Storm at Rush Recap
Mar 10, 2012Storm 48 - Chicago 70 - Final
The Tampa Bay Storm learned two things in the 2012 season opener at Chicago.
The first is that the Storm can go on the road and compete with the top teams in the Arena Football League. The second is that turnovers can be costly.
The Rush took advantage of five Storm turnovers in route to a 70-48 victory at Chicago.
Quarterback Russ Michna fired eight touchdown passes to lead Chicago, and three of those scoring strikes went to Marquez Hamilton who finished with 10 catches and 117 yards.
The Storm battled back from a 14-point, first half deficit to take a 35-28 lead just before the half. The Rush responded with a touchdown to tie the contest entering the intermission at 35.
The Rush then took advantage of two Prechae Rodriguez fumbles to jump out to a 49-35 lead.
Stephen Wasil, who started the game at quarterback over Matt Grothe, completed 26 of 44 passes for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns and scored three more times on the ground to lead Tampa Bay. Rodriguez brought down 12 receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
The Storm return to the Tampa Bay Times Forum Friday for the season home opener against the Georgia Force.
Score By Quarters
| Team |
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
Final
|
| Storm |
7
|
21
|
0
|
13
|
48
|
| Rush |
14
|
14
|
14
|
21
|
70
|
Statistical Leaders:
| Storm | Rush | |||||||||
| Passing |
CP/AT
|
Yds
|
TD
|
INT
|
Passing
|
CP/AT
|
Yds
|
TD
|
INT
|
|
| S.Wasil |
26/44
|
328
|
4
|
2
|
R. Michna
|
24/37
|
247
|
8
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| Rushing |
ATT
|
Yds
|
TD
|
LG
|
Rushing
|
ATT
|
Yds
|
TD
|
LG
|
|
| S. Wasil |
6
|
16
|
3
|
11
|
J. Payne
|
6
|
16
|
0
|
7
|
|
| W. Rutledge |
1
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| Receiving |
REC
|
Yds
|
TD
|
LG
|
Receiving
|
REC
|
Yds
|
TD
|
LG
|
|
| P. Rodriguez |
12
|
186
|
3
|
47
|
M. Hamilton
|
10
|
117
|
3
|
29
|
|
| C.Williams |
8
|
66
|
0
|
18
|
R. Gray
|
7
|
80
|
4
|
31
|
|
| M. Lindsey |
6
|
76
|
1
|
43
|
J. Perry
|
6
|
41
|
1
|
15
|
|
Team Stats
|
Storm
|
|
Rush
|
|
21
|
First Downs
|
18
|
|
5
|
Rushing
|
2
|
|
13
|
Passing
|
15
|
|
3
|
Penalties
|
1
|
|
19
|
Net Yards Rushing
|
16
|
|
6
|
Attempts
|
6
|
|
19
|
Yards Gained
|
16
|
|
0
|
Yards Lost
|
0
|
|
317
|
Net Yards Passing
|
240
|
|
44
|
Attempted
|
37
|
|
26
|
Completed
|
24
|
|
2
|
Intercepted
|
1
|
|
53
|
Total Offensive Plays
|
44
|
|
336
|
Total Net Yards
|
256
|
|
6.3
|
Average Gain Per Play
|
5.8
|
|
3-2
|
Fumbles: No./ Lost
|
1-1
|
|
6-47
|
Penalties: Number/Lost
|
3-17
|
|
0-0
|
MFG Returns No. /Yards
|
0-0
|
|
7-119
|
Kickoff Returns No. / Yards
|
2-25
|
|
1-8
|
Interceptions: No./Yards
|
2-49
|
|
0-0
|
Fumble Returns: No./Yards
|
2-2
|
|
2
|
Miscellaneous Yards
|
0
|
|
30:15
|
Possession Time
|
27:34
|
|
5-10
|
3rd Down Conversions
|
4-7
|
|
2-3
|
4th Down Conversions
|
1-2
|
|
3-11
|
Sacks By: No. /Yards
|
1-7
|