Written by Adrian Beecher
nTampa, FL- Randy Hippeard has completed 18 of 27 passes for 197 yards and 5 TD's for Orlando, as we enter the 4th quarter with the Predators leading 55-19. The Pred's Defense has forced 2 interceptions and 1 fumble on the night.
The Predators opened up the scoring early in the 1st quarter, with a 3yd TD pass from Randy Hippeard to Greg Carr. The Pred’s missed the PAT and led the Storm 6-0 with9:28 left to play in the 1st.
It didn’t take long for the Storm to answer back. After a illegal contact call on the Predators setup the Storm with a 1st and goal from the 5-yd line, Adam Kennedy found Julius Gregory in the back right of the endzone to give the Storm a 7-6 lead over Orlando with 6:44 left in the 1st quarter.
On the Predators 2nd drive of the night, it looked as if the Storm were going to be able to come up with a big stop as the Preds faced a 4th and 15. But a illegal contact call on the Storm, set Orlando up with a 1st down. The Predators were able to capitalize on the mistake, capping off their drive with a 2nd Hippeard to Carr TD pass to make it 13-7 as the 1st quarter came to a close.
The Storm were unable to get things rolling in the 2nd quarter, turning the ball over on downs on their 2nd possession of the game. Orlando was able to again capitalize on the mistake and turn it into points. It was Hippeard to Carr for a 3rd time, giving Orlando the 20-7 lead with 10:54 left to play in the half.
Tampa’s struggles continued on their next possession, as they were unable to move the ball at all. They were forced into a 2nd consecutive turnover on downs. This set Orlando up with a 1st and goal at the 7 yard line. Another penalty in the endzone scooted the ball closer for Orlando. On the next play, Terence Moore took the 4yd rush to the endzone to make it 27-7 Orlando with 6:06 left in the 1st half.
Trailing by 20 points, with the possibility of the game getting out of hand, Tampa finally got their act together. On 1st and 10 from the Orlando 24 yard line, Kennedy found Gregory for the pass, he broke a tackle and found space on his way to the endzone. Tampa missed the pat and trailed 27-13 with 2:04 left to play in the 1st half.
On Orlando’s next drive, they just kept the pressure on. On a 3rd and 2 from the Storm 22 yard line, Randy Hippeard threw a bullet to Brandon Thompkins in the back of the endzone to make it 34-13 with just 11 second’s left in the half.
Tampa was unable to get back into the endzone and we went to the half with Orlando up 21 on the Storm.
Randy Hippeard completed 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and 4 TD’s to lead the Orlando Predators at the while wide receiver Greg Carr added 5 catches for 69 yards and 3 TD reception’s for Orlando.
Tampa’s Adam Kennedy was 9 of 16, passing for 115 yards and 2 TD’s. The Storm’s leading receiver was Julius Gregory with 3 catches for 34 yards and 1 TD.
In the 2nd half, the Storm’s struggles continued even though they started out with the ball. On their opening possession, the center and QB mishandled the snap and Orlando’s Mike Lewis recovered the ball in the endzone to make it 41-13 with 14:10 left in the 3rd.
Then things just got worse. On the ensuing Storm possession, Adam Kennedy’s pass was picked off by Paul Stephens, and he took it all the way back to the endzone to make it 48-13 Predators with 12:13 left to play in the 3rd.
Things looked like they were just going to get worse for the Storm as Orlando’s Kent Richardson picked off Kennedy’s pass and took it 49 yards the other way for a TD. But fortunately for Tampa the play was review and it was determined that the ball touched the ground before Richardson could maintain possession.
The Storm took advantage of the callback and Kennedy hit T.T. Toliver on the sideline and he was able to break a tackle on his way to the endzone. This made it 48-19 Predators with 6:35 left to play in the 3rd quarter.
Orlando continued to push their offensive assault on Tampa. This time it was Hippeard connecting with Thompkins for the 2nd time in the endzone to make it 55-19 Orlando with 2:14 left to play in the 3rd.
The Predators opened up the scoring early in the 1st quarter, with a 3yd TD pass from Randy Hippeard to Greg Carr. The Pred’s missed the PAT and led the Storm 6-0 with9:28 left to play in the 1st.
It didn’t take long for the Storm to answer back. After a illegal contact call on the Predators setup the Storm with a 1st and goal from the 5-yd line, Adam Kennedy found Julius Gregory in the back right of the endzone to give the Storm a 7-6 lead over Orlando with 6:44 left in the 1st quarter.
On the Predators 2nd drive of the night, it looked as if the Storm were going to be able to come up with a big stop as the Preds faced a 4th and 15. But a illegal contact call on the Storm, set Orlando up with a 1st down. The Predators were able to capitalize on the mistake, capping off their drive with a 2nd Hippeard to Carr TD pass to make it 13-7 as the 1st quarter came to a close.
The Storm were unable to get things rolling in the 2nd quarter, turning the ball over on downs on their 2nd possession of the game. Orlando was able to again capitalize on the mistake and turn it into points. It was Hippeard to Carr for a 3rd time, giving Orlando the 20-7 lead with 10:54 left to play in the half.
Tampa’s struggles continued on their next possession, as they were unable to move the ball at all. They were forced into a 2nd consecutive turnover on downs. This set Orlando up with a 1st and goal at the 7 yard line. Another penalty in the endzone scooted the ball closer for Orlando. On the next play, Terence Moore took the 4yd rush to the endzone to make it 27-7 Orlando with 6:06 left in the 1st half.
Trailing by 20 points, with the possibility of the game getting out of hand, Tampa finally got their act together. On 1st and 10 from the Orlando 24 yard line, Kennedy found Gregory for the pass, he broke a tackle and found space on his way to the endzone. Tampa missed the pat and trailed 27-13 with 2:04 left to play in the 1st half.
On Orlando’s next drive, they just kept the pressure on. On a 3rd and 2 from the Storm 22 yard line, Randy Hippeard threw a bullet to Brandon Thompkins in the back of the endzone to make it 34-13 with just 11 second’s left in the half.
Tampa was unable to get back into the endzone and we went to the half with Orlando up 21 on the Storm.
Randy Hippeard completed 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and 4 TD’s to lead the Orlando Predators at the while wide receiver Greg Carr added 5 catches for 69 yards and 3 TD reception’s for Orlando.
Tampa’s Adam Kennedy was 9 of 16, passing for 115 yards and 2 TD’s. The Storm’s leading receiver was Julius Gregory with 3 catches for 34 yards and 1 TD.
In the 2nd half, the Storm’s struggles continued even though they started out with the ball. On their opening possession, the center and QB mishandled the snap and Orlando’s Mike Lewis recovered the ball in the endzone to make it 41-13 with 14:10 left in the 3rd.
Then things just got worse. On the ensuing Storm possession, Adam Kennedy’s pass was picked off by Paul Stephens, and he took it all the way back to the endzone to make it 48-13 Predators with 12:13 left to play in the 3rd.
Things looked like they were just going to get worse for the Storm as Orlando’s Kent Richardson picked off Kennedy’s pass and took it 49 yards the other way for a TD. But fortunately for Tampa the play was review and it was determined that the ball touched the ground before Richardson could maintain possession.
The Storm took advantage of the callback and Kennedy hit T.T. Toliver on the sideline and he was able to break a tackle on his way to the endzone. This made it 48-19 Predators with 6:35 left to play in the 3rd quarter.
Orlando continued to push their offensive assault on Tampa. This time it was Hippeard connecting with Thompkins for the 2nd time in the endzone to make it 55-19 Orlando with 2:14 left to play in the 3rd.