Storm blast Rampage, 70-50, to pick up third win

Published on March 6, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Storm returned home for the first time in a month and snapped their two-game losing streak, posting a convincing 70-50 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage before a season-high crowd of 16,384 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

With the win the Storm improved to 3-2 on the season and remained undefeated at home. The Rampage dropped to 1-4.

Tampa Bay also improved to 5-1 all-time against Grand Rapids and 44-1 all-time when scoring at least 60 points in a game. The 70 points posted by the Storm marked the most points scored by a Storm team since July 7, 2001.

The Storm were bolstered by the return of four starters who had missed previous games with injuries. Offensive specialist Freddie Solomon returned from the injured list and earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, hauling in nine passes for 148 yards and four touchdowns.

All-Ironman WR/DB T.T. Toliver saw his first action of the season and was impressive in his debut, catching four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 53-yard field goal return for touchdown and recorded a tackle on defense.

Fullback/linebacker David White also saw his first action of the season and scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Lineman Kelvin Kinney also returned from an injury and had an assisted tackle and numerous quarterback pressures.

Storm quarterback Shane Stafford completed 24-of-33 passes for 298 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown in the game.

Tampa Bay defensive specialist Jonathan Ordway earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. He had four solo tackles and a pass breakup in the contest.

Tampa Bay scored the game's first points on a five-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Toliver. The score was Toliver's first of the season and put Tampa Bay on top 7-0 with 10:17 left in the first quarter.

Grand Rapids quarterback Michael Bishop scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 7:06 remaining in the first quarter. Kicker Peter Martinez missed the extra point, though, leaving the Storm with a 7-6 advantage.

After the Storm turned the ball over on downs, the Storm defense forced a Rampage turnover, as Nyle Wiren sacked Bishop and stripped him of the football, allowing Umar Muhammad to recover at the Grand Rapids 13-yard line. Six plays later David White rushed in from one yard out to push the Tampa Bay lead to 14-6 with 13:11 left in the second quarter.

Grand Rapids pulled to within 14-13 on a two-yard touchdown run by Chris Avery, but Tampa Bay quickly answered with a scoring drive of its own. Stafford capped off the three-play, 35-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Storm 20-13 advantage.

Bishop tossed his first touchdown pass of the afternoon to Chris Jackson with 45 seconds left in the first half. The 22-yard reception tied the score at 20-20.

Grand Rapids then recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Tampa Bay six-yard line. The Storm defense held Grand Rapids out of the endzone, and a 32-yard field goal attempt by the Rampage was blocked by Mike Lawson, turning the ball back over to Tampa Bay at the 12-yard line.

Matt George missed a 35-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the half, sending the teams into the locker room tied at 20-20.

Grand Rapids took its first lead of the game on a 25-yard pass from Bishop to Josh Bush. Martinez added the extra point to put the Rampage on top 27-20 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.

Tampa Bay wasted little time in tying the score. After Toliver returned the kickoff to the 19-yard line, Stafford hit Solomon on a 31-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 27-27 with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

Martinez connected on a 43-yard field goal with 3:32 left in the third quarter to allow the Rampage to regain the lead, 30-27. But again the Storm wasted little time in answering, as Stafford hit Solomon on a 20-yard touchdown strike on the next play from scrimmage to put Tampa Bay on top 34-30 with 2:17 left in the third quarter.

The Storm added to their lead after forcing a 60-yard field goal attempt by the Rampage. The kick was short, and the Storm eventually added a 21-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Lawrence Samuels. George's extra point put Tampa Bay ahead 41-30 with 13:04 left in the game.

The Rampage cut into the Storm's lead on their next possession, as Bishop hooked up with Dennison Robinson on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Martinez's extra point pulled the Rampage to within 41-37 with 10:53 remaining in the game.

Solomon extended the Tampa Bay lead with his third touchdown catch of the second half. The score was a 29-yard strike from Stafford that put the Storm on top 48-37 with 8:09 left in the game.

Toliver added a 53-yard field goal return for touchdown following a Martinez miss, giving Tampa Bay a 55-37 lead with 4:38 left to play.

The Rampage cut the deficit to 11 points when Bishop connected with Darin Graham for a 38-yard touchdown strike with 3:35 remaining in the contest.

The Storm added to the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Clif Dell. The score, which came with 1:00 left to play, put Tampa Bay ahead 62-44.

Grand Rapids tacked on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Bishop to Chris Jackson to cut the margin to 62-50, but the Storm responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Solomon with seven seconds left to increase the lead to 68-50.

Tampa Bay capped off the scoring when Umar Muhammad sacked Bishop in the endzone for a safety as time expired.

The Storm finished with three sacks in the game after failing to record a sack in the previous three games. Muhammad, Wiren, and Ricky Hall all recorded sacks for Tampa Bay.

David Saunders, Samuels, and Toliver all had four catches in the game. Saunders finished with 50 yards, while Samuels had 42 yards and a touchdown.

Bishop finished with five touchdown passes on 16-of-37 passing. He also rushed for 18 yards and one touchdowns.

Chris Jackson was the Rampage's leading receiver. He caught five passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Dennison Robinson also had five catches for 64 yards and one touchdown.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 6, 2005


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