After a slow first half of the game ended with the Soul on top 28-19, the Storm had a resurgence in the second half. This revival was led by backup quarterback Adam Kennedy, who came on in relief of Jason Boltus, who had been injured on a horse-collar tackle late in the 1st quarter.
Tampa’s offense opened up the 3rd quarter scoring on their first three possessions, while their defense proved stout as well to open the 2nd half. Their defense forced two turnovers-on-downs to help give the Storm a 37-35 lead as the 3rd quarter came to an end.
Then came the 4th quarter, where the Storm’s season long ghost arose again, the late interception. This time, it came right after Philly took a 42-37 lead. It was 4th and 15 for the Storm on their 21-yard line when Kennedy threw an errant pass across his body into the middle of the field into Soul DB Dwayne Hollis’ waiting arms, who then returned it for a pick-6 making it 49-37 with 9:14 left to play.
“Just got to come together at the right time, and I think tonight we started turning a corner. We started getting back to where we were when we had that stretch against Orlando, Cleveland and then we ended up winning against Arizona.” Said Storm head coach Lawrence Samuels, “ I think they’re starting to get back to buying in and doing the little things. We’ve got some things that we’ve still got to correct. But to take this bunch from where we were and compete and loose just a close game to these guys. I feel good about it.”
Samuels confidence comes as the Storm have just two games left in the regular season. But with just eight teams in the league, everyone makes the playoffs, and you would be safe to say that this is Tampa’s “playoff prep” time. After August 1st, all the schedule's are reset, and anything can happen in the playoffs.
Saturday’s performance was one in which all the cylinders were clicking for the Storm. So who’s to say that a beaten and bruised 1-win Tampa team can’t overcome the adversity, and bring back the Arena Bowl Title to the Bay area. I mean crazier things have happened this year, Cleveland won a title, which hadn’t happened in over 50 years. And have you seen the Cubs this year?
All the Storm has to do is hit that perfect stride going into the Playoffs, and anything can happen.