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Storm Fall To Force 52-38

May 27, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Atlanta - The Tampa Bay Storm fell to the Georgia Force 52-38 in front of 10,749 fans at Philips Arena as Ironman of the Game Reggie Doster picked off three Brett Dietz passes. Offensive Player of the Game Chris Jackson became the fourth player in AFL history to surpass 11,000 career receiving yards with his 186 yard performance on 13 catches.

Storm quarterback Dietz, starting only his fourth career game, threw four interceptions including one returned for a touchdown by Georgia lineman and ADT Defensive Player of the game Jermaine Smith. Defensive lineman Tim McGill continued as a disruptive force on defense as he collected his third sack of the season, while Jeroid Johnson collected his seventh interception this season.

Tampa Bay led 38-31 with 10:36 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. However, each of the Storm's next three possessions ended with an interception as the game eerily slipped away reminiscent of Tampa Bay's Week 3 loss to Georgia in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay defense came up with a big goal-line stop on Georgia's first possession. Georgia took the opening drive all the way to the Tampa Bay one-yard line before Tom Briggs forced his 19th career fumble. The forced fumble resulted in a 35-yard Seth Marler field goal. Chris Greisen put the force on the board with one-yard quarterback keeper. However, on Tampa Bay's next possession, Dietz turned the ball over as he received a big hit in the backfield at the end of the first quarter.

Georgia took a 24 -17 lead into the half. The Force opened the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Greisen to Troy Bergeron. Tampa Bay responded as Dietz found Terrill Shaw open for a six-yard touchdown in the middle of the endzone in what was a penalty filled possession. The referees hit Georgia with four personal fouls and Tampa Bay with four separate penalties during that scoring drive.

Defensive back Bo Rodgers did his best to stop Georgia on the ensuing possession with two big hits that jarred the ball loose; however Georgia reached into its bag of tricks as receiver Jarrick Hillery found fullback Matt Huebner in the endzone on a shovel pass to put Georgia up by 11. The Storm responded as Dietz went 6 of 6 on the following drive, capped with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Shaw on a crossing pattern, his second of the game. Georgia closed out the half with a 38-yard field goal.

The Storm opened up the second half with a five-yard Torrance Marshall rushing touchdown, his first in three weeks. Tampa Bay kept the momentum going as Jeroid Johnson recorded his 33rd career interception in the endzone. The Storm marched down the field and used its heavy package to get Brett Dietz into the endzone on a one-yard quarterback keeper to take a seven point lead. Georgia tied it up before the start of the fourth with 23-yard Chris Jackson touchdown.

Entering the fourth quarter tied 31-31 Tampa Bay scored first in the fourth quarter on an improbable six-yard touchdown reception by Samuels as he dove through a crowd of players to catch a tipped ball. Georgia brought the game back to a draw with a 26-yard Jackson touchdown reception. The face of the game changed as Dietz threw interceptions on each of Tampa Bay's following three drives, one of which Georgia returned for a touchdown. Georgia killed off the remaining time to end the game with a 52-38 victory.

The Georgia Force (10-2) host National Conference rival Columbus Destroyers (6-6) Saturday, June 2, 7:00 p.m. EST at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Tampa Bay Storm (5-7) stay on the road with a visit to the 'Big Easy' as the Storm take on the New Orleans VooDoo(4-7) Saturday, June 2, 7:30 (EST) at the New Orleans Arena. Catch 47 on Bright House Networks will televise the game and 620 WDAE will broadcast the game live. For Storm tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.

On Monday, May 28, the New York Dragons travel to New Orleans to take on the National Conference rival VooDoo at 8:30 p.m. EST. Tune in to ESPN2 this Monday night to watch the Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday night game as Aaron Garcia and the resurgent Dragons look to move into the playoff picture against Andy Kelly's VooDoo squad. Be apart of the exciting action on ESPN2 as the drive to ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans unfolds.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 27, 2007


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