TAMPA-Jefferson Taylor scored three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as the Tampa Bay Storm's continues to circle the drain. The Arizona Rattlers would send the Storm to their sixth straight defeat in a 28-23 win during Week 14 of the AFL season.
After both teams punted to start the game, Tampa Bay would move 80 yards on 11 plays. Taylor scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Orval Stanley, but the Storm missed the extra point and the score was 6-0 with 5:21 left in the first quarter. Allie Navarro would pick off Don Fawcett on Arizona's ensuing drive, but Stanley was stripped of the ball by Madison Prunty on a sack, who returned it 31 yards to the Storm 19-yard line.
The Rattlers would only gain 2 yards on 3 plays, but it was enough for Pancho Barrow to kick a 34-yard field goal to make it 6-3 with 13:07 left in the second quarter. Tampa Bay would punt, and Fawcett was picked off again, this time by Reed Fuller at the Storm 7-yard line. But Stanley would get sacked in the end zone by Zeke Huntley for a safety to make it 6-5 with 6:34 to go in the half. Following the safety kick, Arizona went on a 9-play, 73-yard drive, and Fawcett threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Jones to give the Rattlers a 12-6 lead with 2:07 left in the second quarter. Barrow missed a 50-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half, and the teams left for the intermission with that score.
Hack McDonald made a long return of the second half kickoff to the Arizona 29-yard line. Stanley was sacked for a 9-yard loss by Rich Warick, but Johnny Quincey would still connect on a 55-yard field goal to make it 12-9 with 14:12 remaining in the third quarter. The Rattlers responded with a 9-play, 59-yard drive ending with a 27-yard field goal by Barrow to put Arizona 15-10 with 8:13 left in the third. Stanley was intercepted by Chris Harrell who returned it 40 yards to the Tampa Bay 34-yard line. But Blue Hanan answered by picking off Fawcett and taking it 22 yards to the Storm 37-yard line. After that interception, Tampa Bay moved 63 yards on 9 plays. Taylor finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Storm a 16-15 lead with 20 seconds remaining in the third.
It only took three plays for the Rattlers to respond, ending a 74-yard drive with a 64-yard bomb from Fawcett to Speedy Crowley for a touchdown. Arizona missed the 2-Point Conversion, and the Rattlers were up 21-16 with 14:47 left in the fourth quarter. Following a Storm punt, the Rattlers went on a 10-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Pablo Cadwell to extend the lead to 28-16 with 7:54 to go in the fourth. The Storm were turned away on fourth down from the Rattlers' 5. Arizona would punt it away just prior to the 2-minute warning. The Storm then went 71 yards on 10 plays, and Taylor caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Stanley to make it 28-23 with 29 seconds left. An onside kick failed, and Arizona ran out the clock.
Arizona (4-10) gained 455 yards of total offense. The Rattlers gained 144 rushing yards on 35 carries. Jones led the team with 71 yards on 16 carries. He also caught 5 passes for 48 yards and a TD. Fawcett was 22-of-30 passing for 311 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT and was not sacked. Will Meads caught 5 passes for 47 yards. The Rattlers will host the Detroit Drive next week.
Tampa Bay (5-8-1) gained 313 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 72 yards on 20 carries. Taylor led the team with 22 yards on 6 carries and a TD. He was also the leading receiver with 7 catches for 76 yards and 2 TD. Stanley was 17-of-37 passing for 281 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 40 yards. Next week, the Storm will visit the Chicago Rush.
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