Wheelers fall flat to Orlando at the Wheelhouse

By Timothy Wallis

In the second and final matchup between the Quad City Steamwheelers and the Orlando Pirates, this game was one the Wheelers needed to try and make a push for the playoffs. With starting quarterback Daquan Neal out injured, the Wheelers' offense had trouble creating any momentum throughout the game, being stopped short of the goal line despite getting inside the five-yard line multiple times. In the end, the Pirates defeated the Wheelers 45-26, making the Wheelers' playoff chances slim to none, as they fall to 5-8 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

The Pirates threatened to strike first after running back Pooka Williams gave Orlando excellent field position with a kickoff return to the Quad City 15-yard line. However, the Steamwheelers' defense stood tall, and after forcing a fourth-and-goal from the ten-yard line, defensive back Camron Harrell stepped in front of Paxton DeLaurent's pass in the end zone for an interception.

Making his first start at quarterback, Judd Roberts wasted little time leading the offense downfield. Roberts connected with Quian Williams for a key first down before Jarrod Ware and Jazeric Peterson powered the offense inside the five-yard line. Following back-to-back Orlando penalties that moved the ball to the goal line, Ware punched in a one-yard touchdown run to give the Steamwheelers an early 6-0 lead.

The defense continued its strong opening quarter, forcing another turnover on downs after Kevin Ransom Jr. broke up a fourth-down pass attempt deep in Wheeler territory. Roberts then marched the offense back into Orlando territory, but the drive stalled early in the second quarter when the Pirates forced a turnover on downs at their own 15-yard line. After an Orlando touchdown was erased by a holding penalty, DeLaurent connected with Teo Redding for a long gain to the one-yard line before Williams finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Pirates a 7-6 advantage.

Quad City answered immediately behind its rushing attack when Trenton Barnes helped move the chains before breaking off a long run to the Orlando 16-yard line. Roberts capped the drive by finding Williams in the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Steamwheelers back in front 12-7 after the two-point conversion fell incomplete. The lead was short-lived, however, as DeLaurent responded with another efficient drive. After multiple completions moved Orlando deep into Quad City territory, DeLaurent found an open receiver for a seven-yard touchdown, restoring the Pirates' lead at 14-12.

The Steamwheelers appeared poised to reclaim the lead after recovering Orlando's onside kick attempt at the Pirates' 13-yard line. Roberts connected with Keyvan Rudd to set up first-and-goal, but a penalty, a tackle for loss, and an incomplete pass forced a field-goal attempt that sailed wide, leaving the Pirates in front.

Orlando added to its advantage before halftime. DeLaurent guided the Pirates down the field in the final minute, benefiting from a defensive pass interference penalty before setting up Josh Gable's field goal as time expired, extending the Pirates' lead to 17-12 at the break.

The second half belonged to Orlando's defense. Quad City's opening possession of the third quarter ended in a turnover on downs after three straight incompletions from Roberts. Orlando converted the favorable field position into another scoring opportunity, but the Steamwheelers' defense stiffened near the goal line. Charles Rosser blew up a quarterback sneak for a loss, and after another stop behind the line, the Pirates settled for a field goal to make it 20-12.

The Steamwheelers nearly answered on their next possession after Ivan Corbin entered the game at quarterback. Corbin ripped off consecutive long runs to move the ball inside the Orlando five-yard line, but the drive unraveled after a loss on first-and-goal. Quad City failed to reach the end zone, and a missed field goal kept the deficit at eight points.

Pinned near its own goal line following the missed kick, Orlando drove the length of the field when DeLaurent converted multiple first downs, including a long completion into the red zone, before finding Williams wide open for an 11-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, extending the Pirates' lead to 27-12.

Any hopes of a Steamwheelers comeback were extinguished on the ensuing possession. A poor kickoff bounce left Quad City backed up at its own five-yard line, and after two incompletions, Roberts was sacked in the end zone for a safety, pushing Orlando's advantage to 29-12.

Orlando continued to pull away in the fourth quarter after DeLaurent connected with Redding for a 14-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 35-12. The Wheelers responded with their best drive of the second half as Corbin converted a fourth down before finding Rudd to set up his own one-yard rushing touchdown. Corbin also converted the two-point attempt to trim the deficit to 36-20.

The Pirates quickly answered with Thomas Owens' eight-yard touchdown run before Gable added a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to make it 45-20. Corbin capped off the scoring with a 45-yard run that set up his second one-yard rushing touchdown of the quarter, but the two-point conversion failed as Orlando handed the Steamwheelers a 45-26 defeat.

Offensively, Judd Roberts went 5/15 for 51 yards and a touchdown, while Ivan Corbin went 3/7 for 26 passing yards, adding on 68 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Jarrod Ware took seven handoffs for 14 yards and a touchdown, and Trenton Barnes took two handoffs for nine yards. Quian Williams caught two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Keyvan Rudd caught two passes for 24 yards. 

Defensively, Steven Adair led the team with 13 tackles and a pass breakup. Malik Duncan racked up six tackles, while Charles Rosser had five, with both of them also having a tackle for loss. Camron Harrell had six tackles while snagging an interception in the first half. 

With the loss, the Steamwheelers fall to 5-8 overall and 4-6 in conference play. Next week, the Steamwheelers will have a bye week, before they stay at home to take on the Fishers Freight in a huge game for both teams, who are fighting for the last playoff spot. For the sQUAD to make the last playoff spot, they would have to win out and some help from a few other teams to gain the 4th seed.