Storm spoils Gladiators’ season opener, 46-40

Visiting Tampa Bay won a mistake-filled Arena Football League season opener against the Gladiators at Quicken Loans Arena, 46-40.

It was opening night for the Gladiators and the visiting Tampa Bay Storm, and tension mounted with each interception, fumble, wobbly pass and penalty.

Which team would make the last mistake? The crowd of 12,865 at Quicken Loans Arena had to stick around to find out, because as aficionados of the sport know, mistakes ultimately decide the winner of Arena Football League games.

In the end, the Storm won, 46-40, spoiling the coaching debut of Ron Selesky, because the Gladiators could not overcome a turnover on downs at the Tampa Bay 13 on the final play of the third quarter.

“We talked all camp about being efficient, and there were times when we just weren’t very efficient,” Selesky said bluntly. “Injuries aside, those are going to happen in arena football. It’s about being efficient with what you have to work with.”

The Storm converted the defensive stop into a touchdown on a six-yard pass from quarterback Randy Hippeard to Kendrick Ings for a 32-21 lead. The Gladiators never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

The Gladiators had one chance to take the lead after an eight-yard touchdown pass from Shane Boyd to Larry Brackins cut the Tampa Bay lead to 3934 with 43 seconds to play.

Selesky had kicker Drew Basil attempt an onside kick, but everybody in The Q, even the lady there to take X-rays leaning on the padding behind the end zone, knew it was coming.

Justin Hilton leaped into the air and cradled the ball for the Storm.

- Three plays later, Tampa scored again for a 46-34 lead with 26 seconds left. There was to be no miracle finish for the red and black on this night.

“It shows you have to maximize every play and play smart football,” Selesky said. “Everything that falls under being efficient in football (needs improvement). Overall we played OK on defense, but when we needed a stop in the second half, we couldn’t get it.”

The game had the flow of a dry riverbed. The Storm was penalized 11 times. The Gladiators were penalized 14 times, and that doesn’t include penalties that were declined.