The Storm wasted no time getting things underway, with Mike Washington returning the opening kickoff coast to coast, to give Tampa a 7-0 lead! But it took Jacksonville just one play to get on the board themselves, as Tommy Grady connected with Joe Hill’s for a 48 yard TD strike. The pat was blocked and the Storm retained the lead at 7-6.
On Tampa’s ensuing possession, they were able to get the ball inside the 2 yard line, but unable to get into the end zone and turned the ball over on downs. The Sharks were able to capitalize on the turnover, going 49 yards in 6 plays, capping off their drive with an 8-yard TD pass from Grady to Moqut Ruffins. This gave Jacksonville a 13-7 lead.
In the 2nd quarter, Tampa’s 2nd consecutive drive stalled out, giving the Sharks ample opportunity to take control of the game. They were able to get the to the 15-yard line, setting up a 4th and 3 play. The Storm defense looked like they would be able to stop the Sharks, but a holding penalty in the secondary gave Jacksonville a fresh set of downs and made it 1st and goal. The Storm once again forced a 4th down play, and were able to hold to force a Sharks turnover on downs.
This gave the Strom new energy and Jonathan Bane led his troops 43 yards down the field in 5 plays, capping off the drive with a 13 yard TD pass to Xavier Boyce. They were not able to put in the extra point, giving us a 13-13 tie with 2:39 left in the 1st half.
Jacksonville answered back on their next possession, this time it was Derrick Ross running it in from 1 yard out. The extra point was again missed, as Jacksonville took a 19-3 lead with just 13 seconds left in the half. This is how the 1st half would end.
Grady was leading the way for the Sharks at the half, completing 14 of 20 passes for 149 yards. Joe Hill’s was their leading receiver with 4 catches for 79 yards and a TD.
For the Storm, it was Jonathan Bane completing 12 of 18 passes for 160 yards and 1 td. T.T. Toliver was Tampa’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 69 yards.
The first score of the second half came with 9:03 left in the 3rd quarter, as Grady hit Tiger Jones on a 21-yard strike that made it 26-13 Sharks. Tampa’s first possession of the second half stalled out after picking up a 1st down.
On the Shark’s second possession of the 2nd half, Grady was looking deep to the endzone when he was intercepted by Tampa’s Cameron McGlenn. This gave the Storm new life.
They wasted no time and Bane found T.T. Toliver on the second play of the drive in the endzone to make it 26-20 as the 3rd quarter came to a close.