TAMPA-The Tampa Bay Storm's losing ways continued as AFL Season 2 began, turning the ball over seven times in a 25-20 loss to the Milwaukee Mustangs.
The turnover bug plagued both teams early on, as Dazzle L. Singletary picked off Bruce Baskerville at the Milwaukee 20-yard line. Two plays later, Willie Zachary of the Storm fumbled and Yousef Checkers recovered for the Mustangs at their own 13-yard line. Milwaukee would punt, and Tampa Bay would drive 19 yards on 6 plays, and Johhny Quincey kicked a 49-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 9:36 to go in the first quarter. The Mustangs would punt again, but Greg Ponder fumbled after a big return, and Helmut Wagner recovered for Milwaukee at their own 37-yard line. An 11-play, 63-yard drive was finished off by Dave Symons scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Mustangs a 7-3 lead with 3:06 remaining in the first.
The teams traded punts, and then Tampa Bay went on a 10-play, 64-yard drive. Quincey ended it with a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-6 with 8:39 to go in the second quarter. The Storm would later block a Dexter Gaither punt, and he had to fall on it at the Mustangs 8-yard line. On the next play, Zachary scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to pull Tampa Bay ahead 13-7 with 6:33 left in the half. Milwaukee took five plays to traverse 80 yards on their next drive, the final 60 coming on a Baskerville bomb to C.C. Cage for a touchdown to put the Mustangs ahead 14-13 with 4:24 left in the second. On Tampa Bay's next possession, Zachary fumbled again, and Cecil Hyde recovered for the Mustangs at the Storm 18-yard line. After netting four yards on three plays, Rock Philbrook kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 17-13 with 2:16 to go in the half. Checkers intercepted Orval Stanley at the Mustangs 43-yard line, but Milwaukee went three-and-out. Gaither's punt would angle out of bounds, at the Storm 4-yard line, and Stanley was sacked in the end zone by Rosey Rader for a safety to make it 19-13 with 23 seconds to go in the second quarter.
The Storm marched down the field to start the second half, but fumbled the scoring chance away as Checkers stripped Jefferson Taylor at the Milwaukee 9-yard line. On the next play, Reed Fuller picked off Baskerville and ran it back 30 yards to the Mustangs 7-yard line. Three plays later, Stanley threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Woodrow McKenzie to give Tampa Bay a 20-19 lead with 8:24 to go in the third quarter. The teams traded punts, and the Storm had the ball in Milwaukee territory. But Stanley was sacked by Hayden Zeth and fumbled. Rader fell on it for the Mustangs at the Tampa Bay 48-yard line.
After trading punts again, the Mustangs put together a five-play, 23-yard drive. Philbrook connected on a 46-yard field goal to give Milwaukee a 22-20 lead with 12:28 to go in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay punted, and Milwaukee went 69 yards on 11 plays. Philbrook kicked a 21-yard field goal extending the lead to 25-20 with 4:02 remaining. The Storm's last offensive threat was thwarted by a Horace Vickerson interception at the Tampa Bay 37-yard line to put the capper on the game.
Milwaukee (1-0) gained 301 yards of total offense. The Mustangs ran for 127 yards on 29 carries. Garrett Counts led the team with 41 yards on 8 carries. Baskerville was 15-of-40 passing for 227 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked six times, losing 52 yards. Cage led the receivers with 6 catches for 150 yards and a TD. The Mustangs open their home schedule next week against the Dallas Desperados.
Tampa Bay (0-1) gained 231 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 130 yards on 36 carries. Zachary led the team with 59 yards on 17 carries and a TD. Stanley was 9-of-22 passing for 116 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 15 yards. Foster Warhurst led the receivers with 3 catches for 50 yards. The Storm lost their ninth straight game, dating back to last season, and carry a 10-game winless streak overall when they visit the Nashville Kats next week.
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