Arena League

Field goals help Storm get key win

By FRANK PASTOR
Published May 1, 2005

TAMPA - Tim Marcum makes no bones about it: He doesn't like kickers.

The Storm coach employed eight during the 2003 and 2004 seasons and once cut Jay Feely, who went on to star with the Atlanta Falcons, after a single game.

But even Marcum had to change his tune after the Storm's 47-36 victory over the New Orelans VooDoo before 16,501 on Saturday at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Matt George made four field goals, and Lynaris Elpheage recovered a George kickoff off the net to give the Storm's playoff chances a much-needed boot.

"He did a nice job," Marcum said. "He kicked everything he was supposed to, and our defense made some plays. That's the difference in the game."

Whether the game will be the difference in the Storm's season remains to be seen.

Coupled with Orlando's 64-60 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday, it moved Tampa Bay within a half-game of the Predators and one of first-place Georgia in the Southern Division.

More important, it moved the Storm past the VooDoo (8-5) in the race for the final playoff berth thanks to a better division record.

Tampa Bay has made the playoffs in each of its 14 seasons. Marcum's personal streak spans 16 seasons, including stops at Denver and Detroit.

"We control our own destiny," said receiver/defensive back Anthony Derricks, who caught five passes for 48 yards and had an interception in the end zone.

George helped put the Storm in that position by breaking the team record of three field goals set seven previous times, most recently by Mike Black in 2001. George also set a season record of 16, one more than Black in '02.

Unhappy with his performance in last week's 37-21 loss to Nashville, George set up a yard deeper and got his kicks higher to reduce the chances of a block.

Afterward, Marcum showed his approval, silently.

"We've got a good relationship," George said. "I do my job, and we don't have to talk to each other."

Shane Stafford threw two touchdowns and ran for two. With 215 passing yards, he moved within 61 of joining Jay Gruden (15,623) as the only Storm quarterbacks with 10,000.

Rookie offensive specialist Demetris Bendross, signed from the practice squad Thursday after turning heads during a two-day tryout, caught two passes for 40 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.

Bendross, recommended by Storm defensive specialist and former Canadian Football League teammate Jonathan Ordway, made his presence known immediately by catching Stafford's pass along the right sideline on the first play from scrimmage.

"Since I came in on the practice squad, that was my best route, and every time I ran it, I scored a touchdown in practice," Bendross said. "Eventually, I knew I was going to get that in a game. But I never knew it was going to be the first one."

But Bendross' first Arena game was a learning experience, and his inexperience showed later in the quarter as he was tackled in the end zone for a safety on a kick return, allowing New Orleans to close to 14-9.

Aaron Bailey returned the subsequent kickoff to the Tampa Bay 22, but Derricks ended New Orleans' bid for its first lead when he intercepted Andy Kelly's pass intended for Bailey in the back right corner of the end zone.

The VooDoo closed to 28-23 on Jacques Rumph's 6-yard catch with 17 seconds left in the half. But Tampa Bay used the remaining time to drive to the New Orleans 22, and George made a 38-yard field goal as time expired.

After George's 28-yard field goal made it 34-23 with 5:18 left in the third, Elpheage recovered the ensuing kickoff off the net. Four plays later, George converted from 24 yards to give the Storm a two-touchdown lead.

STORM FLURRIES: The Storm retired the No.76 of former lineman Al Lucas, who died from a presumed spinal cord injury while playing for Los Angeles on April10. Lucas' parents, Elaine and David Sr., wife DeShonda and 2-year-old daughter Mariah, were presented with a framed jersey before the game. ... Offensive specialist Freddie Solomon and lineman Mike Lawson were inactive.

[Last modified May 1, 2005, 00:21:02]