Written by Bob Mora
ORLANDO, FL- The Orlando Predators (12-6) and Tampa Bay Storm (7-11) played for the third time in the 2015 season, and for the third time the Predators walked away with a win, sweeping the season series with a 59-40 victory.
The Orlando Defense helped set the tone with constant pressure on Jason Boltus, who threw 2 interceptions in the first quarter. His first pick of the game was in the end zone by Emanuel Cook, the second by Terence Moore. Orlando took advantage of the Storm miscues, as Randy Hippeard would connect with Larry Brackins in the endzone, converting both turnovers into touchdowns. This gave the Predators a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
After Tampa found the end zone to start the second quarter, both teams scored on 1 play drives, Hippeard to Greg Carr for a 35-yard Preds score and Jason Boltus to T.T Toliver for a 45-yard Tampa score. Mark Lewis added a field goal for Orlando to make it 24-14 with under 5 minutes left in the half.
The momentum swung in the favor of the Storm as they found the end zone twice on Julius Gregory touchdown receptions of 12 and 16-yards giving the Storm their first lead of the night at 27-24.
As quick as they had the momentum, the Storm lost it on the point after attempt as Predator Jeremy Geathers blocked the kick and Austin Brown returned it for the 2 point score making it a 1-point game. This gave the Predators the ball with under a minute left in the half. Hippeard would then find Brandon Thompkins twice on the ensuing drive for completions of 11 and 16-yards. This set up a Hippeard to Carr 5-yard score ending the half at 32-27 with Orlando on top.
After an unexpected injury to their kicker, Orlando was forced to have their wideout, Larry Brackins take on the role of 2nd half kickoffs.
"We did not want to loose any players " Coach Rob Keefe said, "At this time last season we were pretty banged up going into the playoffs", after having to use Larry Brackins as his back up kicker due to an unexplained injury to kicker Mark Lewis.
Brandon Thompkins started the third quarter with a 52-yard return to the 2-yard line setting a new club record for kickoff return yardage. Thompkins 1,854 return yards passed the old record held by Dominic Jones from 2013. This set up a Michael Simons 3-yard rushing score to make it 39-27 Orlando.
After Tampa answered on Julius Gregory's third touchdown of the night, Hippeard found B. Thompkins for his only touchdown of the game, giving Orlando a 45-34 lead.
With time winding down in the third it was getting close to crunch time for the Storm. As Boltus threw to the endzone on 4th down, Arness Ikner knocked down his pass giving the ball back to Orlando for the final few minutes of the third.
Randy Hippeard then went to work formulating an 8 play 39-yard drive that pretty much put the game out of reach on Larry Brackins third scoring reception of the night, putting the Predators up by 19 with 7:28 left in the game.
The teams exchanged rushing touchdowns and then each turned the ball over on 4th down on each of their respective drives to end the game at 59-40. This years 3rd installment of the War-On-I4 was played in front of 15,188 fans, the largest announced crowd of the year for the Predators.
Orlando's Randy Hippeard finished the game completing 23 of 30 passes for 255-yards and 6. Greg Carr was Orlando’s leading receiver with 10 receptions for 109-yards and 2 scores. Larry Brackins added 4 receptions for 42-yards and 3 receiving td's and a rushing score.
“I'd rather have a 5-0 run going into the playoffs than a 1 game loosing streak," said Keefe when asked about the playoffs, " When you win 5 in a row going into the playoffs it gives you confidence "
Orlando will host the Jacksonville Sharks next Saturday, August 15th, at the Amway Center in the first round of playoffs. The Predators won the season series against the Sharks 2-1, with each teams wins coming at home.
"We are very aware that Jacksonville is a good team and even though we beat Jacksonville last time, we know 100 percent that they are coming for us " added Keefe " We are getting healthy, we are getting rhythm and momentum at all the right time"
The Orlando Defense helped set the tone with constant pressure on Jason Boltus, who threw 2 interceptions in the first quarter. His first pick of the game was in the end zone by Emanuel Cook, the second by Terence Moore. Orlando took advantage of the Storm miscues, as Randy Hippeard would connect with Larry Brackins in the endzone, converting both turnovers into touchdowns. This gave the Predators a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
After Tampa found the end zone to start the second quarter, both teams scored on 1 play drives, Hippeard to Greg Carr for a 35-yard Preds score and Jason Boltus to T.T Toliver for a 45-yard Tampa score. Mark Lewis added a field goal for Orlando to make it 24-14 with under 5 minutes left in the half.
The momentum swung in the favor of the Storm as they found the end zone twice on Julius Gregory touchdown receptions of 12 and 16-yards giving the Storm their first lead of the night at 27-24.
As quick as they had the momentum, the Storm lost it on the point after attempt as Predator Jeremy Geathers blocked the kick and Austin Brown returned it for the 2 point score making it a 1-point game. This gave the Predators the ball with under a minute left in the half. Hippeard would then find Brandon Thompkins twice on the ensuing drive for completions of 11 and 16-yards. This set up a Hippeard to Carr 5-yard score ending the half at 32-27 with Orlando on top.
After an unexpected injury to their kicker, Orlando was forced to have their wideout, Larry Brackins take on the role of 2nd half kickoffs.
"We did not want to loose any players " Coach Rob Keefe said, "At this time last season we were pretty banged up going into the playoffs", after having to use Larry Brackins as his back up kicker due to an unexplained injury to kicker Mark Lewis.
Brandon Thompkins started the third quarter with a 52-yard return to the 2-yard line setting a new club record for kickoff return yardage. Thompkins 1,854 return yards passed the old record held by Dominic Jones from 2013. This set up a Michael Simons 3-yard rushing score to make it 39-27 Orlando.
After Tampa answered on Julius Gregory's third touchdown of the night, Hippeard found B. Thompkins for his only touchdown of the game, giving Orlando a 45-34 lead.
With time winding down in the third it was getting close to crunch time for the Storm. As Boltus threw to the endzone on 4th down, Arness Ikner knocked down his pass giving the ball back to Orlando for the final few minutes of the third.
Randy Hippeard then went to work formulating an 8 play 39-yard drive that pretty much put the game out of reach on Larry Brackins third scoring reception of the night, putting the Predators up by 19 with 7:28 left in the game.
The teams exchanged rushing touchdowns and then each turned the ball over on 4th down on each of their respective drives to end the game at 59-40. This years 3rd installment of the War-On-I4 was played in front of 15,188 fans, the largest announced crowd of the year for the Predators.
Orlando's Randy Hippeard finished the game completing 23 of 30 passes for 255-yards and 6. Greg Carr was Orlando’s leading receiver with 10 receptions for 109-yards and 2 scores. Larry Brackins added 4 receptions for 42-yards and 3 receiving td's and a rushing score.
“I'd rather have a 5-0 run going into the playoffs than a 1 game loosing streak," said Keefe when asked about the playoffs, " When you win 5 in a row going into the playoffs it gives you confidence "
Orlando will host the Jacksonville Sharks next Saturday, August 15th, at the Amway Center in the first round of playoffs. The Predators won the season series against the Sharks 2-1, with each teams wins coming at home.
"We are very aware that Jacksonville is a good team and even though we beat Jacksonville last time, we know 100 percent that they are coming for us " added Keefe " We are getting healthy, we are getting rhythm and momentum at all the right time"