Storm fall to the Desperados, 59-40

Published on March 11, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Dallas - The Dallas Desperados (2-0) defeated the Tampa Bay Storm (0-2) 59-40 in front of 13,805 fans at the American Airlines Center in a game marred with penalties as the referees threw the little yellow hankies 26 times.

Dallas was led by Ironman and Offensive Player of the game Will Pettis. Pettis finished the game with 10 receptions for 143 yards and four touchdowns. Dallas improves to 2-0 for the season and 3-2 all-time against the Tampa Bay Storm. Fullback Rodney Filer led the Storm in rushing with 31-yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Former Storm quarterback Shane Stafford was the last player to rush for three touchdowns in a 69-59 victory at Kansas City March 5, 2006.

Dallas struck quick as quarterback Clint Dolezel found receiver Will Pettis on the Desperados first play from the line of scrimmage. For the second week in a row Tampa Bay gave up a touchdown on the opening play. However, that had little effect on the Storm as they worked the ball down the field on the their next possession to take the lead 7-6 as fullback Rodney Filer scored on a one-yard touchdown run for the second week in a row. Dallas and Tampa Bay then traded scores as Desperados receiver Marcus Nash and Storm receiver T.T. Toliver each caught touchdown passes to knot the score 13-13 at the end of the first quarter.

After a first quarter marred with six flags, Dallas opened the second quarter driving the ball down the field. Tampa defensive back Lynarise Elpheage intercepted Dolezel only to have the play negated by a penalty. Dolezel shook off the errant throw to find Pettis in the endzone to put the Desperados ahead 19-13. Rodney Filer ran in a 2-yard touchdown on the Storm's next possession as the offense was aided by yet another penalty as Desperados defensive end Rickie Simpkins was called for a lat hit. With the score tied 19-19 Dallas mixed up its playbook as fullback Josh White powered for 14-yards on the ground to move Dallas into the redzone. On the next play Dolezel found backup center Terrance Dotsy on an eight-yard shovel pass for Dotsy's second career touchdown. Flags continued to litter the field as both Dallas and Tampa Bay failed to score on their next possessions to end the half 26-19 Desperados.

Tampa Bay opened the second half with a four-play scoring drive as Storm quarterback John Kaleo found receiver Lawrence Samuels for his first touchdown this season. It did not take long for Dallas to respond as Pettis returned the ensuing kickoff 56-yards to put Dallas up 32-26. The next Storm possession looked to have some promise as Kaleo connected with former Desperados receiver Terrill Shaw for a 35-yard reception; however the drive stalled as the Desperados defense stepped up the pressure on Kaleo as the Storm to turn the ball over on downs.

Leroy Smith picked off Dolezel to start off the fourth quarter as the Filer led the way on the Storm's next possession with two rushes for 20 yards and his third touchdown of the game. Dolezel collected himself on his next series as he marched down the field connecting with Pettis and Nash before finding Pettis in the endzone to increase the Dallas lead to 12, 33-45. Dallas seemed to help the Storm offense as defensive end Colston Weatherington collected a personal foul for 10-yards on top of a 10-yard rush by Filer. However, the Desperados changed their mind on the next play as defensive back Bobby Keyes intercepted a Kaleo pass. Dolezel and the Desperados offense took full advantage of the miscue as they ate up five and half minutes of clock on the way to nine-yard touchdown reception by White to make the score 33-52 with two minutes left on the clock. Each team scored one more time as Storm receiver Toliver and Desperados receiver Willis Marshal found their way to the endzone in the final minute of the game.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 11, 2007


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