Wheelers drop Week 19 matchup against Tulsa in last seconds

By Timothy Wallis

In their last road game of the 2026 season, the Quad City Steamwheelers faltered late against the Tulsa Oilers on a last-second field goal, falling 44-41. While entering the game already eliminated from playoff contention the week before, the Wheelers still wanted to end the season strong, and despite being down 17 early in the game, the Wheelers came back and briefly took the lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn't pull it out. With the loss, they now sit at 5-10 overall and 4-7 in Eastern Conference play. 

The game got off to a disastrous start for the Steamwheelers when on the opening offensive play, quarterback Daquan Neal was intercepted by Tre Harvey, giving Tulsa possession deep inside Quad City territory. The Oilers quickly capitalized as quarterback TJ Edwards II rushed seven yards for the opening touchdown before kicker Axel Perez added both the extra point and a deuce on the ensuing kickoff, putting Tulsa ahead 9-0.

Quad City responded with an impressive 10-play, 45-yard drive highlighted by Neal's legs. After completions to receiver Keyvan Rudd helped move the chains, Neal powered his way into the end zone on a five-yard quarterback run to cut the deficit to 9-6 after the extra point was missed. Tulsa answered almost immediately, however, as Edwards connected with TJ Davis for a 22-yard touchdown strike, extending the Oilers' lead to 15-6.

The first quarter ended on another costly turnover for the Steamwheelers when Harvey intercepted Neal for the second time, giving Tulsa the ball at the Quad City four-yard line. Caleb Ramseur punched it into the end zone on the opening play of the second quarter, increasing the Oilers' advantage to 22-6. Neal and the offense responded with another lengthy drive. After receiver Quian Williams and running back Trenton Barnes helped move the ball inside the five, Neal found Williams on a four-yard touchdown pass. Neal then converted the two-point attempt with a pass, trimming the deficit to 22-14.

Tulsa continued to answer every Wheeler score, and Ramseur broke free for an 18-yard rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter, restoring a two-possession lead at 29-14. The sQUAD refused to go away, marching 40 yards in the closing minutes before Neal connected with Rudd for a four-yard touchdown with just four seconds remaining. Although the two-point try failed, Nolan Krinsky's rouge on the ensuing kickoff sent the game into halftime with Tulsa leading 33-21.

The Steamwheelers' defense finally found its footing to begin the second half. After forcing Tulsa to settle for a field goal, Quad City answered with one of its best drives of the night. Neal converted multiple third downs before Barnes finished the possession with a three-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 36-27. The defense came through again late in the third quarter, forcing another stop before Cameron Harrell returned a missed 47-yard field goal to give the offense outstanding field position. Neal immediately found Rudd for 17 yards to set up first-and-goal as the third quarter expired.

Quad City completed the comeback early in the fourth. After Neal was stopped just short of the goal line twice, Jazeric Peterson punched in a one-yard touchdown on fourth down, giving the Steamwheelers their first lead of the game at 34-33 despite the missed PAT. The lead was short-lived, however, and Tulsa answered with a quick three-play touchdown drive, as Edwards found Jerminic Smith Sr. for a 14-yard score before Perez added another deuce on the kickoff to push the Oilers back in front, 41-34.

Needing another response, Neal once again delivered and helped the Steamwheelers put together an 11-play, 45-yard drive that chewed more than seven minutes off the clock. Neal completed key passes to Rudd, Peterson, Williams and Barnes before finding Rudd again for a six-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining. Krinsky's extra point pulled Quad City within one, 41-40.

Tulsa's offense had one final answer. The Oilers steadily moved into the red zone while running the clock down, forcing Quad City to burn all three timeouts. With three seconds remaining, Perez connected on a chip-shot field goal to give Tulsa a 44-41 lead, sealing the victory as time expired.

Daquan Neal completed 18 of his 29 passes for 131 yards, three touchdowns, but two interceptions, while rushing for 32 yards and a touchdown. Trenton Barnes ran nine times for 32 yards and a score, while catching seven passes for 51 yards. Keyvan Rudd caught seven passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, while Quian Williams caught two passes for nine yards and a touchdown, also tacking on three rushes for six yards. Jazeric Peterson added a touchdown, as well. 

Defensively, the Wheelers' leading tackler was Alex Herriott, who had five tackles, as well as a pass breakup. Camron Harrell had four tackles, while Kevin Ransom Jr had three. KeShaun Moore and Chima Dunga both provided a tackle for loss each to round out the defensive statistics.

Next week, the Steamwheelers travel back home to the Quad Cities to the Wheelhouse to take on a familiar opponent, the Tulsa Oilers, yet again. That game will take place on Saturday, July 25, at 5:00 p.m. in Moline, IL.