Tyrone Timmons scores a touchdown during action in the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. (Photo: Mitchell Davis)

TAMPA BAY -  The Tampa Bay Storm (5-3) put together its longest winning streak of the season, earning its third straight victory with a 50-48 win over the visiting Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (3-6) in front of a season-high crowd of 16,200 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Brandon Hefflin’s game-ending interception following a tremendous stop on a potential-tying two point conversion sealed the win for the Storm, who received large contributions from its defense throughout the entire game.

Storm quarterback Brett Dietz, despite throwing two interceptions and completing only half of his passes, still managed to find the endzone six times, while throwing for 226 yards. Hank Edwards led all Tampa Bay receivers, registering four scores and amassing 102 yards. He was countered by Oklahoma City’s Timon Marshall, who reeled in six catches for 87 yards and two scores. Anthony Hines also gathered a pair of touchdowns for Oklahoma City.

Tampa Bay came out at the start with a relentless offensive effort, complimented by an equally impressive defensive stand. Despite falling to an early 7-0 deficit after signal caller Tommy Grady found Marshall in the endzone. Dietz led Tampa Bay as they stormed back to score two unanswered touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead into the second quarter. Edwards reeled in the first of two touchdown passes, while Rubin doubled the lead to cap a 22-yard, five-play drive that spanned 4:27. On the other side of the ball, the Storm created heavy pressure up the middle, sacking Grady and keeping Oklahoma City out of the endzone. Grady, who completed 18 of 36 passes for 192 yards, finished the night by throwing three additional touchdown passes.

Oklahoma City managed to match its opponent’s touchdown total from the first quarter, as Grady set up two scores. Marshall punched in his second touchdown of the night, but the tying score was quickly countered on the Storm’s ensuing drive as Edwards found the paint for an additional score. Tampa Bay’s defense maintained its pressure that set the tone from the start of the contest. Hefflin, along with Daryon Brutley, registered numerous pass break-ups, while also preventing the Yard Dawgz from gaining momentum by disallowing them to move the ball down the field despite allowing a late touchdown to Oklahoma City’s Al Hunt near the half.

Tampa Bay suffered a minor setback to open the second half as Edwards lost a fumble, which the Yard Dawgz converted into a score as Grady found Hines in the endzone. Edwards recovered as he battled back throughout the quarter to score twice more, while countering a second touchdown by Hines.

Tampa Bay only mustered one more touchdown on the night in the fourth quarter, but its defense compensated for the scarcity of points by coming up big when it counted the most. After the Yard Dawgz’ Kevin McCullough returned an interception for six points, the Storm defensive pressure forced the Yard Dawgz to muff and snap the went out of the endzone to give Tampa Bay an additional two on a safety. Terrence Royal capped the next possession as he rushed in a score that made it 50-42.  The Storm stood tall with a huge defensive stop on a two-point conversion following a rushing touchdown by Oklahoma City’s Chad Cook with nine seconds left to seal the victory against the Yard Dawgz.

Tampa Bay travels to Huntsville, AL to take on the Alabama Vipers this  Friday, June 11 at 8:00 PM EST in front of a nation audience on the NFL Network.