Costly Turnovers Drop Storm To Fifth Loss

Published on April 8, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - With the score tied at 43 the Storm couldn't overcome an Omarr Smith interception return for touchdown, and a safety recorded on a kickoff by Charles Pauley. The Tampa Bay Storm lost to the San Jose SaberCats, 43-52, in front of 14,566 fans in attendance at the St. Pete Times Forum Friday night. The loss drops Tampa Bay to 6-5. The visiting team has now won seven of the 12 games in the series between the two franchises.

Storm QB Shane Stafford has passed the 14,000 yard mark in his career with his 252-yard performance, he now has 14,219. He completed 23 of 39 passes and six touchdowns. Freddie Solomon was the lone receiver to go over the 100-yard receiving mark in the game as he caught eight passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns en route to being named the offensive player of the game.

The SaberCats came into the game tied with the Storm putting up 303 yards per contest through the air. SaberCat QB Mark Grieb completed 20 of 36 passes for 223 yards, one interception and no touchdowns as all of the SaberCats' five touchdowns were scored on the ground. Phil Glover and Brian Johnson each had a pair of touchdown runs and JaJuan Huddleston and Barry Wagner each had one.

Stafford opened the scoring in the game when he found Demetris Bendross open for an 11-yard score. The Storm have now scored a touchdown (8 passing, 3 rushing) in all 11 opening drives this season. Barry Wagner opened the scoring for the SaberCats with a one-yard touchdown run. Bill Gramatica ended the first quarter by nailing his ninth field goal of the season from 31-yards out. The Storm led at the end of the first quarter, 10-7.

The ground attack opened up for the SaberCats as fullback's Phil Glover and Brian Johnson scored rushing touchdowns to give San Jose their first lead of the night, 21-10. In the final minute of the first half Stafford hooked up with Lawrence Samuels for a four yard score. On the ensuing SaberCat drive, Samuels intercepted Grieb thwarting a San Jose score and returned the ball to the Storm 22-yard line. Stafford found Solomon all alone in the back of the end zone with three seconds left in the half to give the Storm back the lead, 23-21.

The SaberCats running game continued to be their bread and butter in the third quarter as they scored two more times via a Phil Glover four-yard run and a JaJuan Huddleston three-yard run. Stafford connected with Ernest Certain for his third touchdown of the season from three-yards. At the end of third quarter the SaberCats led, 35-29.

A pair of touchdown passes started up the Storm offense in the fourth quarter as Stafford connected with Lynarise Elpheage and Solomon with four-yard touchdowns. The SaberCats knotted the score at 43 as Brian Johnson scored on a one-yard touchdown followed by a Grieb two-point conversion. On the ensuing Storm drive Smith intercepted Stafford and returned it 16-yards for the touchdown. On the following kickoff Bendross fumbled the football and Alphonso Roundtree recovered it in the end zone and was tackled for the safety by Pauley.

The Storm head on the road the next two weeks facing the Southern Division-leading Austin Wranglers on Saturday, April 15 and then re-new the "War on I-4" with the Orlando Predators on April 22. The next Storm home game is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. against the Kansas City Brigade as they make their way to the St. Pete Times Forum for the first time in their franchise history. Tickets for all Storm home games can be purchased at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum, by calling 813.301.6600 or by visiting www.tampabaystorm.com.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 8, 2006


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