Storm

Storm ousted in 'game of inches'

Columbus barely grabs a late third-down pass, and Tampa Bay barely misses two kicks.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published July 1, 2007

Lincoln Kennedy leans over to console Seth Marler, who missed a long kick in the final seconds of Saturday's game against the Columbus Destroyers, ending the Tampa Bay Storm's first-round playoff game 55-56.
	[Times photo: Daniel Wallace]

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Daniel Wallace] Storm quarterback Brett Dietz dives for a touchdown during the second quarter.

TAMPA - In a sport built on the frenetic action of a three-dimensional arcade game, it is the most fleeting of moments that bear the weight of postseason hopes.

An opposing receiver overcomes blanket coverage to reach over the boards and grab a third-down pass a split second before he crashes into the stands.

A kicker whose 80 percent conversion rate for all attempts ranked first in the regular season misses an extra point with just less than two minutes remaining.

A winning 56-yard field goal sails just to the left of the goal post as time expires.

"It's a game of inches, " defensive back Jeroid Johnson said as he stood at his locker after a 56-55 loss to Columbus on Saturday in the wild-card round of the Arena Football League playoffs.

Time and time again, the Storm came out on the wrong side of those inches, and an improbable season came to an end in disappointing fashion. With 1:51 left, it looked to be in good shape as Hank Edwards hauled in a 17-yard touchdown from Brett Dietz to give the Storm a 55-49 lead.

But after a delay of game penalty, Seth Marler missed just his eighth extra point of the season out of 107, giving Columbus an opportunity to take the lead.

The Destroyers took advantage.

Facing third and 4 with 42 seconds remaining, Josh Bush made a 24-yard catch, reaching into the crowd to grab a pass from Matt Nagy while blanketed by Johnson, giving Columbus a first down at the Storm 2.

"There was a fan right there, " Johnson said. "All (the fan) had to do was reach out and catch it."

With just one timeout remaining, the Storm watched Columbus call two straight running plays that deliberately fell short of the goal line. (The clock stops if the offense doesn't gain positive yards.) Nagy then scored on a 1-yard sneak, and Peter Martinez hit the extra point to give the Destroyers the lead with seven seconds left.

Marler had a chance to redeem himself when he lined up for a 56-yard field goal. But a kick that initially looked good hooked to the left at the last moment, leaving him and Dietz, his holder, stunned.

"As soon as I hit it, Brett and I started going nuts, " Marler said. "Then all of a sudden, it just started tailing and tailing and tailing."

Columbus, the No. 6 seed that entered 7-9, plays at Dallas on Saturday. Philadelphia plays at Georgia on July 8.

Afterward, Storm players sat in a silent locker room and attempted to find some perspective. After starting 0-5 and enduring family deaths, critical injuries and defections, the Storm rebounded to finish 9-7 and host a playoff game. It found its quarterback of the future, enjoyed the contributions of NFL veterans Lincoln Kennedy and Karl Williams and produced one of the best regular-season finishes in franchise history.

"It was a memorable season, " said Dietz, who threw for 315 yards, six touchdowns and an interception returned 50 yards for a touchdown. "It (stinks) it had to end this way."

Col TB

First downs 20 29

Rushes-yards 12-22 6-14

Passing yards 260 304

Passes 19-26-0 11-63-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 12-63 11-63

Destroyers 14 7 21 14 - 56

Storm 14 7 21 13 - 55

TB - Shaw 9 pass from Dietz (Marler kick)

Col - Groce 29 pass from Nagy (Martinez kick)

TB - Shaw 9 pass from Dietz (Marler kick)

Col - Wells 11 pass from Nagy (Martinez kick)

Col - Barre 50 int return (Martinez kick)

TB - Dietz 2 run (Marler kick)

Col - Knight 23 pass from Nagy (Martinez kick)

TB - Samuels 18 pass from Dietz (Marler kick)

Col - Barre 2 run (Martinez kick)

TB - Shaw 2 pass from Dietz (Marler kick)

TB - Marshall 1 run (Marler kick)

Col - Groce 30 pass from Nagy (Martinez kick)

TB - Shaw 8 pass from Dietz (Marler kick)

Col - Saunders 3 pass from Nagy (Martinez kick)

TB - Edwards 17 pass from Dietz (kick failed)

Col - Nagy 1 run (Martinez kick)

COLORADO 49, K.C. 42: Damian Harrell caught three touchdowns, including the winner with 2:12 left, for the visiting Crush. The Brigade had it first and goal from the 3 in the final minute. But a fumble sent it to the 12. Two plays later, Raymond Philyaw threw incomplete as the clock ran out. Colorado plays at San Jose on Saturday. Chicago hosts the winner of Monday's Los Angeles-Utah game.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report. David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

Columbus 56, Storm55

[Last modified June 30, 2007, 23:18:09]