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Storm Suffer 56-55 Heartbreaker

June 30, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Tampa - The Tampa Bay Storm fell to the Columbus Destroyers 56-55 as a storybook ending to the season slipped away in the fourth quarter. In a game that featured two teams with no quit in them, the Destroyers leveraged a win as two-time AFL Kicker of the Month Seth Marler missed a 56-yard field goal on the last play of the game.

"I am real proud of those men in the locker room," said Head Coach and General Manager Tim Marcum. "They came together as a team. They fought hard to get here and it is a shame it had to end this way."

While the close score and denied final effort of this game are similar to this season's earlier match-up, the same can not be said about the rest of the game as each team scored more points in the first half alone, 70 combined, than they did in Tampa Bay's 34-32 victory in Week 9.

The final difference of the game came late in the fourth quarter as Seth Marler, the second most accurate kicker in the AFL, missed an extra point as the Storm took the lead 55-49 with just over one minute left on the clock. Columbus responded as Matt Nagy methodically moved the ball down the field and scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper leaving the Storm with only seven seconds left on the clock to overcome a one-point deficit.

On the ensuing kickoff, a Columbus defender drilled Terrill Shaw at the one yard line pinning Tampa Bay's hopes to a 65-yard field goal. However a kick catching interference call breathed life into the energetic Storm fans as the referee would spot the ball at the Storm 10-yard line providing a glimmer of hope.

As Seth Marler stepped onto the field to attempt a 56-yard field goal the entire Arena stood to its feet in anticipation. However as the final seconds ticked off of the clock Marler's kick sailed just left of the crossbar hitting the net as the miraculous turn around story for the Tampa Bay Storm season came to an end.

AFL All-Arena Rookie quarterback Brett Dietz set a franchise playoff single-game high with his 27 completions, fell three yards short of setting a franchise playoff single-game high in passing yards and one touchdown pass shy of the playoff single-game mark. Dietz finished the game 27 of 40 with 315 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Lawrence Samuels, All-Arena second team and All-Ironman, moved into second all-time in career playoff receiving yards and receptions with his 11 reception 116-yard effort. He now has 1,108 career playoff receiving yards and 78 career playoff receptions.

The Tampa Bay Storm (9-7, 0-1) look forward to next season as many key players from 2007 will return. All-Rookie quarterback Brett Ditz, All-Ironman Lawrence Samuels and center Marcus Owen among others will be back to take the 2008 AFL season by storm. For 2008 Storm season ticket information please call 813.301.6780.

The 2007 Arena Football playoffs continue Monday night on ESPN2 as the Utah Blaze travel to Los Angeles to take on the Avengers in the Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArneBowl XXI. Tune in to ESPN2 this Monday night to watch the Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday night game as All-Arena receiver Siaha Burley and the Blaze look to take out quarterback Sonny Cumbie and the Los Avengers. Be apart of the exciting action on ESPN2 as the drive to ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans unfolds.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 30, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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