Sports: Storm season ends with a thud

[Times photo: Ken Helle]
Storm receiver Sir Mawn Wilson comes up empty as Indiana's Jay Jones cuts in front of him for a key interception in the third quarter during the quarterfinals playoff game.

TAMPA -- John Kaleo returned from injury Sunday afternoon, and by the end of the third quarter most of the remaining fans made it clear they wished he hadn't.

Suffering through another in a string of recent disappointing playoff losses, the Storm faithful booed Kaleo after his second interception ended the third quarter. They booed him again when he came back on the field after an Indiana score, and finally just gave up and left after another interception -- this one returned for a touchdown -- assured the Storm of its worst defeat, 68-31 at the hands of the Indiana Firebirds.

The Arena Football League quarterfinal was, in Kaleo's words, a "mystery," a "nightmare" and a "bombshell".

"I'm the quarterback, we lost, so you could pin the loss on me," said Kaleo, after his first game since separating his throwing shoulder four weeks ago. "But I think it's more than that."

It was. There were three interceptions (two returned for scores), two fumbles (one returned for a score) and and a kick off the net's metal bar that was recovered on the Storm 2.

The loss, despite a strong showing by the Tampa Bay defense, ended the Storm season at 10-5. After winning four ArenaBowls its first six years in St. Petersburg, the team has no titles in five years in Tampa.

The flameout, particularly in the second half, was reminiscent of the 1996 ArenaBowl at the Ice Palace, when Orlando picked off P.T. Willis six times to outscore Tampa Bay 38-14 after halftime.

On Sunday, Indiana outscored Tampa Bay by the same score in the second half.

"We got whipped because we gave it to them," coach Tim Marcum said. "I feel sorry for (Indiana), because we didn't give them a better game."

From the time Kaleo's first drive ended with an 8-yard pass on third and 15, nothing went right for the Storm. When it did ...

"Every time we fought back," offensive specialist James Bowden said, "we did something to stab ourselves in the back."

Like a penalty on a 60-yard field-goal attempt that gave the Firebirds a first down and led to a touchdown, or Bowden's gaffe on the ensuing kickoff, which he fumbled in the end zone for another Indiana score to make it 24-3.

The Storm fought back to within 30-17 at halftime and received the kick to start the second half, which Bowden (11 catches, 99 yards) returned 40 yards to the Indiana 17. But five plays later, Kaleo tried to throw a slant to Sir Mawn Wilson and Jay Jones stepped in front and returned it 47 yards the other way.

Kaleo said after the play he was told the Indiana defensive coordinator told his players to look out for the slant, but he didn't hear it.

"We were committed to the play (when it was called)," he said. "We don't have a checkoff in that situation. You just have to hope the wide receiver runs through the defender."

On the Storm's next possession, Greg Spann caught a pass and as he went down the ball popped into the hands of Indiana's Carl Sacco.

Kaleo threw two more interceptions, another by Jones and the final one returned 46 yards for another score by Cornelius Coe.

Kaleo finished 18-for-31 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. By the time he was pulled for Shane Stafford late in the game, few fans were around to watch the rookie throw a late, meaningless touchdown to end a 41-7 Indiana run.

In another quarterfinal

GRAND RAPIDS 53, CHICAGO 21: The host Rampage scored five rushing touchdowns to advance to the semifinals.

Willis Marshall caught Clint Dolezel's only touchdown pass and added a rushing score. The quarterback finished 13-for-25 for 165 yards. He threw one interception.

Chicago opened the scoring with a Billy Dicken 35-yard pass to Joe Douglass. But Grand Rapids answered with a Chris Avery 3-yard run that began a 53-7 outburst that lasted into the fourth quarter.

Grand Rapids set a franchise record for fewest points allowed. The Rampage outgained Chicago 233-162.

Grand Rapids, the top-seeded team in the post-season, advanced to a 3 p.m. semifinal Sunday against No. 5 Indiana.

In the other semifinal, No. 3 San Jose travels to No. 2 Nashville at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. San Jose advanced with a 68-49 defeat of Arizona on Saturday. Nashville beat Toronto 45-38 on Friday.

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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