The General
Another Day, Another Dollar
TAMPA, FL - The War on I-4 is alive and well as the Tampa Bay Storm (0-1 overall, 0-1 division) lost to the Orlando Predators (1-0 overall, 1-0 division), 52-27 in front of 15,619 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The Predators have now defeated the Storm three consecutive games after sweeping both contests against Tampa Bay in 2006. The last time the Storm was held to 27 points on offense was June 6, 1991 a 27-17 victory against the New Orleans Night. Orlando now holds a two game advantage in the all-time series between the two teams 21-19. This is the second win for Orlando in Tampa Bay since July 7, 2002.
Former Storm quarterback Shane Stafford completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 329 yards and five touchdowns. His 329 passing yards fell 38 yards shy of tying the Predator single-game mark of 367 set by Joe Hamilton in an 87-62 loss against Dallas on March 19, 2006.
Orlando got off to a fast start as Ironman of the Game DeAndrew Rubin took the opening kickoff 21 yards to the Orlando 16. He immediately hooked up with Predator quarterback Shane Stafford for a 34-yard touchdown reception on the next play. Orlando continued its quick start as its defense ravaged the Storm offensive line. The Predators sacked Storm quarterback John Kaleo two times in Tampa?s first offensive series.
DeAndrew Rubin scored again on the Predator?s next series as he caught a 42-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay failed to respond on its next possession as wide receiver Demetris Bendross fumbled the ball at the Orlando 16-yard line. Defensive back Rayshun Reed recovered the fumble and returned it 15 yards to the Tampa 19-yard line. The Predators struck immediately as receiver Jimmy Fryzel caught a 19-yard pass from Stafford. Tampa Bay responded with a 27-yard strike from quarterback John Kaleo to receiver T.T. Toliver to make the score 21-6 as kicker Bill Gramatica failed to convert the extra point attempt.
Tampa Bay and Orlando traded scores in the second quarter as Storm fullback Rodney Filer and Predator receiver Javarus Dudley each scored on a one-yard touchdown runs. Once again Gramatica failed to convert the extra point as the Predators took a 16-point lead into the half with a score of Orlando 28 and Tampa Bay 12.
Gramatica looked to redeem himself as he nailed a 37-yard field goal as the Storm struck first in the third quarter to reduce its deficit to 13 points. Orlando responded as Stafford and Rubin hooked up for the third time in the game on a 28-yard touchdown strike to make it 35-15 Orlando. Tampa Bay countered as Kaleo found receiver Demetris Bendross wide open for a 39-yard touchdown. However Gramtica?s tough night continued as he failed to convert on his third point after attempt.
Jay Taylor opened up the fourth quarter converting by 20-yard field goal to give the Predators a 17-point lead. It took Tampa Bay only five plays to score on its next possession as Kaleo connected with Bendross on for an 18-yard touchdown. Continuing his dreadful night, Gramatica failed to convert the extra point. He failed to convert on a single extra point in the entire game. Rubin returned the kickoff 28-yards as he finished the night with 259 all-purpose yards. Stafford completed 3-of-6 passes on the next drive, capping the drive with a three-yard scramble into the endzone to make the score 45-27 Orlando. With the game in hand, defensive back Ryan Bowers sealed the game for Orlando as he intercepted Kaleo in the endzone with less than two minutes left in the game. Orlando scored on its next possession to make the final score 52-27.
With the loss on opening day, the Storm?s opening day record now stands at 10 wins and seven losses. Overall, the franchise?s record on opening day now stands at 13-8.
Predators weather Storm, 52-27 - Welcome to the AFL!
The Predators have now defeated the Storm three consecutive games after sweeping both contests against Tampa Bay in 2006. The last time the Storm was held to 27 points on offense was June 6, 1991 a 27-17 victory against the New Orleans Night. Orlando now holds a two game advantage in the all-time series between the two teams 21-19. This is the second win for Orlando in Tampa Bay since July 7, 2002.
Former Storm quarterback Shane Stafford completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 329 yards and five touchdowns. His 329 passing yards fell 38 yards shy of tying the Predator single-game mark of 367 set by Joe Hamilton in an 87-62 loss against Dallas on March 19, 2006.
Orlando got off to a fast start as Ironman of the Game DeAndrew Rubin took the opening kickoff 21 yards to the Orlando 16. He immediately hooked up with Predator quarterback Shane Stafford for a 34-yard touchdown reception on the next play. Orlando continued its quick start as its defense ravaged the Storm offensive line. The Predators sacked Storm quarterback John Kaleo two times in Tampa?s first offensive series.
DeAndrew Rubin scored again on the Predator?s next series as he caught a 42-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay failed to respond on its next possession as wide receiver Demetris Bendross fumbled the ball at the Orlando 16-yard line. Defensive back Rayshun Reed recovered the fumble and returned it 15 yards to the Tampa 19-yard line. The Predators struck immediately as receiver Jimmy Fryzel caught a 19-yard pass from Stafford. Tampa Bay responded with a 27-yard strike from quarterback John Kaleo to receiver T.T. Toliver to make the score 21-6 as kicker Bill Gramatica failed to convert the extra point attempt.
Tampa Bay and Orlando traded scores in the second quarter as Storm fullback Rodney Filer and Predator receiver Javarus Dudley each scored on a one-yard touchdown runs. Once again Gramatica failed to convert the extra point as the Predators took a 16-point lead into the half with a score of Orlando 28 and Tampa Bay 12.
Gramatica looked to redeem himself as he nailed a 37-yard field goal as the Storm struck first in the third quarter to reduce its deficit to 13 points. Orlando responded as Stafford and Rubin hooked up for the third time in the game on a 28-yard touchdown strike to make it 35-15 Orlando. Tampa Bay countered as Kaleo found receiver Demetris Bendross wide open for a 39-yard touchdown. However Gramtica?s tough night continued as he failed to convert on his third point after attempt.
Jay Taylor opened up the fourth quarter converting by 20-yard field goal to give the Predators a 17-point lead. It took Tampa Bay only five plays to score on its next possession as Kaleo connected with Bendross on for an 18-yard touchdown. Continuing his dreadful night, Gramatica failed to convert the extra point. He failed to convert on a single extra point in the entire game. Rubin returned the kickoff 28-yards as he finished the night with 259 all-purpose yards. Stafford completed 3-of-6 passes on the next drive, capping the drive with a three-yard scramble into the endzone to make the score 45-27 Orlando. With the game in hand, defensive back Ryan Bowers sealed the game for Orlando as he intercepted Kaleo in the endzone with less than two minutes left in the game. Orlando scored on its next possession to make the final score 52-27.
With the loss on opening day, the Storm?s opening day record now stands at 10 wins and seven losses. Overall, the franchise?s record on opening day now stands at 13-8.
Predators weather Storm, 52-27 - Welcome to the AFL!
