MOLINE, IL (KELO.com) — The Sioux Falls Storm opened the 2023 Indoor Football League season in Moline, IL on Saturday night, facing the defending Eastern Conference Champion Quad City Steamwheelers.
Veteran quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns and Tony Tate added two more, but a safety and several costly turnovers proved to be too much to overcome as the Storm dropped their first game of the season by the final score of 36-34.
Quad City jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter when quarterback EJ Hilliard connected on a 6-yard strike to CJ Windham. Steamwheelers kicker Chase Allbaugh extended the lead to 10-0 after a successful 28-yard field goal attempt.
Brown scored the first Storm touchdown of the season on a 1-yard dive to make it 10-6 but a blocked extra-point kept it a four-point game early on in the 2nd quarter.
Hilliard and Steamwheelers wide receiver Keyvan Rudd pushed the lead back to a double digits after connecting on a 22-yard touchdown to make it 17-6.
Storm wide receiver Tony Tate scored the first of his two touchdowns moments later when he took the ensuing kickoff 52 yards down field for the first special teams score of the season.
The momentum started to shift Sioux Falls’ way after Tate’s electrifying return. He would add a 3-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime to tie the game at 20-20.
Sioux Falls got the ball back to start the 2nd half and took their first lead of the night on Brown’s 5-yard rushing touchdown. The 26-20 lead was short-lived though, with Quad City answering moments later as Hilliard connected on a 35-yard bomb that found Rudd for his 2nd touchdown of the night.
A Storm safety late in the 3rd quarter gave the Steamwheelers a 29-26 lead, and Hilliard put the pressure on after connecting with Windham again, this time on a 9-yard touchdown pass that pushed the Quad City lead to double digits.
Brown brought the Storm back again late in the 4th quarter, scoring on a 1-yard run making it 36-32. A successful two-point conversion gave the Storm a chance at the end, but a botched Duece attempt spoiled the comeback attempt.
Brown finished the day with eight carries for 29 yards and three rushing touchdowns, but struggled to get the pass attack working. The veteran quarterback finished the night 6-for-20 with 53 passing yards and two interceptions.
Cole Thurness led the Storm in receiving yards in his IFL debut, reeling in three catches for 26 yards in the loss.
Linebacker James Brown paced the Storm defense with nine tackles in his first game in a Storm uniform. Brown teamed up with Jaylon Abdul-Karim for the Storms only sack of the night. Eugene Ford collected his first interception of the season in the loss.
The Storm now look ahead to next weeks matchup against the Iowa Barnstormers on Sunday April 9th, presented by FIRST PREMIER BANK & BANK CARD. It will be the first home game of the 2023 season with kickoff slated for 5:05 pm CT inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The Barnstormers are off to a rocky start, posting an 0-2 record so far this season and will be hungry for a win. Doors open at 4:00 PM with a special surprise from Storm mascot Blitz before kickoff.
Fans can purchase tickets to the 2023 Home Opener by calling the Storm Ticket Office at 605-838-9009 or by visiting the KELOLAND Box Office inside the main lobby of the PREMIER Center. For the latest Storm information follow us on social media @siouxfallsstorm.
