Brigade Host Storm in Franchise's First Home Game
May 4, 2017 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Baltimore Brigade News Release
The Baltimore Brigade (1-2) will play their first-ever home game this Sun., May 7 at 1 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena, welcoming the Tampa Bay Storm (2-1) to town. The team's inaugural matchup will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. The Brigade are looking to rebound from a 69-34 Week 4 loss to the defending champion Philadelphia Soul while the Storm are coming off their first bye week of the season.
BRIGADE PLAYER TO WATCH: QB SHANE CARDEN - Rookie signal caller Shane Carden is completing 62.6 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 614 yards (204.7 per game) and 14 passing touchdowns, good for third in the league. Last weekend against the Soul, the former ECU Pirate completed 21/32 passes for 258 yards, a season high, and five touchdowns. The performance marked the second game in a row that Carden threw for at least five touchdowns. His Week 2 six touchdowns are good for the second-highest total in a single game in the AFL this season, trailing only Arvell Nelson (CLE) and Randy Hippeard's (TB) seven-touchdown games.
STORM PLAYER TO WATCH: QB RANDY HIPPEARD - The Storm are led by QB Randy Hippeard, who ranks first in the AFL in completions, completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns and passer rating. His 71.2 completion percentage and 0.2 touchdowns-per-attempt also top the league ranks. Hippeard has thrown for at least 200 yards and six touchdowns in each of his three games played this season. In the team's Week 3 matchup with the Cleveland Gladiators, Hippeard completed 37/47 passes for 387 yards and seven touchdowns.
MATCHUP TO WATCH: STORM WRs vs. BRIGADE DBs - Tampa Bay wideouts Lamark Brown and Joe Hills highlight the Storm receiving corps, combining for 51 receptions, 556 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season. Each put on standout performances in their last outing, a 62-61 win over Cleveland. Hills caught 15 passes, an AFL season high, for 141 yards and four touchdowns while Brown gathered 11 catches for 142 yards and two scores. The Brigade secondary is led by a trio of DBs - Varmah Sonie, Josh Victorian and Qumain Black, who rank 1-2-3 in total tackles, solo tackles and pass break-ups for Baltimore.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday's game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network
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