He’s calm. He’s cool. He’s one of them cats.’’

The unflappable af2 veteran from Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., came on in relief of Raterink with 12:33 left in the third quarter and his team looking to fight back from a 27-20 halftime deficit.

Two plays later he found Peters for the first of their three second-half scoring hookups, a 22-yard strike, and the cool cat’s coming-out party was on.

Zbydniewski completed 11 of his 14 throws for 147 yards and four scores. He consistently brought his team back from behind after Mahoning Valley touchdowns and kept the hosts in position to the win the game, providing the defense could make a play.

Inside the final minute, the defense made a pair.

With the game tied at 54-all after Zbydniewski hit Jesse Schmidt for an 11-yard score with 2:02 left to play, jack linebacker Lavar Stepter popped scrambling Thunder quarterback Davon Vinson inside the Wheelers’ 5, forcing a fumble that defensive end Adam Vogel fell on in the end zone.

“I basically punished him,” said the fresh-off-injured reserve Stepter.

The touchdown gave the Steamwheelers their 60-54 lead, but when the second bad snap of the night by pressed-into-duty backup long snapper Russell Monk led to a missed PAT, the Steamwheelers defense had to step up one more time to stave off a possible defeat.

They did.

Beaten consistently throughout the evening by Thunder receiver Clenton Rafe, who had 10 catches for 154 yards and five touchdowns, safety Jordan Davis turned in shutdown coverage with Mahoning Valley facing on a fourth-and-2 at the Q-C 23 with inside of a minute remaining.

“It just kind of was want-to at the end,” Davis said of the fade pass he knocked down at the goal line to preserve the victory.

Head coach Troy Biladeau said his crew is not lacking for want-to, having fought back to a playoff-contending 5-5 record after an early season four-game losing streak.

“They are making an old-man out of me,” Biladeau said after his club’s second come-from-behind victory in a matter of seven days. “One thing about this team is they never quit playing.”

After falling behind 7-6 on the first play of the second quarter, the Wheelers never led until Vogel fell on the fumble in the end zone.

They also never quit getting off the deck — even with leading tackler Malik Jackson nursing a knee injury in street clothes; even with starting center Frank McCray sidelined late in the week by a broken finger; even after Raterink injured his right throwing arm while finding Peters for a touchdown midway through the second.

One reason they kept coming back was because cool cat “Zebby” said they would.

“We’re down seven every time he takes the field, and he just says ‘We’re all right,’ ” said Peters, who set a new Q-C career receiving touchdown record on a 12-catch, 186-yard, five-TD night that included 171 yards in kick returns. “Zebby doesn’t get frustrated by anything.’’

Nothing to get frustrated about, the QB said.

“I knew things would work out,” said Zbydniewski, whose started 10 times in his four-year journeyman career. “I believed in our offensive line. I believed in our receivers. I just put the ball in the air and let the receivers do the work.”

If Raterink can’t play next week in Peoria, he’ll just try and do the same. If he’s backing up his best friend Raterink, that’ll be fine, too.

“I don’t want no controversy,’’ he said.

What righteous dude would?

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com.