Wheelers drop season series to Freight after 49-35 loss

By Timothy Wallis

On First Responders Night, the Quad City Steamwheelers battled the Fishers Freight for the second and final time during the regular season on Saturday night. After trading blows throughout much of the game, Fishers pulled away late behind a strong offense and a late Steamwheelers turnover, ensuring a 42-33 Quad City defeat.

Fishers opened the scoring on the first play of the game when kicker Calum Sutherland converted a deuce attempt, giving the Freight an early 2-0 lead. Despite both teams giving the ball away consecutively, Quad City eventually responded, as quarterback Daquan Neal led the Steamwheelers down the field before scoring on a rushing touchdown to give Quad City a 7-2 advantage.

Fishers regained the lead on its next possession when quarterback Felix Harper found the end zone for a rushing touchdown. Sutherland added the extra point, putting the Freight ahead 10-7. Afterward, Fishers extended its advantage when Harper connected with CJ Windham for an 11-yard touchdown pass, making it 13-7. The Freight added a deuce from Sutherland to take a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Quad City answered before halftime when Neal engineered a late scoring drive and found wide receiver Quian Williams for a four-yard touchdown with six seconds remaining in the half. Nolan Krinsky's extra point cut the deficit to 21-14 heading into the break.

The Steamwheelers carried that momentum into the second half, but Fishers responded immediately when Harper rushed for his second touchdown of the night, a 30-yard score, extending the Freight's lead to 28-14. Sutherland added another deuce on the ensuing kickoff to make it a 30-14 game. Quad City continued to fight back behind Neal's playmaking ability, and the Steamwheelers quarterback broke loose for a touchdown run, cutting the deficit. Later in the quarter, Neal connected with Jarrod Ware Jr. for a three-yard touchdown pass, bringing Quad City within nine points.

Fishers answered with a key scoring drive, as Sutherland converted a 48-yard field goal to push the lead to 33-21. The Freight added another touchdown late in the third quarter when Harper connected with Isaiah Coulter for a 28-yard score, but the extra point attempt failed, leaving Fishers ahead 33-27.

Quad City continued to fight in the fourth quarter, as Daquan Neal connected with Quian Williams for a 14-yard touchdown. Neal added the two-point conversion run to cut the deficit to 42-35. Fishers sealed the game on the following possession, adding a late touchdown with a successful Sutherland extra point to secure the 49-35 victory.

On offense, Daquan Neal completed 16 passes on 23 attempts for 170 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while adding 90 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jordan Vesey, in his return, caught five passes for 66 yards while taking two carries for six yards and a touchdown, while Trenton Barnes took six carries for 42 yards. Quian Williams caught three passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns, and Jarrod Ware caught one pass for three yards and a touchdown.

On defense, KeShaun Moore tallied six tackles, while also forcing one fumble and recovering it as well. Charles Rosser and Alex Herriott racked up four tackles each, while both also recorded a tackle for loss. Malik Duncan and Kevin Ransom Jr each had three tackles, while Ransom also broke up two passes.

With the loss, the Steamwheelers drop to 5-9 overall and 4-7 in conference play, and are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Next week, the Steamwheelers travel on the road to Tulsa to take on the Oilers. That game will take place on Saturday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the BOK Center.