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Big second half propels Storm past Rattlers, 68-39

March 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Storm outscored the Arizona Rattlers 40-7 in the second half, including 21-0 in the third quarter, to erase a four-point halftime deficit and win their sixth game in a row, 68-39, Friday night before 12,209 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum.

After trailing 32-28 at the half, Tampa Bay (7-2) scored on its first possession of the second half via a 23-yard touchdown pass from John Kaleo to Lawrence Samuels. The Storm defense then forced Arizona to try a 56-yard field goal, which sailed wide left and was returned to the Tampa Bay 18-yard line.

Kaleo hooked up with Freddie Solomon on the next play from scrimmage, pushing the Storm lead to 42-32 with 4:32 left in the third quarter.

The Storm padded its lead after Hunkie Cooper fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Omarr Smith recovered at the Tampa Bay 14-yard line. David Saunders' 12-yard touchdown reception put the Storm on top 49-32 and the game out of reach as the third quarter came to a close.

Kaleo, named Game MVP, completed 14-of-21 passes for 276 yards and eight touchdowns. In doing so he became only the seventh player in AFL history to surpass 20,000 passing yards. He also tied a Storm and personal single-game record with eight touchdown passes.

Lawrence Samuels and Keita Crespina shared Ironman of the Game honors. Samuels caught three passes for 63 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 3.5 tackles and an interception on defense. Crespina caught two passes for 32 yards and recorded 4.0 tackles and a 45-yard fumble return for touchdown.

The Storm outgained the Rattlers, 279-239, in total offense. They also picked off Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner once and recovered three Rattlers' fumbles.

With the Rattlers threatening the score the game's first points, it was the Storm defense that stepped up first. On 1st-and-goal from the seven-yard line, Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner lobbed a pass into the net, only to have Lawrence Samuels make a diving interception in the back of the endzone.

Three plays later it was Samuels again coming up big, this time on offense. On 3rd-and-2 from the 13-yard line, Samuels ran by a defender and hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kaleo. Ian Howfield's extra point attempt sailed wide right, and the Storm led 6-0 with 9:49 left in the first quarter.

The Rattlers tied the game at 6-6 on a five-yard touchdown pass from Bonner to Tom Pace. Arizona, however, failed to take their first lead of the game after Nelson Garner pushed his extra point attempt wide right and the score remained 6-6 with 4:35 left in the first quarter.

Tampa Bay regained the lead following a pair of long passes to David Saunders. Kaleo hit Saunders on an 18-yard pass to the Arizona 13-yard line before finding him in the back of the endzone on the next play for a touchdown. Howfield's extra point gave Tampa Bay a 13-6 lead.

Arizona pulled to within one point, 13-12, on a two-yard run by Bo Kelly. However, Nelson Garner's extra point attempt was blocked by BJ Cohen and returned for two points by Corey Sawyer, giving the Storm a 15-12 lead with 9:52 left in the second quarter.

After Cilf Dell returned the ensuing kickoff to the Arizona 23-yard line, the Storm extended their lead to 21-12 on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dell with 8:10 left in the first quarter.

An eight-yard touchdown pass from Bonner to Orshawante Bryant and another missed extra point by Garner cut the Tampa Bay lead to 21-18 with 3:30 left in the half before the Rattlers took their first lead of the game on a 15-yard interception return by Tom Pace. Garner's extra point gave the Rattlers a 25-21 lead with 1:20 left in the first half.

Arizona got the ball back when Freddie Solomon fumbled and the Rattlers recovered at the Storm 11-yard line. On the next play Bonner hit Randy Gatewood on a touchdown strike to push the Rattlers' lead to 32-21 with 0:46 left in the half.

The Storm scored on the final play of the first half, a four-yard touchdown pass from Kaleo to Samuels, and Howfield's extra point pulled the Storm to within 32-28 at halftime.

Tampa Bay regained the lead on their first possession of the second half. Kaleo hit Samuels on a 23-yard touchdown pass to put the Storm on top 35-32 early in the third quarter.

After the Storm defense forced a missed 56-yard Arizona field goal, the Storm offense took over at their own 18-yard line. On the next play Kaleo found Freddie Solomon streaking toward the endzone and connected with the offensive specialist for a 32-yard touchdown play. Howfield's extra point gave the Storm a 42-32 lead with 4:32 left in the third quarter.

Hunkie Cooper fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Omarr Smith recovered at the 14-yard line, setting up the Storm offense once again in good field position. And on cue the Tampa Bay offense responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kaleo to David Saunders, putting Tampa Bay on top 49-32 with 1:41 left in the third quarter.

Arizona finally ended its scoring drought with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Gatewood. Garner's extra point pulled the Rattlers to within 49-39 with 13:36 left in the game.

A 43-yard touchdown pass from Kaleo to Solomon extended the Storm lead to 55-39 and Tampa Bay went on top 61-39 after Keita Crespina returned a Pace fumble 45 yards for a touchdown with 7:49 left to play.

Yet another Arizona fumble, this one by Hunkie Cooper, gave the Storm the ball at the Arizona 21-yard line. Newly signed fullback Andre Bowden plunged in from four yards out to give Tampa Bay a 68-39 lead.

Bonner finished 21-for-31 for 248 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. The leading Arizona receiver was Hunkie Cooper, who caught seven passes for 84 yards.

The Storm put their winning streak on the line next Sunday when they host the Georgia Force at noon at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Rattlers (4-5) host the Orlando Predators at 6:00 pm.



Arena Football League Stories from March 28, 2003


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