Tampa Bay Storm drop AFL opener to Orlando Predators
Friday April 1, 2016
TAMPA BAY, FL – Quarterback Randy Hippeard threw six touchdown passes, four of them to receiver Greg Carr, as the Orlando Predators spoiled Tampa Bay’s opening-season Arena Football League game Friday, defeating the Storm, 76-25, at the Amalie Arena .
Before a Zubaz Throwback crowd of 9,928, the Predators built a 34-13 halftime lead, then scored two touchdowns on turnovers in the first 2:05 of the third quarter for a 48-13 margin.
Hippeard, the former Storm quarterback, was 20 of 30 for 241 yards and Carr collected seven passes for game-leading 113 yards.
Newcomer Adam Kennedy, who played last season at New Orleans, started at quarterback and was 12 of 25 for 150 yards and three scores for Tampa Bay. Veteran T.T. Toliver had two touchdowns for the Storm .
The next home game at Amalie Arena for the Storm is against the Jacksonville Sharks on Friday, April 12. Kickoff for the ESPNNEWS game is 7 p.m.
Score By Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Orlando Predators 13 21 21 14 76
Tampa Bay Storm 7 6
1st Quarter
ORL – Greg Carr 4 pass from Randy Hippeard (kick failed) 10:04.
TAM – Julius Gregory 5 pass from Adam Kennedy (Craig Peterson kick) 7:27.
ORL – Carr 20 pass from Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 00:39.
2nd Quarter
ORL – Carr 31 pass from Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 10:54.
ORL – Terence Moore 4 run (Mark Lewis kick) 6:06.
TAM – Gerald Young 24 pass from Kennedy (kick blocked) 2:51.
ORL – Brandon Thompkins 22 pass from Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 00:11.
3rd Quarter
ORL – Mike Lewis recovered fumble in end zone (Mark Lewis kick) 14:10.
ORL – Paul Stephens 13 interception return (Mark Lewis kick) 13:05.
TAM – T.T. Toliver 19 pass from Kennedy (kick blocked) 6:35.
ORL – Thompkins 9 pass from Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 2:14.
4th Quarter
ORL – Carr 41 pass from Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 14:16.
ORL – Jordan McCray 4 pass from Bernard Morris (Mark Lewis kick) 8:00.
TAM – Tolliver 25 pass from Jonathan Bane (2-point conversion failed) 4:59.
ORL – LeMark Brown 15 pass from Morris (Mark Lewis kick) 2:03.
A-9,928.2
Statistical Leaders
Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TDs)
ORL – Randy Hippeard 20-30-0-241-6 , Bernard Morris 4-7-0-50-2
TAM – Adam Kennedy 12-25-2-150-3, Johnathan Bane 3-8-0-50-1,
Rushing (A-Yds-TDs)
ORL – Terence Moore 1-4-1, Bernard Morris 1-1-0, Jordan McCray 1-4-0.
TAM – Undra Hendrick 2(-1)-0, Jonathan Bane 1-2-0.
Receiving (Rec-Yds-TDs)
ORL – LaMark Brown 9-105-1, Greg Carr 7-113-4, Brandon Thompkins 6-61-2, Brelan Chancellor 1-8-0, Jordan McCray 1-4-1.
TAM – T. T. Toliver 3-56-2, Julius Gregory 4-34-1, Gerald Young 6-81-1, Terrence Ebagua 4-44-0.
KO Returns (No-Yds-TDs)
NOV – Brandon Thompkins 4-71--0, Paul Stephens 1-0-0.
TAM – Gerald Young 5-96-0.
Post-Game Awards:
Under Armour Offensive Player of the Game –Randy Hippeard,, Orlando.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game - Paul Stephens, Orlando.
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game – Greg Carr, Orlando.
Cutters Catch of the Game –Brandon Thompkins, Orlando, 2:09 3rd quarter.
AFL Highlight of the Game – Mike Lewis, Orlando, fumble recovery in end zone.
