Storm Swamps Avengers, 63-55

Down by one point halfway through the fourth quarter, the Avengers got the break they needed by recovering a Tampa Bay onside kick at the Storm’s 11-yard line.

Two plays later, Tampa Bay’s Tremain Jones got ahead of Avenger offensive specialist Chris Jackson, picking off Tony Graziani’s pass to give the ball back to the Storm.

That play was more than the turning point that paved the way for Tampa Bay’s 63-55 victory over the Avengers; it epitomized their performance Sunday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum on Sunday.

“Whenever we would get it, we’d just give it right back,” Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss said.

The Avengers had three turnovers -- one fumble and two interceptions. Jones had both interceptions off Graziani.

Although Tampa Bay had two turnovers -- a fumble and an interception -- the Avengers’ mistakes were more inopportune. Before each interception, they were down by one point, driving for the lead.

With about four minutes remaining in the game and Tampa Bay ahead, 63-55, Henry Douglas lost the ball on the kickoff return and the Storm’s Kelvin Kinney recovered.

Avenger defensive specialist Damen Wheeler, who began the week on injured reserve, attempted some late-game heroics on the following series, intercepting a pass by Storm quarterback Shane Stafford on the Avenger six with about a minute left in the game.

But the game ended when Graziani’s pass to Kevin Ingram on fourth and 10 was measured just short of the first down with one second left.

“We had multiple opportunities, but we just couldn’t put it away,” Wheeler said.

The Avengers had few problems scoring when they actually got the ball. But Tampa Bay’s defense did a masterful job of keeping the Avenger offense off the field for long stretches. The Storm ended the game with 38 minutes 39 seconds of possession time, compared to the Avengers’ 21:07.

Graziani was 17 of 33 for 252 yards, and his two interceptions equaled his season total.

The Avengers dropped to 7-6. Tampa Bay, 2-5 at one point, is 7-7.

The Storm has won four consecutive games; the Avengers have dropped their last two.

“We’re like Tampa Bay now,” Hodgkiss said. “We’ve got to win. Our backs are against the wall -- that’s the approach we’re taking.”

In other games:

Georgia 72, Columbus 51 -- Leon Murray threw for 334 yards and eight touchdowns, and the Force (5-8) ended a seven-game losing streak by beating the Destroyers before 13, 860 in Columbus, Ohio.

For Columbus (4-9), Ryan Vena completed 14 of 23 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Sedrick Robinson had eight receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Arizona 58, San Jose 41 -- Sherdrick Bonner threw seven touchdown passes, leading the Rattlers over the SaberCats in front of 14,421 in Phoenix.

Arizona (9-5) erased an 11-point deficit and outscored San Jose (10-4) 35-0 in the second and third quarters.

Austin 48, Dallas 36 -- John Kaleo threw five touchdowns to lead the Wranglers (8-5) over the Desperados (6-7) in Austin, Texas.

Kaleo was 15 of 28 for 128 yards and Darrin Chiaverini had two touchdown receptions.

Orlando 45, New Orleans 40 -- Joe Hamilton threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading the Predators (7-6) over the VooDoo (9-4) in New Orleans.

Hamilton finished 14-for-21 passing for 160 yards.