Tampa Bay Storm Win Thrilling, 78-77, Overtime Game

July 14, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY -- Michael Lindsey's 2 pt conversion reception from quarterback Stephen Wasil in overtime gave Tampa Bay a 78-77 victory Saturday night and kept the Storm's (8-9) playoff hopes alive as they defeated the New Orleans VooDoo on the Amalie Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in an exciting Arena Football League game.

In overtime, Josh Bush's 5th touchdown reception from Kurt Rocco gave the VooDoo (8-9) a 77-70 lead but a spectacular 51 yard kick off return by Lindsey set up a Terence Cosby 5-yard run to close the lead to 77-76. Head coach Dave Ewart of the Storm elected to go for the 2-pointer and the win, instead of a kick to tie, and Wasil saw Lindsey at the top of the endzone line.

Wasil passed for 7 TDs and Rocco 9 in the game and Prechae Rodriguez had a game-high 12 catches and Joe Hills caught 4 TD passes for Tampa Bay.

Juan Bongarra's 38-yard field goal tied game at 70 as time ran out in regulation for Tampa Bay.

Down 56-40, the Storm executed two perfect on-side kickoffs and recovered each and Wasil converted two consecutive drive with 1 yard runs as Tampa Bay took came from behind to lead, 67-73, with 49 seconds remaining in the game. New Orleans went ahead, 70-67, on a Kurt Rocco pass to LJ Castile. But it wasn't over yet

After going 35:38 through two plus quarters and 10 lead changes, two consecutive miscues put the Storm on the trailing end. Tampa Bay led, 40-35, after the opening drive of the second half, but the VooDoo came right back on a Rocco TD pass to Bush putting New Orleans up, 42-40.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lindsey's fumble was recovered by the VooDoo's Chris Duvalt.

New Orleans scored again, only two minutes later, on a two yard toss from Rocco to Bush and the VooDoo took a 49-40 lead at 4:52 of the 3rd period. An interception of a Wasil pass turned into another VooDoo score and the visitors led, 56-40.

New Orleans led, 35-33, at halftime in a see-saw battle that saw seven lead changes. Both Rocco and Wasil threw for 4 TDs each and Josh Bush of the VooDoo and the Storm's Hills each collected 2 scoring passes.

The Tampa Bay Storm winds up the regular season with a game Saturday, July 21, at Spokane, Washington, against the Shock.



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