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Storm, Preds Renew War on I-4

April 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY – The five-time world champion Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators will rekindle the Arena Football League's most storied and intense rivalry this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when the teams collide at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. The Storm will also host a food and toy drive for Metropolitan Ministries on the plaza prior to the game.

The stakes have been raised in the 37th meeting between the teams. Tampa Bay (5-4) needs a win to continue it's climb closer to the top of the AFL's Southern Division which is led by Orlando (7-3) and Georgia (7-3), who the Storm defeated 48-38 this past weekend. A Storm win would pull Tampa Bay within a half game of Orlando.

The Storm offense versus the Predator defense promises to be this contest's marquee match-up. Tampa Bay owns the AFL's fourth-ranked offense in points scored per game and total yards per game. They are ranked third in passing offense. The Orlando defense allows just 43.2 points per game, good for first in the league.

The Predators won the previous meeting this season, 61-46, at the TD Waterhouse Center. Despite out-gaining Orlando, 242-208, the Storm still dropped their 18th game to the Predators in franchise history. The defeat allowed Orlando to even up the all-time series at 18. Shane Stafford threw for 241 yards on 24 completions and Lawrence Samuels recorded his second 100-yard performance of the season with 11 catches for 119 yards. Tramain Jones made his first interception of the season, the eighth of his career.

The teams have combined to win seven of the 18 ArenaBowls in AFL history. The Storm have won five championships while Orlando has claimed two. Orlando leads the all-time postseason series, 4-3. The teams have met in two ArenaBowls, with the Storm claiming the championship in 1995 and Orlando downing the Storm in ArenaBowl XII.

In the 14 years since the two teams entered the AFL, Tampa Bay has made the playoffs in every season while Orlando has reached the postseason in all but one, falling short in 1991.

The two top franchises in AFL history, Tampa Bay and Orlando were both founded in 1991 and met in the first game for both franchises. The Predators won the contest in front of 10,354 fans witnessing the birth of what would become one of the most recognizable rivalries in not just the AFL, but in the world of football.

Storm QB Shane Stafford and the Storm will host a food and toy drive for Metropolitan Ministries on the west plaza of the St. Pete Times Forum prior to the game.

Following the game pro wrestling will hit the plaza at the St. Pete Times Forum as WWE Superstar Jerry "the King" Lawler battles current NWA Champion Bruce Steele. Other matches include TNA's Raven taking on Lex Lovett, tag-team Double Deuce going to the mats against "Iceman" Buck Quartermain and Rod Steel w/ "Hardcore Giant" Ron Niemi and more. The wrestling is free for anyone with a ticket from the War on I-4.

Tickets are still available at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.tampabaystorm.com or by calling 813.301.6600.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 6, 2005


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