The Quad-City Steamwheelers were halfway to 5-2 at about 8 p.m. on May 16. Then, the clock struck midnight.

Coach Troy Biladeau still doesn't have all the answers for the franchise-worst seven straight losses since suffered by a team he thought could challenge for an ArenaCup championship.

But he will start with the letters A and J.

"I don't know if this is the time to say it or if I should wait until the season is over," he said before adding, "what took place when we were 4-2 had a big effect on us."

Dealing with an uncertain future due to the financial crash of team owner A&J Football, Inc., the Steamwheelers took a 42-27 lead into halftime of that May 16 game vs. South Georgia.

The crowd didn't know the team was expecting that game to be its last, but that fact helps explain the second-half crash that resulted in a 56-49 loss.

With A&J out of money and deep in debt to the league, Biladeau and his boys expected the team would be shut down the following week, he said.

"Everything we heard, we were done," said the coach. "I know some of the guys had their bags packed, ready to go. After the South Georgia game, we all sat around in the locker room crying, hugging each other."

Ultimately, the season was salvaged 10 days later by an agreement between the league and leaders at the i wireless Center, where the team plays its games.

But the Steamwheelers have not won a game since, and, at 4-9 with three games left, are certain to post the second losing season in the franchise's 10-year history.

"When they said, 'You're playing,' it was so hard to get back up," Biladeau said. "That took a huge toll on us. For whatever reason, it was like a snowball effect, and we just haven't been able to get through that. I mean, the guys are still playing hard. But it was just so hard emotionally to get everybody back up."

Biladeau said his club might have recovered had it held on in a game it had all but put in the win column on the road in Green Bay just three days after the season had been saved.

They led 49-42 inside the final minute, and forced a Green Bay incompletion on a fourth-and-5. But the Wheelers were penalized for an illegal defensive formation on that play and a subsequent offsides penalty helped the hosts stop the clock.

With a second left, Green Bay completed a game-tying touchdown pass off the net and subsequently won in overtime.

The Steamwheelers haven't really threatened to win a game since, losing their past four games by an average of 19 points.

"We haven't played good," Biladeau said. "Turnovers are a big factor. The offensive line has not played great at times. But, you know, it's not one person. Everybody has taken their turn not playing well."

Although they remain mathematically alive, the Steamwheelers aren't holding out much hope for an American Conference playoff bid.

But veteran defensive lineman Jermaine Petty said they aren't ready to pack it in yet, either.

Friday's game at 3-9 Peoria amounts to a showdown to avoid last place in the Midwest Division, and Petty said pride can motivate.

"Don't want to be in last place," he said. "We don't want to be like the Detroit Lions. It seems like that around here right now, but we have guys coming to practice and trying to get better. We are going to turn this ship around and finish on a winning note."

The key is to hang together, Biladeau said.

"I told the guys, 'Just don't quit,'" he said. "Who knows? Something crazy could happen and we might get in the playoffs. Obviously, probably not. But people are still coming to games and you still want to do the best you can anytime you step on the field."

Golden back after 10-week wait

Greg Golden will return to the defensive backfield after sitting out the past 10 weeks with an injured ankle.

The third-year af2 vet suffered a severe bone contusion in a Week 3 win over Milwaukee.

"It was almost a break," he said.

He is anxious to get back on the field.

"Very excited and ready to play," he said.

Watching his team slide from the sidelines was difficult, he said.

"The worst thing I had to witness in my life, watching my brothers go to war and losing battles, and I can't help them," he said.

He will be part of a four-man rotation in the secondary with the Wheelers going a little leaner up front.

Golden takes the roster spot of nose guard Sydney Hayes, who left the team without a word.

"Just a no-show at practice," said coach Troy Biladeau. "Never called. Just basically quit."

Friday's matchup

Quad-City Steamwheelers (4-9) at Peoria Pirates (3-9)

When/where: 6 p.m., Peoria Civic Center

Radio: WXFN 1230-AM

TV: The game is available via web cast at steamwheelers.com

Last week: Machester 53, Steamwheelers 35; Albany 56, Peoria 52

Previous meetings: Steamwheelers 72, Peoria 56 on March 29 at the i wireless Center; Peoria 65, Steamwheelers 48 on May 23 in Peoria.

About the Pirates

Peoria hasn't quite righted the ship since taking down the Wheelers in former AFL head coach Mike Hohensee's debut in place of Bruce Cowdrey in May. The Pirates are 1-3 since but lost two of those games by totals of two and four points. ... The Pirates dropped an interception and failed to cover a fumble on Albany's winning last-minute drive last week. Then, the Pirates rode 19 hours on a sleeper bus without air conditioning after the generator failed. ... The Pirates have replaced kicker Shane Longest with James Paul, who was 72 of 93 PATs and was 2 of 3 on field goals at Arkansas earlier this year. ... In the race to avoid the basement, Peoria finishes against three teams with a combined record of 13-26. The Wheelers face Green Bay and Iowa, which are a combined

16-9.