GRAND RAPIDS – The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage 69-40 in front of 6,115 fans as the Storm clinched a home playoff game.   Led by the herculean performance of lineman Tim McGill (three and a half tackles, three for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a touchdown) the Storm defense shut out the Rampage in the fourth quarter and forced the team into a franchise single-game high seven turnovers.  

Jeroid Johnson, Ironman of the Game, set the tone of the game when he returned a fumble on the opening kickoff five-yards for a touchdown.   He finished the evening with two fumble recoveries on special teams along with four and a half tackles, one pass breakup and an interception on defense.   

With three touchdowns on the ground this evening Torrance Marshall tied the Storm single-season high of 15 rushing touchdowns.   He is the third player to reach that mark; Andre Bowden 1993 and Les Barley 1998 are the others. 

Tampa Bay jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead as Johnson recovered fumbles on each of the first to two kickoffs.  Johnson returned the first recovery for a touchdown and kicker Seth Marler capitalized on the second recovery with a 41-yard field goal.   The teams then traded touchdowns to end the first quarter as Cornelius Bonner and Hank Edwards each scored.  

The sloppy play continued into the second quarter as the teams combined for five turnovers.   After a 10-yard Adrian McPherson scamper for a touchdown, Offensive Player of the Game Brett Dietz threw his lone interception of the evening and first in three games.    The defense responded as McGill drilled McPherson in the endzone, knocking the ball loose and recovering it for a touchdown.  McGill then went on, in a case of déjà vu, to sack McPherson again on the next series causing the Rampage signal caller to fumble it again.  

After trading scores Tampa Bay lost the ball again on a bad center-quarterback exchange.  Jerome Riley picked up the loose ball and returned it 37-yards for a touchdown to bring the game within four-points. The see-saw continued as Marvin Brown and Bonner each put more points on the board. Yet with seconds left on the clock Tampa Bay lost another possession when Riley recovered a loose ball off of the net.   The recovery presented an chance to cut the lead to one, however, Gowins missed a 21-yard field goal as the first half expired.

The Storm opened up the third quarter with a 38-34 lead that the Rampage would cut to one. Tampa fumbled the ball on the opening possession of the second half on the Rampage 10-yard line.  However, on the following play, Samuels forced the 20th fumble of his career, and recovered it himself.   That was his 34th career fumble recovery, tops in the AFL. Marler converted a 34-yard field goal to extend the lead to seven, however, the Rampage scored on its next drive.   McPherson connected with Bonner for a 43-yard touchdown to cut the lead to one, as Gowins missed the extra point.  

Tampa Bay entered the fourth quarter up by one and with possession of the ball.  Marshall bounced a run outside after a terrific block by Brown to score from four yards out to extend the lead to eight.   At this point the Storm defense turned up the pressure as it forced two interceptions and a turnover on downs.  Johnson collected his ninth interception this season, a career-high, while Khalid Naziruddin recorded his third of the season.

The Grand Rapids Rampage (4-11) travel to Nashville Saturday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET to take on Central Division rival Kats (6-9).   The Kats will seek revenge for a Week 9 loss to Grand Rapids.  Tampa Bay Storm (8-7) head home to the St. Pete Times Forum for the season finale against the Austin Wranglers (4-10) on Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Sun Sports will televise the game and 620 WDAE will broadcast the game live.  For Storm tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.

SCORE     1       2       3       4       TOTAL

TAM          17       21      3       28      69

GRA          7        27      6       0       40              

PASSING

TAM – Brett Dietz                   37-22-272-1-4

GRA – Adrian McPherson        37-24-297-2-3

RECEIVING

TAM –  Terrill Shaw                 6-110-1

GRA – Cornelius Bonner           9-116-2

RUSHING

TAM – Adrian McPherson        6-55-1

GRA – Torrance Marshall         3-12-3

All-Purpose Yards

TAM –             Clarence Coleman         182 yards

GRA –             Terrill Shaw                  110 yards

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: QB Brett Dietz, TAM

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: DL Tim McGill