Valor Drop Matchup With Storm, 58-57
Sunday June 11, 2017
McClain sets franchise record for all-purpose yards, Brackett throws seven touchdowns
TAMPA, FL. — The Washington Valor (1-7) fell, 58-57, to the Tampa Bay Storm (7-1) Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Storm WR Joe Hills took home the game’s MVP award for his 124-yard, three-touchdown performance while Washington’s Charles McClain and Everette Dawkins were given Offensive and Defensive Player of the Game awards, respectively.
“We had a chance to win here in the end,” Valor Head Coach Dean Cokinos said. “We did enough good things to win. Guys are really playing hard together. These guys keep getting up and fighting. It’s unfortunate.”
Valor FB Will Corbin capped a 40-yard opening drive with a six-yard touchdown run, giving Washington a 6-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. The run marked the first touchdown of the season for Corbin. Tampa Bay responded on their next drive, taking a 7-6 lead on a 21-yard pass from QB Randy Hippeard to WR Kendrick Ings. Valor QB Sean Brackett threw his first touchdown of the game with 5:21 left in the first quarter, a five-yard toss to WR Josh Reese, giving the Valor a 12-7 lead. On the second quarter’s first play from scrimmage, Brackett found WR Charles McClain for a 41-yard score, giving the Valor a 18-14 lead. The team’s traded scores before DB Dominic Addison extended the Washington lead to 32-21 when he intercepted Hippeard and returned the ball 43 yards for a Valor touchdown with 41.6 seconds left in the half. This marked the first time in the game that a team held a lead greater than one possession. Hippeard recovered, however, finding WR Joe Hills for his second touchdown of the game, cutting the Valor lead to 32-28 at halftime.
Each team scored on its first possession of the second half, bringing the score to 38-35 with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter. McClain scored his third touchdown of the night when Brackett found him for a seven-yard score, giving the Valor a 44-35 lead with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter. With just over nine minutes remaining in the game, the Storm brought the game back within one score. Hippeard kept the ball for himself and ran it in for a seven-yard score, bringing the score to 44-42 Valor. Washington extended their lead on the following drive when Brackett connected with WR Greg Carr for a 23-yard score, giving the Valor a 51-42 lead with 7:46 remaining in the game. On the next drive, Hippeard threw his sixth touchdown of the night, setting the score at 51-49, Valor, with just under four minutes remaining. With 2:20 remaining in the game, Brackett was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a game-tying safety. Thirty-five seconds later, Hippeard gave Tampa Bay a 58-51 lead when he found Hills for the third time. Brackett found Carr for an 11-yard score with nine seconds remaining to bring the game within one, but Washington’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Tampa Bay recovered the Valor’s onside kick attempt, sealing the 58-57 win.
KEY STAT: In just the first half, WR Charles McClain set a franchise record for all-purpose yards in a single game with 168. He finished with 215. WR Mike Washington held the previous record of 167, which he set during Week 1 of the 2017 season.
MVP: Tampa Bay WR Joe Hills – 13 receptions, 124 yards and three touchdowns
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Washington WR Charles McClain – nine receptions, 137 yards and three touchdowns
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Washington DL Everett Dawkins – three total tackles, one sack and one forced fumble
xczThe Valor have their third bye week of the season next week, but return to action in Week 12, taking on the Baltimore Brigade on Fri., June 23 at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md.
