Another Hero Emerges In Storm-Preds Rivalry
Joe Kauffman
Monday July 3, 2000
But, as is always the case when the Tampa Bay Storm plays the Orlando Predators, a hero emerges to lead one of the teams to victory. The 25th meeting in the “War on I-4” would be no different. The hero on Saturday night goes by the name of Antoine Worthman. The Tampa Bay WR/DB was the key to the Storm’s 50-36 victory over the Orlando Predators in front of a thunderous 14,047 at the Ice Palace.
The Storm were up by a mere seven points when the Predators received Matt Huerkamp’s kickoff with 57 seconds remaining to play. After an incomplete pass and a three-yard rush by Orlando’s Rick Hamilton to their own eight-yard line, Orlando called a time out. When they returned from the break, Pat O’Hara was in at quarterback for Connell Maynor, who took himself out of the game because of a back injury. O’Hara dropped back to pass and threw it right to Worthman at the Predators 19-yard line. Worthman ran unopposed into the end zone, putting the Storm up by 13 points with 36 seconds remaining in the game before Matt Huerkamp’s extra point closed out the scoring.
“When the game was on the line I kind of anticipated that [Pat O’Hara] was going to throw the ball up,” said Worthman. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to secure the game with an interception.”
Worthman finished the game with three tackles, seven assists and two fumble recoveries in addition to his interception return for a touchdown. He also had one catch for ten yards on offense. Both of Worthman’s fumble recoveries resulted in points for the Storm, a 20-yard field goal from Huerkamp and a 19-yard touchdown reception by Lawrence Samuels, who was named Ironman of the Game for the seventh time in eight weeks.
 Antoine Worthman is smothered by his teammates after returning the game winning interception against Orlando. Image courtesy of Joe Kauffman |
“Antoine Worthman is a physical defensive back who has experience in high motion,” said Dave Whinham, then head coach of the Destroyers. “He had an expanded role on the offensive side of the ball in 1998 and could be a two-way player or defensive specialist for the Destroyers. He is a very capable AFL player.”
In 1999, Worthman led the Destroyers with 60 unassisted tackles, 25 more than the next player down the list. But before the 2000 season began, he was let go by Buffalo to bring the roster down to the league-mandated 24 players. It was not long before the Storm snatched up Worthman. He signed with the Storm on April 13, two days before the start of the season.
Worthman, who was named Game MVP for his strong defensive performance against the Predators Saturday night, was quick to praise his teammates for allowing him to take control of the defensive backfield.
“I think overall it was a total team effort. The D-line and the linebackers got great pressure on the quarterback all day,” said Worthman of his teammates. “Connell [Maynor] couldn’t get comfortable back there so he couldn’t throw any of the routes on time, which enabled us, the secondary guys, to cover a lot better.”
With only three games remaining in the 2000 season, the chances of hosting a first-round playoff game continue to improve for the 6-5 Tampa Bay Storm. Worthman feels that the Storm will be a force in the Arena Football playoffs, a far cry from the dismal injury-plagued team that started the season 2-5.
“I think we are starting to gel. We are starting to peak at the right time. As we head toward the playoffs, I think we are starting to become a whole unit overall. Offensively, defensively and with special teams you can feel the chemistry and the enthusiasm building each and every week, each and every day we practice.”
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
