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Storm Improve to 4-0 at Home

March 13, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY -- After missing a field goal to end the first half, Tampa Bay Storm kicker Matt George found redemption by hammering home the game-winner as time expired in Tampa Bay's 56-53 victory against the Arizona Rattlers in front of 16,004 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum. Storm quarterback Shane Stafford connected for seven touchdown passes as the Storm improved to 4-2 and stayed undefeated at home (4-0).

David Saunders caught three touchdown passes to tie his career high and move past James Bowden for fifth on the all-time Storm touchdown catch list with 37. Stafford has thrown seven touchdown passes in two consecutive games.

It took four downs in the red zone on the Storm's opening drive, but on fourth down Shane Stafford found T.T. Toliver for a two-yard touchdown pass. It was the fourth consecutive game Tampa Bay has scored the first points of the game.

Arizona responded quickly though with a 41-yard touchdown strike from Sherdrick Bonner to Randy Gatewood on Arizona's first play from scrimmage.

The Rattlers then recovered the ensuing kickoff at the seven-yard line after the Storm were not able to jump on the bouncing ball. Bonner connected with Evan Hlavacek for a seven-yard touchdown pass to put Arizona up, 14-7, with 5:29 remaining in the first.

The Storm responded with a 48-yard drive that was capped by a five-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to David Saunders to even the score at 14. It was Saunders' second receiving touchdown of the season.

The Storm recorded the game's first defensive stop when Anthony Derricks stepped in front of a Bonner pass for his first interception of the season and returned it 20 yards to end the first quarter. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay gave the ball back on the first play of the second quarter when Stafford fumbled a snap from center Louis Williams. The Rattlers took over on the nine-yard line.

The Storm came up with another big defensive stop on the next possession as the Rattlers failed to complete a pass and the Tampa Bay offense took over at the Arizona nine. Toliver and Stafford connected again from the nine to give the Storm a 21-14 lead. The touchdown catch was Toliver's third of the season after missing the first four games due to injury.

The Rattlers recovered however with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bonner to Siaha Burley to even the score at 21 with almost eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Saunders caught his second touchdown of the game over his left shoulder from 12-yards out on the following Tampa Bay drive, doubling his touchdown reception total for the season.

A 38-yard pass from Bonner to Burley set the Rattlers up on the Storm doorstep and Bonner found Burley for his second touchdown reception to tie the game at 28 with 2:10 remaining in the first half. With one minute left on the clock Stafford found Lawrence Samuels, who broke a tackle and raced 35 yards for the touchdown. With 52 seconds remaining in the first half Tampa Bay led, 35-28.

Arizona kicker Steve McLaughlin missed 36-yard field goal that would have pulled the Rattlers within four, but instead put the ball back in the hands of Stafford with 23 seconds remaining in the half.

Stafford brought the Storm offense to the 23-yard line but George missed a 38-yard field goal to end the first half with Tampa Bay leading, 35-28.

On the opening drive of the second half Bonner drove the Arizona offense down the field to the Storm 13 where McLaughlin would line up for a 29-yard field goal. After a high snap, he missed the kick wide right and Freddie Solomon returned it to his own five-yard line. The Storm had trouble getting the offense moving and had to settle for a 60-yard field goal attempt by George that fell short.

It appeared the Storm had the Rattlers stopped again after Bonner's pass on fourth down fell to the turf, but Jonathan Ordway was called for pass interference to keep the drive alive. Two plays later Burley hauled in his third touchdown catch of the game from 13 yards out to draw the Rattlers even with the Storm at 35.

Tampa Bay wasted no time jumping back on top when Anthony Derricks took the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the end zone to give Tampa Bay a seven-point lead to conclude the third quarter.

The Rattlers were able to keep pace with a 12-yard touchdown reception by Tom Pace from Bonner that knotted the score back up at 42. Stafford and the Storm offense marched down the field and capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Clif Dell. It was Dell's 14th touchdown of the season, giving him at least one in every game.

The Rattlers refused to go away as Burley caught his fourth touchdown of the day from Bonner to tie the score at 49. The catch tied his career high for most touchdowns in a game.

On the following drive the Arizona got a pass interference call on Terrance Joseph on fourth and two. They took advantage on the following play when Stafford hit Saunders for his third score of the day. The three touchdowns tied Saunders' single game career high.

After a failed on-side kick attempt, Arizona took over at the Storm 11-yard line. The Rattlers made the best of the good field position as Bonner connected again with Burley to tie the score at 56 with 34 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Storm offense drove 39 yards to the Arizona five-yard line with four seconds remaining in regulation to set up George's heroics.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 13, 2005


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