Storm

Storm fall at the end

Austin scores a touchdown and two-point conversion with five seconds left to beat Tampa Bay 60-59.

By ERIC RANSOM
Published April 16, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas - Quarterback John Fitzgerald ran in a two-point conversion with five seconds remaining to lift the Wranglers past the Tampa Bay Storm 60-59 Saturday night.

Derrick Lewis' touchdown reception, his second of the game, set up Fitzgerald's winning run to cap a furious scoring flurry as the teams combined for 43 points in the final four minutes in front of 10,394 fans at the Frank Erwin Center.

The Storm's Bill Gramatica attempted a 61-yard kick that was well short of the crossbar as time expired.

In a game dominated by special-teams plays, the Storm couldn't stop Austin's return man in the closing minute. Sedrick Robinson totaled 168 return yards, none bigger than a 25-yarder to set up Austin's winning drive.

"You can't give the guy half the field," Storm receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels said. "Special teams beat us tonight."

The Storm dropped to 6-6 and into fourth place in the Southern Division, and the Wranglers move into a first place tie with Orlando at 8-4.

Storm quarterback Shane Stafford was 29-of-44 for 303 yards and five touchdowns. It was his first 300-yard passing performance since Week 9 against Georgia (316). Samuels led all Storm receivers with 12 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. The Wranglers opened the game by recovering an onside kick, setting themselves up near midfield. Austin scored two plays later.

Demetris Bendross fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Wranglers fullback Dane Krager recovered the ball in the end zone to give Austin a 13-0 lead.

Stafford hit Freddie Solomon for an 18 yard pass to reach Austin's red zone. Samuels hauled in a 10-yard touchdown reception two plays later to put the Storm on the board.

Gramatica's kickoff bounced hard off the nets and past Robinson. It was recovered by Samuels at the Wrangler 10-yard line. Umar Muhammad cashed in on his fourth rushing touchdown this season from a yard. The Storm closed out the scoring in the first quarter as Stafford connected with Solomon for a 19-yard score and a 21-16 lead.

Lynarise Elpheage's interception opened the second quarter for the Storm, the second time he has intercepted Fitzgerald this season. Demetris Bendross extended the Storm lead to 28-16 as he was on the receiving end of a Stafford 5-yard strike. The Storm went back to the locker room at halftime up 28-23.

Samuels forced a turnover to open the third quarter, stripping the ball from Austin receiver Lewis. The Wranglers responded by sacking Stafford on consecutive plays to set up third down and 20. Stafford threw deep to Samuels for a 33-yard touchdown.

Austin receiver/defensive back Kevin Nickerson caught a 37-yard touchdown to put the Wranglers within a score midway through the third quarter. After a 30-yard Gramatica field goal, Austin tied it at 38 as the fourth quarter opened.

Elpheage opened the fourth-quarter scoring with 3:37 left as he stretched out over the goal line for a 9-yard touchdown. Nickerson knotted the game at 45 as he caught his 11 pass for the game on a 18-yard touchdown from Fitzgerald. A failed onside kick attempt by the Wranglers set up a 4-yard rumble for touchdown by Jarrod Penright with a minute remaining in regulation. Nickerson made a one handed grab on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald to tie at 52.

Information from other news organizations was used in the report.

[Last modified April 16, 2006, 00:43:12]