Arena football

Storm closes in on playoffs

TAMPA BAY 61, N.Y. 58: A big lead disappears before Lawrence Samuels' third touchdown catch wins it.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published May 16, 2005

	[Times photo: Melissa Lyttle]
	Anthony Derricks evades the tackle of New York's Stacey Evans. Derricks was one of five to catch a touchdown for Tampa Bay.

TAMPA - With every catch he made, Storm receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels thought back to the 2001 season, the only one of his 12-year career he has spent out of the playoffs.

As Samuels, who signed with New Jersey, watched from home, Tampa Bay played Indiana in the second round.

"It's a lonely feeling being at home for the playoffs," Samuels said. "Nobody wants to be home for the playoffs. There's a lot involved, extra money, everything, and it's all on the line. If you can't lay it on the line, then you don't belong in the playoffs."

Samuels did everything in his power to keep the Storm's hopes alive Sunday, catching nine passes for a career-high 166 yards and three touchdowns, including the winner in a 61-58 victory over Eastern Division champion New York.

Tampa Bay (9-6) can extend its record 14-season playoff streak and coach Tim Marcum's personal streak of 16 with a victory in the regular-season finale Sunday at Columbus (2-13) or a New Orleans loss to Orlando.

"Columbus next week, they're one of the average teams in the league," lineman Ernest Certain said. "So it'll be a great road trip for us because we've been horrible (1-6) on the road."

In front of an announced 18,244, the Storm finished the regular season 8-0 at the St. Pete Times Forum and joined Georgia as the first teams in league history to go undefeated at home.

After leading by as many as 20 in the first half, the Storm fell behind 58-54 on Chris Anthony's 2-yard reception with 10:41 left. It went ahead for good on Samuels' 45-yard catch and run with 9:49 left.

Noticing that New York's defensive backs played close to the line of scrimmage when Tampa Bay had three receivers on the same side, Marcum called a stutter and go for Samuels. He quickly got behind Chris Angel along the right sideline and hauled in Shane Stafford's pass.

It was one of several spectacular efforts by Samuels. He made a shoestring catch near midfield, sidestepped one tackler and stiff-armed another for a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter and made a one-handed grab for a 26-yard score in the third.

"He just makes plays," fullback David White said. "He's a low-key, quiet type of guy. But when he gets on the field, his tenacity shows."

Stafford threw seven touchdowns to five receivers, and White rushed for two scores as the Storm overcame three interceptions.

Aaron Garcia matched Stafford's seven touchdowns, but the Tampa Bay pass rush largely limited his deep drops and ability to throw downfield. Mike Sutton had a sack and Jonathan Ordway an interception in the end zone.

"They're tenacious. They got off the ball well, got a couple hits on me and kind of slowed us down in the first half," Garcia said. "Second half, we kept fighting and did a lot better. But we couldn't finish the game."

The Storm took a 41-21 lead, its biggest, on White's 13-yard run with three seconds left in the first half. Taking advantage of two Stafford interceptions, New York scored the next 16 and pulled to 41-37 on Mike Horacek's 40-yard catch with 9:47 left in the third.

The teams traded scores until Billy Parker's second interception with 11:49 left and Garcia's pass to Anthony two plays later gave the Dragons their first lead.

It lasted less than a minute, until Samuels' winning score.

On their ensuing possession, the Dragons drove to the Storm 6, but Rob Bironas missed a 21-yard field goal with 3:20 left. The Storm then ran out the clock.

"We're in total control of our destiny right now," Marcum said. "That's what's important."

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 01:22:06]