Tampa Bay Storm crush New Orleans VooDoo 63-32

Tuesday May 7, 2013

TAMPA BAY -- Quarterback Adrian McPherson has his offensive assault, but the defense made the difference as the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the New Orleans VooDoo, 63-32, Saturday night, on the Amalie Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in an Arena Football League game.

The Storm improved to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the Southern Division and 3-1 in the American Conference. New Orleans fell to 1-5, 1-2 and 2-2 respectively.

Tampa Bay's defense saw the defensive backs Vance Cuff and De'Audra Dix collect interceptions, with Cuff's 30-yard pick for a touchdown. Pernell Phillips had a pair of quarterback sacks and three hurries on the VooDoo signal caller. Smith and Dix also had two pass break ups each. In total, the Storm collected 4 sacks, 7 hurries and 8 pass break ups.

McPherson was 13-of-16 passing for 197 yards and four TDs. He also rushed six times for 29 yards and four scores, boosting his league-leading touchdown total to 21 and his yardage to 262. He also has 32 passing TDs this season.

McPherson and Chris C. Davis set the tone from the opening kickoff. Smith caught three consecutive passes from McPherson for 29 yards, setting up the first of two rushing scores by McPherson.

The multi-talented righthander was 9-for-9 and 131 yards in the first half as the Storm took a commanding, 35-13, lead.

The most spectacular play in the first half was d-back Vance Cuff's interception of a Bill Stull pass with 42 seconds remaining in the half. Cuff cut in front of the intended receiver Courtney Smith, who then escaped another player before going 30 yards for the score. A block against the boards by the Storm's LeRoy Burgess sprung Cuff on the initial play.

The Storm is on the road for the next two weeks. They visit San Jose for a meeting against the 4-2 SaberCats on Friday, May 10, and head to Pittburgh for a game with the 1-5 Power, a team that lost at home, 52-38, Saturday to the Orlando Predators (1-5).