TAMPA-The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Colorado Crush 21-14 to extend their lead in the Southern Division to two games during Week 7 of the AFL season.
Colorado started with a drive into field goal range, but Earl Ginger missed a 50-yard field goal attempt. Tampa Bay couldn't answer back and had to punt. Then both teams traded punts, and the Crush found themselves at their own 2-yard line. Colorado then embarked on a 13-play, 98-yard drive that ended with Howton Thom connecting with Turk Dill for a 24-yard touchdown pass to put the Crush up 7-0 with 12:13 left in the second quarter.
Tampa Bay responded with their own drive that went 70 yards on 7 plays. Foster Warhurst finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown catch from Orval Stanley to tie the game at 7 with 9:02 to go in the first half. Colorado appeared primed to score again, but Tyler Howell fumbled and Charley Voorhees recovered for the Storm at the Tampa Bay 28. The Storm had to punt, and the Crush punted back to Tampa Bay. From there, the Storm drove 68 yards on 8 plays. Stanley threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Vinnie Kirksey with 34 seconds left in the half to give them a 14-7 lead going into the locker room.
Tampa Bay opened the second half with Stanley getting intercepted by Deron Putnam at the Crush 18-yard line. The Crush couldn't capitalize and had to punt. The Storm answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Jefferson Taylor scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run, putting Tampa Bay up 21-7 with 4:04 left in the third. Thom was intercepted by Drake Cushing on Colorado's ensuing possession at the Crush 37. But Johnny Quincey missed a 45-yard field goal attempt at the start of the fourth quarter.
After the missed field goal, the Crush drove 65 yards on 12 plays. Thom finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Kinzer to close the gap to 21-14 with 11:11 left in the fourth. Curley Wentworth intercepted Stanley on Tampa Bay's next drive, but the Crush were turned away on fourth down. After that, it was punt after punt after punt. Colorado started their last drive at their own 4-yard line with 4:43 left in the game, and managed to reach the Tampa Bay 15 with 26 seconds remaining. But Thom's 4th down pass to Howell fell incomplete, and the Storm held on for the win.
Tampa Bay (5-2) gained 290 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 78 yards on 21 carries. Taylor led the team with 54 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Stanley went 18-of-31 passing for 222 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 10 yards. Warhurst led the Storm with 7 catches for 101 yards and a TD. Next week, the Storm will look to avenge a Week 5 loss by the score of 22-14 to the Nashville Kats.
Colorado (4-3) gained 392 yards of total offense. The Crush gained 101 yards rushing on 28 carries. Valentine Millstone led the Crush with 59 yards on 11 carries. Thom went 30-of-51 passing for 316 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Howell led the Crush with 6 catches for 73 yards. The Crush will host the San Jose Sabercats next week, a team they defeated 23-10 in Week 5.
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