TAMPA-Curt Wardlaw fired four touchdown passes in leading the Nashville Kats to a 41-14 blowout over the Tampa Bay Storm in a Week 11 AFL game.
There was no scoring in the first quarter, as the teams traded punts and field position. Early in the second quarter, Nashville finally got on the board following a 5-play, 80-yard drive. Wardlaw finished the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Angus Shibest to give the Kats a 7-0 lead with 11:27 left in the second quarter. The Storm went three-and-out, and Oliver Osler returned the punt 58 yards to the Tampa Bay 16-yard line. Three plays later, Wardlaw threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Damien Holden to make it 14-0 with 9:15 to go in the half. Tampa Bay would answer with a 7-play, 46-yard drive, and Johnny Quincey kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 14-3 with 5:40 to go in the second quarter. Nashville punted, and the Storm drove 44 yards on 7 plays. Quincey connected on a 38-yard field goal to make it 14-6 with 1:03 left in the half. But Osler would strike again, this time with a 40-yard kick return to the Kats' 49-yard line. After four plays gained 32 yards, Daniel Stevenson would kick a 36-yard field goal with 2 seconds left to give Nashville a 17-6 halftime lead.
The Storm punted to open the second half. Lando Duckworth would sack Wardlaw and cause a fumble. Charley Voorhees recovered for Tampa Bay at the Nashville 30-yard line. But Quincey would miss a 41-yard field goal attempt. The teams traded punts, then the Kats would march 48 yards on 6 plays. Warldaw would throw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Vittorio Swane making it 24-6 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Tampa Bay attempted to drive for a touchdown, but Wil Fears would pick off Orval Stanley at the Nashville 30-yard line. But Reed Fuller would answer with a pick of his own and return it 16 yards to the Kats' 33-yard line. Seven plays later, Stanley threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson Taylor and a successful two-point conversion made it 24-14 with 12:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. After a Nashville punt went out of bounds at the Tampa Bay 8-yard line, Jose Killian sacked Stanley and forced a fumble. Tamlin Lake fell on the ball for a touchdown to make it 31-14 with 10:24 left in the fourth. The Storm attempted to score, but Quincey's 43-yard field goal attempt was no good. The Kats would then drive 56 yards on 9 plays, and Stevenson kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 34-14 with 2:14 left in the game. Fears would strip the ball from Stanley and recover at the Tampa Bay 20-yard line. Three plays later, Wardlaw threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Shibest to make it 41-14 with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter.
Nashville (7-4) gained 335 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 184 yards on 30 carries. Osler led the team with 119 yards on 18 carries. Wardlaw was 15-of-27 passing for 174 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 23 yards. Swane was the leading receiver with 4 catches for 69 yards and a TD. Next week, the Kats will host the Grand Rapids Rampage.
Tampa Bay (6-5) gained 300 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 77 yards on 21 carries. Willie Zachary led the team with 36 yards on 8 carries. Stanley was 25-of-42 passing for 256 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 33 yards. Foster Warhurst was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 111 yards, putting him over 1,000 yards for the season (1,013 on 85 receptions). The Storm host the New York Dragons next week.
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