JULY 15TH, 2022 MOLINE, IL — As their quest for the postseason continues, the Quad City  Steamwheelers (8-7) host the Iowa Barnstormers (9-6) in the highly-anticipated 2022  regular season finale. The two Eastern Conference rivals have split the series so far this  year, with the Wheelers defeating the Barnstormers 46-24 in Week 2 and the  Barnstormers defeating the Wheelers 63-47 in Week 9. 

New acquisition, Wheelers WR Edward Smith returned the opening kickoff and took it to the  20 yard-line. Quarterback E.J. Hilliard Jr. connected with WR Isaiah Grice for a 20-yard  completion on his first throw of the game. Quad City's opening drive failed to produce a  touchdown, but a 30-yard field goal by Kicker Kimo Naehu put the Wheelers up 3-0  early in the 1st quarter. 

Barnstormers RB Antonio Wimbush returned the following kickoff and pushed the ball  deep into Steamwheeler territory. Back-to-back rushing attempts by Iowa quarterback  Darius-James Peterson failed to pick up much yardage and on 3rd down, the  Wheelers defensive line stuffed Wimbush to force 4th down. Iowa responded as  Peterson connected with WR Kentrez Bell for a touchdown to put the Barnstormers up  7-3. 

Ed Smith responded, taking the following kickoff all the way to the house, 49-yards, for  a game-changing touchdown! Wheelers up, 10-7. 

Peterson rushed for 28-yards on first down and took the ball deep into Quad City  territory. On 4th-and-1, at the goal line, Dave Calderon pushed the ball into the end  zone for the touchdown. Iowa up 14-10. 

On the following drive, Hilliard picked up chunks of yardage with both his arm and legs.  Naehu connected on a 31-yard field goal to bring the score to 14-13. 

Wheelers DB Malik Duncan notched a tackle for a loss on 1st down. Peterson  overthrew his intended receiver on 2nd down. Wheelers DB Kendell Jefferson's  coverage forced an incompletion on 3rd down. Iowa Kicker Gabriel Rui's field goal  attempt sailed far left on 4th down. Wheelers ball. 

Hilliard connected with Grice for a 27-yard completion. As the Wheelers pushed the ball  down to the Barnstormer goal line, Hilliard barreled his way into the end zone for a  touchdown. Wheelers up, 19-14. 

On the following kickoff, Naehu kicked the ball through the uprights to tack on 2 more  points. Wheelers up, 21-14. 

Peterson launched a bomb deep down the field and was picked off by Wheelers DB  Darreon Jackson. 

Hilliard connected with Isaiah Grice for a 28-yard completion to push the football into Iowa  territory. Naehu missed the field goal attempt and the half comes to a close with the Steamwheelers up 21-14.

The Steamwheelers entered the second half with a 21-14 lead.

Antonio Wimbush took the opening kickoff of the second half all the way down to the Quad City 12 yard line. On first down, Peterson handled a low snap, rushed, but was taken down by Jefferson and LB Nate Sheets. DL Noah Lyles and Sheets took down Peterson on second down. On 3rd down, Peterson evaded defenders and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Game tied, 21-21.

The Wheelers began the next drive at their own 2.5 yard line. WR Keyvan Rudd ran the ball on first down to take it up to the 7 yard line—giving the Wheelers some breathing room. On 4th-and-5, the Wheelers went for it and converted as Hilliard connected with Grice for a 7-yard completion. Hilliard escaped containment for a 29-yard run to put the Wheelers into scoring position. Wheelers RB Kerrion Moore, back from injury, bulldozed his way into the end zone for an explosive 16-yard touchdown run! Quad City up, 28-21.

Iowa responded, marching down the field and capping the drive off with a 2nd touchdown pass from Peterson to Bell. Game tied, 28-28.

Quad City swung back with a methodical drive that ended with another E.J. Hilliard touchdown run. Steamwheelers up, 35-28 with 8:27 left in the 4th quarter.

The Barnstormers moved the ball down the field and Peterson connected with Bell for his 3rd touchdown reception of the game. Game tied, again, 35-35.

Moore's 19-yard kickoff return put the Wheelers into fantastic field position. Hilliard connected with Rudd in the right-corner of the end zone for the touchdown! Wheelers up again, 42-35.

Peterson's 18-yard run put the Barnstormers into scoring position. But with the game on the line, Noah Lyles took down Peterson for the Steamwheelers' biggest sack of the season. The game-winning play closed out an absolute Thriller in Moline.

The Quad City Steamwheelers defeat the Iowa Barnstormers 42-35 to end the regular season 9-7, with an opportunity to enter the 2022 postseason with a Storm Loss and/or Sugar Skulls loss tomorrow evening.

Notes & Numbers

• Steamwheelers K Kimo Naehu connected on 2 field goals and 1 kickoff through the uprights.

• Steamwheelers QB E.J. Hilliard scored 3 total touchdowns (1 passing, 2 rushing).

• Steamwheelers RB Kerrion Moore scored a 16-yard touchdown run in his first game back from injury.

• Barnstormers WR Kentrez Bell hauled in 3 touchdown receptions.