PORTLAND ‘THUNDERS’ PAST TAMPA BAY STORM, 61-42

 

recap courtesy of the Tampa Bay Storm

TAMPA BAY, FL – Backup quarterback Danny Southwick passed for eight touchdowns, five of those to wide receiver Eric Rogers, as the expansion Portland Thunder defeated Tampa Bay, 61-42, Saturday in an Arena Football League game on the Amalie Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

 

The Storm (3-5) have now lost four in a row and were led by receiver Joe Hills five touchdown catches and 104 yards. Starting quarterback Randy Hippeard was 14 of 36 for 185 yards and four touchdowns.

Southwick ended with 24 of 33 for 307 and eight TDs.

 

The Storm’s Rod Issac had a touchdown interception return for 32 yards at the end of the third quarter. That closed Portland’s lead to 42-34, the closest the Storm came all night. Issac was named the Riddell Defensive Player of the game by adding another interception, three tackles and a pass breakup to his nights’ work.

 

Portland quarterback Kyle Rowley, who engineered the team’s first win of the season at Jacksonville, 69-62, last Saturday sat out with an array of injuries. Southwick didn’t disappoint leading the Thunder (2-5) to a 33-14 halftime lead on 10 of 13 completions, five of those for touchdowns.

 

Next week the Tampa Bay Storm will have the first of its two bye weeks this season. The team will then return to action Saturday, May 17 at Philadelphia Soul in the Wells Fargo Center with a 6:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

 

Score by Quarters      1          2          3          4          Total

Portland Thunder        20        13        9          19        61       

Tampa Bay Storm       7          7          20        8          42

 

1st Quarter

POR – Alvance Robinson 28 pass from Danny Southwick (Michael Braunstein kick) 12:35.

TAM – Joe Hills 24 pass from Randy Hippeard (Juan Bongarra kick) 7:52.

POR – Duane Brooks 17 pass from Southwick (kick failed) 4:01.

POR – Eric Rogers 16 pass from Southwick (Braunstein kick) 00:55.

 

2nd Quarter

POR – Douglas McNeill III 7 pass from Southwick (kick failed) 5:45.

POR – Rogers 12 pass from Southwick (Braunstein kick) 2:35.

TAM – Hills 12 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 00:19.

 

3rd Quarter

TAM – Hills 11 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 12:18.

TAM – Hills 30 pass from Hippeard (Bongarra kick) 8:06.

POR – Rogers 9 pass from Southwick (Braunstein kick) 5:30.

POR – Safety, Hippeard tackled in end zone 3:37.

TAM – Rod Isaac 32 pass interception return (kick failed) 00:31.

 

4th Quarter

POR – Rogers 35 pass from Southwick (kick blocked) 14:23.

POR – Varmah Sonie 20 fumble return (kick failed)  8:48.

POR – Rogers 2 pass from Southwick (Braunstein kick) 4:09.

TAM – Hills 8 pass from B.J. Hall (Hills pass from Hall) 00:05.

 

 

 

Statistical Leaders:

Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TD)

POR – Danny Southwick 24-33-2-307-8, Darren Thomas 0-1-0-0-0.

TAM – Randy Hippeard 14-36-1-185-4, B.J. Hall 4-13-1-46-1.

 

 

Rushing: (Att-Yds-TD)

POR – Douglas McNeill III 1-(-2)-0, Danny Southwick 1-3-0, Ayo Idowu 1-(-2)-0, Duane Brooks 1-8-0.

TAM – Dexter Jackson 2-4-0, B.J. Hall 2-19-0.

 

Receiving:  (Rec-Yds-TD)

POR – Duane Brooks 10-90-1, Alvance Robinson 2-45-1, Eric Rogers  7-110-5, Douglas McNeill III 4-43-1, Justin Monahan 1-19-0.

TAM – Amarri Jackson 6-84-0, Joe Hills  7-104-5, Michael Lindsey 5-43-0.

 

KO Returns: (No.-Yds-TD)

POR – Duane Brooks 3-57-0.

TAM – Michael Lindsey 5-75-0.

 

 

Post-Game Awards:

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Danny Southwick, Portland.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game:  Rod Isaac, Tampa Bay.

J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game:  Michael Lindsey, Tampa Bay.

Cutters Catch of the Game: Dwight McClean, Portland, Interception, 8:40 of 3rd quarter.

AFL Highlight of the Game:  Varmah Sonie, Portland, fumble return after interception 20 yards, 9:18 of 4th quarter.