Last-second field goal lifts Storm past Firebirds

Published on June 1, 2002 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Mike Black kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to give the Tampa Bay Storm a desperately needed 53-52 victory over the Indiana Firebirds Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

The win was just the second of the season for the Storm, now 2-5, and the first on the road this season for Tampa Bay. The win was also the first for the Storm against the Firebirds since the 1998 season.

With the loss Indiana dropped to 3-4.

Tampa Bay finished the game scoring nine consecutive points, erasing an eight-point fourth quarter deficit.

The Storm were led by quarterback Scott Milanovich, who earned a victory in his first career start, and newly-acquired offensive specialist Calvin Schexnayder. Milanovich set a Storm single-game record with 31 completions on 47 attempts. He threw for 321 yards and had five touchdowns on the night.

Schexnayder had eight catches for 100 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also rushed for two additional scores.

With the Storm trailing 52-44 midway through the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay pulled to within two points when Milanovich found Schexnayder streaking wide open down the middle of the field. The 40-yard score brought the Storm to within 52-50 with 3:42 left in the game. Tampa Bay attempted to tie the score with a two-point conversion, but Milanovich's pass fell incomplete, leaving the Firebirds with a tenuous advantage.

As he had done all night long, Indiana quarterback Raymond Philyaw had the Firebirds offense driving and looking to widen the gap. But on second down from the Storm 17-yard line, Philyaw's pass was tipped at the line by Eric Thomas. The ball sailed straight into the waiting arms of defensive specialist Corey Sawyer, who intercepted the pass at the four-yard line and returned it 19 yards to the Storm 23-yard line.

With 1:49 left on the clock, Milanovich and the Storm offense put together a six-play, 22-yard drive that would eat up remainder of the play clock and set up Black for the game-winning kick. Black was perfect from 21 yards out, allowing the Storm to steal one on the road.

The game was far from perfect, as both teams suffered costly turnovers and each kicker struggled at times to get the ball through the uprights. Indiana kicker Nelson Garner missed four extra points, including all three attempts in the second half. Mike Black also missed an extra point and was wide on a 36-yard field goal attempt.

But in the end, it was the Storm overcoming their season-long fourth quarter struggles and making the big plays at the end of the game to secure the victory.

The Storm outgained the Firebirds, 320-248, in total offense. The Storm also converted on 6-of-9 third down plays, including 3-of-4 in the second half.

Despite the furious finish, it was the Firebirds who got on the board early and threatened to run away with the ball game in the first quarter.

After turning the Storm offense away in the game's opening possession, the Firebirds didn't take long to get on the scoreboard. Raymond Philyaw hit Terrance Davis on a 10-yard touchdown to cap off a four-play, 32-yard drive that put Indiana on top 7-0 with 8:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Indiana's defense then got into the scoring act, as Dejuan Alfonzo intercepted Milanovich in the endzone and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown, putting the Firebirds on top 14-0.

The Storm finally got on the board when Calvin Schexnayder took a handoff from Milanovich and scored from a yard out. The touchdown pulled the Storm to within 14-7 as the first quarter came to a close.

After forcing a missed field goal, the Storm offense again found the endzone, this time on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Milanovich to Gunnard Twyner. Mike Black's kick, however, was wide right, and with 7:10 remaining in the first half the Firebirds led 14-13.

Indiana increased the lead on the next play from scrimmage, as Terrance Davis caught a short pass from Philyaw, spun around John Williams, and raced to the endzone for a 45-yard touchdown. Nelson Garner's extra point was blocked by Basil Proctor, leaving the Firebirds with a 20-13 lead with 5:52 left in the second quarter.

Tampa Bay continued the back and forth slugfest, tying the game for the first time following a five-play, 40-yard march. Melvin Cunningham capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown reception from Milanovich and Black tied the game with an extra point at the 2:18 mark of the first half.

Indiana again went on top by a touchdown when Philyaw connected with Jay Jones on a six-yard scoring strike with 0:56 left in the half. But a 10-point flurry in the span of six seconds gave the Storm a halftime lead.

After getting the ball back with just 0:56 left in the half, Milanovich drove the Storm offense 45 yards in 10 plays, hitting Schexnayder on a nine-yard touchdown play with just 0:07 left on the clock.

Mike Black's kickoff then bounced off the iron and bounded out to the eight-yard line where Devon McDonald recovered for the Storm. Black then connected on a 23-yard field goal that gave the Storm their first lead of the game, 30-27, with 0:01 remaining in the half.

Indiana reclaimed the lead in short order, as Evan Hlavacek returned the opening kickoff of the second half 57 yards for a touchdown. The score gave the Firebirds a 34-30 lead with 14:09 left in the third quarter.

After Black missed a 36-yard field goal, the Firebirds widened the gap with a 29-yard touchdown from Philyaw to Davis. Garner's extra point attempt sailed wide, and the Firebirds led 40-30 with 7:02 left in the third quarter.

The Storm cut the Indiana lead to 40-37 with 0:48 left in the third quarter when Schexnayder rushed in from a yard out for his third touchdown of the contest and second on the ground. But the Storm couldn't keep the Indiana offense out of the endzone. Philyaw marched his team 45 yards in four plays, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Van Johnson. Garner again missed the extra point, putting the Firebird lead at 46-37.

Tampa Bay again cut into the lead when Milanovich found David Saunders on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Black's extra point left the Storm deficit at just two points, 46-44, with 10:04 remaining in the game.

Philyaw and the Firebirds fired back, putting together a three-play, 45-yard touchdown drive. Philyaw hit Terrance Davis on a 23-yard touchdown play to cap off the drive and give Davis his fourth touchdown reception of the game. However, Garner missed his third extra point of the half, leaving Indiana with a 52-44 advantage with 7:40 left in the game.

Terence Davis led all receivers with ten catches for 179 yards and four touchdowns in earning Game MVP honors. Van Johnson, who had three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on offense and had three tackles defensively, was named the Ironman of the Game.

Raymond Philyaw finished 15-of-25 for 244 yards and six touchdowns.

In all, seven Storm receivers caught passes. Melvin Cunningham matched Schexnayder with eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Jahine Arnold had five catches for 54 yards, while Gunnard Twyner and David Saunders each had four catches and a touchdown reception.

The Storm return to action on Sunday, June 9, when they travel to Orlando for the War on I-4. The Storm and Predators face off at 4:30 pm at the TD Waterhouse Centre. The game will also kick off TNN's national AFL coverage for the 2002 season.

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Arena Football League Stories from June 1, 2002


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