Last-second push not enough to bring Wheelers the win

By Timothy Wallis

Facing off against the team they beat in the first round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference last season, the Quad City Steamwheelers faced off against the Jacksonville Sharks at The Wheelhouse at Vibrant Arena. Though it went down to the wire, the Wheelers could not overcome the Sharks and were defeated 39-38.

Quad City received the opening kickoff, but backed up deep in their own territory after a penalty and short return, the Wheelers worked their way out from their own four-yard line. Quarterback Daquan Neal connected with Keyvan Rudd for a big gain down to the Jacksonville 10, but the drive stalled at the goal line, forcing kicker Jan Bogdan to knock through a field goal for an early 3-0 lead. Jacksonville responded quickly, as quarterback Tyler Cahoon found Jimmie Robinson Jr on a deep ball before keeping it himself for a touchdown, giving the Sharks a 7-3 advantage.

The momentum swung further in Jacksonville's favor on the Wheelers' next drive when Neal's pass was intercepted, setting the Sharks up with a short field. Cahoon capitalized, leading another scoring drive that ended in a touchdown pass on fourth down to extend the lead to 14-3. After a rough end to the first quarter for Quad City, Neal bounced back early in the second, connecting with Rudd for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-10.

Jacksonville answered once again, marching down the field behind Cahoon and Robinson, and after a defensive penalty kept the drive alive, Sammy Edwards punched it in from the goal line. A successful PAT and a deuce on the ensuing kickoff stretched the Sharks' lead to 23-10. Neal and Quad City refused to go away, though, as they drove down the field and found Quian Williams for a touchdown, but a blocked PAT kept the score at 23-16. Jacksonville added a late field goal, and a last-second interception halted the Wheelers' final drive of the half, sending the Sharks into the locker room up 26-16.

Out of halftime, Jacksonville threatened again, but a fourth-down stop gave the Wheelers life. Neal took advantage, delivering a deep strike to Williams for a touchdown that cut the lead to 26-23. The Sharks responded with another big play of their own, as Cahoon found receiver Redd Douglas for a touchdown to push the lead back to 32-23. Once again, Quad City answered, with Neal hitting Rudd wide open for a score to bring the Wheelers within two, 32-30, heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Jacksonville leaned on its ground game, with Edwards finishing another drive with a short touchdown run to extend the lead to 39-30. With time winding down, the Wheelers put together a determined drive, as Neal connected with Ware, Rudd, and Williams to move inside the five. Facing fourth down, Neal found Jordan Vesey in the end zone, and a successful two-point conversion to Rudd made it a one-point game, 39-38, with just over two minutes remaining.

Needing a stop, Quad City's defense came up with a sack from KeShaun Moore and forced a long fourth down, but Cahoon converted with a clutch completion to keep the drive alive. From there, Jacksonville was able to run out the clock, narrowly escaping with a 39-38 victory.

Daquan Neal completed 18 passes on 28 attempts, throwing for 207 yards, five touchdowns but two interceptions, while also rushing for 13 yards. Jarrod Ware ran four times for 14 yards while catching three passes for 32 yards. Keyvan Rudd was the team's leading receiver, catching five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while Quian Williams caught six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns. 

On defense, Alex Herriott racked up 12 tackles, alongside two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Jamon Williams tallied eight tackles, also with a tackle for loss, while KeShaun Moore had three tackles, with a sack and tackle for loss. 

With the loss, the Wheelers fall to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Next, they will be in action on Saturday, May 2, against their rivals west on I-80, the Iowa Barnstormers. The game will be at 5:00 pm at the Casey's Center in Des Moines, Iowa.