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Storm Fall in Music City

April 24, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Storm's road woes came back to haunt them on Sunday as they had their three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Nashville Kats with a 21-37 loss at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. The Storm fell to 7-5 on the season and 1-5 on the road. The Kats are now unbeaten in their last four contests.

The Tampa Bay offense scored a season-low 21 points and was held off the scoreboard during the first, third and fourth quarters. WR/DB Clif Dell shined in the loss, making 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. QB Shane Stafford completed 23 of 42 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. The league's most sack-happy team recorded two sacks against the Storm and forcing one interception late in the tilt.

The Kats opened the game with the ball and after a 38-yard pass from Leon Murray to Fred Coleman they opened the scoring when T.T. Toliver ran the ball in from the three-yard line. The Storm opened their first offensive drive from their own nine. The Tampa Bay offense didn't hold onto the ball very long, as a fumbled snap recovered by Coleman gave the ball back to the Kats offense.

Murray again connected with Coleman, this time in the back of the end zone, for another Nashville touchdown. A penalty against the Kats after the play pushed the extra point back and Tony Dodson missed the kick and Nashville held a 13-0 lead. The Storm offense committed two penalties on the following drive and had a third and 20 from their own 18-yard line. After an 11-yard completion to Clif Dell, the Storm went for it on fourth down but a pass to Freddie Solomon fell to the turf and Tampa Bay turned the ball over on downs with 3:48 remaining in the first quarter.

After the turnover, a screen pass got the Kats to the Storm 10-yard line with a chance to open up a bigger lead, but the Tampa Bay defense held them to a 25-yard field goal attempt. After a bobbled snap Dodson put it through the uprights to open the second quarter. The Kats held a 16-0 lead.

Kick-catch interference and off-sides penalties on the kickoff set the Storm offense up at their own 10-yard line. A two-yard rush by Jarrod Penright on third and one kept the drive alive at the Kats six-yard line. On the following play Shane Stafford connected with Lawrence Samuels for a six-yard touchdown strike and the Storm were on the board for the first time, and more importantly, pulled to within nine points.

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball took a funny bounce off the net and was recovered by Tampa Bay's Ricky Hall and the Storm took over on the Nashville five-yard line with a chance to pull to within two. On the first play of the drive Stafford ran the ball in behind the block of Penright, and just like that the Kats' lead was cut to, 16-14. The Storm defense held the Kats to a field goal attempt on their next drive, but a roughing the kicker call following a missed 31-yarder gave the drive new life.

Nashville made the Storm pay for the mistake as Jarrick Hillery ran the ball in from the eight to improve the Kats' lead to 23-14 with one minute left in the first half. After the kick Anthony Derricks returned the ball to the 24-yard line. Tampa Bay made good of the good field position as Stafford hit Clif Dell near the left sideline and Dell found the end zone to make it 23-21 with just 13 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Kats got the ball back on the 20-yard line after the kickoff sailed out of bounds. Nashville attempted a 36-yard field goal but it sailed wide-left and the half ended with the Kats clinging to a 23-21 lead.

The Storm opened the second half on offense with an opportunity to take the lead with a field goal or a touchdown. It appeared Tampa Bay had taken the lead when Stafford completed a pass to Solomon in the end zone but a holding penalty brought the play back. On fourth and 20 George came on to attempt a 36-yard field goal that he missed wide-right. Travis McGriff returned the missed field goal three yards. The Kats turned the missed kick into a 19-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Toliver and took a 30-21 point lead.

Penalties and a sack again had the Storm offense backed up to their own eight with a third and 22 to convert and they did just that as Stafford hit Samuels for a new set of downs at the conclusion of the third quarter. With 15 minutes to play Nashville led Tampa Bay, 30-21.

The drive stalled at the seven and George came in to attempt a 22-yard field goal that rang off the right upright and the Storm came away scoreless. Nashville's offense didn't have the same problem as they punched it in from five yards out with a pass from Murray to Lindsay Fleshman to extend their lead to 16 points.

The Kats locked the game up with an interception by Reggie Stephens as Stafford tried to complete a pass in the end zone to Samuels. Nashville ran out the clock and handed the Storm their first loss in three games.

Tampa Bay returns to the St. Pete Times Forum this Saturday when they take on the New Orleans VooDoo (8-4) in what will be a crucial Southern Division showdown. The Storm dropped their first game to the VooDoo 48-42 this season in New Orleans during Week 5. Tickets are still available at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 24, 2005


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