1998 Tampa Bay Storm

On May 1, Peter Tom Willis (19 of 29 for 247 yards and 2 interceptions) threw four touchdown passes in the season opener in San Jose. His favorite target was Wayne Walker, who had seven receptions for 140 yards and hauled in two long TD catches. Les Barley rushed for 41 yards, along with two scores, and recorded a safety on defense. Andre Bowden sacked the quarterback a team record three times, once in the end zone for a safety to close out the scoring. Tim Marcum said of the 45-23 victory over the SabreCats, "We played some pretty doggone good defense."

The home opener saw the Nashville Kats make their first visit to Tampa Bay. Peter Tom Willis (18 of 38 for 303 yards with 7 TDs and 2 interceptions) set career highs in passing yards and TD passes. George LaFrance caught three TD passes, and surpassed 7,000 career yards in both kickoff return and receiving yards. Nashville QB Andy Kelly (19 of 36 for 221 yards with an INT) tossed five touchdown passes with Bill Rutledge catching three of them. Before the smallest crowd for a Storm home game, 9,629, four turnovers lead to 17 Nashville points, and a dozen penalties did not help, as the Kats beat the Storm for the first time 54-52.

Next to visit the Ice Palace were the Houston ThunderBears, who were previously known as the Texas Terror. Storm offensive specialist George LaFrance went on a terror, catching a league record seven touchdown passes and scoring a team record 42 points. LaFrance (9 receptions for 106 yards) caught six TD passes from P.T. Willis (16 of 21 for 197 yards) and one from backup quarterback Bryan Martin. It was the first professional football experience for Martin, who played his college ball at Weber State. Tampa Bay streaked to a 21-3 lead and won in a laugher 56-25.

More Storm records and personal milestones were set at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. George LaFrance reached career marks of 500 receptions and 1,000 points scored. He also set team records on a 54 yard missed field goal return and a total of 96 yards returning missed field goals. Stevie Thomas caught two touchdown passes from Peter Tom Willis (19 of 37 for 205 yards with 4 TDs and an interception) and reached 800 points for his career. Les Barley became the first 1,000 yard rusher in league history, which Tim Marcum said was "like gaining 10,000 in outdoor football." Bjorn Nittmo kicked a Storm regular season record three field goals in the 44-20 victory over the Florida Bobcats.

The records kept falling on the team's first trip to the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Storm lead 14-0 after the first quarter, then George LaFrance (3 catches for 108 yards) hauled in three long touchdowns in the second to pace Tampa Bay's first victory over the Red Dogs. Bjorn Nittmo converted a team record ten extra points, out of a record tying ten attempts, and set the Storm mark for points by a kicker at 19. He also tied the record for field goals set the previous week with three. Larry Ray Willis (8 receptions for 139 yards) had three TD catches for New Jersey, but six turnovers doomed the home team. Even with fifteen penalties, four on head coach Tim Marcum, the Storm defeated the Red Dogs 81-45. It was the highest offensive output in franchise history and the 126 combined points were the most ever in a Storm game. During the week, backup quarterback Bryan Martin was traded to San Jose for future considerations, so Ron Adams was reactivated.

The Storm returned home to play the New York CityHawks. Bjorn Nittmo saw his team record run of consecutive extra points end at thirty in the first quarter. Tampa Bay trailed 20-17 late in the first half, but would score the next 28 points to lead 45-20 after three quarters. Fullback Les Barley ran for three touchdowns and George LaFrance caught three scoring passing from P.T. Willis (20 of 31 for 242 yards with 4 TDs). Defensive specialist Johnnie Harris picked off two Mike Perez passes, returning the second 45 yards for a touchdown, and he also forced a fumble. The Storm took over sole possession of first place with a 65-33 victory.

The first round of the "War on I-4" took place in Orlando with new Predators head coach Jay Gruden facing his former team for the first time. The Storm trailed after three quarters 28-23, then Peter Tom Willis (19 of 35 for 239 yards and an interception) connected on three touchdowns passes in the final fifteen minutes to pull out the victory. Willis finished the night with five TD passes with Wayne Walker, returning from a groin injury, catching a pair of scoring strikes. Orlando QB Pat O'Hara was intercepted four times, with a team record tying three picked off by Johnnie Harris, in a 42-34 Tampa Bay triumph.

Just seconds into the next game at the Ice Palace, Albany quarterback Mike Pawlawski (22 of 36 for 282 yards and 5 TDs) hooked up with Eddie Brown (9 receptions for 127 yards and 3 TDs) on a touchdown pass. P.T. Willis (21 of 29 for 274 yards and 6 TDs) continued to play well and completed his first eleven passes. Stevie Thomas (9 catches for 128 yards) had four TD receptions and closed out the scoring returning an onside kick for a career high five visits to the end zone. The Storm scored touchdowns on seven straight possessions in a 63-42 victory. Tampa Bay now had the league's best record, but head coach Tim Marcum cautioned, "We still have a long trek ahead of us." The bad news coming out of the game was a season ending knee injury to Sylvester Bembery. The Storm signed lineman Mel Agee, who played for the University of Illinois, the Colts, Falcons and most recently the Frankfort Galaxy of NFL Europe.

Before his first visit to Tampa Bay as a head coach, Jay Gruden's number seven became the first jersey retired by the Storm. But, it would be Tim Marcum's night. P.T. Willis (26 of 37 for 281 yards with an INT) tossed six touchdown passes, three times hooking up with George LaFrance. The Storm scored the last twenty points to break open a close game and post a 56-30 victory over Orlando. Tim Marcum became the first head coach to win 100 games in the Arena Football League. In typical fashion, the Storm head coach played down the achievement. "All that matters around here is if you a championship."

At the Compaq Center, two first quarter Storm fumbles helped Houston take a ten point first half lead. P.T. Willis (23 of 29 for 301 yards with 5 TDs and an INT) lead the air attack with Stevie Thomas (8 catches for 117 yards) as a possession receiver and George LaFrance snagging three touchdown passes. Les Barley not only rushed for three scores, but sacked ThunderBears quarterback Clint Dolezel (21 of 44 for 246 yards with 5 TDs and 3 INTs) two times. Johnnie Harris intercepted a pair of passes, and the Storm clinched a playoff spot for the eighth time in eight seasons, in a 62-46 victory.

P.T. Willis tossed six more touchdowns during the Storm's first Sunday home game. Lawrence Samuels caught three TD passes and Les Barley recorded two quarterback sacks. The defense allowed Florida just 143 total yards on the afternoon, which set a new team record. The 59-18 annihilation of the Bobcats gave the Storm a nine game winning streak.

It was not a good evening in Nashville for the Storm. A league record was set for total first downs (40) by both teams, but it was a sloppy game, the Storm suffered five turnovers and fifteen penalties for a total of 93 yards. The Kats had seventeen penalties, but quarterback Andy Kelly (23 of 34 for 242 yards with an INT) threw five touchdown passes. Cory Fleming (7 catches for 102 yards) and Tyronne Jones (10 catches for 90 yards) each snared a pair of scoring passes for Nashville. Andre Bowden rushed for three TDs, however, Tampa Bay fell 49-43. A disgusted Tim Marcum said "We are the most undisciplined team in Arena football and that's going to change."

In accordance with league policy, there was no reason given for suspending Wayne Walker and Cedric McKinnon for one year. The Storm did sign former Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Robert "Pig" Goff to fill one of the roster spots. Goff played for the Bucs during the 1988-89 seasons and had spent six years with the New Orleans Saints. Corey Dowden would returned to the team for the season's final game.

The Storm clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over Iowa in the regular season finale at the Ice Palace. George LaFrance (6 receptions for 140 yards) had four touchdowns catches, which gave him team records for the most TDs (34) and touchdown receptions (33) in a season. Bjorn Nittmo kicked nine of ten extra points and ended the night breaking the Storm season records for most extra points and most points scored by a kicker. Les Barley recorded a sack, which gave him a new team record of eight for the season. The Storm got to the quarterback four times, including Robert "Pig" Goff's sack for a safety in his first game with the team. The Storm lead 42-17 at the half and coasted to a 71-44 victory over the Barnstormers.

The regular season closed with a trip to Van Andel Arena for the first ever match-up against the expansion Grand Rapids Rampage. P.T. Willis (15 of 35 for 240 yards) did not have great night, but his four touchdown passes were enough to tie the team record of 70 TD passes over the season. George LaFrance (113 yards receiving) and Stevie Thomas each pulled in two TD catches. Les Barley rushed for two scores, including the game winner, as he tied the Storm record with 15 TD runs for the year. Tampa Bay left with a 55-44 victory.

The Storm became the first team in AFL history to have eight consecutive winning seasons and posted a league best 12-2 record. They took the Southern Division title by three games over Orlando and Nashville. The team had the number one scoring offense, averaging 56.7 points per game with team records for points scored (794) and total yards (3,925). Tampa Bay was also number one in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 36.6 points, and first in point differential (20.07). They lead the league in rushing defense and allowed a team record low 194 yards on the ground. The Storm had the top pass defense (207.3 yards per game), lead the league in total defense (222.1 yards per game) and ranked first with 29 sacks. The Storm averaged 11,431 fans, sixth best in Arena football.

Tim Marcum won Coach of the Year honors and defensive specialist Johnnie Harris was named Defensive Player of the Year. Joining Harris on the All-Arena League team was lineman Willie Wyatt. Harris tied for the league lead with eleven interceptions, set a Storm record with 121 interception return yards and lead the team with 48 tackles. George LaFrance showed no signs of slowing down. He was fourth in the AFL in scoring with a team record 216 points. LaFrance lead the league in missed field goal returns (18.6 yard average) and set league records in that category (24 returns for 427 yards). He set Storm records with 36 touchdowns and 35 TD receptions, while leading the team with 994 receiving yards. As the third rated passer in the league, Peter Tom Willis had a good sophomore season. Willis (255 of 425 for 3,411 yards) equaled the team record for touchdowns (70), while throwing a team record low ten interceptions, and compiled the best quarterback rating in team history (115.3). Les Barley had a great season, including a league leading, career high and team record tying fifteen rushing TDs. Barley lead the team, and was third in the league, with 232 rushing yards and became the first player to rush for over 200 yards in two different seasons. He was an ironman and recorded a team record eight sacks. Bjorn Nittmo, lead the league in extra points (84 of 93 for 90.3%) and set a team record for points by kicker. His 123 points was fourth best in the AFL.

San Jose came to town for the first playoff game held at the Ice Palace. SabreCats quarterback Ron Lopez (20 of 37 for 290 yards) tossed six TDs passes, as did Storm QB P.T. Willis (19 of 31 for 274 yards). Lopez's favorite target was Kyle Gary (6 catches for 102 yards), while Willis connected most often with George LaFrance (6 grabs for 117 yards), each of them were on the receiving end of three scoring passes. The difference was the ground attack. While the Storm held San Jose to -2 yards rushing, Les Barley ran for two fourth quarter touchdowns. The home team scored on its first nine possessions and was only stopped when the clock ran out in the final period. Despite a dozen penalties, the Storm won 65-46. The 65 Tampa Bay points, and the total of 111 points, set team postseason records. Tim Marcum declared, "We played playoff football."

New Jersey was next and the Red Dogs jumped to 10-0 lead after the first quarter. The Storm got the wake-up call and dominated after that point. George LaFrance caught four touchdown passes and tied his team record of nine receptions in a Storm playoff game. Johnnie Harris tied the team record of two interceptions in a postseason game and returned one for a TD. Tracey Perkins set a new team playoff record with eleven tackles and Andre Bowden ran for two scores. New Jersey quarterback Rickey Foggie completed 25 passes out of 46 attempts, and Alvin Ashley caught eleven of those passes, all records against the Storm in the playoffs. Tampa Bay earned its fifth berth in the Arena Bowl with a 49-23 victory.

Before the championship game, the members of the Arena Football League's All- Time Arena Bowl Team were announced. Members of the Storm recognized for their efforts in the title game were quarterback Jay Gruden, offensive specialist George LaFrance, lineman Sylvester Bembery and kicker Jorge Cimadevilla.

For the second time, the Tampa Bay Storm and Orlando Predators met in the Arena Bowl. An Ice Palace record crowd of 17,222 was on hand for the occasion. George LaFrance caught two first quarter touchdown passes and the Storm took a 14-10 lead after one period. The game was tied at 17 in the second quarter, then the bottom dropped out for the Storm. Orlando lead 24-17 at the half, but were on their way to scoring 30 consecutive points to blowout the Storm. After not throwing an interception in the first two playoff games, Peter Tom Willis (16 of 31 for 213 yards and 4 TDs) suffered a league record six INTs. Orlando defensive specialist Chris Barber picked Willis off three times. Game MVP Rick Hamilton ran for an Arena Bowl record 82 yards and one of his three touchdown runs was a title game record 36 yarder. Barry Wagner won Ironman honors for the Predators with Arena Bowl records for return yards (156) and the longest missed field goal return for a touchdown (48 yards). Webbie Burnett sacked Stevie Thomas in the end zone for the first Arena Bowl safety. It was the worst defeat in Storm history, as they had never trailed by as much as 30 points in their history before falling by an Arena Bowl record 31 point margin. The Storm allowed an Arena Bowl record number of points (62) and rushing yards (127). The Storm had never lost in ten previous home playoff games, or lost the league championship game, before the 62-31 trouncing. Tim Marcum said of the game, "Fourteen-and-three is disastrous when you lose the last game." First year head coach Jay Gruden was diplomatic, "If we'd played ten times against this tremendous Storm team, Orlando might have lost nine. But we won the one that counted."

Related Links

1998 Tampa Bay Storm Results

1998 AFL Southern Division Standings

1998 Tampa Bay Storm Statistics

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