Game 15 Preview @ Tulsa

By Timothy Wallis

Following a home loss that helped eliminate them from playoff contention, the 5-9 Quad City Steamwheelers will go back on the road to try to salvage the remainder of the season and will face the 9-5 Tulsa Oilers for the first time this season. This will be the first of two consecutive matchups between these teams, with the second matchup coming next week.

Kick-off is at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. To watch, you can go to Overnght online or on iOS, Android, or Apple TV.

About the Steamwheelers

Last week, the Steamwheelers fell to the Fishers Freight 49-35 on First Responders Night, ending their playoff hopes and dropping to 5-9 overall and 4-7 in conference play. After falling behind 21-7 in the second quarter, quarterback Daquan Neal found receiver Quian Williams for a late touchdown before halftime to cut the deficit to 21-14. Neal continued to lead the comeback effort in the second half, rushing for a touchdown and connecting with Jarrod Ware Jr. for another score before adding a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Williams and a two-point conversion. Neal finished 16-of-23 passing for 170 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, KeShaun Moore led the Wheelers with six tackles while forcing and recovering a fumble. While the team only averages 40.1 points per game, the fifth fewest, the Wheelers' defense allows the second fewest amount of rushing yards per game with 49.8, and the fourth fewest amount of total yards, with 210.3.

QC - Players to Watch

Jordan Vesey / WR - After missing seven straight games due to an injury, the wideout recorded a season high in yards with five receptions for 66 yards. Though they will not be playing in the postseason this year, Vesey will look to make an impact on an offense that still is looking for a consistent spark.

Charles Rosser / DL - In the last game against Fishers, Rosser tallied four tackles and one tackle for loss in the defeat at home and continues to cause problems for opposing defensive lines. In a productive rookie season, Chuck has totaled 44 tackles and four sacks in 13 games played, and will look to finish out the season strong against an Eastern Conference foe.

About the Oilers

Last week, the Oilers defeated the Jacksonville Sharks 57-49 at the BOK Center to close out the regular-season series. Tulsa raced out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead behind a touchdown pass and a rushing score from quarterback TJ Edwards II before extending the advantage to 27-14 by halftime. Jerminic Smith Sr. had a historic performance, catching three touchdown passes to become the franchise's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns, while Ketron Jackson Jr. added two receiving scores. Tulsa also recovered a key fumble before halftime and an onside kick in the third quarter to maintain momentum. The Oilers held off a late Jacksonville rally to secure the eight-point victory. Offensively, Tulsa averages 47.9 points per game, and while it is only the eighth-most, their staunch defense allows only 41.9 points per game, which is the fifth-fewest allowed.

Tulsa - Players to Watch

TJ Edwards II / QB - The dual-threat gunslinger followed up an impressive 2025 season with an even more impressive 2026 season, where he has thrown for 2,182 yards, 51 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also rushing for 458 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Wheelers at times struggled to contain him last season, and this season will present an even taller task.

Tre Harvey / LB - In 13 games this season so far, the linebacker has racked up an impressive 80 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. Harvey, always a player to watch for when he is trying to force turnovers, will fly across the field, looking to make this turnover-prone Wheelers team into a fumble or interception.

Last Time Around….

The Steamwheelers and Oilers last met on 7/26/26, when the Wheelers lost at home a 48-49 the week before the playoffs, allthough they lost, the Wheelers still clinched a home playoff game the following week. While a win would have secured a game against Jacksonville, the Wheelers still played Jacksonville the following week with different games falling the correct way.