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Storm Win Fourth in a Row, 59-50 over Rattlers

May 18, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Offensive Player of the Brett Dietz tied a Storm single-game record with eight touchdown passes as he led Tampa Bay past the Arizona Rattlers 59-50 Friday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in front of 16,044 fans. T.T. Toliver led all players with 219 all-purpose yards highlighted by a tantalizing 41-yard kick return late in the second quarter.

The Tampa Bay defense nearly held the opposing quarterback to under a fifty percent completion percentage for the third consecutive week. ADT Defensive Player of the Game Tim McGill and his line mates put constant pressure on Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner who completed 23 of 40 passes for 337 yards, one interception and seven touchdowns.

Lawrence Samuels corralled his 29th career interception early in the second quarter on his way to earning Ironman of the Game. The interception keyed a huge 28 -point second quarter that allowed Tampa Bay to take a 38-34 lead into the half.

Darrell Jones, the Rattlers all-purpose yardage leader (204) helped keep the Rattlers in the game with his nifty kick returns, averaging 23 yards a return. However a crucial fumble by Jones on third and goal from the Tampa Bay one-yard line early in the third hurt the Rattlers. Instead of taking a three point lead on the initial drive of the second half Arizona had to settle for a 26-yard field goal and remained down 38-37 with 12:25 left in the third quarter.

The first quarter ended with Storm down 10-14 and rookie quarterback Brett Dietz's first interception on the season. Nevertheless, Dietz, 28 of 39 for 352 yards, shook it off and hit Toliver for a 27-yard touchdown on the Storm's next possession. Toliver finished with three touchdowns in the first half as he and Dietz connected five plays later thanks to a Samuels's interception.

Tampa Bay and Arizona then combined to score 48 points in the second quarter as Storm receivers Toliver and Terrill Shaw combined for four touchdowns, including two on single-play series. Two missed kicks (one field goal, one PAT) in the second quarter by recently acquired kicker Clay Rush left four points on the field and were the difference as Tampa Bay took a four point lead into the half.

The pace of the game slowed in the second half as the Storm had as many possessions in the entire second half (4) than it did in the second quarter (4). Samuels caught seven of his nine receptions in the second half including both of his touchdowns. After the Rattlers opened the second half with a 26-yard field goal, Samuels caught an acrobatic touchdown pass as he bobbled the ball, bounced off of the wall and landed on the ground before securing the touchdown.

The teams traded touchdowns to end the third as Dietz found Samuels open on the sideline with 0:58 left in the third for a 34-yard touchdown, Samuel's longest reception on the season. Each time Arizona reduced Tampa Bay's lead to two, the Storm offense responded. However it was the Storm defense that responded on Arizona'a last play of the drive. Corner Khalid Naziruddin came up with two huge pass breakups in the endzone as Bonner and the Rattlers turned the ball over on downs at the Storm five-yard line prior to Tampa Bay killing the clock to preserve the 59-50 and extend its winning streak against the Rattlers to four games.

The Arizona Rattlers (3-9) return home next Saturday, May 26 as defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush (8-2) enters the Snake Pit. The Tampa Bay Storm (5-6) go on the road to face Southern Division leader and rival Georgia Force (9-1) at Phillips Arena 7:00 p.m. (EST). Arena Football Week 12 ends with the New Orleans VooDoo traveling to Philadelphia to face the Soul on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football this Monday night at 7:30 (EST). . For Storm tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 18, 2007


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