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Storm fall to Soul, 51-59

March 30, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Philadelphia, PA - The Tampa Bay Storm (2-2) fell to the Philadelphia Soul, 51-59 in front of 16,179 fans at the Wachovia center as the Soul start the season 5-0 for the first time in franchise history.

With the Storm loss, the home team continues to dominate the series as the visiting team has failed to win on the road. Soul receiver Larry Brackins led all receivers with 10 receptions for 139 and three touchdowns as quarterback Matt D'Orazio completed 25-of-35 passes for 296 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Storm were led by quarterback Brett Dietz as he threw for 400 yards and six touchdowns as he had three receivers eclipse 100 yards; Lawrence Samuels (123), Hank Edwards (122) and Brent Holmes (109).

Philadelphia jumped out to a quick lead as D'Orazio hit Brackins for a 37-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The teams then traded touchdowns as Brett Dietz completed all of his passes in the first quarter including a 15-yard touchdown to Lawrence Samuels for his first touchdown on the season. The Storm took a 14-13 lead into the second quarter as Soul kicker Conner Hughes missed an extra point attempt.

The Soul and Storm traded field goals to start off the second quarter as each defense recorded a sack. Then Brett Dietz converted two big fourth downs, including a three-yard touchdown to receiver David Saunders. After a missed Marler extra point D'Orazio found Chris Jackson open in the back corner of the endzone to bring the game within one as Hughes missed the game-tying extra point with 43.2 second left on the clock. The quarter ended as Hughes redeemed himself with a 32-yard field goal after Anthony Dunn forced a Dietz fumble with less than 20.0 seconds on the clock on the Soul 20-yard line.

Opening the second half down 23-25 the Storm struck quickly as Dietz hooked up with Edwards for a 40-yard touchdown. Brackins (6-foot-4) size came into play on the next Soul drive as he out jumped Rayshun Reed (5-10) in the corner of the endzone as Philly went up by two. After a 12-yard reception Samuels fumbled on the Storm 14 and D'Orazio connected with Jackson on the ensuing play to put the Soul up by nine. However, the next drive, on third-and-22, Dietz found Samuels wide open and he ran over Brian Mance to score on a 29-yard reception to bring the score within two as the teams headed into the final stanza.

Philadelphia opened the fourth quarter with another Brackins reception in the back corner of the endzone to put the Soul up 46-37. Redzone scoring machine Torrance Marshall scored on the next possession to bring the game within two again. After an onside kick D'Orazio connected with Darius Watts from 14-yards for a touchdown, however Marcus Owen blocked his first kick of the season on the ensuing extra point. The Storm fought back as Dietz connected with Samuels for his third touchdown reception of the game. Yet after the Soul scored with 38 seconds left to take a 59-51 lead and the Storm were unable to get into the endzone before time expired.

Notes

* Sedrick Robinson was placed on injured reserve and the impact was felt on special teams as the Storm averaged 7.6 yards per return versus 18.0 and failed to accumulate 100+ return yards for the first time this season.

* Tampa Bay activated WR David Saunders as he saw his first action of the 2008 season and scored a touchdown on his first reception.

* Soul WR Chris Jackson surpassed 12,000 career receiving yards, fourth most all-time in the AFL.

* Lawrence Samuels caught his 850th Storm reception.

* QB Brett Dietz set career-highs with 400 yards passing, 31 completions and 46 attempts.

* Marcus "Snowball" Owen blocked his 9th career kick to move into a tie for 4th most in the AFL all-time and the most in the AFL (7) over the past three seasons (2006-08).

* NG Tim McGill accumulated the third two-sack game of his career.

* K Seth Marler kicked connected on his 20th career field goal.

* Tampa Bay waived defensive back Daryon Brutley.

Next week the Storm travel to Columbus to take on the Destroyers (1-4) April 5 at 7:00 p.m. (Catch 47, 620 AM-WDAE). The game is a rematch of the 20007 Wild Card Playoff Game which the Destroyers won 56-55 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Soul host Danny White's Utah Blaze (0-5) as the Soul look to improve to 6-0.

AFL action continues next Sunday, April 6 as record-breaking Damien Harrell and the Chicago Rush head to Orlando to take on the Predators and the exciting T.T Toliver. At 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN HD. Don't miss the action as quarterback Sherdrick Bonner leads the Central Division leading Rush against efficient quarterback Shane Stafford and Orlando as they look to gain ground in the race for the Southern Division lead.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 30, 2008


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