Sports stats

SaberCats' second half rally sinks Storm, 62-55

April 4, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - San Jose wide receiver/linebacker James Roe caught seven touchdown passes, including his final one with seven seconds left in the game, to help the SaberCats erase a 17-point halftime deficit and hand the Tampa Bay Storm a 62-55 defeat Sunday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Roe had five of his touchdown receptions in the second half. The seven touchdown catches by Roe set a SaberCats single game record.

With the win San Jose matched the idle New Orleans VooDoo with a league-best 7-1 overall record. Tampa Bay dropped to 3-6 on the season.

The Storm raced out to a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game and led 31-14 at halftime. But the SaberCats outscored Tampa Bay 41-17 in the second half, including 21-10 in the fourth quarter.

Roe was named Offensive Player of the Game after catching 11 passes for 158 yards. San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb finished 27-of-34 for 351 yards and nine touchdown passes.

The Storm had a pair of 100-yard receivers for the first time this season. Freddie Solomon caught eight passes for 102 yards and one touchdown, while TT Toliver had seven catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Toliver was named Ironman of the Game after finishing with a game-high 216 all-purpose yards. He also collected 3.0 tackles and a forced fumble on defense.

The Storm drove 47 yards on their first possession of the game to jump out to an early lead. Stafford hit Lawrence Samuels on a 10-yard touchdown pass to put Tampa Bay on top 7-0 with 11:11 left in the first quarter.

Samuels then added to the Storm lead when the ensuing kickoff bounded off the net. Samuels beat San Jose kickoff returner Rashied Davis to the loose ball and recovered it in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Matt George's extra point pushed the Storm lead to 14-0 with 10:40 left in the first quarter.

San Jose finally got on the scoreboard when Grieb connected with Roe on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Dan Frantz added the extra point to cut the Storm lead to 14-7 with 7:34 left in the first quarter.

The Tampa Bay offense countered the San Jose touchdown with an eight-play scoring drive. Toliver hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Stafford, and George added the extra point to put Tampa Bay on top 21-7 with 1:18 left in the first quarter.

Roe broke free for another long touchdown reception, this time 26 yards, to bring the SaberCats to within seven points with 14:14 left in the second quarter. But the Tampa Bay offense quickly answered, driving 44 yards for a touchdown. Stafford punctuated the drive with a five-yard touchdown run. George's extra point gave Tampa Bay a 28-14 advantage with 10:52 left in the first half.

San Jose appeared on the brink of scoring again, getting down to the Tampa Bay one-yard line before Rashied Davis was stripped of the ball by the Storm defense. DJ Bleisath recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay one-yard line, giving possession back to the Storm offense.

Tampa Bay drove down to the San Jose two-yard line before the drive stalled, but Matt George made sure that the possession wasn't for naught, as he added a 17-yard field goal that put the Storm on top 31-14 with 53 seconds left in the first half.

San Jose added an 11-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first half to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 31-21 before Stafford and Toliver connected on a 30-yard scoring strike that gave Tampa Bay a 38-21 lead with just eight seconds remaining in the first half.

Rashied Davis returned the ensuing kickoff to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line, allowing Frantz to attempt to tack on a 26-yard field goal, but the snap sailed over the head of the holder, sending both teams into the locker room with the Storm holding onto a commanding 17-point advantage.

San Jose quickly opened the second half scoring. Davis returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter to the Tampa Bay 10-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Grieb hit Roe on a 10-yard touchdown pass to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 38-28.

The SaberCats' defense then stood tall, forcing the Storm to attempt a 62-yard field goal on their opening offensive possession. Davis returned that kick to the Tampa Bay 12-yard line before Grieb hit Roe on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Frantz missed the extra point, and the Storm led 38-34 with 10:08 left in the third quarter.

The Tampa Bay offense finally got on the board for the first time in the second half when Stafford hit Toliver on a 27-yard touchdown pass. George's extra point gave the Storm a 45-34 lead with 8:09 left in the third quarter.

Roe scored his fifth touchdown of the game on a 29-yard pass from Grieb with 5:09 left in the third quarter to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 45-41. Then, after forcing another missed field goal, the SaberCats took their first lead of the game when Roe caught his sixth touchdown of the game, a five-yard pass on fourth down from Grieb. Frantz's extra point gave the SaberCats a 48-45 lead with 11:56 left in the contest.

Tampa Bay jumped back on top 52-48 after Stafford found Solomon for an 18-yard touchdown with 8:41 left in the game. But that lead was short-lived, as Grieb connected with Fred Coleman on a 26-yard touchdown pass to put the SaberCats back on top, 55-52, with 4:44 left in the game.

Tampa Bay tied the score at 55-55 on a 23-yard field goal by George with 28 seconds left, but Roe caught his seventh touchdown pass of the game with seven seconds left for to give the SaberCats a 62-55 victory.

San Jose defensive specialist Omarr Smith earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. The former Storm defensive specialist had a team-high 7.0 tackles with one interception and one pass breakup.

Shane Stafford also eclipsed 300 passing yards, as the Storm quarterback finished with 25 completions on 41 attempts. He tallied 309 passing yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for another score.

The Storm go on the road next week for an Easter Sunday match-up against the Chicago Rush. San Jose plays at Dallas on April 10.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 4, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Tampa Bay Storm Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central