Wheelers notebook: Q-C faces tough stretch
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By Craig DeVrieze | Friday, June 27, 2008 |
The Steamwheelers have climbed back into playoff contention with a run of four wins in their past five games.
If they can win four of their next five, they will have done something.
In rebounding from a four-game losing streak early in the campaign, the Steamwheelers took advantage of their softest stretch of schedule.
The combined record of the four teams they beat, factoring Peoria twice for two of those wins, was 13-31.
The combined record of their final five opponents, including a rubber game at 3-8 Iowa in two weeks, is 36-19.
Four of the remaining foes — Tennessee Valley (7-4), Green Bay (8-3), Spokane (11-0) and Lexington (7-4) — are among af2’s 10 top-ranked teams.
“We’ve got five games left — four of them are playoff teams, and one of them is Iowa, which they always say throw out the records in those kinds of games,’’ said Q-C QB J.J. Raterink. “To have playoff teams like this is good because we’ll know wherever we end, we will have earned that position. And everything we have done is legitimized.’’
The Steamwheelers did open with wins over winning teams in Wilkes-Barre (9-2) and Louisville (6-2), and coach Troy Biladeau doesn’t care who his team beat recently. What matters is the how.
“We’re definitely getting better,’’ Biladeau said. “I think we are playing with more energy. Guys just seem like they are starting to get it. They are playing harder and they seem to be enjoying themselves. We feel pretty good where we are.’’
The Steamwheelers are seventh in the American Conference eight-team playoff order because they scored more points in their series split with Louisville.
The Wheelers hope to make a move up the order with successive games tonight and next week at home, where they are 3-2.
Bounce back DB
Safety Jordan Davis bounced back from a tough game in a narrow win over Mahoning Valley with a two-interception game at Peoria that included eight tackles and half a tackle-for-loss.
Afterward, he caused a ruckus by asking Peoria coach Bruce Cowdrey to sign his game ball.
“That was one of those things that got blown out of proportion,’’ Davis said of a postgame shouting match. “It got more serious than it should have.’’
Davis attributed his rebound game to a solid week of practice and film study.
“The previous week wasn’t my best,’’ he said. “I told myself go out and do what you’re capable of doing.’’
Salsa on Stinson
Jesse Schmidt, who will compete in a Q-C dance competition Sunday night at the Outing Club in Davenport, might have some internal competition for the team’s fanciest feet.
Big man Albert Stinson did a little something called “The Salsa’’ after scoring his first touchdown of the season on a two-yard pass in Peoria.
How’s that?
“You’ve got to maneuver your upper body in a wave and chop your feet,’’ the 320-pound lineman said. “You know. Cha-cha-cha.’’
It might be the heaviest dance move since Damon Williams did “The Worm’’ in 2001.
“That’s not athletic enough,’’ Stinson said of Williams’ rug-dance. “The difficulty level … you have to step it up a bit.’’
Wheel of charity
n The Steamwheelers will donate $1 from every ticket sold at the door tonight to aid flood relief in the Quad-Cities.
n Several items, including future game tickets, will be available via a silent auction tonight. Proceeds will benefit the Quad-Cities Habitat for Humanity organization.
n The team will host the U.S. Army National Guard’s Heroes Night next week, sporting special jerseys that will be auctioned after the game. Proceeds will benefit the Disabled American Veterans Fund.
Coaches rankings
1. Spokane 11-0 447 (28)
2, Tulsa 10-1 407 (1)
3. W-B/Scranton 9-2 381
4. Green Bay 8-3 329
4. Florida 8-3 325
6. Tenn. Valley 7-4 292
7. S. Georgia 7-4 282
8. Arkansas 7-4 259
9. Lubbock 7-4 222
10. Lexington 7-4 210
11. Louisville 6-5 179
12. Central Valley 6-4 145
13. Austin 6-5 142
14. Quad-Cities 6-5 76
15. Manchester 5-6 75
16. Corpus Christi 5-6 53
Tonight’s matchup
Tennessee (7-4) at
Quad-Cities (6-5)
When/where: 7 p.m., i wireless Center, Moline.
Radio: WOC-AM (1420)
TV: The game is available via Web cast at steamwheelers.com
Last week: Steamwheelers 68, Peoria 34, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 77, Tennessee Valley 49
Statistics
Steamwheelers
Passing
Player Comp. Att. Yds. TD Int.
Raterink 238 385 3,008 61 16
Zbydniewski 12 18 147 4 0
Rushing
Player Att. Yds. TD
Monk 21 36 3
Receiving
Player Rec. Yds. TD
Schmidt 95 1,285 29
Johnson 73 742 14
Peters 67 1,016 21
Tackles
Player Solo Assist Total
Jackson 39 36 57.0
Beverly 40 21 50.5
Davis 39 22 50.0
Vipers
Passing
Player Comp. Att. Yds. TD Int.
Eakin 142 229 1,517 31 4
Rushing
Player Att. Yds. TD
Eakin 10 70 2
Receiving
Player Rec. Yds. TD
Brown 96 1,141 25
Nix 65 718 12
Elliott 39 438 9
Tackles
Player Solo Assist Total
Derico 42 13 48.5
Foster 31 11 36.5
Blanchard 27 9 31.5
About the Vipers
Before last week’s sound whooping at Wilkes-Barre, coach Dean Cokinos Tennessee Valley’s crew had won seven straight games after losing their first three. … The Vipers are 2-1 vs. the Midwest Division, having handled Lexington 64-48 and Louisville 41-30 in the midst of their winning streak. They lost to Green Bay 37-35 in Week 2 … Behind Eric Scott’s 14 sacks, second-best in the af2, the Vipers rank third as a team with 33, a daunting number considering changes this week to the Q-C line. … The Vipers are averaging 53.8 points, fifth-best in the league, and have a turnover margin of plus-9, sixth-best.
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