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Cobras Fall To Storm In Overtime Thriller

April 11, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release


CHARLOTTE ­ The Carolina Cobras forced Tampa Bay to overtime on Friday night before losing a 45-38 heartbreaker to the Southern Division leaders in front of 6,121 fans at the Charlotte Coliseum. The Storm's eighth consecutive victory kept the Cobras winless on the season at 0-11.

Tampa Bay quarterback John Kaleo completed 25-of-38 passes for 332 yards and one touchdown. Freddie Solomon caught nine passes for 131 yards. Andre Bowden had four rushing scores for the Storm, including the game-winner in overtime.

Stewart Patridge was 20-of-41 for 207 yards and four touchdowns for Carolina. He added another score on the ground. Nick Ward caught seven passes for 92 yards and a career-high two touchdowns, to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery. Bernard Holmes added seven receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns for the Cobras. He finished the game with 200 all-purpose yards, his eighth consecutive game played with 200 or more all-purpose yards.

The Cobras opened the game with a 51-yard field goal by Matt George and added two more first quarter touchdowns to take a 17-0 lead, their largest of the season. Tampa Bay responded with 17 points of their own in the second quarter to tie the game at the half.

On their opening possession of the second half, Tampa Bay marched to the Carolina 5-yard line before Ward intercepted a Kaleo pass. On the ensuing possession, Patridge found Ward for a 29-yard touchdown, his second score of the night. Tampa Bay responded with a 7-yard touchdown run by Andre Bowden, but Patridge scored on a one-yard plunge on the final play of the third quarter to give the Cobras a 31-24 lead heading into the final period.

Tampa Bay's first possession of the fourth quarter provided a David White touchdown, but kicker Mike Black¹s extra point attempt failed, leaving the Cobras with a 31-30 lead. Carolina added to that advantage when Holmes caught his second touchdown pass of the night, making it 38-30. The Storm responded with Bowden¹s third touchdown of the game and Kaleo's two-point conversion pass to Alvin Ashley that tied the game at 38 with 4:26 remaining.

The Cobras were unable to score on their ensuing possession, as Matt George missed a 46-yard field goal attempt with 1:00 to play. Tampa Bay had one final shot at a field goal with 6.2 seconds left in regulation, but Pat O¹Hara fumbled the snap and was forced to throw the ball away as time expired.

The Storm had possession to start the overtime and drove the length of the field, taking a 45-38 lead on Bowden's fourth score of the night. The Cobras were unable to make anything happen in the extra period as Patridge threw four straight incomplete passes to end the game.

The game was Carolina¹s first overtime contest of the season, and the Cobras fell to 0-5 all-time in overtime games.

SNAKE BITES: Nick Ward's two touchdowns marked his first career multi-touchdown game...Ward's third-quarter interception was the second of his three-year career...Carolina's 17 points in the first quarter was the second most in franchise history and the 17-0 lead was the Cobras largest lead of the season...The Cobras had three touchdowns off of Tampa Bay turnovers...Kaleo's 332 passing yards are an opponent's season high...Bowden, who played for the Cobras last season, set an opponent's all-time record with four touchdown runs...Derek Stingley tied his season-high with 8.0 tackles.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 11, 2003


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