Tampa Bay Storm bury Jacksonville, 56-35, in Southern Division game

Saturday May 24, 2014

 TAMPA BAY – Quarterback Randy Hippeard passed for six touchdowns as Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Jacksonville Sharks, 56-35, and Storm broke a five-game losing skid Saturday night in an Arena Football League Southern Division game on the Amalie Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

A season-high crowd of 12,501 saw Hippeard throw for 255 yards on 21 of 29 passes. Joe Hills led the Storm (3-6) receivers with three touchdowns but it was T.T. Toliver’s spectacular TD catch off the turf in the end zone with one second left that sparked a 28-point quarter.

The Storm wasn’t done and kicked off on the ensuing play with the ball rebounding off the net, over Jomo Wilson’s head. Three Storm players scrambled for the loose ball and defensive back James Harrell recovered for another TD. That gave the Storm a 42-21 halftime lead.

The Storm’s defense was outstanding, Harrell had four pass breakups and an interception off the crossbar and a fumble recovery, Rod Isaac three pass breakups and Jean Fanor had two more.

Quarterback R.J. Archer led Jacksonville (3-7) with five touchdowns and 271 yards. Jeron Havey for the Sharks, who have now lost five of their last six games, with 12 catches, 11 yards and three scores.

UP NEXT – The Tampa Bay Storm will head to New Orleans to take on the VooDoo at the Smoothie King Center on Friday, May 30. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Jacksonville Sharks 7 14 7 7 35
Tampa Bay Storm 14 28 14 0 56

1st Quarter
TAM – T.T. Toliver 8 pass from Randy Hippeard (Juan Bongarra kick) 12:33.
TAM – Joe Hills 9 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 5:09
JAX – London Crawford 8 pass from R.J. Archer (Fabrizio Scaccia kick) 1:20.
2nd Quarter
TAM – Toliver 2 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick ) 11:56.
JAX – Jeron Harvey 3 pass from Archer (Scaccia kick) 8:21.
TAM – Alfred McCullough 14 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 5:11.
JAX – Harvey 4 pass from Archer (Scaccia kick) 00:32.
TAM – Toliver 26 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 00:01.
TAM – James Harrell net recovery on kickoff (Bongarra kick) 00:00.
3rd Quarter
JAX – Cornelius Lewis 13 pass from Archer (Scaccia kick) 13:22.
TAM – Hills 10 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 11:55.
TAM – Dexter Jackson 1 run (Bongarra kick) 2:02.
4th Quarter
JAX – Harvey 6 pass from Archer (Scaccia kick) 4:13.




Statistical Leaders:
Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TD)
JAX – R. J. Archer 27-48-1-271-5.
TAM –Randy Hippeard 21-29-1-255-5.

Rushing: (Att-Yds-TD)
JAX – London Crawford 1-16-0, R.J.Bibbs 2-(-1)-0.
TAM – Randy Hippeard 1-0-0, Dexter Jackson 6-2-1, Michael Lindey 2-11-0.

Receiving: (Rec-Yds-TD)
JAX – Jeron Harvey 12-114-3, Jomo Wilson 6-64-0, London Crawford 5-37-1, Alex Carder 4-56-0 , Corneius Lewis 1-13-1, Charlie Hunt 1-6-0.
TAM – Joe Hills 5-74-3, Amarri Jackson 5-58-0, Michael Lindsey 3-28-0, T.T. Toliver 7-81-2, Alfred McCullough 1-14-1.

KO Returns: (No.-Yds-TD)
JAX – Jomo Wilson 6-60-0.
TAM – Michael Lindsey 3-71-0.

Post-Game Awards:
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Randy Hippeard, Tampa Bay.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: James Harrell, Tampa Bay.
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: James Harrell, Tampa Bay.
Cutters Catch of the Game: T.T. Toliver, Tampa Bay, touchdown with 00:01 left in second quarter.
AFL Highlight of the Game: James Harrell, kick off net recovery touchdown with 00:00 left in second quarter.