Storm

Ex-mate hands Storm a loss

Shane Stafford throws five touchdowns to key Orlando's win.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published March 3, 2007

TAMPA - For a brief second, it almost seemed as if nothing had changed.

A quarterback named Shane Stafford dropped back on the St. Pete Times Forum turf, spotted an open receiver and tossed a pass that went for a 34-yard touchdown.

Yup, it was just like old times.

If you were color blind.

Stafford, who left Tampa Bay for Orlando this offseason after five years as quarterback of the Storm, threw a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and finished with 329 yards and five touchdowns as the Predators cruised to a 52-27 season-opening win over his former team.

"When you don't come out through that tunnel," said Stafford, gesturing toward the home sideline, "something you've been doing for five years, and you hear those sirens going off, it's a little different."

All in all, it was a satisfying homecoming. He completed 24 of 34 passes with no interceptions and one rushing touchdown. Afterward, he talked about how he visits Tampa most weeks to participate in charity work and spend time with friends.

For his former team, though, life wasn't nearly as good.

The Storm allowed the Predators to score touchdowns on their first three possessions, two on the first play of those drives. Stafford threw two touchdowns to former USF and Dixie Hollins High star DeAndrew Rubin and one to Jimmy Fryzel as Orlando took a 21-0 lead.

Rubin finished with 141 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

"I don't know what happened," Storm coach Tim Marcum said. "The first quarter? It was like we were in la-la land."

The Storm struggled to protect new quarterback John Kaleo and made several mistakes, including an interception in the end zone with less than five minutes remaining.

There were some highlights. Kaleo threw a 27-yard touchdown to newcomer T.T. Toliver with 3:07 left in the first quarter and a 39-yard touchdown to Demetris Bendross with 5:57 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 35-21. Kaleo finished with 289 yards on 24-for-37 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

"I don't know how to describe it," said Kaleo, who played for Tampa Bay for four seasons before leaving in 2005 to sign with Austin. "I know how Shane feels because I've been there against the Storm. It's kind of like, now I'm kind of feeling like Shane's felt the last few years. Having said that, I still believe in this team."

One of the most glaring areas of concern for the Storm, which missed the playoffs last season for the first time since the franchise moved to Tampa Bay, is the kicking game.

Bill Gramatica, a former USF star who spent time in the NFL, missed four extra points and was 1-of-2 on field goals.

"Are there any other kickers out there? Probably about 3,000," said Marcum, who has lost three straight games against the Storm's rival. "But I'm not announcing to you at this time what I'm going to do in the kicking game. But I know what I'm going to do."

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or 352 848-1407.

Orl - Rubin 34 pass from Stafford (Taylor kick)

Orl- Rubin 42 pass from Stafford (Taylor kick)

Orl - Fryzel 19 pass from Stafford (Taylor kick)

TB - Toliver 27 pass from Kaleo (kick failed)

TB- Filer 1 run (kick failed)

Orl - Dudley 1 run (Taylor kick)

TB - Gramatica 37 FG

Orl-Rubin 28 pass from Stafford (Taylor kick)

TB-Bendross 39 pass from Kaleo (kick failed)

Orl-Taylor 20 FG

TB-Bendross 18 pass from Kaleo (kick failed)

Orl-Stafford 3 run (Taylor kick)

Orl-Dudley 37 pass from Stafford (Taylor kick)

Predators 52, Storm 27

[Last modified March 3, 2007, 01:26:11]