The Green Bay Blizzard defeated the Quad City Steamwheelers 45-38 on Friday night at the Resch Center in their last home game of the 2023 season. 

 

Green Bay (6-5) survived a late push by the Steamwheelers (6-3) to secure the upset win and keep their playoff hopes alive. 

 

Quad City opened up the night’s scoring on a Chase Allbaugh field goal, which would be their only lead of the night. 

 

Quarterback Max Meylor found wide receiver Steve Newbold for a three-yard touchdown to put the Blizzard on the board. 

 

Green Bay extended their lead to 14-3 on a Meylor to Marquise Irvin touchdown with just over two minutes gone by in the second quarter. 

 

The Steamwheelers responded with a touchdown of their own, but failed to convert a two-point conversion attempt. 

 

Running back Terrence Smith found the end zone with four minutes remaining in the half to put Green Bay up 21-9. 

 

The teams exchanged touchdowns in the final minute. Quad City quarterback E.J. Hilliard threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to make it a one score game, but with 19 seconds remaining, Meylor rushed for a touchdown, giving the Blizzard a 28-16 halftime lead. 

 

Green Bay held Quad City scoreless in the third quarter. Meylor scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown, and Smith added an right-yard run at the end of third quarter to give the Blizzard a 26-point lead heading into the final quarter.

 

However, the Steamwheelers fought their way back into the game with three passing touchdowns from Hilliard to Keyvan Rudd, Jerron McGaw, and Tyler Jones in the fourth quarter. A 27-yard Justus field goal was Green Bay’s only points in fourth quarter. 

 

Despite Quad City’s attempted comeback, the Blizzard held on to win the contest 45-38.

 

The Blizzard’s week 14 bye could not come at a more opportune time, as Green Bay will look to get healthy before a four game road stretch to close out the regular season. Quad City will play at Iowa on the road next week.