Storm washes away 'Birds (Full Story)
June 20, 1998 - Final 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Totals Albany 14 7 6 15 42 Tampa Bay 14 13 12 24 63 Storm washes away 'Birds
By Mark Singelais
TAMPA, Fla. -- In a new building, it was a painfully familiar result against the Tampa Bay Storm, a proud team not quite ready to relinquish its title as the Arena Football League's dominant franchise of the 1990s.
The Storm scored touchdowns on seven straight possessions in a 63-42 victory over the Albany Firebirds Saturday night that knocked the Firebirds (6-2) out of a tie for the league's best record.
The Firebirds have lost all seven road games they've played against the Storm, although this was the first one in the Ice Palace. The other defeats were at the ThunderDome in St. Petersburg.
The Storm, who have won four league championships this decade, improved to 7-1, and ensured itself of the league's best record after this weekend. The team with the best regular-season record gets homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
"We tried our best and we fell short,'' Albany lineman Joe Jacobs said. "I hope we play them in the playoffs, I'll tell you that. I don't think it's a setback at all.''
The game was tied at 21-21 late in the second quarter, but the Storm scored touchdowns in the final minute of the first half and on the opening drive of the second half to take a 33-21 lead with 10:57 left in the third quarter.
Making mistakes at crucial times, the Firebirds fell behind by 19 points early in the fourth quarter.
The Firebirds tried two onside kicks in the fourth quarter in a desperate comeback attempt, but Tampa turned both into touchdowns.
"I still believe we have an excellent football team, and I believe if we line up against them 10 straight times, we're going to win some of those games,'' Firebirds coach Mike Dailey said.
The Storm was able to bottle up Albany's running game, holding league rushing leader Chad Dukes to seven yards on six carries. Mike Pawlawski was 22-of-36 for five touchdowns, but was hurt by Tampa Bay's formidable pass rush at a couple of inopportune times.
One first-half drive was killed when Pawlawski fumbled on a sack and Tampa Bay's Willie Wyatt recovered. A third-quarter drive died when Pawlawski fumbled under pressure. Albany lineman Sean Tremblay recovered after a 13-yard loss, but the Firebirds were out of scoring position.
Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum said he was worried about Albany's return game, and Dukes showed why by taking the game's opening kickoff 46 yards to the Storm 11.
From there, Pawlawski hit Eddie Brown for a 11-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to give Albany a 7-0 lead only 1:05 into the game.
Brown scored his second touchdown on a 29-yard reception to tie the score at 21-21 with 2:53 left in the first half, but with 12.2 seconds remainingo, Tampa Bay fullback Andre Bowden scored on a 1-yard run on third-and-1. Bjorn Nittmo missed the extra point.
