Storm Football Communications
Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay Storm’s Arena Football League playoff chances ended Saturday night with a 56-49 loss to the Cleveland Gladiators on the Amalie Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Despite a gallant run in the end when the Storm (8-10) put together a five-game winning streak, but lost four consecutive close games, Tampa Bay attracted a league-best 14,770 on Fan Appreciation Night to close out the season.
Behind quarterback Randy Hippeard who passed for four touchdowns and ran for two more, the Storm stayed with Cleveland until the Glads (17-1) had a two touchdowns lead in the 4th quarter, 49-35.
Joe Hills led the Storm with 10 catches, three for touchdowns, and 119 yards as did Thyron Lewis for Cleveland acquiring the same exact numbers.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Cleveland Gladiators 14 21 14 7 56
Tampa Bay Storm 7 21 7 14 49
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
CLE – Jason Jones 1 run (Aaron Pettrey kick) 13:13.
TAM – Joe Hills 23 pass from Randy Hippeard (Juan Bongarra kick) 9:54.
CLE – Dominick Goodwin 3 run (Pettrey kick) 5:40.
2nd Quarter
TAM – Amarri Jackson 1 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 14:20.
CLE – Thyron Lewis 17 pass from Shane Austin (Pettrey kick) 11:27.
TAM – Hills 11 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 6:44.
CLE – Royce Pollard 4 pass from Austin (Pettrey kick) 4:01.
TAM – Hills 18 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 1:57.
CLE – Lewis 1 pass from Austin (Pettrey kick) 00:07.
3rd Quarter
TAM – Hippeard 1 run (Bongarra kick) 9:35.
CLE – Collin Taylor 8 pass from Austin (Pettrey kick) 6:03.
CLE – Goodman 2 run (Pettrey kick) 00:57.
4th Quarter
TAM – Jackson 3 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 10:51.
CLE – Lewis 4 pass from Austin (Pettrey kick) 4:15.
TAM – Hippeard 1 run (Bongarra kick)00:51.
Statistical Leaders:
Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TD)
CLE – Shane Austin 24-34-0-273-3
TAM – Randy Hippeard 20-38-1-248-4; Chris Dixon 1-1-0-1-1.
Rushing: (Att-Yds-TD)
CLE – Shane Austin 6-19-0, Jason Jones 5-21-1; Dominik Goodman 2-3-2.
TAM – Randy Hippeard 4-10-2, Chris Dixon 1-1-0, Byron Isom 1-1-0.
Receiving: (Rec-Yds-TD)
CLE – Thyron Lewis 10-119-3, Dominick Goodman 7-82-0, Colin Taylor 5-54-1, Jason Jones 1-14-0, Royce Pollard 1-4-1.
TAM – Joe Hills 10-119-3, Amarri Jackson 3-16-2, Michael Lindsey 5-74-0, T.T. Toliver 3-40-0.
KO Returns: (No.-Yds-TD)
CLE – LaRoche Jackson 5-84-0, Dominic Jones 1-37-0.
TAM – Michael Lindsey 3-38-0, Joe Hills 1-(-1)-0, Amarri Jackson 1-40-0, James Harrell 1-(-1)-0.
Post-Game Awards:
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: QB Shane Austin, Cleveland.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: DB Dominic Jones, Cleveland.
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: DB LaRoche Jackson, Cleveland.
Cutters Catch of the Game: WR Joe Hills, Tampa Bay, 11 yard TD catch at 6:44 of 2nd quarter.
AFL Highlight of the Game: Second play from scrimmage in 3rd quarter; Pass reception of 18 yards by Tampa Bay’s Michael Lindsey, fumble by Lindsey, recovered by Cleveland’s LaRoche Jackson returned 37 yards to TB 1 yard line and fumbled by Jackson, recovered by Tampa Bay’s Alfred McCullough for a touchback. Possession: Tampa Bay that led to a eight-play drive, resulting in a 1 yard run by QB Randy Hippeard of Tampa Bay at 9:35 of the 3rd quarter.