Storm Score in Final Seconds to Seal Win Over Valor

July 2,2017 (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Storm)

Belton hits career interception milestone in Tampa

TAMPA, FL. — The Washington Valor (1-9) fell, 55-51, in a back-and-forth affair with the Tampa Bay Storm (8-2) Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Florida. Valor DB Tracy Belton became the seventh player in AFL history to record 50 career interceptions and was named Defensive Player of the Game for his performance that also featured six solo tackles, a fumble recovery, which he returned for a touchdown, and two pass break-ups. Valor QB Sean Brackett completed 21-31 passes for 248 yards and scored five total touchdowns on his way to being named Offensive Player of the Game. Storm WR Kendrick Ings was named MVP of the Game for his 11-catch, 111-yard and three-touchdown performance.

The Valor wasted no time getting on the board, cashing in on their first drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from QB Sean Brackett to WR Greg Carr with 11:36 left in the first quarter. Storm QB Randy Hippeard answered just over a minute later, finding WR Justin Hilton for a 36-yard touchdown, evening the score at six. Brackett threw his second touchdown of the night on the following possession, hitting a wide open WR Roger Jackson for a 39-yard score, giving the Valor a 12-6 lead. Tampa Bay scored a pair of consecutive special teams touchdowns to take a 20-12 lead – the first, a kickoff return by Ings and the second, a Valor fumble recovered and returned for a touchdown by Storm WR Michael Lindsey. Tampa Bay took a 27-12 lead on the second Hippeard-Hilton connection of the night, a five-yard score with 12:44 remaining in the second quarter before the Valor then went on a run of their own as rushing touchdowns by Brackett and WR T.T. Toliver brought the score to 27-25, Storm. Washington entered the half trailing, 34-31, after another Hippeard touchdown pass and a kickoff return touchdown, the first in team history, by Valor WR Charles McClain each occurred in the final six seconds of the second quarter.

With just under 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Valor took their first lead since the first possession of the game. Storm FB Dexter Jackson looked to punch the ball in from the one-yard line, but JR Collins jarred the ball loose, causing a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Belton, giving the Valor a 37-34 advantage. Washington extended its lead to 44-34 on the final play of the third quarter, a Brackett pass to Jackson, who lateralled the ball just before getting tackled to McClain, who ran it in for a score. With 8:23 remaining in the game, the Storm ended a scoring drought that lasted over 20 minutes as Hippeard scored on a one-yard run, bringing the Storm within one score. Toliver found the end zone again, this time hauling in a seven-yard pass from Brackett with 2:13 remaining, giving the Valor a 51-41 lead. Tampa Bay answered, however, on the following drive with a 12-yard pass from Hippeard to Lindsey, bringing the score to 51-48 with 40 second left in the game. Tampa Bay recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt and scored the game-winning touchdown, a four-yard touchdown pass from Hippeard to Ings with 10 seconds on the clock, sealing a 55-51 victory.

KEY MOMENT: On the final play of the third quarter, Valor QB Sean Brackett found WR Roger Jackson deep down the center of the field, who lateraled the ball, just before being tackled, to WR Charles McClain, who ran it in for a touchdown, giving Washington a 44-34 lead entering the fourth quarter.

MVP: Tampa Bay WR Kendrick Ings – 11 receptions, 11 receiving yards and three total touchdowns

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Washington QB Sean Brackett – 21-31 passing, 248 yards and five total touchdowns

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Washington DB Tracy Belton – six solo tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery (returned for a touchdown) and two pass break-ups

Next week, the Valor have their fourth-and-final bye week of the season, but return to action on Sat., July 15 at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia, taking on the undefeated Soul at Wells Fargo Center.