FINAL: Storm 56-Talons 71
Jun 23, 2012
TAMPA BAY -- Ageless quarterback Aaron Garcia, who entered his 17th Arena Football League season in 2012, passed for six first-half touchdowns and finished with eight as San Antonio built a 43-21 halftime lead and went on to a 71-49 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm (6-8) Saturday night on the Amalie Motor Oil Field at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. It was the eighth straight win for the Talons (11-3), leaders of the National Conference Central Division.
Garcia, who will turn 42 in October, has passed for more than 50,000 yards and 1,000 TDs in his career. He was 18-of-23 passing in the first half and finished 27-of-35 for 259 yards.
Storm quarterback Nick Hill, 27, reached the 10,000 yards passing milestone Saturday, collecting 353 yards on 28-of-42 passing and 5 TDs. He did this in only the third game of his third season. It was also his third consecutive game with 300 or more yards passing.
The former Southern Illinois standout, who began his AFL career with the Orlando Predators, missed much of this season with the Storm when he signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers and was released following an extensive stay with the team earlier this year.
Former Florida State player De’Cody Fagg led all receivers, collecting a season-high 10 catches, 127 yards and one touchdown for the Storm and teammate Amarri Jackson had 109 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns.
Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Lowe had an outstanding night with a 23.2 yard average on five kickoff returns in his first game.
The Talons, second in the AFL with 30 sacks, failed to get a hand on Hill, as the Tampa Bay offensive line held off any pressure by the San Antonio defensive line. Steve Octavien sacked Garcia once for the Storm.
The Tampa Bay Storm will play host to the Philadelphia Soul, Friday, June 29 on the Amalie Motor Oil Field of the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The first 2,000 fans will receive a t-shirt compliments of Amalie Motor Oil.