Arena League

Storm outlasts archrival

In Tim Marcum's first game back, Tampa Bay gets a division win 54-42 over Orlando.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published April 10, 2005

TAMPA - Receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels wanted the Storm to sign Johnnie Harris when the 1998 defensive player of the year announced last month he was returning to the Arena league after five seasons in the NFL.

But Samuels didn't mind being in the opposing locker room Saturday at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Though Orlando won the bidding war for Tampa Bay's former defensive specialist, the Storm won the battle on the field 54-42 before a season-high 18,784.

"(Harris) was a good pickup for Orlando, I think," Samuels said. "It's unfortunate he couldn't come here. It's okay. I'll just take the victory."

By improving to 6-0 at home this season, Tampa Bay avenged a 61-46 loss Feb.11 at Orlando and took a 19-18 lead in the league's most storied rivalry.

Two games into a six-game stretch in which it plays five division opponents, the Storm (6-4) is unbeaten. It moved within a half-game of Orlando (7-4) in the Southern Division and stayed 11/2 behind first-place Georgia (8-3).

"We had to win the game. There's no ands, ifs or buts about it," fullback/linebacker Umar Muhammad said. "It's a big rivalry game. If we lose any other game, we don't want it to be the Orlando game."

In coach Tim Marcum's return to the field after serving the first two of a four-game suspension spanning this and next season for salary-cap violations, Shane Stafford threw four touchdowns and ran for another. And a rushing offense that ranked 17th entering the game scored three touchdowns.

"Everybody knows who's in charge when he's around. You don't have any chiefs or anything like that," Stafford said. "You have one chief, and that's coach Marcum. So it was good to have him back."

Jonathan Ordway had an interception and season-high five pass breakups to lead a defense that stopped Orlando on five possessions and allowed a field goal on another.

The Storm set the tone on the first play, when Samuels stripped kick returner Jerrian James from behind and Nyle Wiren recovered at the Orlando 15. Three plays later, Stafford ran 7 yards around right end for a 7-0 lead.

Orlando had a chance to tie it at 14 with 4:45 to play in the quarter, but Brian Gowins missed the extra point kick after Jimmy Fryzel's 27-yard touchdown reception.

The Storm extended its lead to 21-13 on the final play of the quarter when Ronney Daniels' 9-yard reception in the back of the end zone capped a seven-play, 46-yard drive.

Cory Fleming's 12-yard reception after a Harris interception gave Orlando a 23-21 lead, its first, with 39 seconds left in the half. But the Storm regained the lead on Matt George's 31-yard field goal with six seconds left and took control early in the third quarter.

David White powered into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown on Tampa Bay's opening drive. After a Storm stop, Freddie Solomon's 9-yard touchdown catch gave the Storm a 38-23 lead it did not relinquish.

STORM FLURRIES: Daniels sprained a foot late in the third. X-rays were taken after the game. Orlando lost lineman Buck Gurley (ankle) and receiver/defensive back Reggie Doster (ankle).

[Last modified April 10, 2005, 00:41:07]