By: Adam Gaetz

The War on I-4, the most famous rivalry in Arena Football history. I was invited back for a very exciting night with the Tampa Bay Storm as they took on the Orlando Predators for the American Conference Championship. If they came out with the victory at the end off the night as the clock hit zero, they would be heading to Arena Bowl XXIII.

I thought my last seized opportunity as a Storm Chaser was amazing, but this night topped it. It started with the sound of pyrotechnics booming through the stadium, easily met with the sounds of a roaring Tampa Bay Storm crowd. Having a phenomenal view from the press box, I watched as the kick-off started the game. The first team to score may have been the Predators, but the Storm answered back with a touchdown from both Terrence Royal and DeAndrew Rubin to finish off the first quarter with a Storm leading score of 14-7.

The Predators managed to tie the score 14-14 with the first score in the second quarter, but Brett Dietz wouldn''t let it last, he got the ball to where it needed to go as he always does finding Rubin once again to take the lead back from Orlando. Bobby Sippio, being allowed to play after his last altercation in the Tampa Bay Storm game two weeks earlier tied the score back up for the Predators only for Orlando to lose the tie due to another Storm touchdown made by Ty Timmons. Orlando attempted an on-side kick in hopes of controlling the ball and catching back up when Tampa Bay's Drew Weatherford recovered the ball, and Brett Dietz found Hank Edwards in the end zone for Edward's 80th career touchdown, and a 35-21 lead at the end of the half.

As the half time show ended, and the teams came back out, the Storm made a promising increase to their score as Dietz threw to Timmons in the end zone, but the numbers wouldn't stop climbing there. Robbie Powell made a fumble recovery on a ball meant for Kalieta and ran it in bringing the score to 49-28. The crowd filled up the sound meters as a win became more eminent for the Storm. The Predators made one last score ending the third quarter, trailing the Storm 49-35.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Predators started to close the gap as they brought the ball in, and their score up to 42. The Storm fight back as Terrance Royal makes his way into the end zone to take the score to 55-42. Sippio is regrettably seen once again in the Predators end zone as Orlando continues to claw their way back up on the score board with the score reading 55-49. With hope of the win still in sight, the Storm press on, but Dietz is picked off by Byrum, and Orlando seizes the opportunity and scores, taking the lead by one point, 56-55. Orlando, feeling lucky, go for another on-side kick, but Tampa Bay recovers, and takes control once again raising the score 63-56. Tolliver puts hope in scoring for Orlando, but PAT is no good, and Tampa Bay hold the lead 63-62. With one point standing between the two teams, both crowds were off their feet, and tensions were high. Dietz threw for another touchdown to seal the deal, but it was intercepted in the end zone by Kenny McEntyre. With 2.9 seconds left on the clock, Carlos Martinez made the kick for Orlando from one side of the field to their goal.

The kick was "strait as an arrow" Dietz said, and it sailed through the air at what felt like slow motion. It came down perfectly center, but just short of the crossbar, and the crowd exploded as the Storm celebrated with their 63-62 American Conference Championship victory. With yet another spot in the Arena Bowl, Coach Tim Marcum and his team were headed to Arena Bowl XXIII.