Written by Bob Mora
ORLANDO- The 56th version of the "War on I-4" lived up to all the hype with a thrilling come from behind, 63-62 overtime victory for the Orlando Predators over the Tampa Bay Storm, in a battle for first place of the South Division.
Orlando took 6 plays in 3:48 to put the first score up with a Bernard Morris to Kendall Thompkins 11 yard pass for the early 7-0 lead. Tampa wasted no time answering the Predators score, Storm kick returner Kendrick Ings returned the following kickoff after the score to the Orlando 6 yard line. This put the Storm in perfect feidl position and on Tampas opening play of their drive, QB Jason Boltus connected with Julius Gregory in the end zone to even the score at 7-7.
After Orlando turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, Boltus marched Tampa down field and found TT Toliver for the 9 yard score on a 5 play 24 yard drive to give Tampa the 14-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.
Starting the 2nd quarter Morris took 3 plays to go 37 yards, finding Brandon Thompkins for an 18 yard score to make it 14-14, Boltus answered on the next play with a 47 yard TD pass to Emery Sammons, the extra point was no good.
On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced out to the 13-yard line only to be recovered by the Storms James Harrell who ran it in for the score putting Tampa up 27-14.
Each team scored 2 more times in the half, Morris finding Kendall Thompkins for 24 yards and Brandon Thompkins for a 28 yard score, while Boltus found Kendrick Ings for a 34 yard score and T.T. Toliver for a 9 yard score making it 41-28 at the half
Storm QB Jason Boltus ended the half with 12 completions on 15 passes for 170 yards and 5 Touchdown passes.
Tampa opened up the second half with a Boltus to Phillip Barnett 21 yard touchdown putting the storm up 48-28, Orlando turned the ball over on downs only to get it back on a Nick Taylor interception setting up a two yard touchdown run by Michael Simons, the extra point was no good, making it 48-34 Storm.
Boltus found Toliver again on a 29 yard score to put Tampa up 55-34 which looked like it could be the game, however Orlando decided it was time for a comeback. Kendal Tompkins scored on a 26 yard pass to make it 55-40, Orlando's defense tightened up and forced Jason Boltus to throw an interception to Terence Moore who returned it for a 25 yard touchdown and made it an 8 point game with a minute left in regulation.
Tampa tried to put the game out of reach with a Craig Peterson 20 yard field goal which was missed allowing Orlando a chance, Bernard Morris marched the team down field finding Brandon Thompkins for a 3 yard touchdown pass to make it a 2 point game. Then Morris found Kendall Thompkins in the back of the end zone to make it 55-55 at the end of regulation, sending the War on i-4 into overtime.
Tampa took the first possession in the overtime and did not waste any time, with Boltus finding Toliver for a 20 yard touchdown, it was Tolivers 4th TD on the night. The Sorm connected on the extra point, giving them a 62-55 lead on the hometown Preds.
Orlando knew what they had to do and quarterback Bernard Morris drove the team 48 yards on 8 plays handing the ball to FB Michael Simons for a 1 yard rushing touchdown to cap off the drive. In Orlando’s 3rd Overtime appearance of the season, they once again found themselves with a touchdown in overtime and having a chance to go for two to win the game. However, the last two games that the Preds have gone for two this year in overtime they have lost the game.
Had Coach Rob Keefe did not hesitate with his decision, yet again electing to go for two and the win. Morris found Brandon Thompkins in the middle of the end zone for the two point conversion, thus sealing the 63-62 win and giving the Predators sole possession of first place in the South Division.
Here are your key stats to take away from the game.
For Orlando
QB Bernard Morris was 24 of 43 for 271 yards and 6 TDs passing and 86 yards on 8 carries.
WR Kendal Thompkins caught 14 passes for 150 yards and 3 TDs,
WR Brandon Thompkins caught 6 passes for 88 yards and 3 TDs, returned 5 kickoffs for 83 yards.
FB Michael Simons rushed 2 times for 3 yards and 2 TDs
DB Emanuel Cook had 7 tackles
DL Meshak Williams had 2 tackles and 1 sack
For Tampa Bay
QB Jason Boltus was 22 of 36 for 279 yards and 8 TDs passing and 4 yards on 6 carries.
WR TT Toliver caught 10 passes for 104 yards and 4 TDs,
WR Julius Gregory caught 5 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD,
WR Kendrick Ings caught 4 passes for 60 yards and 1 TD, Returned 4 kickoffs for 98 yards,
DB Rick-J Hill had 7 tackles
DL Brandon Sesay, DL Everett Dawkins, And NG Richard Clebert each had a sack.
Announced attendance was 10,971.
Orlando took 6 plays in 3:48 to put the first score up with a Bernard Morris to Kendall Thompkins 11 yard pass for the early 7-0 lead. Tampa wasted no time answering the Predators score, Storm kick returner Kendrick Ings returned the following kickoff after the score to the Orlando 6 yard line. This put the Storm in perfect feidl position and on Tampas opening play of their drive, QB Jason Boltus connected with Julius Gregory in the end zone to even the score at 7-7.
After Orlando turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, Boltus marched Tampa down field and found TT Toliver for the 9 yard score on a 5 play 24 yard drive to give Tampa the 14-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.
Starting the 2nd quarter Morris took 3 plays to go 37 yards, finding Brandon Thompkins for an 18 yard score to make it 14-14, Boltus answered on the next play with a 47 yard TD pass to Emery Sammons, the extra point was no good.
On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced out to the 13-yard line only to be recovered by the Storms James Harrell who ran it in for the score putting Tampa up 27-14.
Each team scored 2 more times in the half, Morris finding Kendall Thompkins for 24 yards and Brandon Thompkins for a 28 yard score, while Boltus found Kendrick Ings for a 34 yard score and T.T. Toliver for a 9 yard score making it 41-28 at the half
Storm QB Jason Boltus ended the half with 12 completions on 15 passes for 170 yards and 5 Touchdown passes.
Tampa opened up the second half with a Boltus to Phillip Barnett 21 yard touchdown putting the storm up 48-28, Orlando turned the ball over on downs only to get it back on a Nick Taylor interception setting up a two yard touchdown run by Michael Simons, the extra point was no good, making it 48-34 Storm.
Boltus found Toliver again on a 29 yard score to put Tampa up 55-34 which looked like it could be the game, however Orlando decided it was time for a comeback. Kendal Tompkins scored on a 26 yard pass to make it 55-40, Orlando's defense tightened up and forced Jason Boltus to throw an interception to Terence Moore who returned it for a 25 yard touchdown and made it an 8 point game with a minute left in regulation.
Tampa tried to put the game out of reach with a Craig Peterson 20 yard field goal which was missed allowing Orlando a chance, Bernard Morris marched the team down field finding Brandon Thompkins for a 3 yard touchdown pass to make it a 2 point game. Then Morris found Kendall Thompkins in the back of the end zone to make it 55-55 at the end of regulation, sending the War on i-4 into overtime.
Tampa took the first possession in the overtime and did not waste any time, with Boltus finding Toliver for a 20 yard touchdown, it was Tolivers 4th TD on the night. The Sorm connected on the extra point, giving them a 62-55 lead on the hometown Preds.
Orlando knew what they had to do and quarterback Bernard Morris drove the team 48 yards on 8 plays handing the ball to FB Michael Simons for a 1 yard rushing touchdown to cap off the drive. In Orlando’s 3rd Overtime appearance of the season, they once again found themselves with a touchdown in overtime and having a chance to go for two to win the game. However, the last two games that the Preds have gone for two this year in overtime they have lost the game.
Had Coach Rob Keefe did not hesitate with his decision, yet again electing to go for two and the win. Morris found Brandon Thompkins in the middle of the end zone for the two point conversion, thus sealing the 63-62 win and giving the Predators sole possession of first place in the South Division.
Here are your key stats to take away from the game.
For Orlando
QB Bernard Morris was 24 of 43 for 271 yards and 6 TDs passing and 86 yards on 8 carries.
WR Kendal Thompkins caught 14 passes for 150 yards and 3 TDs,
WR Brandon Thompkins caught 6 passes for 88 yards and 3 TDs, returned 5 kickoffs for 83 yards.
FB Michael Simons rushed 2 times for 3 yards and 2 TDs
DB Emanuel Cook had 7 tackles
DL Meshak Williams had 2 tackles and 1 sack
For Tampa Bay
QB Jason Boltus was 22 of 36 for 279 yards and 8 TDs passing and 4 yards on 6 carries.
WR TT Toliver caught 10 passes for 104 yards and 4 TDs,
WR Julius Gregory caught 5 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD,
WR Kendrick Ings caught 4 passes for 60 yards and 1 TD, Returned 4 kickoffs for 98 yards,
DB Rick-J Hill had 7 tackles
DL Brandon Sesay, DL Everett Dawkins, And NG Richard Clebert each had a sack.
Announced attendance was 10,971.