Tampa Bay surpassed -- already -- its win total of all last season with Sunday's thrilling 62-55 victory in Baltimore. The Storm (3-1) were down one in the final minute when Randy Hippeard led the final drive, culminating in a 3-yard TD to Lamark Brown with just five seconds left.
The Storm took a 34-20 late in the first half on Hippeard's touchdown pass to Joe Hills but the host Brigade, playing their first game in the Royal Farms Arena, scored a TD and then tied it on the first of two recoveries of a kickoff off the net.
Despite seeing the game go decidedly against them, the Storm managed to go on top thanks to linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson's forced fumble when it was tied 48-48. The Storm went up 54-48 but missed the extra point, and Baltimore took the lead right after the minute mark.
Baltimore answered but left plenty of time for Tampa Bay, which recovered an anticipated onside kick at the 15-yard line. The key play came on third down with :37 remaining, as Kendrick Ings caught a pass and appeared headed to the end zone -- but fell down, intentionally, at the 3-yard line so as not to score too soon for Baltimore to answer. After a pair of Hippeard kneeldowns, the Storm on third down got the game winner.
Hippeard threw for eight touchdowns, four to Hills.
Baltimore (1-3) drew a little less than 6,000 for its home opener. Tampa Bay returns to the area Saturday taking on Washington (1-2). A win would create a sizable gap between second and third.
All of the scoring plays here as called by Darek Sharp and Jason Dixon on Storm Radio.
Full box score (here).
photo courtesy Tampa Bay Storm