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Defense Leads Storm to Victory, 58-50

May 16, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, MI - The defense came to the rescue for the Tampa Bay Storm (5-6) as it defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage (3-8), 58-50, in front of 7,205 fans at Van Andel Arena Friday night. The Storm defense forced six turnovers, including three in the second quarter that enabled the Storm to take a seven point lead at the half.

Although he did not accumulate any sacks, Defensive lineman Tim McGill put heavy pressure on Rampage quarterback James MacPherson as he pressured him into two interceptions. MacPherson finished the evening 26-of-35 for 268 yards and six touchdowns yet he threw four interceptions. His primary target was Cole Magner who finished the game with 15 receptions for 175 yards.

Three players to recorded their first interception this season, Jeroid Johnson, Rayshun Reed and Nyle Wiren. Johnson and Reed picked off passes in the endzone while Wiren picked his off near the goal-line. Ironman of the Game, Lawrence Samules also registered and interception, his third in the past four games.

The first quarter belonged to the Rampage as Grand Rapids built up a 14-point lead, 21-7, on two Chris Johnson touchdown receptions. The quarter began with a defensive stop by the Rampage as the Storm offense seemed out of sync. Torrance Marshall continued to be a force on the ground as he punched in Tampa Bay's only score from one yard out. However, Ahmad Hawkins picked off Dietz on the next series and returned it to the six-yard line and that resulted in MacPherson's third touchdown pass of the first stanza.

The tide turned in the second quarter as Tampa Bay recorded three turnovers; one interception, a kickoff net recovery and a fumble recovery. Dietz connected with Hank Edwards early in the second as the Storm outscored the Rampage 28-7 in the quarter. Hawkins returned the ensuing kickoff to the Storm seven-yard line however Nyle Wiren intercepted MacPherson on the first play as MacPherson felt heavy pressure due to the bull rush of Tim McGill. Then after a Dietz-to-Shaw touchdown Traco Rachal recovered the ensuing kickoff and retuned it for a touchdown to put Tampa Bay up by seven. The final minute included two missed field goals, one by each kicker, and a Phil Glover fumble recovery at the Rampage four-yard line that allowed the Storm to go up by seven at the half.

Tampa Bay started off the third quarter with a Samuels interception on the first play as McGill was all over the Rampage quarterback. Dietz took advantage immediately as he connected with Samuels for an 11-yard touchdown. The teams traded touchdowns as Magner scored twice and Marshall scored his second on the ground. Sedrick Robinson entered the game for an injured Hank Edward and made an immediate impact with a 34-yard touchdown on a gang screen as Tampa Bay took a 55-43 lead into the fourth quarter.

Sloppy play dominated the fourth quarter as MacPherson threw two interceptions in the endzone, the Tampa Bay offense was limited to two field goal attempts and converted only one as the teams scored a total of 11 points in the final stanza. The Rampage did make it close as fullback Terrell Browden scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 20 second on the clock and then converted a tow-point conversion to cut Tampa Bay's lead to eight. However Samuels recovered the ensuing onsides kick as Tampa Bay ran the final seconds off of the clock to seal the victory.

Notes * Tim Marcum won his 170th regular season game and 195th overall. He is five victories away from becoming the first coach in the AFL to get to 200 career victories. * Lawrence Samuels recorded his 31st career interception and moved into a tie for 20th all-time in the AFL. * Cole Magner tied a Rampage single-game high with 15 receptions a feat accomplished two other times by Terrill Shaw and Thomas Bailey * Torrance Marshall scored two touchdowns for the fourth consecutive game. He now has 16 on the season and is two shy of setting a new franchise mark which het set last season with 17 rushing touchdowns. * Three kick offs were ruled out of bounds, two by Seth Marler that went over the net system and one by Gowins the hit the scoreboard. * Jeroid Johnson recorded his 37th career interception; he is tied for 10th most all-time in the AFL. * Ahmad Hawkins intercepted his sixth pass on the season, it gives him 19 in the past two seasons. * Sedrick Robinson surpassed 9,500 career kickoff return yards. * Hank Edwards suffered a foot injury in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

The Storm returns to the St. Pete Times Forum to host the Cleveland Gladiators Friday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in a pivotal National Conference game (Catch 47, 620 AM-WDAE). Grand Rapids travels to Arizona to face the Rattlers at U.S. Airways Center - 10:00 p.m. EST.

AFL action continues Monday night on ESPN Russell Athletic Monday Night Football as the American Conference leading Chicago Rush travel to Los Angeles to take on the Avengers at the STAPLES Center - 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2 ESPN HD and ESPN360.com).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 16, 2008


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