Written By: Parker Boyce
(Tampa Bay, FL.) Tonight, the Tampa Bay Storm hosted the Baltimore Brigade for Military Appreciation night her at Amalie Arena and in front of 9,880 fans, the Storm defeated the Brigade, 45-37.
To start the game, Baltimore won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Tampa started off with the ball, and quickly, Tampa quarterback Randy Hippeard found wide receiver Kendrick Ings for a 16-yard score to give Tampa their first touchdown of the night.
With 7:06 left in the 1st quarter and on 4th down and 16, Baltimore quarterback Shane Carden threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Milton Williams to give Baltimore a 7-6 lead over the Storm. With this touchdown, it would be the only time Baltimore led all night.
Late in the first quarter, Hippeard completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Joe Hills, to give Tampa excellent field position on the Baltimore 3-yard line. Inside the Baltimore red zone, Hippeard completed a short three-yard pass to Hills to give Tampa a 13-7 lead over Baltimore. After that score, Tampa would never give up the lead.
With 22 seconds left in the first quarter, the Tampa defense made a big time play with defensive lineman Kendall Montgomery recovering a Baltimore fumble inside the Baltimore 25 yard line. Hippeard led the Storm down the field and capitalized with a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver LaMark Brown. This touchdown gave Tampa Bay a 20-7 lead with 22 seconds left to end the 1st quarter.
With 27 seconds left to go until halftime and the ball on the Baltimore 14-yard line, Hippeard found Ings for a touchdown to give the Storm a 27-14 lead going into halftime.
Starting off the 3rd quarter, Tampa kicked off to Baltimore, but the ball hit the net and fell into the hands of Storm linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson. He then returned the ball to the end zone for a touchdown. Baltimore fired right back though with quarterback Shane Carden finding wide receiver Brandon Thompkins for an incredible 45-yard touchdown pass that will surely make the AFL highlight of the week.
Storm Head Coach Ron James spoke to the press after the game against Baltimore in regards to the team winning, having a 6-1 record on the season and being ranked 2nd in the AFL conference standings.
“How does it feel to be 6-1?” Coach James asked. “At this point in the season, it’s great, but it’s only half done. Our mission is not to be 2nd place or 1st place halfway through the year; it’s to finish. So far, I think we are playing good football; we try to make it interesting a little bit. Our 3rd quarter was probably as bad as we’ve played all year long, but we’ve bounced back in the 4th and shut it down and got the win.
Jackson also spoke to the press after the game in regards to his fumble that turned the game around to give the Storm the lead and eventually the win over Baltimore. “Talking about the recovered fumble it was effort, we appreciate it every day during practice, give effort on special teams, and good things will happen, and good things are happening for us.”
With this win, Tampa is now 6-1 and is off to their best start since 2010. Tampa will be able to enjoy this victory for a bit, but they will have to hit the ground running as the Washington Valor, who are coming off 59-35 loss to the Cleveland Gladiators, come to town. This game will be Tampa and Washington’s third time facing each other this season. Tampa currently has a 2-0 record against them. Washington and Tampa face off Saturday night, June 10th here at the Amalie Arena.
MVP of the game
Tampa Bay Storm LB Alvin Ray Jackson.
Offensive Player of the game
Tampa Bay Storm WR Joe Hills.
Defensive Player of the game
Baltimore DB Qumain Black.
Tampa Bay will prepare to face the Washington Valor this Saturday night on June 10th at 7 pm.
To start the game, Baltimore won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Tampa started off with the ball, and quickly, Tampa quarterback Randy Hippeard found wide receiver Kendrick Ings for a 16-yard score to give Tampa their first touchdown of the night.
With 7:06 left in the 1st quarter and on 4th down and 16, Baltimore quarterback Shane Carden threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Milton Williams to give Baltimore a 7-6 lead over the Storm. With this touchdown, it would be the only time Baltimore led all night.
Late in the first quarter, Hippeard completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Joe Hills, to give Tampa excellent field position on the Baltimore 3-yard line. Inside the Baltimore red zone, Hippeard completed a short three-yard pass to Hills to give Tampa a 13-7 lead over Baltimore. After that score, Tampa would never give up the lead.
With 22 seconds left in the first quarter, the Tampa defense made a big time play with defensive lineman Kendall Montgomery recovering a Baltimore fumble inside the Baltimore 25 yard line. Hippeard led the Storm down the field and capitalized with a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver LaMark Brown. This touchdown gave Tampa Bay a 20-7 lead with 22 seconds left to end the 1st quarter.
With 27 seconds left to go until halftime and the ball on the Baltimore 14-yard line, Hippeard found Ings for a touchdown to give the Storm a 27-14 lead going into halftime.
Starting off the 3rd quarter, Tampa kicked off to Baltimore, but the ball hit the net and fell into the hands of Storm linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson. He then returned the ball to the end zone for a touchdown. Baltimore fired right back though with quarterback Shane Carden finding wide receiver Brandon Thompkins for an incredible 45-yard touchdown pass that will surely make the AFL highlight of the week.
Storm Head Coach Ron James spoke to the press after the game against Baltimore in regards to the team winning, having a 6-1 record on the season and being ranked 2nd in the AFL conference standings.
“How does it feel to be 6-1?” Coach James asked. “At this point in the season, it’s great, but it’s only half done. Our mission is not to be 2nd place or 1st place halfway through the year; it’s to finish. So far, I think we are playing good football; we try to make it interesting a little bit. Our 3rd quarter was probably as bad as we’ve played all year long, but we’ve bounced back in the 4th and shut it down and got the win.
Jackson also spoke to the press after the game in regards to his fumble that turned the game around to give the Storm the lead and eventually the win over Baltimore. “Talking about the recovered fumble it was effort, we appreciate it every day during practice, give effort on special teams, and good things will happen, and good things are happening for us.”
With this win, Tampa is now 6-1 and is off to their best start since 2010. Tampa will be able to enjoy this victory for a bit, but they will have to hit the ground running as the Washington Valor, who are coming off 59-35 loss to the Cleveland Gladiators, come to town. This game will be Tampa and Washington’s third time facing each other this season. Tampa currently has a 2-0 record against them. Washington and Tampa face off Saturday night, June 10th here at the Amalie Arena.
MVP of the game
Tampa Bay Storm LB Alvin Ray Jackson.
Offensive Player of the game
Tampa Bay Storm WR Joe Hills.
Defensive Player of the game
Baltimore DB Qumain Black.
Tampa Bay will prepare to face the Washington Valor this Saturday night on June 10th at 7 pm.