STEAMWHEELERS LOSE TO STORM IN OT
MOLINE, IL — The 4-5 Sioux Falls Storm returned to the TaxSlayer Center to face the 6-4 Quad City Steamwheelers—fresh off back-to-back wins and looking to pick up their third in a row on an evening dedicated to show appreciation and support for the U.S.Armed Forces.
WR Mike Carrigan returned the opening kickoff all the way home for the touchdown. Newly signed kicker and former Steamwheeler Jacob Stytz connected on the PAT. Before you could blink, Quad City was up 7-0. Storm RB Nate Chavious returned the following kickoff all the way to the 25 yard-line. Advantageous field position helped Sioux Falls put points on the board. The drive ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by QB Dalton Sneed. PAT was missed, Quad City up 7-6. Pinned back close to his own end zone, QB E.J. Hilliard connected with RB Kerrion Moore on a short completion that Moore took all the way down to the Sioux Falls 7-yard line. On the following play, Moore ran for a 7-yard touchdown. Wheelers up, 14-6. Sioux Falls picked up yardage in chunks on the following drive, through the air and on the ground. A touchdown run by Chavious brought the score to 14-13. Quad City returned the favor with a methodical drive of their own that was capped off with an RPO touchdown run by Hilliard. Wheelers up, 21-13.
On the next drive, Sneed completed a deep 35-yard pass to WR Aaron Dilworth. Sneed then connected with WR Carlos Thompson Jr. for the touchdown. Score, 21-20. Going blow-for-blow, drive-after-drive, Quad City moved the ball down the field before another RPO run left Hilliard diving into the end zone for his 2nd touchdown of the game. Wheelers up 27-20. Sioux Falls wasn’t going down without a fight. Sneed hit WR Donnie Corley in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Score tied, 27-27.
After the previous two Steamwheeler drives ended with touchdown runs by Hilliard, lightening struck for the third time. On a convincing play-action pass, Hilliard rolled out to the left and took the ball into the end zone for the touchdown. Wheelers up again, 34-27. A kickoff that landed out of bounds gave favorable starting field position for Sioux Falls with 1:00 left before the half. LB Nate Sheets broke up a second down passing attempt, nearly resulting in an interception. On 3rd-and-8, DL Teon Burroughs and Naquez Pringle contained Sneed on a QB-run, forcing a 48-yard field goal attempt that sailed far right.
With 0:18 left on the clock, Quad City went back to work. Hilliard connected with Carrigan for a 16-yard completion as the clock ticked down to 0:07. Hilliard kept the ball on a run to put the Wheelers into field goal position with 0:02 left in the half. Stytz's 32-yard field goal attempt sailed far left. Wheelers up 34-27 at the half.
The Steamwheelers entered the second half with a 34-27 lead. Quad City attempted a surprise onside kick, but it was recovered by Sioux Falls and
returned for a touchdown. Tie game, 34-34. On Quad City’s first drive of the half, Hilliard’s running plays drove them into Sioux Falls territory. The drive ended the same way their previous three did, with Hilliard running the ball into the end zone for his 4th touchdown of the night. Quad City up, 41-34.
A 21-yard completion from Sneed to Dilworth put the Storm in scoring position. Sneed then connected with Thompson Jr. for his second touchdown pass of the game. Score tied, 41-41. Sioux Falls attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Quad City. The Wheelers weren’t able to turn the opportunity into points, as failure to convert on 4th down gave Sioux Falls possession.
Sneed fired a pass deep into the end zone and was picked off by Wheelers DB Jevaughn Codlin. It was the first interception Sneed had thrown all season.
Stytz attempted a long field goal that sailed far left before being returned by Chavious all the way to the Quad City 2-yard line. Sneed took the ball into the end zone on a designed RPO QB-run. Storm up, 48-41.
On the next drive, Hilliard connected with WR Londell Lee to move the chains. WR Keyvan Rudd caught a pass on 4th down but was ruled 1-yard shy of the touchdown. Steamwheelers Head Coach Cory Ross challenged the play, noting an illegal twist by the Sioux Falls defense. The challenge was confirmed, giving Quad City first-and-goal possession.
In one of the biggest moments of the game, 3rd down with just over 6:00 left in the fourth quarter, Hilliard moved around the pocket before delivering a laser to WR Isaiah Grice for the touchdown. Game tied once again, 48-48. The Storm answered on the next drive as Sneed connected with Dilworth for the
touchdown. Sioux Falls back up, 55-48.
On the first play of the next drive, Hilliard hit Rudd deep for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Game tied again, 55-55. Sioux Falls moved the ball into field goal range and with 0:02 left in the 4th quarter, Kicker Sawyer Petre missed a 22-yard field goal attempt, setting the stage for overtime.
Quad City won the coin toss and deferred. Sneed connected with Corley for a touchdown on his first attempt of the overtime period. Storm up, 62-55.
Hilliard connected with Lee to set up 3rd-and-3. On third down, Hilliard kept the ball and ran for a first down. The Wheelers later faced 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Hilliard was sacked by Storm LB Marquis Hendrix to end the game. Storm win an absolute thriller in overtime, 62-55.
The Steamwheelers return to the TaxSlayer Center Friday, June 17th, to face the Bismarck Bucks. For Steamwheelers tickets, call the TaxSlayer Center Box Office at 309-764-2000 or visit TicketMaster.com.