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Storm's win streak snapped in Orlando

First loss in 8 games does not come without controversy as Tampa Bay questions the officiating.

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 11, 2001

ORLANDO -- A national television audience and the 13,691 fans in attendance at TD Waterhouse Centre saw the Predators squash any talk of an undefeated Arena Football League season with a devastating defensive performance that made the Storm appear outclassed.

Storm coach Tim Marcum, however, is reserving his judgment until he sees it for himself on videotape.

"I'd like to see how they were able to cover us," Marcum said, "when no one else has.

"I'll wait and see what the tapes look like."

It won't be pretty. The game will go down officially as a victory for the Predators by a 57-45 score, though the Storm said afterward it was more like a mugging as Orlando picked off three passes on consecutive second-half possessions and dominated play at the line of scrimmage.

The Predators' victory was their fifth straight since inserting quarterback Craig Whelihan into the starting lineup. The former San Diego Charger had another sterling performance with 268 yards and five touchdowns, two to offensive specialist Siaha Burley.

It was Burley's 57-yard kickoff return after a Storm touchdown to start the third quarter (John Kaleo to Gunner Twyner for 29 yards) that restored the Predators' halftime lead, making it 34-30, and Orlando never trailed again, scoring 21 unanswered points.

On the Storm's next three possessions after Burley's return, Kaleo was intercepted by former South Florida tight end Clif Dell, Damon Mason and Kenny McIntyre, respectively, and Orlando (5-3) extended its lead to 48-30 with 8:03 remaining.

"He made some poor decisions and we made him pay," Orlando coach Jay Gruden said.

The Storm cried foul. Two of the interceptions were passes for James Bowden, but Mason tipped both to cause the interceptions.

"He was grabbing me with both hands," Bowden said. "I couldn't even finish my routes without them grabbing me. When it counted most, (the refs) didn't throw the flag.

"I know what Iverson feels like now," he said referring to the NBA's Allen Iverson.

Kaleo shared his partner's view. Despite going 23-for-37 and throwing for a season-high 299 yards, he matched his season total for interceptions in the 17-minute span.

"They didn't play great defense," an angry Kaleo said. "They held the s--- out of JB all game long.

"They were nothing special. They were a good team when you're allowed to hold the s--- out of JB.

"They got some home cooking. But they have to come back to our place."

Though Bowden caught 12 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, one of the interceptions thrown in his direction was in the end zone and the other was inside the Predator 10-yard line.

Both merely highlighted the Storm's inability to score when it got close to the end zone. The game was almost a copy of last year's playoff loss to Orlando in which the Storm ran 22 plays inside the 10 and scored on just three.

In the second quarter alone, Tampa Bay (7-1) recovered two fumbles and drove to first-and-goal-on-the-5 situations only to come away with field goals as Mike Black kicked three to account for all the quarter's scoring.

The Storm staged a late rally as Kaleo ran it in from 6 yards to make it 51-45 with 44 seconds left, but McIntyre recovered the onside kick at the Storm 4 and Burley scored on a run of his own the next play.

UP NEXT: Arizona at Storm, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ice Palace, Tampa, Sunshine.

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