Entering this season, the Storm and Arizona Rattlers appeared in eight ArenaBowls, with Tampa Bay winning four and Arizona two. The Times takes a final short look back:
ArenaBowl V
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit; Aug. 17, 1991
Tampa Bay 48, Detroit 42
Nine months after Bob Gries introduced Arena football to the bay area, the Storm defeated three-time defending champion Detroit and coach Tim Marcum for its first title.
Stevie Thomas caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jay Gruden with 39 seconds left to break a 42-42 tie. Thomas had five receptions for 117 yards and an ArenaBowl record-tying four touchdowns to earn MVP honors.
Darren Willis, the Ironman of the game, had a 37-yard touchdown and a game-sealing interception in the end zone. Gruden passed for 298 yards, the third-most in ArenaBowl history, and four touchdowns in his rookie season.
Detroit's Art Schlichter threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns.
