TAMPA-Johnny Quincey kicked a 28-yard field goal at the 2-minute warning and the Tampa Bay Storm held off a furious Orlando Predators charge to hang on for a 20-17 victory in the inaugural "War on I-4" game.
Not much of note happened in the first quarter. Tampa Bay opened with a punt, and Orlando K Abel White missed a 47-yard field goal. Both teams traded punts in their next possessions. The Storm would punt again to open the second quarter. Orlando would then suffer a sack by Storm DE Mitch Fixx, and then get picked off by LB Blue Hanan who returned it to the Orlando 2. On the next play, WR Hack Jarrod scored on a reverse from the 2 to give the Storm a 7-0 with 14:09 left in the second quarter.
Orlando was quick to respond, however. The Predators drove 67 yards on 8 plays, with HB D.J. Giles scoring on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:38 remaining in the half. The Storm would strike back with a 10-play, 65-yard drive culminating with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Orval Stanley to Greg Ponder to give Tampa Bay a 14-7 lead with 6:12 left in the half. The next drive saw the Predators go 80 yards on 10 plays, with HB Labe Felts scoring on a 3-yard run to even the score at 14-14 with 1:58 remaining in the half. Tampa Bay would finish the half moving quickly in position for Quincey to kick a 33-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to go up 17-14 at the half.
The second half was a struggle for both sides. The Predators opened the third with a 9-play, 38-yard drive that resulting in White kicking a 49-yard field goal with 12:25 left in the third to tie the game at 17-17. Tampa Bay punted on the ensuing possession. Orlando was on the verge of taking the lead, but Trent Josephs' sack of DJ Haji caused a fumble that was recovered by Hanan at the Tampa Bay 15.
Tampa would punt again early in the fourth. And the teams traded punts again. With 4:53 remaining in regulation, Orlando P Yannel Fletcher had his punt attempt blocked, and Storm DT Charley Voorhees recovered it at the Predators' 46. Seven plays later, Quincey kicked a 28-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead with 2 minutes to go. Orlando WR RW Warden returned the ensuing kickoff to his own 29 with 1:52 left. Haji's first pass was incomplete. Then he hit Giles for 16. Giles lost a yard on a sweep attempt. Haji then hit Felts for 11 and called timeout with 58 seconds left. Haji then hit Leonard Irving for a 6-yard gain and called time with 48 seconds left. Haji then hit Caleb Doering for 11 and Giles ran for a 3-yard gain. Haji then hurried the Predators and snapped the ball from the Tampa Bay 25 with 13 seconds left. Haji dropped back to pass but was sacked by Hanan as time ran out.
Tampa Bay gained 203 yards of total offense. Jarrod gained 28 yards on 3 carries, for a touchdown. Ponder scored a touchdown with 3 receptions for 25 yards. Stanley went 17-for-26 with 128 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice losing 15 yards.
Orlando gained 327 yards of total offense. D.J. Giles gained 34 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown. Felts carried 9 times for 27 yards and a touchdown. Doering was Orlando's leading receiver with 9 catches for 144 yards. Haji was 25-for-41 with 307 yards and an interception. He was sacked five times, losing 51 yards.
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