Sports: Kaleo and Bowden making their marks

Kaleo and Bowden making their marks

By JOHN COTEY

Quarterback John Kaleo and offensive specialist James Bowden haven't won anything save for a few games since hooking up in Tampa last season, so to compare them with former Storm standouts Jay Gruden and Stevie Thomas probably is not fair.

But after their performances Sunday in an easy 66-41 win over previously unbeaten Grand Rapids, Kaleo and Bowden may be the league's best combination on the league's best team (6-0).

Kaleo tied the team record he shared with Gruden of eight touchdown passes in a game. Bowden, who caught five of them, had 11 catches for 167 yards and 311 all-purpose yards, the third most in team history. (Bowden also holds the top spot, 345 yards, No. 2 and No. 5.) And for the fourth time this season, the Storm scored more than 60 points.

In its four championship seasons combined, the Storm surpassed 60 points 11 times and never scored 70.

In the past 13 regular-season games, Kaleo and Bowden have led the Storm to at least 60 points seven times and 70 four times.

"The difference is No. 3 (Kaleo)," coach Tim Marcum said.

After seven years as a journeyman with seven teams, Kaleo has emerged as one of the league's top passers. The Storm MVP in 2000 after a career-high 50 touchdown passes, Kaleo is on pace to eclipse every one of his season highs.

For Bowden, it is the same. The most dangerous player on the team surely will rewrite the Storm record book if he continues on his current pace.

But for both to be lumped in the same category with Gruden and Thomas, they will have to win a league championship.

THE BEST: Though the Storm is playing well and winning easily, Marcum has resisted comparisons to any of the championship teams.

"I don't know who we've played," he said. "We've only played Nashville and Grand Rapids who had winning records, so I can't say."

Having passed its biggest test, the Storm has a three-game stretch in which it plays Carolina, resurgent Orlando and Arizona.

CENTURY MARK: The win was the 100th regular-season one for the franchise.

DON'T LOOK NOW: Speaking of Gruden-coached Orlando, the left-for-dead Predators have clawed their way out of the grave, just in time for the Storm.

Since an 0-3 start in which the Predators looked terrible and could barely score, Gruden signed former NFL quarterback Craig Whelihan and former Central Florida wide receiver Siaha Burley. The result has been three straight wins, including a shocking one over San Jose last weekend, and renewed hope for the defending league champions.

FIRST TIME: Against Grand Rapids, Kaleo was intercepted for the first time this season, by Michael Baker. The ball was tipped and popped into the air at the line of scrimmage.

Kaleo has an impressive 35-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.