DETROIT-Throughout the season, the Detroit Drive have played more than their fair share of games. This week was no exception, as they kept the Tampa Bay Storm out of the end zone to preserve a 30-24 victory in Week 12 of the AFL season.
The game did not start out well for Detroit, as Lou Couch was intercepted by Blue Hanan who returned it 78 yards to the Drive 4-yard line. However, Johnny Quincey's field goal attempt was blocked at the 20-yard line. The Drive would subsequently move the ball 68 yards on 7 plays, and Cletis Frayer kicked a 29-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 8:27 left in the first quarter. Tampa Bay responded with a 3-play, 61-yard drive, and Orval Stanley completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Foster Warhurst to give the Storm a 7-3 lead with 6:51 to go in the first.
After a Detroit punt, Tampa Bay would drive 56 yards on 9 plays. Quincey finished the drive with a 20-yard field goal to go ahead 10-3 with 14:49 left in the second quarter. The Drive came back with their own scoring drive, moving 57 yards on 9 plays. Couch finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Rocky Adams to tie the game at 10 with 10:28 remaining in the half. The Storm would punt, but Hanan would intercept Couch again and return it to the Detroit 25-yard line. Two plays later, Stanley threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Vinnie Kirksey to give Tampa Bay a 17-10 lead with 6:25 to go in the second quarter. Renaldo Halter returned the ensuing kickoff to the Storm 36-yard line. Two plays later, Couch threw a 37-yard touchdown strike to Ahmed Sohn tying the game at 17 with 5:23 remaining in the half.
After the Storm punted to start the second half, The Drive moved the ball 73 yards on 8 plays. Frayer finished it off with a 24-yard field goal to pull ahead 20-17 with 7:08 to go in the third quarter. The Storm moved into position for Quincey to attempt a 40-yard field goal, but Butch Bryant blocked the attempt and returned it 30 yards to the Storm 39-yard line. After a six-play, ten-yard drive, Frayer kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 23-17 with 1:18 to go in the third.
Stanley was intercepted on Tampa Bay's ensuing possession by Stan Florin who returned it 19 yards to the Storm 11-yard line. Three plays later, Couch hit Sohn for a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 30-17 with 14:17 left in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay moved down the field, but were turned away on fourth down at the Detroit 4-yard line. The Drive would punt, and the Storm drove 60 yards on 7 plays. Stanley completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Thurman Stapleton to close the gap to 30-24 with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Detroit punted to the Tampa Bay 36-yard line with 1:09 to go in the game. The Storm managed to get to the Drive 11-yard line with 13 seconds left, but three straight pass plays fell incomplete to end the game.
Detroit (9-3) gained 371 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 98 yards on 25 carries. Patch Brolie led the team with 38 yards on 6 carries. Couch went 24-of-31 passing for 277 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 4-yard loss. Brolie led the receivers with 6 catches for 67 yards. Next week, Detroit will visit the Albany Firebirds in a rematch of a 31-28 Detroit victory in the opening week.
Tampa Bay (5-6-1) gained 412 yards of total offense. The Storm were held to 42 yards rushing on 17 carries. Jefferson Taylor led the team with 34 yards on 9 carries. Stanley went 29-of-51 passing for 377 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 7-yard loss. Von Windle led the receivers with 8 catches for 144 yards. The Storm visit the Orlando Predators next week in a rematch of a 20-17 victory by the Storm in Week 1.
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