2010 Tampa Bay Storm season
Encyclopedia
The 2010
2010 Arena Football League season
The 2010 Arena Football League season was the twenty-third season in the history of the league. The regular season began on April 2, 2010 and ended on July 31...

 Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....

 season
was the 23rd season for the franchise in the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...

. The team was coached by Tim Marcum and played their home games at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

.

Regular season schedule

The Storm will open the season on the road against the Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...

 on April 3. Their first home game of the season will be in Week 3 against the Vigilantes
Dallas Vigilantes
The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's...

. The conclusion of the regular season was at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

 in Week 18 against the Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...

 in another edition of The War on I-4, on July 31.
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report
Score Record
1 Saturday April 3 8:00 pm at Tulsa Talons
2010 Tulsa Talons season
The 2010 Tulsa Talons season was the 10th season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Mitch Allner and played their home games at BOK Center...

L 48–54 0–1 BOK Center
BOK Center
The BOK Center, or Bank of Oklahoma Center, is a 19,100-seat multi-purpose arena and a primary indoor sports and event venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. Designed to accommodate arena football, hockey, basketball, concerts, and similar events, the facility was built at a cost of $178 million...

http://arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=58
2 Bye
3 Friday April 16 7:30 pm Dallas Vigilantes
2010 Dallas Vigilantes season
The 2010 Dallas Vigilantes season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. With many players of the old Desperados team that put up a 15–1 record in recent years returning, Dallas fans had high hopes for the Vigilantes carrying on with the Desperados' success...

W 54–41 1–1 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=81
4 Sunday April 25 5:00 pm at Milwaukee Iron
2010 Milwaukee Iron season
The 2010 Milwaukee Iron season was the second season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Bob Landsee and played their home games at Bradley Center. For the opening round of the...

L 61–72 1–2 Bradley Center
Bradley Center
The Bradley Center is an indoor arena, located on the northwest corner of North 4th and West State Streets, in Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/04/25/storm-turnonver-game-to-iron-72-61
5 Saturday May 1 7:30 pm Arizona Rattlers
2010 Arizona Rattlers season
The 2010 Arizona Rattlers season was the 19th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Kevin Guy and played their home games at US Airways Center...

W 62–61 2–2 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/05/01/storm-stand-up-rattlers-62-61
6 Friday May 7 8:00 pm Jacksonville Sharks
2010 Jacksonville Sharks season
The 2010 Jacksonville Sharks season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Les Moss and played their home games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Sharks put together a 12–4 record, winning the South division and was also the top...

L 43–46 2–3 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/05/07/sharks-weather-storm-46-43
7 Saturday May 15 8:05 pm at Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings
2010 Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings season
The 2010 Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings season was the 9th season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Jon Norris and played their home games at CenturyTel Center...

W 48–44 3–3 CenturyTel Center
CenturyTel Center
The CenturyLink Center is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in Bossier City, Louisiana...

http://www.arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=137
8 Bye
9 Friday May 28 8:00 pm at Orlando Predators
2010 Orlando Predators season
The 2010 Orlando Predators season was the 19th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Pat O'Hara and played their home games at Amway Arena. The Predators clinched a playoff berth for the 18th consecutive season by finishing fourth in the American Conference...

W 62–50 4–3 Amway Arena http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/05/29/storm-escape-jungle-with-victory-62-50
10 Saturday June 5 7:30 pm Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
2010 Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz season
The 2010 Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz season is the 7th season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Sparky McEwen and played their home games at the Cox Convention Center...

W 50–48 5–3 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/06/05/storm-hold-of-dawgz-50-48
11 Saturday June 12 8:30 pm at Alabama Vipers
2010 Alabama Vipers season
The 2010 Alabama Vipers season is the 10th season for the franchise, but the first under their current name, as well as the first in the Arena Football League. The team is coached by Dean Cokinos and will play their home games at Von Braun Center...

W 61–55 6–3 Von Braun Center
Von Braun Center
The Von Braun Center , known as the Von Braun Civic Center until 1997, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama...

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/06/12/storm-extend-streak-to-four-top-vipers-61-55
12 Saturday June 19 9:05 pm at Utah Blaze
2010 Utah Blaze season
The 2010 Utah Blaze season is the 4th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Ernesto Purnsley, who was fired on June 1, 2010, with Ron James named as his replacement. Home games are played at the Maverik Center, which was known as the "E Center" prior to...

W 65–40 7–3 Maverik Center http://www.arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=200
13 Friday June 25 8:00 pm Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings
2010 Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings season
The 2010 Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings season was the 9th season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Jon Norris and played their home games at CenturyTel Center...

W 78–39 8–3 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/06/25/storm-score-season-high-point-total-in-78-39-rout-of-bossier-shreveport
14 Friday July 2 8:00 pm Chicago Rush
2010 Chicago Rush season
The 2010 Chicago Rush season was the 10th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Mike Hohensee and played their home games at Allstate Arena. For the 10th consecutive season, the Rush qualified for the playoffs...

W 68–60 9–3 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/07/02/storm-extend-winning-streak-to-seven-with-68-60-win-over-division-leading-chicago
15 Friday July 9 8:00 pm at Dallas Vigilantes
2010 Dallas Vigilantes season
The 2010 Dallas Vigilantes season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. With many players of the old Desperados team that put up a 15–1 record in recent years returning, Dallas fans had high hopes for the Vigilantes carrying on with the Desperados' success...

W 56–34 10–3 American Airlines Arena http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/07/10/storm-clinch-playoff-berth-with-56-34-win-over-vigilantes
16 Saturday July 17 7:05 pm at Jacksonville Sharks
2010 Jacksonville Sharks season
The 2010 Jacksonville Sharks season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Les Moss and played their home games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Sharks put together a 12–4 record, winning the South division and was also the top...

L 47–49 10–4 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is a 15,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It was built in 2003 as part of Mayor John Delaney's Better Jacksonville Plan to replace the outdated Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/07/18/storm-fall-to-division-leading-sharks-49-47
17 Saturday July 24 7:30 pm Alabama Vipers
2010 Alabama Vipers season
The 2010 Alabama Vipers season is the 10th season for the franchise, but the first under their current name, as well as the first in the Arena Football League. The team is coached by Dean Cokinos and will play their home games at Von Braun Center...

W 53–29 11–4 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/07/24/tampa-bay-routes-alabama-vipers-53-29
18 Saturday July 31 7:30 pm Orlando Predators
2010 Orlando Predators season
The 2010 Orlando Predators season was the 19th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Pat O'Hara and played their home games at Amway Arena. The Predators clinched a playoff berth for the 18th consecutive season by finishing fourth in the American Conference...

L 60–75 11–5 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/07/31/storm-fall-to-predators-75-60

All times are EDT

Playoff schedule

Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Score Location Report
AC Semifinals Saturday August 7 8:00 pm at Tulsa Talons
2010 Tulsa Talons season
The 2010 Tulsa Talons season was the 10th season for the franchise, and the first in the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season. The team was coached by Mitch Allner and played their home games at BOK Center...

W 68–38 BOK Center
BOK Center
The BOK Center, or Bank of Oklahoma Center, is a 19,100-seat multi-purpose arena and a primary indoor sports and event venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. Designed to accommodate arena football, hockey, basketball, concerts, and similar events, the facility was built at a cost of $178 million...

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/08/07/storm-earn-second-round-playoff-berth-with-68-38-rout-of-talons
AC Championship Saturday August 14 7:30 pm Orlando Predators
2010 Orlando Predators season
The 2010 Orlando Predators season was the 19th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Pat O'Hara and played their home games at Amway Arena. The Predators clinched a playoff berth for the 18th consecutive season by finishing fourth in the American Conference...

W 63–62 St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/08/14/storm-punch-ticket-to-arenabowl-xxiii-with-63-62-win-over-predators
ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...

Friday August 20 8:00 pm at Spokane Shock
2010 Spokane Shock season
The 2010 Spokane Shock season was the fifth season for the franchise, and the first in the current incarnation of the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season...

L 57–69 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena a multi-purpose arena, located in Spokane, Washington, USA.It is home to the Spokane Chiefs, of the WHL and the Spokane Shock, of the AFL.-Construction:...

http://www.tampabaystorm.com/2010/08/20/storms-quest-to-claim-sixth-arena-bowl-title-falls-short-in-spokane-69-57/

All times are EDT

Week 1: at Tulsa Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...

In a game that saw neither team have consecutive scores until the 4th quarter, the Storm were defeated 69–58 after giving up two late touchdowns and being unable to mount a final comeback. The Storm committed just two turnovers in the game, but were unable to force any turnovers of their own. Quarterback Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 threw for 346 yards and 8 touchdowns, while wide receiver Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons is a professional American football wide receiver who is a member of the Tampa Bay Storm. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007...

 had 181 yards on 11 catches and 5 touchdowns.

Week 3: vs. Dallas Vigilantes
Dallas Vigilantes
The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's...

A goal-line stand near the end of the 1st half helped the Storm earn their first win of the season. With under a minute left in the half, the Storm defense stopped Dallas on a 4th and goal from the 1-yard line. Following the change of possession, quarterback Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 found Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons is a professional American football wide receiver who is a member of the Tampa Bay Storm. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007...

 in the end zone on the sixth play of the ensuing drive to give Tampa Bay the lead at halftime, which was also their first lead of the game. After trailing by a single point for a brief time in the 3rd quarter, the Storm quickly retook the lead and never gave it back to their opponent, defeating the Vigilantes 54–41. Dietz finished with 320 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Timmons led all receivers with 108 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Week 4: at Milwaukee Iron
Milwaukee Iron
The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring...

Second half turnovers cost the Storm the game in which they led at halftime. Perhaps the most costly turnover was early in the 4th quarter when Tampa Bay had just been given a 1st and goal following a Milwaukee penalty. Cleannord Saintil
Cleannord Saintil
Cleannord Saintil is a professional Canadian football wide receiver free agent. He was originally signed by the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders.-Early years:Saintil was born...

 fumbled the ball inside the Milwaukee 3 yard line, which was recovered by the Iron's Eric Turner. The Iron took full advantage of the miscue with a touchdown drive capped off by a Chris Greisen
Chris Greisen
Christopher J. Greisen is an American football quarterback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State...

 touchdown run. This put the Storm behind by 11 points, and they were unable to make up the deficit. Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 threw for 316 yards and 7 touchdowns in the loss, while Saintil led all receivers with 128 yards on 9 receptions and 4 receiving touchdowns.

Week 5: vs. Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...

The Storm led for almost the entire game, but continued to allow Arizona to creep back into it. Following a fumble recovered by the Rattlers in the 4th quarter, they tied the game at 48–48 on a 12-yard passing touchdown just a few plays later. The Storm would score a touchdown on their next drive with a 10-yard reception by Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons is a professional American football wide receiver who is a member of the Tampa Bay Storm. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007...

, however kicker Garrett Rivas missed the extra point. The Rattlers would find the end zone on their next play from scrimmage, and with a successful extra point, took their first lead of the night at 55–54. Tampa Bay would retake the lead on a 37-yard pass by Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 to DeAndrew Rubin. Instead of trying an extra point this time, the Storm went for a two-point conversion. The pass from Dietz to Terrence Royal was successful, putting the Storm ahead 62–55 with 1:25 left for the Rattlers. Arizona put together a 5-play, 46-yard drive in which they never faced a 3rd down, ending in a 3-yard passing touchdown with 7 seconds remaining. They went for two instead of the tie, which would have likely forced overtime, but their attempt was unsuccessful. The Storm recovered the onside kick that ensued and ran out the clock to end the game, winning 72–71. Dietz finished with 288 yards and a season-high 9 touchdowns. His most frequent receiver was DeAndrew Rubin, who caught 9 passes for 184 yards and 5 touchdowns.

For Tim Marcum, the win was his 200th in his career as a head coach in the AFL.

Week 6: vs. Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football...

The game, while low scoring, was tight throughout the night, as neither team led by more than 6 points at any time. The Storm were up by 5 points in the final minute after a Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons
Tyrone Timmons is a professional American football wide receiver who is a member of the Tampa Bay Storm. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007...

 11-yard touchdown catch, but Tampa Bay's defense gave up a touchdown on the Sharks' ensuing drive. Down 46–43 and having 36 seconds to work with on the clock, DeAndrew Rubin
DeAndrew Rubin
DeAndrew Tarjo Rubin is an American football wide receiver and defensive back, who is currently a Free Agent of the Arena Football League. Rubin attended Dixie Hollins High School in Saint Petersburg, Florida and the University of South Florida and was a starting receiver after being redshirted...

 fumbled 15 yards from the end zone after catching a pass. The loose ball was recovered by the Sharks, who ran out the clock to end the game. It was Tampa Bay's fifth giveaway in the game. Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 threw 2 interceptions along with his 293 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. Despite the late turnover, Rubin was the team's leading receiver with 147 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions.

Week 7: at Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings

Week 9: at Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...

Week 10: vs. Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...

Week 11: at Alabama Vipers

Week 12: at Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...

Week 13: vs. Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings

Week 14: vs. Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...

Week 15: at Dallas Vigilantes
Dallas Vigilantes
The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's...

With their eighth consecutive win, the Storm clinched a playoff berth.

Week 16: at Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football...

Week 17: vs. Alabama Vipers

Week 18: vs. Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...

The Storm looked to take their second win in The War on I-4 in 2010. They entered the game having already known the Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football...

 wrapped up the division championship with a win the night before. This meant that win or lose to the Preds, the Storm would be heading to Tulsa for the conference semifinals against the Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...

.

Still, the Storm fell behind early against the Predators as quarterback Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...

 threw two interceptions in the 1st quarter, and Orlando capitalized on both turnovers with a pair of touchdown drives. In the second quarter, both teams scored two touchdowns each, but the Predators took a 45–20 lead into halftime with a 23-yard field goal as time expired. The closest Tampa Bay would get in the 2nd half was a 15-point deficit, after a 7-yard Hank Edwards
Hank Edwards (American football)
Hank Edwards is a professional Canadian and Arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Storm as a street free agent in 2006. He played college football at Texas Southern.Edwards has also played for the Toronto Argonauts-External links:*...

 touchdown reception with 14 seconds left in the 4th quarter, losing the game 75–60. Head coach Tim Marcum commented after the game, "It was a butt whipping, and we supplied the butt."

Dietz's 310 passing yards gave him 5,054 for the season, a new single-season record for Tampa Bay. His six touchdown passes raised his season total to 106, another single-season record that had already been surpassed by the quarterback in the weeks before. DeAndrew Rubin
DeAndrew Rubin
DeAndrew Tarjo Rubin is an American football wide receiver and defensive back, who is currently a Free Agent of the Arena Football League. Rubin attended Dixie Hollins High School in Saint Petersburg, Florida and the University of South Florida and was a starting receiver after being redshirted...

 was the leading receiver in the game, and also set a couple of single-game records for the Storm with 17 receptions and 245 yards.

The game itself took an ugly turn shortly before halftime because of an altercation between fans and two Orlando players. Center Julius Wilson
Julius Wilson
Julius Wilson is an American football offensive tackle for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at UAB.Wilson has also been a member of the St...

 reportedly attempted to toss a football to his father in the stands behind the Predator bench, however a fan knocked the ball away from the hands of Wilson's father, and as other fans scrambled to get the ball, Wilson's father was knocked down. Receiver Bobby Sippio
Bobby Sippio
Robert Lee "Bobby" Sippio, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Peoria Pirates in 2002...

 went into the seats as his own father was near the area of the incident. Wilson eventually went into the stands as well, and threw a punch at a fan, which reslted in a fight breaking out. Both players were ejected from the game and were given suspensions after the game. Ten fans were also escorted away. No arrests were made.

American Conference Semifinals: at Tulsa Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...

American Conference Championship: vs. Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...

ArenaBowl XXIII: at Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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