By: Ryan Michael
MAY 11TH, 2023 MOLINE, IL – WEEK 9 GAME PREVIEW PRESENTED BY QC TIMES
Twice this season, the Quad City Steamwheelers have faced the Sioux Falls Storm. The first matchup was a 36-34 win for Quad City. The second was a 59-47 win for Sioux Falls. This Friday night: the rubber match.
Following a dominant 60-34 win on the road over the Iowa Barnstormers, the 5-2 Quad City Steamwheelers return to the Vibrant Arena at The MARK to take on their Eastern Division rivals in a matchup that may prove to have eventual postseason ramifications.
The Storm are coming off a dominant win of their own, a 52-35 victory over the Tulsa Oilers that brought their record to 4-2. A win over the Wheelers would give them the 1-game edge in the battle for postseason positioning.
Against Tulsa, quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. completed 11 of 19 passes (57.9%) for 160 yards, 4 total touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) and 1 interception. Wide receiver Donnie Corley caught 6
passes for 127 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Storm's defense was firing on all cylinders, with three different players notching TFLs (Undraez Lilly, Eugene Ford and Jaylon Abdul-Karim).
They'll be in for challenge against IFL MVP front-runner, Steamwheelers quarterback E.J. Hilliard Jr. Against the Barnstormers, Hilliard put up yet another video-game like performance—completing 10 of 16 (62.5%) passes for 162 yards, 5 total touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) and 1 interception. Wide receivers C.J. Windham (5 receptions for 93 yards and 3 touchdowns) and Mike Carrigan (4 receptions for 67 yards and 1 touchdown) were nearly unstoppable, burning Iowa's secondary and moving the chains at will.
The Wheelers' defense left their mark as well, led by defensive back Darreon Jackson who notched 11 total tackles and hauled in 2 interceptions. Defensive back Joe Powell notched 8 total tackles.
With both teams playing their best football of the season, Friday night's showdown is one game you will not want to miss.
What will happen when the defending Eastern Conference Champions of the IFL return home to face their Eastern Division rivals for the third time this season? Tune in Friday May 12th at 7:05 PM CT to find out.
