***Storm Press Release***
Philadelphia, PA – The Tampa Bay Storm (3-6, 1-3) defeated the Philadelphia Soul (5-4, 1-1) on Saturday evening by a score of 62-34. The loss was the Storm’s fifth straight loss of the season, and longest since the 2013 season.
Hall made his season debut and started out strong, scoring on the Storm’s opening drive on a 3-yard rush. He would also use his arm, finishing the night with 13 completions for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Storm backup quarterback Brendan Crawford also made his Storm debut, filling in for Hall in the fourth quarter. Crawford would complete three passes for 20 yards and an interception. The Storm’s leading receiver was Joe Hills who caught eight passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
The Storm defense came up big when it was needed. Defensive back Rod Issac reeled in his third interception of the season and returned it for a touchdown. It was his second consecutive game with an interception returned for a touchdown. Storm wide receiver and kick returner Michael Lindsey finished the night with six kickoff returns for 110 yards. It was his sixth game of the season with 100+ kickoff return yards, and 31st of his career.
The Soul struck first with quarterback Dan Raudabaugh finding receiver Tiger Jones for a 10-yard reception. Raudabaugh would finish the night completing 20-of-32 passes for 194 yards and six touchdowns. His preferred target of the night was Ryan McDaniel who he found nine times for 72 yards and four touchdowns.
Soul fullback Derrick Ross continued to make his way into the history books becoming the first player in AFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. He would finish the night with 13 yards on three rushing attempts.
The Soul defense turned up the heat in the second half, forcing Hall into throwing two interceptions for touchdowns on two consecutive drives to open the second half; a 7-yard return by Joe Goosby and a 16-yard return by Brandon Perkins. The Soul defense would go on to haul in three consecutive interceptions, swinging the momentum in its favor for the rest of the game, holding the Storm scoreless in the third quarter.
UP NEXT – The Storm will host “Military Appreciation Night” on AMALIE Motor Oil Field as it takes on the Jacksonville Sharks at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Saturday, May 24. The game can be watched on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.