Fight in Stands Mars Preds Romp Over Storm
Adam Markowitz
Saturday July 31, 2010
TAMPA BAY -- The 2010 AFL regular season came to a close on Saturday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, as the Orlando Predators (8-8) defeated the Tampa Bay Storm (11-5) 75-60 in front of 17,302 fans. The 75 points scored tied an Orlando franchise record for most points scored in a game, tying a 2007 mark against the New York Dragons.
Other records were set as well on the night for the Predators. Quarterback Nick Hill ended the day throwing for a franchise-tying record eight TDs. Wide receiver TT Toliver caught nine passes for 123 yards and six scores. The six TDs tied WR Siaha Burley for the most in team history.
Franchise records were also tied and broken for the Storm as well. QB Brett Dietz, with 398 passing yards, broke the all-time Tampa Bay record for passing yards in a season previously held by QB Shane Stafford. Dietz's 5,054 on the year surpassed Stafford's 4,793 in 2006. Tampa Bay's signal caller finished the season with 106 TD passes, the most ever in a single season for a Storm quarterback.
Wide receiver DeAndrew Rubin caught 17 passes for 245 yards. Both marks set single game records in Tampa Bay history.
The 75 points scored for the Predators was the most in the history of the War on I-4. The 135 combined points also set a record for this rivalry. Orlando tied the all-time record in the regular season between these arch rivals at 19 games apiece and took a 23-22 advantage including the playoffs.
However, the story in the Sunshine State had nothing to do with the outcome on the field.
With 0:41 remaining in the second quarter and the Predators leading the Storm 42-14, a ruckus broke out in the stands. Orlando's OL/DL Julius Wilson and WR Bobby Sippio joined a ruckus in the stands in the section just behind the bench of the red and black.
Immediately following the altercation, Brighthouse Sports Network reported that the fight began over a football being thrown into the stands. Sippio had just caught a touchdown pass and threw the ball into the stands to his father. The ball was batted away. Wilson attempted to get the ball back to Sippio's father when the dispute broke out.
A Predators team representative later reported that the altercation involved Wilson's father, not Sippio's. Per the team representative, the ball was handed to Wilson's father, who had the ball batted out of his hands. The ruckus broke out when fans were "kicking and punching" Wilson's father, who was knocked to the ground. Wilson retaliated by going into the stands. Sippio followed.
Both Wilson and Sippio were ejected from the game immediately before play could continue. It was the third ejection of the season for Wilson.
The Predators expect Wilson to be suspended for upcoming games, but no comment was made about the future status of Sippio. Orlando's staff reported that both players were speaking with the police following the altercation during the second half of the game in the locker room.
Following the game, it was confirmed that it was indeed Wilson's father involved in the altercation.
Head coach Pat O'Hara said after the game that it was his responsibility to keep his players under control and that it is an issue that needs to be resolved.
Tampa Bay will start the playoffs next Saturday night at the Tulsa Talons. The Predators, who clinched up their 18th straight regular season at .500 or better, will open up the postseason on Friday night on the road against the Jacksonville Sharks.
