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Storm Find The Jungle Inhospitable In 61-37 Loss

April 16, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Orlando - The Tampa Bay Storm defense held the Orlando Predators offense to 38 points and 213 yards of total offense, however the Orlando defense came up with 23 points as the Predators defeated the Storm 61-37 in front of 15,303 fans at Amway Arena Saturday night. Defensive Player of the game Greg White led the Orlando defensive effort as he knocked Storm starting quarterback Stoney Case out of the game with a big sack early in the second quarter with a dislocated right shoulder.

John Kaleo stepped in to replace Case and played well. He finished the game 22-of-29 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Terill Shaw and Lawrence Samuels combined for 22 receptions 223 yards and three touchdowns most of which took place in the fourth quarter as the Storm tried to mount a comeback.

Tampa area product J.R. Russell played big in his first career Arena game as he led all Orlando receivers with nine receptions for 83 yards. However it was Offensive Player of the Game Javarus Dudley that did the most damage scoring on three of his four receptions, two of which came in the second quarter as the Predators outscored the Storm 35-to-6 in the second quarter.

Tampa Bay led 3-0 after a slow first quarter that saw the each team throw an interception in the endzone. Storm Kicker Seth Marler put the lone points on the board with a 33-yard field at the end of Tampa Bay's first drive. Defensive backs Jeroid Johnson and Lin-J Shell each recorded an interception in the endzone to stop potential scoring drives by each team. The defensive battled continued into the second quarter, however, the Orlando Predators were the biggest beneficiary.

The Storm offense struggled to get the ball into the endzone in the second quarter as the Predators defense took advantage of three Tampa Bay turnovers to score three defensive touchdowns to enter the half with a 35-9 lead. Greg White, Kevin Nagle and Marlon Moye-Moore each returned a Storm fumble for a touchdown. Greg White sacked Case causing the first fumble and knocked him out of the game with a dislocated right shoulder. Shane Stafford found receiver Javarus Dudley for 19 and nine-yard touchdown receptions as the Predators defense outscored the Orlando offense in the second quarter. Tampa Bay did muster a touchdown as fullback Torrance Marshall pounded the ball into the endzone from the five-yard line. The Storm missed an opportunity to put an additional three points on the board as Orlando blocked a Tampa Bay field goal attempt as time expired.

The offensive struggles continued into the second half as the Predators defense put two more points on the board with a safety in the third quarter. Orlando opened the third quarter with a 23-yard Jay Taylor field goal after Marshall drilled Dudley for a six-yard loss on third and goal. The Storm quickly moved the ball down the field as Kaleo found Shaw open for a 30-yard strike. Marshall followed up that completion with a two-yard touchdown run as the Storm scored in under a minute to make the score 38 - 16. Nevertheless, Orlando responded as Stafford connected with Dudley for a 23-yard touchdown on a deep crossing route. The next Storm drive began on the four-yard line and ended seconds later as lineman Eddie Freeman sacked Kaleo in the endzone for a safety. The quarter ended with defensive stop by the Tampa Bay defense as Jeroid Johnson recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Nyle Wiren.

The Storm outscored the Predators 21-14 in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to overcome a 31-point deficit. Shaw scored two fourth quarter touchdowns and Samuels scored one, however the Tampa Bay defense was not able to stop Orlando as it began each drive with a short field taking advantage of several onside kicks by the Storm special teams unit. With a final score of 61-37 the Storm looks ahead to a bye week and a chance to regroup.

The Orlando Predators take on the New York Dragons Friday, April 20 at the Amway Arena. The Tampa Bay Storm enters its bye week and returns to action against the Columbus Destroyers Sunday, April 28 at the St. Pete Times Forum. For tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.

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