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Tampa Bay earns last-second win over New Orleans

By Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writer
In print: Saturday, May 10, 2008

Storm defensive back Traco Rachal celebrates after intercepting a pass that would have won it for New Orleans as defensive back Jeroid Johnson, right, joins in.
	[DANIEL WALLACE | Times]

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TAMPA — On second and goal for New Orleans and time winding down in the game — and perhaps on the Storm's season — Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum called timeout and approached his team in a huddle on the field.

He had a plan.

"I said, 'Let's let them score,' " Marcum said.

The players didn't like his suggestion.

"To a man, they said, 'No, Coach, give us a chance to fight,' " Marcum said.

Marcum relented Friday night and the Storm didn't disappoint.

Three plays later, a fourth-down VooDoo pass by Danny Wimprine, who was feeling pressure from a stiff rush, was intercepted by Storm defensive back Traco Rachal in the end zone and Tampa Bay escaped with a 41-37 win against the Southern Division co-leader before an announced crowd of 16,934 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

It was only the Storm's second win in eight games and first at home since beating Georgia here on March 7.

More important, it keeps a possible playoff bid within reach.

"We made the play that made the difference," Marcum said.

Ironically, the key play was made by a defensive back, the spot Tampa Bay (4-6) has struggled with most this season. As the game's final pass left Wimprine's right hand and headed toward New Orleans receiver Sale Key, Rachal got into position and jumped for the pick. After catching it, he sprinted down the sideline as several thousand exuberant fans celebrated with him.

"I just thought, 'I've got to make that play,' " Rachal said. "I can't come back to the sideline with what ifs."

As Tampa Bay quarterback Brett Dietz entered the team's locker room moments after the game, he uttered something that had to have been on the mind of every Storm player.

"Finally," Dietz said.

During its recent slide, the Storm had been beaten every way imaginable. And for a while it looked as if Friday night would result in yet another painful defeat.

At one point, the Storm appeared to be in control. But leading by five and moving into position to go ahead by more late in the third quarter, Tampa Bay's Torrance Marshall was stripped of the ball and New Orleans recovered at the VooDoo 7.

"We had a five-point lead, and the ball," Marcum said. "And the ball."

Before long, the lead was gone and soon the Storm found itself just trying to stay close. Under Dietz, the offense recovered and scored twice in the final quarter.

With 55 seconds left, Dietz, who finished 22 of 32 for 274 yards and four touchdowns, hit Terrill Shaw for a 16-yard score to give Tampa Bay a four-point lead.

From there, the Storm hung on for dear life.

Tampa Bay appeared to have thwarted New Orleans' fourth-and-goal play with 26 seconds left, but the Storm was flagged for pass interference. That gave the VooDoo (7-4) four more shots at it.

"It was all or nothing," Rachal said.

On this night, it was "all" for the Storm.

Finally.