AFL: Storm Defeat Firebirds, 34-19

ALBANY, NY-The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Albany Firebirds 34-19 in a Week 7 AFL game.

The Storm got off to an early start with a 3-play, 59-yard drive. Willie Zachary scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to give Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead with 13:26 left in the first quarter. The Firebirds would answer back with a 13-play, 47-yard drive. Wally Dancer would kick a 28-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 6:59 left in the first.

After trading punts, Tampa Bay drove into scoring position, but Johnny Quincey missed a 48-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. Albany would punt the ball away, then the Storm drove 80 yards on 13 plays. Orval Stanley finished it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Foster Warhurst to make it 14-3 with 6:48 left in the second. On the Firebirds' next possession, Abdul Fowler fumbled and Emmit Quasar recovered for the Storm at the Tampa Bay 41-yard line. Following an 8-play, 41-yard drive, Quincey kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-3 with 1:54 left in the half. Albany answered with a 4-play, 25-yard drive ending with a 53-yard field goal by Dancer with 56 seconds to go to make it 17-6 at halftime.

Albany would open the second half with a 7-play, 80-yard drive. Garland Davidson finished it off with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Firebirds missed the 2-Point Conversion, and the score was 17-12 with 11:34 left in the third quarter. After trading punts, the Storm would drive 54 yards on 9 plays. Quincey would kick a 29-yard field goal to make it 20-12 with 2:39 remaining in the third.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Firebirds were turned away on fourth down at the Storm 35-yard line. Tampa Bay then drove 65 yards on 10 plays, ending with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Stanley to Jon Denny to make it 27-12 with 10:16 left in the fourth quarter. Albany answered with a 6-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Redden to Teddy Harley to make it 27-19 with 7:16 remaining in the fourth. Tampa Bay would go three-and-out, but Drake Cushing put the Storm on the board again with a 47-yard pick-six to make it 34-19 with 3:31 left in the game.

Tampa Bay (5-2) gained 372 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 143 yards on 32 carries. Stanley (6 carries) and Zachary (8 carries) each ran for 53 yards. Stanley was 19-of-31 passing for 239 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Warhurst was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 55 yards and a TD. The Storm visit the Georgia Force next week.

Albany (4-3) gained 325 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 83 yards on 24 carries. Fowler led the team with 38 yards on 5 carries. Redden was 23-of-41 passing for 265 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 23 yards. Harlet was the leading receiver with 13 catches for 97 yards and a TD. The Firebirds host the New York Dragons next week.