Steamwheeler Nation! Welcome back to another amazing night of Wheeler football! This matchup was against the Massachusetts Pirates who were coming off a big win over the Iowa Barnstormers.

Early in the first quarter the Pirates didn't make the first drive easy at all for the Steamwheelers. The sQUAD fought hard to get into the endzone and they succeeded with Edward Vander making a shifty juke on the Pirates defensive line to slide into the endzone for a TD. Kyle Kaplan adds an extra point for the Wheelers putting them up 7-0 early. The Steamwheeler defense made a huge impact early with Keshaun Moore and Jaylin Swan making big stops. Raheem Harvey, due to injury stepped in at DB, made sure the arena knew his name by nabbing an interception. Heem's interception helped set up the Judd to Rudd connection for a huge 1st down pass. The following play, Judd Erickson kept in on the option and ran the ball in for a TD. Another Kaplan PAT adds onto the wheeler lead, making the score 14-0 over Mass going into the 2nd quarter.

New addition Bikembe Kearney made his presence known in his first game with the Steamwheelers by totaling 12 tackles, almost breaking the previous record of 13 tackles. Currently held by three previous Steamwheelers, Nate Sheets, Danzel McDaniel, and La'Kel Bass.

In the second quarter the Pirates put a number on the board with a passing TD, bringing the Wheelers lead to just 14-6. The PAT was blocked by the Wheeler defense, recovered and returned by Raheem Harvey for 2 points. This put the sQUAD up by 10 over the Pirates, 16-6. 
 

Later on in the quarter the Pirates struck gold with a rushing TD by Alejandro Bennifield, making it a 16-13 game with the Steamwheelers still leading. The Massachusetts QB ended the night with 3 rushing TDs altogether. The Wheelers strike back on the next drive with a beautiful dime from Erickson to a wide open Augustana College product Jordan Vesey for a score. Another good PAT by Kaplan puts the sQUAD up 23-13.

He can juke a defense, catch a touchdown, rush in a touchdown, and also play great defense, Edward Vander made a huge stop steppin in at the linebacker position in the 2nd and racked up a sack in the process. The Pirates scored a FG as a result and brought them closer with the Steamwheelers still rolling at the half, 23-16. The Pirates worked their way down the field early in the 3rd quarter for a rushing TD to tie the game at 23 with an extra point. 
 

Ka'Ron Ashley set the Wheelers up well with a big 34 yard gain on the kick return, this led to Vander shaking the defense's ankles again for another TD, Kaplan with another PAT makes it 30-23 with the sQUAD on top of the Pirates. Malik Duncan made a huge play by striping the ball from Thomas Owens, the Cory Ross offense capitalized on it by cashing in a Jarrod Harrington TD after the turnover. A Kaplan PAT makes it 37-23 for the Wheelers. Kyle Kaplan went perfect on the night going 8-8 with FGs and PATs. 

The Pirates ran it in after drama at the 1 yard line that included penalty after penalty against the Wheelers. The sQUAD held the lead still even with the Pirates trailing by 7, 37-30 going into the 4th. In the final quarter Vander racked up another TD, extending the Steamwheelers lead 44-30 and bringing his total to 3 TDs on the night. The Pirates struck back later on with a quick drive down the field, finishing it off with a TD, making the score 44-37.

Once again, Vander bags another big 1st down for the sQUAD that sets up an Erickson pass to Ashley for a TD, leading Massachusetts 51-37 after another PAT by Kaplan.

The Pirates didn't give up so easily down the stretch, by adding on another TD to their night, after a failed 2 pt conversion and a Kaplan FG, Melik Owens sealed the win by making the final stop. The Steamwheelers handed the undefeated Pirates their first loss, 54-43. 
 

This win is huge for Quad City after the 2 game skid had before this game, the next matchup for the sQUAD will be on Sunday, April 28th at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK against the Tulsa Oilers. Kickoff is at 3:05pm, we hope to see Wheeler Nation come out and bring the steam for another Steamwheeler home game.