Tampa Bay defeats Dallas, 56-34

Published on July 10, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Dallas, Tex. - The Tampa Bay Storm (10-3) clinched a playoff spot with its 56-34 victory over the Vigilantes (1-12) Friday evening in Dallas. Defensive Player of the Game Tim McGill, who harassed Vigilantes Quarterback Collin Drafts all evening, led a Storm defense that held the Vigilantes to 10 points in the second half. McGill finished the game with three tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and numerous pressures as he spent most of the game in the Vigilantes backfield.

Storm quarterback Brett Dietz set a franchise single-season record with his 87th touchdown pass of the season when he connected with Tyrone Timmons from nine-yards out in the middle of the second quarter. The record was previously held by Dietz and Shane Stafford as each threw for in 86 in 2008 and 2006 respectively. Dietz finished the game with 329 yards and six touchdown passes as he completed 20 of 31 passes. He currently has 90 touchdown passes on the season.

Tampa Bay took a four point lead into the half, 28-24, despite several miscues, including an Delenall Reid interception after an errant pass ricocheted off of the net system in the endzone on Tampa Bay's second drive of the game. The Storm extended the lead to eight points by the end of the third quarter thanks in large part to a fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Cliff Dukes. Drafts feeling pressure up the middle from McGill lost the ball in amidst a wall of Storm defenders.

An interception by Derek Lee on Tampa Bay's first drive in the fourth quarter gave the Vigilantes hope, however the Storm defense came up with a big defensive stop as Brandon Hefflin broke up a pass on fourth down to give Tampa Bay the ball back at the Vigilantes 22-yard line. Dietz capitalized on the opportunity with a quick strike to Hank Edwards on the very next play to put Tampa Bay up by 15. Edwards finished the game with 133 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. Storm wide receivers Sedrick Robinson and Timmons each caught two touchdown passes on the evening.

The Storm defense finished of the evening with an exclamation mark as it forced another Drafts turnover as the Storm ran the clock down to eight second before former South Florida standout Terrence Royal punched the ball in from four yards out to end the game with a 56-34 victory and a spot in the playoffs.

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