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Tampa Bay Ends On High Note

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 22, 2008

TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Storm turned in their most dominant performance of the season Saturday night. Unfortunately, they won't get the chance at an encore.

Tampa Bay's 72-47 shellacking of Los Angeles in front of an announced crowd of 17,891 at the St. Pete Times Forum was the Storm's 2008 season finale. Tampa Bay was eliminated from playoff contention with last week's loss at San Jose.

Considering the Storm closed the season by winning five of their last seven - the two losses occurred on the road and by a combined four points - it's hard not to wonder how dangerous Tampa Bay could have been in the postseason. And therein lies the painful part for Storm coach Tim Marcum and his team - all they can do is wonder.

"All I can tell the team is you guys fought your butts off and you deserve to be there, but you're not because of some things," Marcum said. "We have to accept it. We have to move on. We have to commit ourselves at coming back next year and know what did us in, and do it better."

"It's going to be tough. It showed tonight we were a little upset with the way things went," Storm veteran Lawrence Samuels said. "Unfortunately, we won't be able to carry on with the way we played at the end of the year."

Saturday night's game against the Avengers (5-11) was never in doubt. Tampa Bay (8-8) stormed to a 20-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back.

Quarterback Brett Dietz tied the franchise's single-season record for touchdown passes by throwing six against the Avengers, giving him 86 on the year. That offensive production helped Tampa Bay eclipse the 70-point mark for a third consecutive game, the first time that has happened in franchise history.

While the 2008 season may not have ended how the Storm hoped, the fact Tampa Bay ended on a positive note is something the team will focus on until next season.

"We showed tonight there's no dog in us. We're going to continue to fight and continue to play because we're that type of team," defensive back Traco Rachal said. "You know what? There will be a next year, and we've got to regroup."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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