Arena football

A record-tying day for Stafford

By FRANK PASTOR
Published January 31, 2005

TAMPA - After spending the offseason reacquainting himself with his receivers, Storm quarterback Shane Stafford familiarized himself with the end zone Sunday.

Four months after he began throwing to Freddie Solomon , Lawrence Samuels , T.T. Toliver and David Saunders in a park near the apartment complex where players stay during the season, Stafford threw for eight touchdowns. That tied a team record held by Jay Gruden and John Kaleo .

"It's just timing," Stafford said. "Knowing your receivers, trusting that they'll be where they're supposed to be and that kind of thing and just getting a relationship with them. That's the biggest thing, developing not the on-the-field relationship, but joking around with them and knowing little things about them, stupid things."

Stafford completed a career-high 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards while leading Tampa Bay to touchdowns or field goals on 10 of his 11 possessions. He did not throw an interception.

He outplayed ArenaBowl MVP Mark Grieb , who completed 25 of a career-high 49 passes for 298 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

PITCHING IN: It took three players, but the Storm successfully overcame the absence of receiver/defensive back Toliver, out six to eight weeks with a knee injury. Clif Dell caught two touchdowns in place of Toliver on offense, and Anthony Derricks and Lynaris Elpheage combined for 21/2 tackles and two pass breakups on defense.

"I thought both of them played well with what we asked them to do," coach Tim Marcum said. "I think Anthony Derricks got a little tired. He's only been in camp one week, so his conditioning is a little suspect. We've got to address that."

HURTING: Offensive specialist James Hundon , the SaberCats' career leader in receiving yards, was placed on injured reserve Friday with a bulging disc in his upper back. Arena rookie Rodney Wright largely was ineffective in place of Hundon, catching six passes for 66 yards and no touchdowns.

Arena veteran Barry Wagner returned kickoffs in place of Rashied Davis , who has a broken right hand. Davis was limited to defensive specialist duties because of a soft cast.

JUST FOR KICKS: The teams combined for five onside kicks, with the Storm recovering four. Jonathan Ordway recovered two of San Jose's four, and Samuels and Solomon fell on the others. The SaberCats recovered Tampa Bay's only attempt.

THRICE AS NICE: San Jose defensive specialist Omarr Smith played on the last three ArenaBowl championship teams. He won titles with the SaberCats in 2002 and 2004 and the Storm in 2003.

STUNNED: Ordway staggered off the field after taking the brunt of a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jason Anderson while attempting to field an onside kick. He returned on the next defensive series.

STORM FLURRIES: Storm linemen Darion Conner and DeMarcus Johnson and fullback/linebacker Elfrid Payton were inactive.

[Last modified January 31, 2005, 09:31:45]