ArenaBowl X

Infobox ArenaBowl Old
sb_name = X


visitor = Storm
home = Barnstormers
visitor_total = 42
home_total = 38

visitor_qtr1 = 13
visitor_qtr2 = 15
visitor_qtr3 = 7
visitor_qtr4 = 7

home_qtr1 = 14
home_qtr2 = 13
home_qtr3 = 3
home_qtr4 = 7

date = August 26, 1996
arena = Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium
city = Des Moines, Iowa
attendance = 11,411
mvp = Stevie Thomas, WR/LB, Tampa Bay
ironman = Leonard Conley, WR/LB, Iowa
wincoach = Tim Marcum
losecoach = John Gregory
network = ESPN
announcers = Todd Christensen, Kirk Herbstreit, & Mike Golic
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Arena Bowl X was the Arena Football League's tenth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #2 Tampa Bay Storm of the National Conference against the #1 Iowa Barnstormers of the American Conference. Both teams ended their regular seasons at 12-2, yet Iowa had a better conference record (7-2 to 6-2). For the Storm, they were hoping to get their fourth championship title in six overall appearances, while the Barnstormers (in only their second season) were trying to win their very first league championship game.

Game summary

In the first quarter, Tampa Bay struck first with QB Jay Gruden completing a 12-yard TD pass to OL/DL Lynn Rowland, yet the Barnstormers took the lead with QB Kurt Warner completing a 16-yard TD pass to WR/LB Chris Spencer and a 30-yard TD pass to OS Lamont 'Lamart' Cooper. The Storm would wrap up the period with Gruden completing a 30-yard TD pass to OS George LaFrance (with a failed PAT).

In the second quarter, Iowa increased its lead with Warner completing a 9-yard TD pass to WR/DB Willis Jacox, yet Tampa Bay took control with Gruden completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR/LB Stevie Thomas. Afterwards, Thomas would return an interception 9 yards for a touchdown. The Barnstormers would wrap up the half with FB/LB Ron Moran getting a 1-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, the Storm increased its lead with Gruden completing a 21-yard TD pass to FB/LB Ivan Caesar, yet Iowa responded with kicker Mike Black getting a 32-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, the Barnstormers reclaimed its lead with Warner and Spencer hooking up with each other again on a 4-yard TD pass, yet Tampa Bay retook the lead with Gruden and Thomas hooking up with each other again on a 7-yard TD pass. Afterwards, Warner would lead Iowa on a late game drive to the Storm's 1-yard, yet on four-straight downs, Tampa Bay kept the Barnstormers out of the end zone.

With the win, the Storm claimed its fourth title in six seasons.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter
*TB - Rowland 12 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)
*IOW - Spencer 16 pass from Warner (Black kick)
*IOW - Cooper 30 pass from Warner (Black kick)
*TB - LaFrance 30 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick failed)2nd Quarter
*IOW - Jacox 9 pass from Warner (Black kick)
*TB - Thomas 35 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)
*TB - Thomas 9 Interception Return (Gruden pass)
*IOW - Moran 1 Run (Black)3rd Quarter
*TB - Caesar 21 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)
*IOW - FG Black 324th Quarter
*IOW - Spencer 4 yard pass from Warner (Black kick)
*TB - Thomas 7 pass from Gruden (Cimadevilla kick)

Trivia

* On the Arena Football League's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown (shown on arenafootball.com during the AFL's 20th season), this game was ranked #3. [http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=31568&CLIP_FILE_ID=35612&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND]

External links

* [http://www.arenafan.com/statistics/?page=boxscore&gameid=539 ArenaFan Box Score]