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Tampa Bay Clinches third seed

June 23, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Tampa - The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Austin Wranglers 55-51 in front of 18,244 fans as the Storm locked up the National Conference third seed and will host the Columbus Destroyers Saturday, June 30 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Torrance Marshall paced the Storm on the ground as he rushed for two touchdowns on his way to setting a franchise single-season mark. Marshall finished the season with 17 touchdowns on the ground surpassing the franchise mark of 15 last done by Les Barley in 1998.

Jeroid Johnson, ADT Defensive Player of the Game, sealed the game with an interception on Austin's final possession. In a play rarely seen, Johnson retuned a blocked extra point attempt for two points late in the second quarter for a defensive PAT. He finished the game with six and a half tackles, one interception and four pass breakups.

Offensive Player of the Game Terrill Shaw recorded his 34th career 100-yard game. Shaw came up with several big plays including a four-yard touchdown with 0:51 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game 48-48. He led all receivers with 12 receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

Tampa Bay jumped out to an early lead after a 36-yard Seth Marler field goal. The Wranglers failed to respond as Traco Rachal picked off Lang Campbell's fourth pass of the game in the endzone. The Storm offense took advantage of the opportunity as Brett Dietz hit Karl Williams on a stack and go for a 39-yard touchdown to take a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.

Austin dug back into the game outscoring Tampa Bay 20-15 in the second quarter. The Wranglers got on the board early in the quarter as Campbell hit Derrick Lewis on a 16-yard post-corner. After a missed field goal by Marler, Otis Amey capped a six minute drive with a one-yard touchdown run. However Marcus Owen blocked his third kick of the season and Johnson returned it for two points.

The teams then traded bombs as Shaw scored from 40 yards out and Sedrick Robinson scored from 46 yards. With 0:12 left in the half Marshall set the Storm single-season rushing touchdown record at 16 on a two-yard scamper. The first half ended as Mark Lewis missed a 44-yard field goal attempt.

Tampa Bay's defense came up with a big defensive stop on the opening series of the second half, but the Storm offense could not capitalize on it as Marvin Brown fumbled the ball on the Austin three-yard line. A personal foul by Mark Word nullified a Johnson interception and allowed Austin to take a 27-25 lead one play later after a Lewis touchdown. The Wranglers took the lead at the end of the third on a Campbell to Kevin Nickerson touchdown.

The Storm entered the fourth quarter down by six. The game see-sawed back and forth as every time Tampa Bay tied the score Austin would put anther seven on the board until the final minute of the game. With 0:51 left on the clock and the score tied 48-48 Austin chose not to run the ball and after three incomplete passes, two defended, the Wranglers had to settle with a 24-yard field goal and a three-point lead. The Storm chewed up 22 of the final 30 seconds remaining on the clock before Marshall scored his second touchdown on the ground. A last chance effort by the Wranglers to win the game fell into the hands of Johnson as he recorded his 10th interception of the season.

Third seed Tampa Bay Storm (9-7) will host sixth seed Columbus Destroyers (7-9) in the National Conference Wild Card Round Saturday, June 30 at 12:00 p.m. EST on Bill Currie Ford Field at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tampa Bay defeated Columbus 34-32 in an exciting Week 9 match-up as Traco Rachal knocked down a two-point conversion in the final seconds of the game to seal the victory for the Storm. ESPN will televise the game and 620 WDAE will broadcast the game live. For Storm playoff tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 23, 2007


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