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Storm Strike Back Against Force

March 7, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Tampa,- The Tampa Bay Storm (2-0, 1-0) extracted revenge against the Georgia Force (0-2, 0-1) as the Storm defeated the force 69-48 at the Storm home opener in front of 18,194 fans. The win by Tampa Bay ended a Force three-game win streak.

Offensive Player of the Game, quarterback Brett Dietz, completed 61.8 percent of his passes and threw for seven touchdowns as he spread the ball around to five receivers. He accomplished this despite losing wide receiver Terrill Shaw to a knee injury early in the third quarter.

Dietz's counterpart Chris Greisen played well, 30-of-42 for 319 yards and five touchdowns. However a costly interception towards the end of the third quarter by defensive lineman Tom Briggs prevented the Force from gaining any momentum going into the final stanza.

The Storm jumped out to quick start as the defense recovered a muffed Force snap near the Storm goal line. Dietz soon connected with Ironman of the Game Sedrick Robinson for a five-yard touchdown. Georgia responded with a five-yard touchdown of its own as Greisen connected with Troy Bergeron. Tampa Bay closed out the scoring in the first quarter with one of Shaw's two touchdowns receptions to take a 14-7 lead.

In the second quarter the net turned on the Force. A Carl Morris touchdown reception brought the Force within one, 14-13, and Georgia was able to force a Seth Marler 19-yard field goal on the Storm's next possession. However, the ensuing Marler kickoff bounced of the crossbar into the hands of Robinson who took the live ball in from six yards out for a touchdown. The half ended with the teams trading scores as Shaw caught his second touchdown of the game on his 550th career reception.

Entering the second half with a 31-20 lead, the Storm looked to put away the Force. Tampa Bay opened the half with a seven-yard reception from Dietz to Hank Edwards. Greisen and the Force responded with 30-yard touchdown reception and once again held the Storm offense to a field goal. After Marler nailed the 24-yard field goal Robinson drilled Willis Marshall in the endzone to force a touchback. The next play, Defensive Player of the Game Tom Briggs, jumped a screen pass, knocked it in the air and caught in the endzone for an interception and six points.

With the Storm up, 48-27, after the Briggs touchdown the teams traded three touchdowns a piece before defensive back Traco Rachal intercepted Greisen on the final play of the game. Dietz did a good job a spreading the ball around as three receivers caught two touchdowns a piece (Robinson, Shaw and Edwards). Kicker Seth Marler finished the game with 15 points as he connected on all nine extra point attempts and nailed two field goals. Recently acquired defensive lineman Kelvin Kinney recorded a sack in the fourth quarter in his first game back with the Storm as the Tampa Bay defense recorded three turnovers and another defensive stop on downs.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 7, 2008


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