Storm

Storm WR highlights night with milestone

By Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writer
Published March 8, 2008

TAMPA - With an 18-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, Storm WR Sedrick Robinson became the third player in AFL history to reach 9,000 career return yards.

But that wasn't even the highlight of his night.

During a Storm kickoff in the second quarter, Robinson caught the ball in midair after it went off the net and over the outstretched arms of a Georgia player. He ran it in for a score.

In the books, it goes down as a net recovery.

HE WON'T LIKE THAT: The Storm's goal-line run game was one of the things coach Tim Marcum wasn't satisfied with in the team's season-opening win last week. So you can bet he didn't like what he saw on the Storm's first second-quarter possession.

On first and goal from the 1, QB Brett Dietz carried for no gain. On the next play, Dietz attempted a naked bootleg and was sacked for a 4-yard loss.

The Storm eventually settled for a field goal.

GIVE THE MAN A HAND: During player introductions, former USF star and New England Patriots starter Kenyatta Jones received one of the loudest ovations. In his rookie season with the Storm, the OT started in his first home appearance.

A CATCH ... WITH A CATCH: The AFL doesn't have replay, and it's a good thing for the Storm. In the first quarter, Dietz completed a long pass to Hank Edwards down the right sideline. Well, he kind of completed one.

After first going off a defender's hand, the ball hit the belly of a fan, nicked the top of the wall and fell into Edwards' hands.

The play went for 17 yards.

ODDS AND ENDS: Dietz threw two TD passes in the first quarter Friday night on 10 attempts. That was how many he had the entire game last week at Kansas City (25 attempts). ... Jim Foster, founder of the Arena Football League, attended Friday's game. ... The Force had won three straight in the series before Friday's loss. ... After a Force third-quarter score, the Storm dancers ran onto the field to perform a routine. One problem: Georgia had yet to attempt its PAT.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 00:00:18]