FORCE 56, STORM 55: Time enough for a comeback rally

Chris Greisen scores with time expiring and Carlos Martinez kicks the extra point to give Georgia its fifth straight Arena Football League win.

By Larry Hartstein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/01/08

The comeback crew did it again.

And this time, the Force didn't take the lead for good until the clock read zero.

Georgia won its fifth straight Saturday night, 56-55 over Tampa Bay, by rallying late for the fourth week in a row.

Chris Greisen's 1-yard keeper around the right end tied the game as time ran out, and Carlos Martinez nailed the extra point for the victory.

"It's hard to believe this is becoming commonplace," coach Doug Plank said. "The players believe in each other and they know what really matters is the end of the game."

For most of the fourth quarter, it looked like the Force had run out of comebacks.

But with under a minute left, rookie cornerback Tony Tiller —- a Snellville resident who played quarterback at DeKalb County's Stephenson High —- leaped high for an end-zone interception and returned it to the Storm 14.

The loud Gwinnett Arena crowd exploded, and the Force marched for the winning score.

"I figured they were going to come with that, so I kind of baited him into that route," said Tiller, who was playing his second AFL game after three years in the Canadian Football League. "I've prided myself on big plays my whole career. I tell the guys, when a big play needs to be made, look for me."

Greisen's 1-yard touchdown came after the Storm stuffed fullback Matt Huebner twice.

"We knew we couldn't run it up the middle, they were stacking the inside," Greisen said. "[Receiver] Troy Bergeron made an unbelievable block on the linebacker. I thought initially I'd have to put my shoulder down, but it was just a tremendous job by Matt Huebner, the offensive line, everyone."

Georgia improved to 8-5, while the Storm fell to 6-7. The game, which lacked a good flow due to 26 penalties, couldn't have started worse for the Force.

The Storm intercepted Greisen's deep ball on the first play from scrimmage, and nose tackle Ernest Allen left with a knee injury on the first defensive series.

Receiver Carl Morris made arguably the play of the season late in the first quarter.

When Greisen's pass went through Tiger Jones' hands and bounced off the end zone net, it looked like a sure interception. But Morris wrestled the ball away from the defender for a touchdown.

Storm coach Tim Marcum stormed onto the field to argue, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct flag.

Morris was unstoppable in the first half: three touchdowns, including a one-handed grab on a 7-yard fade. The Force led 28-27 at halftime.

But the offense stalled in the third quarter, and the Force fell behind by 13.

The Force stayed within reach thanks to Greisen, who hit 31 of 39 throws for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Morris caught 15 balls for 157 yards, and Jones added 12 catches for 113 yards and one touchdown. Huebner bulled his way to three scores.