Wheelers fall in a heartbreak last second ending

By Timothy Wallis

The Quad City Steamwheelers traveled to Orlando to face the newly relocated Orlando Pirates for the first time in an important Eastern Conference matchup. In a tight matchup, the Pirates eventually overwhelmed the Wheelers, defeating Quad City 49-46, and moving the Wheelers 1-2 overall and in conference. 

After receiving a short opening kickoff, Quad City got off to a hot start, when quarterback Daquan Neal found receiver Quian Williams for a 27-yard touchdown which gave the Wheelers a quick 7-0 lead. The defense also joined in on the early party and thwarted a Pirates red zone drive and forced a turnover on downs. Despite a Neal interception on their next offensive possession, the Wheelers defense came right back and forced a Paxton DeLaurent interception that was snagged by Jamon Williams.

The Wheelers then drove down to the Orlando five-yard line, but after the offense stalled, kicker Jan Bogdan's kick sailed off and kept the score at 7-0. The Wheelers defense again forced another turnover when defensive lineman KeShaun Moore intercepted DeLaurent's pass and ran it to the house which extended the Wheelers' lead 14-0. However, Orlando drove right down the field and scored to cut it to 14-7.

The Quad City offense once again stalled out and a bad snap on fourth down gave the Pirates the ball right back, which led to them scoring and tying up the ballgame. The next Quad City drive, Neal connected with receiver Jordan Vesey a few times, including a checkdown pass that was caught by Vesey, who got up from the ground and ran in for a score, which made it 21-14 Quad City. However, the Pirates would not stay down for long, when DeLaurent drove them down the field and kept it himself for a touchdown to knot the game up at 21. 

After a failed onside kick attempt, the Wheelers found the endzone after only a few plays when Neal kept it himself, but a Bogdan missed PAT would prove to be costly. Orlando would drive down and score right before halftime and after their PAT, would take a crucial 28-27 lead into halftime. 

Right out of halftime, Orlando would drive down the field for a touchdown and a 35-27 lead, but not long after, Quad City would come right back after Keyvan Rudd took the handoff into the endzone, cutting the lead to a two point game after the no good two point try. The next Orlando offensive possession, the Wheelers' defense would come up clutch again, and Jamon Williams would come up with his second interception of the game. The Wheelers would convert on the turnover when Neal kept it himself for a touchdown, but with another missed PAT after multiple flags, which made it 39-35, Quad City.

Their lead would not last long, however, when Dante Wright returned the kickoff 50 yards for a touchdown, which gave Orlando the lead right back. The Wheelers would not go away, and Neal helped drive the offense down the field and would find Quian Williams again for a score. DeLaurent once again sliced and diced the Wheelers' defense and found Nyquan Murray for a 17-yard score late in the game that proved to be the game-winner. After a turnover on downs and a stop by the Wheelers, Quad City was unable to find a miracle to end the game, falling 49-46.

Daquan Neal went 13-26 with 175 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing 12 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Jarrod Ware took seven handoffs for 17 yards and caught three passes for 33 yards, while Keyvan Rudd took one handoff for three yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for two yards. Quian Williams caught six passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordan Vesey tallied three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Camron Harrell tallied eight tackles and one forced fumble, while Alex Herriott recorded seven tackles, a half a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Jamon Williams recorded his best game with the Wheelers, racking up six tackles while picking off two passes and breaking up one pass. KeShaun Moore intercepted one pass for a touchdown, while Charles Rosser and Rashaun Williams also recorded a tackle for a loss each.

With the loss, the Wheelers fall to 1-2 overall and in conference play, and fall further in the Eastern Conference standings, albeit through three games. Next week, the Wheelers will return home to Moline to take on their rivals, the first-place Green Bay Blizzard, for a heated matchup that is sure to produce fireworks. That game will take place on Saturday, April 11, at 7 pm.