It only took one play in overtime for the Sioux Falls Storm to knock off the Quad City Steamwheelers on a game-winning touchdown pass from Dalton Sneed to Donnie Corley to win the game 62-55. The win snapped the Storm's two-game losing streak.
The win Saturday night in Molene, Illinois was the team's second win over the Steamwheelers in three games so far on the season. Sioux Falls won its season-opener at home 35-24 and lost on the road a few weeks later 34-24.
Quarterback Dalton Sneed threw for 206 yards and five touchdowns off 14-for-18 passing. He had one interception, 33 rush yards and two rushing touchdowns for a total of seven touchdowns.
The Steamwheelers blew the gates open to start the game returning the opening kickoff 43 yards for a touchdown to take a 7-0 advantage early on. The Storm responded with a three-yard run into the end zone from Sneed and after a failed kick from Sawyer Petre, the Storm trailed 7-6.
Each team traded touchdowns each possession, until a failed kick from Jacob Stytz allowed the Storm to tie up the game at 27 with 7:46 to play in the second quarter. Sioux Falls got its first lead of the game just over a minute into the fourth quarter after running back Nate Chavious got the team in good field position after returning the ball 43 yards after a missed field goal attempt for Quad City. Sneed ran into the end zone, taking a 48-41 lead with 13:40 remaining in the game.
After the Steamwheelers tied things back up at 48, the Storm used a one-minute drive to get back in the end zone on a touchdown pass from Sneed to wide receiver Aaron Dilworth for 15 yards with 3:53 to play. The Storm led 55-48 only momentarily until Quad City knotted things up at 55 off a 37-yard pass from E.J. Hilliard to Keyvan Rudd.
With 1:56 to play at their own 14-yard line, Sioux Falls had an opportunity to march down the field for a game-winning drive on the road. The Storm marched down to the Steamwheelers' 11-yard line, setting themselves up for an 18-yard field goal from Petre. The kick was wide left, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, Sneed converted a touchdown on the first play of the extra period and after a big sack on fourth and goal from Marquis Hendrix, the Storm clinched their fifth win of the season, snapping their two-game losing streak.
Chavious ran for four yards and a touchdown on four attempts in the game. Dilworth caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown and Carlos Thompson hauled in six catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Corley had three receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hendrix led the team with nine tackles and a sack. Ta'Corian Darden had eight tackles, Paris Taylor and Mike Alvarez had six tackles apiece and Famus Hasty added five tackles.
Petre went 0/2 on field goals in the game, missing from 44 yards and 18 yards.
Sioux Falls now sits at 5-5 on the season with six games to play in the regular season. They are 0.5 games behind Quad City for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Storm are back in action June 4 in Des Moines, Iowa, playing their fourth and final game against the Iowa Barnstormers. They are 1-2 against Iowa this season.
