Storm Defeat Baltimore, 47-35, for Best Arena Football Start Since 2001
Saturday June 3, 2017
TAMPA, FL – Receiver Joe Hills scored three touchdowns, two through the air, as Tampa Bay (6-1) defeated the Baltimore Brigade, 47-35, Saturday before an enthusiastic crowd of 9,880 in Amalie Arena.
The Storm, winners of five straight games, and off to its best start of the season since 2001, now has its longest winning streak since 2014.
The upstart Brigade (2-5) has now lost four of their last five. This was the second time the Storm has beaten the expansion team, as it won 62-55 in Baltimore on May 7.
Storm jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson, the six-year veteran, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. His five-yard net recovery for a touchdown at 14:49 of the third quarter boosted Tampa Bay’s lead to 33-14.
Hills also had 10 catches for 124 receiving yards and Kenrick Ings had two touchdowns on 11 catches and 92 yards.
Significant plays in the first half that setup two scores included Hippeard’s big-play pass of 44 yards to Hills in the first quarter that set up the Storm’s first score.
Defensively, Kendall Montgomery’s recovery of Baltimore quarterback Shane Carden’s fumble, setup the final touchdown of the first quarter, giving Tampa Bay a 20-7 lead.
Ings, usually on the return side of kickoffs, recovered of an on-side kickoff fumble on special teams in the second quarter.
The Tampa Bay Storm return to action at AMALIE® Arena, Saturday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. versus the Washington Valor.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Baltimore Brigade 7 7 14 7 35
Tampa Bay Storm 20 7 6 14 47
1st Quarter
TAM – Joe Hills 16 pass from Randy Hippeard (kick failed) 13:08.
BLT – Milton Williams 28 pass from Shane Carden (Pat Clarke kick) 7:16.
TAM – Hills 3 run (Mark Lewis kick) 5:08.
TAM – LaMark Brown 3 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 00:56.
2nd Quarter
BLT – Rory Nixon 11 pass from Carden (P. Clarke kick) 9:07.
TAM – Kendrick Ings 6 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 00:56.
3rd Quarter
TAM – Alvin Ray Jackson 5 net recovery (kick failed) 14:49.
BLT – Brandon Thompkins 45 pass from Carden (P. Clarke kick) 13:18.
BLT – Jullian Talley 9 pass from Carden (P. Clarke kick) 7:11.
4th Quarter
TAM – Ings 4 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 14:55.
TAM – Hills 8 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 8:47.
BLT – Talley 21 pass from Carden (P. Clarke kick) 2:56.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TD)
BAL – Shane Carden (22-34-0-268-5).
TAM – Randy Hippeard (29-41-1-275-5).
Rushing: (Att-Yds-TD)
BAL – Brandon Thompkins (1(-3)-0).
TAM – Randy Hippeard (4-4-0), Joe Hills (1-3-1), Jeremiah Warren (0-2-0), LaMark Brown (1-2-0).
Receiving: (Rec-Yds-TD)
BAL – Milton Williams (7-71-1), Julian Talley (5-64-2), Brandon Hopkins (7-110-1), Rory Nixon (3-23-1).
TAM – Joe Hills (10-124-2), LaMark Brown (7-57-1), Kendrick Ings (11-92-2), Leonardo Bates (1-2-0).
KO Returns: (No.-Yds-TD)
BAL – Brandon Thompkins (3-68-0).
TAM – Kendrick Ings (3-22-0), Michael Lindsey (2-29-0).
Offensive Player of the Game: Joe Hills, WR, Tampa Bay.
Defensive Player of the Game: Qumain Black, DB, Baltimore.
MVP OF THE GAME: Alvin Ray Jackson, JLB, Tampa Bay.