Wranglers down defending champs in first ever home appearance

February 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers News Release


In a dazzling display of fireworks and Harleys, the Austin Wranglers Arena Football League team made their home debut Sunday. This intriguing match up between the expansion Wranglers and the defending ArenaBowl-Champion Storm, brought a near capacity crowd to the Frank Erwin Center.

Tampa Bay was first to receive, and began their opening drive from their own five yard line. OL/DL Ernest Certain snuck out into the flats on a delayed throwback screen, then went rumbling his way to the endzone while breaking away from a Wrangler defender.

Austin showed no rust on their opening series and had equal success. After completing two passes and moving the football with ease, they were faced with a fourth and seven. QB John Kaleo hit WR/LB Darryl Hammond over the middle and with the first roar from an eager Austin crowd, the score was even at seven.

The Wranglers and their coaching staff left the Storm stifled, facing three and out, but in arena football is there such a thing? On fourth and 10, QB Shane Stafford hit WR/LB Lawrence Samuels over the middle. Wranglers OL/DL Ramon Richardson blindsided Samuels, jarring the ball loose and into WR/DB Charlie Davidson's hands.

However, Tampa's defense also tightened and forced Austin into a 25-yard field goal attempt. The Wranglers came up empty as Tony Dodson's kick sailed just wide of the upright. After taking possession on downs, Tampa Bay marched back down the 50-yard field as Stafford connected with WR/DB TT Toliver to regain the lead at 14-7.

Back came the Wranglers as Kaleo again connected with Hammond on a bomb down to the opponents' 1 yard line. After being stopped twice at the goal line, WR/LB Patrise Alexander punched it in to knot the score up at 14 apiece with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter.

The following kickoff went off the yellow uprights, spitting the ball back to around the 15 yard line where it was scooped up by Wrangler OL/DL Lucas Yarnell. On the very next play, Kaleo hooked up with Hammond again on a fade rout to the right corner of the endzone. Austin led for the first time, 21-14.

Stafford fueled the Storm to another touchdown to tie the game back up. He rifled a side arm flick to Samuels who got hit right at the pylon. Following a poor Storm kickoff, where the voice of the Wranglers, Craig Way, caught a ball in stands, Kaleo made quick work of Tampa as he connected with OS Shannon Culver on the first play to regain the lead at 28-21.

With under a minute remaining, Stafford looked to tie the game up, but with spectacular defensive plays from former DS DeRon Jenkins, the drive was halted and Tampa Bay settled for a field goal. At the half, the Wranglers led 28-24.

On a strange opening play in the second half, the Storm kicked off and got a generous bounce into OL/DL Shawn King's hands as he took it on the run for the score.

Kaleo rallied Austin right back as he found Culver once again for his second touchdown of the game, regaining the lead 35-31 early in the third quarter. Stafford matched, and stuck one on the numbers of OS Freddie Soloman, the extra point clanged off the upright, leaving Tampa Bay with a 37-35 lead.

Kaleo found WR/LB Jahine Arnold on a crossing rout to take command once more, 42-37 with 4:23 left in the quarter.

The eye of the Storm fired back as Stafford found Solomon on a wide receiver screen, then went for two and converted as Stafford zipped one in to WR/DB Tramain Jones, taking the lead 45-42.

On Austin's next possession, Culver fumbled along the sideline, turning the ball over to Tampa Bay. The Wranglers brought a calm to the storm and held Tampa Bay to a field goal, making it 48-42 Storm.

Chants of "Kalaaayyy-o" erupted from the lively crowd as he threw yet another touchdown to Hammond. The extra point gave the Wranglers the lead, 49-48 with 7:21 to go.

With three minutes left in the game and a chance to regain the lead, kicker Ian Howfield missed a short field goal attempt as it shot off the upright and into the hands of DS Cedric Walker, who returned the live ball out to the 18 yard line.

On a big third and seventeen Kaleo found Arnold streaking over the middle and made a diving grab that sent the crowd in an uproar. On the next play, Alexander punched another one in and all but sealed it for the Wranglers as they led 56-48.

The slinging Stafford gave it one last hurrah, marching the Storm down to the Wranglers' 5 yard line. On fourth and goal, Stafford's pass was broken up by Jenkins. Once the ball hit the turf, the roof came off the Erwin Center as the Wranglers moved to 2-0 in their inaugural season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 23, 2004


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