Written by Adrian Beecher
Tampa, FL- The Storm got things underway early on in the first quarter, as Jason Boltus connected with T.T. Toliver on the 2nd play from scrimmage for a 31 yard TD pass.
Cleveland answered right back as the Gladiators went on a 4 play 40 yard drive, that was capped off by a 5 yard Larry Beavers to Quentin Simms TD connection. The Gladiator’s defense followed up the offenses performance, by forcing the Storm into a turnover on downs.
This gave Cleveland the ball back on their own 19 yard line. They were able to put together a 6 play 31 yard drive that gave the Gladiators a 13-7 lead after a 6 yard pass from Arvell Nelson to Collin Taylor.
In the second quarter, the Storm got things rolling again, with their second score of the game. This time it was a 20 yard rocket from Boltus to Phillip Barnett in the endzone to give them the lead back at 14-13 with 13:18 left in the half.
After that, it was the Storm defense coming up big to force a turnover on downs with an arrant pass from Nelson on 4th and 15 from the 20 yard line. This gave Tampa possession ad a chance to take charge for the game. But Boltus showed a lack of going through his progressions, stared down his receiver on 3rd and 10. Cleveland DB Jamie Bender read the pass and picked it off without hesitation and returned it all the way to the house for the 32 yard TD score.
This turned the momentum and gave the Gladiators a 20-14 lead over Tampa with 6:41 left to play in the half. But it didn’t last long as Tampa was able to regain the lead on their ensuing possession with a 6 play drive that was capped off with an 11 yard TD pass from Boltus to Anthony Parker with 1 minute left in the half.
Looking to regains momentum, Tampa attempted an onside kick, but it was rallied up by Joe Powell and returned for a TD. On the extra point, the Gladiators faked the kick and went for two and were able to convert it to take a 28-21 lead.
The Gladiators attempted an onside of their own on the ensuing kickoff, but it was recovered by Tampa. The Storm wasted no time as Boltus found Julius Gregory in the endzone for the 13 yard TD score to make it a tie game at 28 with 42 seconds left in the 1st half.
Then it was again Cleveland’s turn as the Storm did another onside that was unabe to be recovered as it went out of bounds. Then one play later, it was Philip Manley for Cleveland rushing it in from 4 yards out to give the Gladiators a 35-28 lead with 38 seconds left in the half.
On their final drive of the Half, Tampa was able to strike one final time to even the game up at 35.
Cleveland answered right back as the Gladiators went on a 4 play 40 yard drive, that was capped off by a 5 yard Larry Beavers to Quentin Simms TD connection. The Gladiator’s defense followed up the offenses performance, by forcing the Storm into a turnover on downs.
This gave Cleveland the ball back on their own 19 yard line. They were able to put together a 6 play 31 yard drive that gave the Gladiators a 13-7 lead after a 6 yard pass from Arvell Nelson to Collin Taylor.
In the second quarter, the Storm got things rolling again, with their second score of the game. This time it was a 20 yard rocket from Boltus to Phillip Barnett in the endzone to give them the lead back at 14-13 with 13:18 left in the half.
After that, it was the Storm defense coming up big to force a turnover on downs with an arrant pass from Nelson on 4th and 15 from the 20 yard line. This gave Tampa possession ad a chance to take charge for the game. But Boltus showed a lack of going through his progressions, stared down his receiver on 3rd and 10. Cleveland DB Jamie Bender read the pass and picked it off without hesitation and returned it all the way to the house for the 32 yard TD score.
This turned the momentum and gave the Gladiators a 20-14 lead over Tampa with 6:41 left to play in the half. But it didn’t last long as Tampa was able to regain the lead on their ensuing possession with a 6 play drive that was capped off with an 11 yard TD pass from Boltus to Anthony Parker with 1 minute left in the half.
Looking to regains momentum, Tampa attempted an onside kick, but it was rallied up by Joe Powell and returned for a TD. On the extra point, the Gladiators faked the kick and went for two and were able to convert it to take a 28-21 lead.
The Gladiators attempted an onside of their own on the ensuing kickoff, but it was recovered by Tampa. The Storm wasted no time as Boltus found Julius Gregory in the endzone for the 13 yard TD score to make it a tie game at 28 with 42 seconds left in the 1st half.
Then it was again Cleveland’s turn as the Storm did another onside that was unabe to be recovered as it went out of bounds. Then one play later, it was Philip Manley for Cleveland rushing it in from 4 yards out to give the Gladiators a 35-28 lead with 38 seconds left in the half.
On their final drive of the Half, Tampa was able to strike one final time to even the game up at 35.