Brigade drops home opener to Storm 51-49

Sunday March 2, 2008

Kansas City, MO – Running back Torrance Marshall ran for four touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Storm earned their first victory of the 2008 Arena Football season.  Tampa Bay defeated the Kansas City Brigade 51-49 inside Sprint Center.

Brett Dietz, the Tampa Bay quarterback threw two touchdowns as the Storm (1-0) hung on to beat the Brigade (0-1).  Dietz, who was a former member of the Brigade, also added a rushing touchdown.  Dietz finished with 195 total yards.

Kansas City quarterback, John Fitzgerald threw for a game high five touchdowns and 296 yards in front of 13,356 inside Sprint Center.  Fitzgerald connected with new Brigade member Mike Horacek for three touchdowns.  Horacek finished the game with 149 receiving yards.  Horacek currently is fifth all-time in receiving yards in the AFL.

Fitzgerald, who played in his first game in over a year, was intercepted twice by Storm linebacker Marvin Brown.   Brown, who played on both sides of the ball, stepped in front of a Fitzgerald pass in the Kansas City end-zone to begin the fourth quarter.  Tampa Bay converted the turnover into a touchdown.  Kansas City was able to keep it close with a key defensive stop with 35 seconds to play.  The Brigade were only able to pick up minimal yardage before bringing Brigade kicker Peter Martinez for a last second field goal try.  Martinez’s potential game winning field goal drifted wide left from 37 yards out.

The Storm have their home opener next Friday against the Georgia Force (0-1) and the Brigade travel to New York to face the Dragons who play this upcoming Monday.