Storm take down Avengers 40-37

Monday May 14, 2007

Los Angeles – In a game that came down to a missed field on the last play the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Los Angeles Avengers 40-37 in front of 12,439 fans at the Staples Center Saturday night.  The Storm defensive back field played a spectacular game as it held Avenger Quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who had completed nearly 80 percent of his passes and averaged 327 yards passing the past two games, under a forty-eight percent completion percentage and 197 passing yards. 

Jeroid Johnson, ADT Defensive Player of the Game, knocked down numerous passes and corralled nine tackles while backside corner Traco Rachal come up with a big interception in the third quarter and five and a half tackles.  Ironman of the Game T.T. Toliver took over the game in the second half with several big plays including the final two touchdowns of th game.

While Cumbie struggled with his accuracy, Offensive player of the Game, Kevin Ingram kept the Avengers in the game with his play.  Ingram finished the game with 10 receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown.

Tampa Bay led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter thanks to a 23-yard Seth Marler field goal.  Storm quarterback Brett Dietz started off slowly completeing 2 of 6 passes before the Storm kicked a field goal.  Los Angeles scored quickly as Avenger qurterback Sonny Cumbie completed his first three passes hitting Rob Turner on a 28-yard deep cross for a touchdown.  The Storm ate minutes off of the clock on the following 8-play drive as Dietz found Lawerence Samuels crossing the back of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown Strike.

Los Angeles opened up the second quarter with a 35-yard Remy Hamilton field goal after three incomplete passes by Cumbie to even the score 10-10.  The Storm were unable to muster any offense on the following drive as Marler had to attempt a field goal from within his own endzone.  The Avengers scored on a six-yard touchdown from Cumbie to Terrance Stubbs after a missed field goal, however, two-time AFL kicker of the year, Hamilton missed the extra point.   Dietz then directed the Storm down and found Tom Kaleita wide open for the first touchdown of Kaleita’s career to bring the score within one. After an Avenger score, the Storm drained the rest of the time off of the clock but were unable to score after a 48-yard kickoff return by Karl Williams called back due to a holding penalty.

Coming out of the half down 17-23 the Storm defense came up with a big turnover as Rachal picked of a Cumbie pass and returned it four yards to the Avenger seven-yard line.  However the Storm offense continued to struggle as the Avenger defense held strong and forced a 36-yard field goal by Marler.  Penalties by the Storm defense aided the Avengers on a fifteen play drive that ended with a two-yard Lonnie Ford touchdown run.  Tampa Bay, one of the most penalized teams in the AFL, finished the game with 16 penalties for 78 yards.  The Avengers on had three for 24 yards.

The paced of the game changed in the fourth quarter as Tampa Bay scored three touchdowns including one by Toliver with 0:48 left in the game.  Tampa Bay opened the fourth with four-play 43 yard Touchdown drive.  Terrill Shaw ran  a short crossing pattern at the front of the endzone and made a spectacular catch as Terrance Joseph drilled Shaw in what was the hardest hit of the game.  After trading touchdowns, the Storm defensive came up with a needed defensive stop and forced a failed 45-yard field goal attempt.  Toliver grabbed the missed field goal attempt and returned it 28 yards after several nifty moves.

With under two minutes left in the game went Brett Dietz led the Storm offense down the field for the game winning touchdown as he connected with Toliver from two yards out.  Marler missed the extra point as his streak of consecutive extra points came to an end at 48, one shy of tying the AFL record set by Clay Rush.  Los Angeles had a chance to tie it at the end of the game as they were able to call a timeout with only 0:02 left on the clock after a Tom Briggs sack., however, Hamilton came up just short on the 47-yard attempt.

The Los Angeles Avengers (5-5) remain at home as they host Southern Division leader Georgia Force (9-1) Saturday, May 19, 10:30 EST at the Staples Center.  The Tampa Bay Storm (4-6) return to action at the St. Pete Times forum as they take on 2003 ArenaBowl XVII opponent the Arizona Rattlers (3-8) Friday, May 18, 7:30 EST.  Cath 47 on Bright House Networks will televise the game and AM 620 WDAE will broadcast the game live.  For Storm tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.

SCORE     1     2     3     4     TOTAL
TAM    10     7     3    20    40
LAA    7    16    7    7    37

PASSING
TAM – Brett Dietz         35-21-224-5-0
LAA – Sonny Cumbie        42-20-197-4-1

RECEIVING
TAM – Lawrence Samuels    8-59-1
LAA – Kevin Ingram        10-93-1

RUSHING
TAM –     T.T. Toliver        1-6-0
LAA – Lonnie Ford        4-6-1

All-Purpose Yards
TAM – T.T. Toliver        120 yards
LAA – Kevin Ingram          93 yards

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: WR Kevin Ingram, LAA
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: CB Jeroid Johnson, TAM
IRONMAN OF THE GAME: WR/DB T.T. Toliver, TAM