In spite of a franchise record performance by receiver Kendrick Ings, the Tampa Bay Storm fell short against defending Arena Football League champion Philadelphia 56-52 on Saturday night.
Tampa Bay (1-1) led 25-20 with 6:21 to go in the first half but the Soul would possess the ball for all but five seconds out of the next nearly 14 minutes. They scored with :05 left in the first half and chewed up half of the third quarter and by the time the Storm had the ball back they trailed 36-25.
A controversial call prevented a would-be leading TD in the final minutes. What looked like a backwards lateral was called an incomplete pass. Cortez Stubbs had a clear recovery and return for what would have put Tampa Bay ahead with 4:20 left, but instead Philly added a TD to put the game out of reach at 49-38.
Tampa Bay twice tried an onside kick but the Soul (1-0) recovered.
Receiver Kendrick Ings had seven catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns, and added a 55-yard kickoff return for a score in setting the franchise mark for all-purpose yards in a game.
photo courtesy Tampa Bay Storm