Both teams got off to a really good start matching each other touchdown for touchdown, drive after drive until midway through the 2nd quarter when the game was tied at 21 all. Then it was Arizona regaining the lead at 28-21 with 6:58 left in the game.
On Tampa Bay’s ensuing possession, their 4th drive of the game, Arizona’s defense forced Storm into a turnover on downs. This was the first change possession of the game resulting from a turnover, and the Rattlers did not waste the opportunity.
Nick Davila led them down to just the outside the goal line with two quick pass completions. Then on the next play, FB Mykel Benson capped off the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, which gave Arizona a 14-point lead with just 56 seconds left in the half.
With 47 seconds left in the half Jason Boltus got injured and that’s when Adam Kennedy came in and scored a 4-yard rushing touchdown which cut the led to 7. Rattlers turned the ball over on their next possession, as Tampa’s Cortez Stubbs intercepted Davila. But the Storm weren’t able to capitalize on the turnover and actually turned over the ball themselves on a fumble as the half drew near.
At the half Arizona was leading 35-28, with Quarterback Nick Davila with leading the team completing 12-16 passes for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns. For the Storm it was Jason Boltus leading the charge of completing 11-18 passes for 169 yards and 1 touchdown.
Tampa Storm came out firing on all cylinders, which led to a touchdown on their opening drive of the half to tie the score 35-35. The Rattlers also scored a touchdown, and then capitalized off another Storm turnover on downs. As the 3rd quarter came to a close the Rattlers lead the Storm 48-35.
Tampa Bay clawed there was back into the 4th quarter. After scoring a quick touchdown, the Storm defense took over and forced the Rattler’s into a turnover on downs at the Arizona 3 yard line. Two plays later Jason Boltus completed his third touchdown pass to Phillip Barnett, giving Tampa their first lead of the game at 49-48.
Arizona was pressured by the Storm defense, whom forced the Rattlers into their 2nd consecutive turnover on downs. Then Boltus lead his team down the field to score another touchdown, this time it was a 9 yard TD pass to T.T. Toliver which put the Storm up at 56-48 with just 48 seconds left on the clock. The score for Toliver was his 100th with the team.
“To be honest, I don’t think about records. I just go out there each and every day and try to play my hardest and whatever records I break, I break them. But I don’t worry about that man records are made to be broken. At the end of the day, someone is going to break the records I set.” Said Toliver of his accomplishment.
After 4 defensive penalties on Tampa, Arizona found there way into the end zone, which led to a touchdown and tied the game at 56-56 with 21 seconds left. Then the magic happened.
Facing a 2nd and 10 from their own 22-yard line and just 8 seconds left to play, Jason Boltus dropped back to pass. As he looked downfield, he saw T.T. Toliver streaking down the left sideline and threw it up to him. The ball looked as if it was headed out of bound, but Toliver was able to coral the reception from over the wall in the end zone and give the Storm a 63-56 lead with just 3 seconds left to play.
Arizona was unable to score in the 3 seconds allotted, despite another defensive penalty giving them an untimed down. The victory marks Tampa Bay’s 1st winning victory of the season, improving to 1-7 on the year. With the loss, Arizona falls to 6-3 on the year.
Tampa look’s to build off this victory as they head on the road next week to play the Portland Steel on Friday June 3rd, 2016. Kickoff is set for 10:30pm ET at the Moda Center.