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ArenaBowl IX
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Arena Bowl IX was the Arena Football League's ninth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #6 Orlando Predators (7-5) of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm (10-2), also of the National Conference. This would be the very first Arena Bowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on the big stage. For the Predators, this was their third Arena Bowl appearance in their first five years of existence (having lost Arena Bowls VI and VIII).
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Encyclopedia
Arena Bowl IX was the Arena Football League's ninth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #6 Orlando Predators (7-5) of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm (10-2), also of the National Conference. This would be the very first Arena Bowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on the big stage. For the Predators, this was their third Arena Bowl appearance in their first five years of existence (having lost Arena Bowls VI and VIII). For the Storm, this was their fourth overall appearance (their second for Tampa Bay) with a chance to get three titles in five years.
Game summary
In the first quarter, Orlando made the opening move with WR/DB Barry Wagner getting a 2-yard TD run, as well as a two-point conversion run. Tampa Bay would respond with QB Jay Gruden completing a 10-yard TD pass to WR/LB Stevie Thomas, along with FB/LB Cedric McKinnon rushing into the endzone for the two-point coversion. The Predators responded with QB Pat O'Hara completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR/LB Alex Shell, yet the Storm immediately answered with OS George LaFrance returning the kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown.
In the second quarter, it was all Tampa Bay Gruden and LaFrance hooked up with each other on a 3-yard and a 1-yard TD pass to take the lead going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Orlando drew closer as Wagner returned a blocked field goal three yards for a touchdown, yet the unfazed Storm went back to work with Gruden and Thomas hooking up with each other again on a 35-yard TD pass (with a failed PAT).
In the fourth quarter, the Predators played some catch-up as OL/DL Flint Fleming got a 14-yard TD run, yet Tampa Bay managed to put some distance between themselves and the Preds with Gruden getting a 1-yard TD on a QB sneak (with a failed two-point conversion) and WR/DB Tracey Sanders returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown. Orlando managed to get another touchdown with O'Hara completing a 3-yard TD pass to Wagner with exactly one minute left, but there would be no "Miracle Minute" for the Predators as the Tampa Bay Storm got their third Arena Bowl title in five seasons.
Scoring summary
1st Quarter
- ORL - Wagner 2 run (Wagner run)
- TB - Thomas 10 pass from Gruden (McKinnon run)
- ORL - Shell 4 pass from O'Hara (Bennett kick)
- TB - LaFrance 57 kickoff return (Cimadevilla kick)
2nd Quarter
- TB - LaFrance 3 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)
- TB - LaFrance 1 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)
3rd Quarter
- ORL - Wagner 3 missed field goal (Bennett kick)
- TB - Thomas 35 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick failed)
4th Quarter
- ORL - Fleming 14 run (Bennett kick)
- TB - Gruden 1 run (Gruden pass failed)
- TB - Sanders 47 interception return (Cimadevilla kick)
- ORL - Wagner 3 pass from O'Hara (O'Hara pass failed)
External links
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