1998 Results | Game Coverage
AFL Quarterfinal
Storm 65, SaberCats 46
Drive SummaryAugust 8, 1998
With Analysis by Andrew Mason
| Team | Drive Started | Drive Ended | Plays | Yards | Result |
| Tampa Bay | 15:00 1st Quarter | 11:44 1st Quarter | 3 Plays | 45 Yards | Willis 26-yd TD pass to LaFrance (Nittmo PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: Blown coverage by Tommy Jones allows LaFrance to get wide open.
| San Jose | 11:44 1st Quarter | 10:17 1st Quarter | 2 Plays | Yards | Lopez 32-yd pass to Gary (PAT good). |
Andrew's Analysis: This time it was the SaberCats' turn to torch the Storm as Corey Dowden gets burned.
| Tampa Bay | 10:17 1st Quarter | 5:47 Quarter | 6 Plays | 46 Yards | Willis 19-yd. TD pass to LaFrance (kick failed). |
Andrew's Analysis: Simple gameplan--Just keep throwing it to George.
| San Jose | 5:47 1st Quarter | 4:17 Quarter | 0 Plays | 0 Yards | Samuels fumble return for a TD (Barley run). |
Andrew's Analysis: Lawrence Samuels---three defensive touchdowns in three weeks.
| San Jose | 4:17 1st Quarter | 0:03 1st Quarter | 7 Plays | 20 Yards | Stoyanovich 34-yd FG attempt no good. |
Andrew's Analysis: In the first quarter, San Jose has 46 yards of total offense, all by one player---Kyle Gary. No one else has shown up yet..
| Tampa Bay | 0:03 1st Quarter | 12:55 2nd Quarter | 3 Plays | 45 Yards | Willis 29-yd TD pass to LaFrance (Nittmo PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: LaFrance in the far left corner of the endzone---that's the one place where no one but George can get the ball.
| San Jose | 12:55 2nd Quarter | 8:41 2nd Quarter | 6 Plays | 45 Yards | Lopez 5-yd TD pass to Papin (Stoyanovich PAT).. |
Andrew's Analysis: Lopez finally gets untracked, going 4-for-5 for 54 yards.
| Tampa Bay | 8:41 2nd Quarter | 4:20 2nd Quarter | 5 Plays | 38 Yards | Willis 10-yd. TD pass to Williams (kick fails). |
Andrew's Analysis: It would appear that the only chink in the Storm's armor is the inability to hit extra points; on a positive note, it's nice to see Williams finally get a TD.
| San Jose | 4:20 2nd Quarter | 0:29 2nd Quarter | 7 Plays | 47 Yards | Lopez 5-yd TD pass to Browning (kick fails). |
Andrew's Analysis: 13 yards of penaltiess on the drive doom the Storm.
| Tampa Bay | 0:29 2nd Quarter | 0:02 2nd Quarter | 5 Plays | 2 Yards | Nittmo 44-yd FG. |
Andrew's Analysis: Storm's worst drive still ends in points.
| San Jose | 0:02 2nd Quarter | 0:00 2nd Quarter | 0 Plays | 0 Yards | END OF HALF. |
Andrew's Analysis: George LaFrance has owned this half, and right now, Storm own the game.
| San Jose | 15:00 3rd Quarter | 9:48 3rd Quarter | 6 Plays | 38 Yards | Maslowski 1 -yd TD run (Stoyanovich PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: Idiotic roughing-the-passer penalty on Bowden allows San jose to continue the scoring drive.
| Tampa Bay | 9:48 3rd Quarter | 4:38 3rd Quarter | 7 Plays | 39 Yards | Willis 13-yd TD pass to Wayne Williams (Nittmo PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: Storm goes 2-for-2 on 3rd down conversions.
| San Jose | 4:38 3rd Quarter | 1:40 3rd Quarter | 4 Plays | -3 Yards | Stoyanovich 63-yd FG attempt short. |
Andrew's Analysis: Storm should have gotten a safety on first down, but a good pass rush keeps the SaberCats from capitalizing on their reprieve.
| Tampa Bay | 1:40 3rd Quarter | 13:36 4th Quarter | 3 Plays | 23 Yards | Willis 19-yd TD pass to Thomas (Nittmo PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: It's all academic from here.
| San Jose | 13:36 4th Quarter | 11:05 4th Quarter | 4 Plays | 45 Yards | Lopez 19-yd TD pass to Gary (Stoyanovich PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: A quick, efficient drive for San Jose; unfortunately for them, they're going to need about 4 more.
| Tampa Bay | 11:05 4th Quarter | 5:19 4th Quarter | 7 Plays | 45 Yards | Barley 10-yd TD run. |
Andrew's Analysis: Ironman, Ironman, Ironman, Ironman.
| San Jose | 5:19 4th Quarter | 2:02 4th Quarter | 5 Plays | 43 Yards | Lopez 23-yd TD pass to Baker (Stoyanovich PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: Too little, too late.
| Tampa Bay | 2:02 4th Quarter | 0:56 4th Quarter | 2 Plays | 11 Yards | Barley 3-yd TD run (Nittmo PAT). |
Andrew's Analysis: Storm's routing, so let the Ironman have the stats.
| San Jose | 0:56 4th Quarter | 0:29 4th Quarter | 4 Plays | 38 Yards | Lopez 14-yd. TD pass to Gary (pass fails). |
Andrew's Analysis: I'm not going to repeat myself.
| Tampa Bay | 0:29 4th Quarter | 0:00 4th Quarter | 1 Plays | 5 Yards | END OF GAME. |
Andrew's Analysis: Storm cruised to a victory tonight, but no matter who we play next week, it won't be this easy.