ArenaBowl X
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| Date | August 26, 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Arena | Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Stevie Thomas, WR/LB, Tampa Bay
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| Attendance | 11,411 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Winning coach | John Gregory | ||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Todd Christensen, Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Golic | ||||||||||||||||||
ArenaBowl X was the
Game summary
In the first quarter, Tampa Bay struck first with Quarterback Jay Gruden completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to OL/DL Lynn Rowland, yet the Barnstormers took the lead with Quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Chris Spencer and a 30-yard touchdown pass to OS Lamont Cooper. The Storm would wrap up the period with Gruden completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to OS George LaFrance (with a failed PAT).
In the second quarter, Iowa increased its lead with Warner completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Willis Jacox, yet Tampa Bay took control with Gruden completing a 35-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Stevie Thomas. Afterwards, Thomas would return an interception nine yards for a touchdown. The Barnstormers would wrap up the half with FB/LB Ron Moran getting a one-yard touchdown run.
In the third quarter, the Storm increased its lead with Gruden completing a 21-yard touchdown 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 four-yard touchdown pass, yet Tampa Bay retook the lead with Gruden and Thomas hooking up with each other again on a seven-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Warner would lead Iowa on a late game drive to the Storm's one-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 - 12-yard touchdown pass from Gruden to Rowland (Cimadevilla kick)
- IOW - 16-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Spencer (Black kick)
- IOW - 30-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Cooper (Black kick)
- TB - 30-yard touchdown pass from Gruden to LaFrance (Cimadevilla kick failed)
2nd Quarter
- IOW - 9-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Jacox (Black kick)
- TB - 35-yard touchdown pass from Gruden to Thomas (Cimadevilla kick)
- TB - 9-yard interception return by Thomas (Gruden pass)
- IOW - 1-yard touchdown run by Moran (Black)
3rd Quarter
- TB - 21-yard touchdown pass from Gruden to Caesar (Cimadevilla kick)
- IOW - 32-yard field goal by Black
4th Quarter
- IOW - 4-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Spencer (Black kick)
- TB - 7-yard touchdown pass from Gruden to Thomas (Cimadevilla kick)
Trivia
- On the Arena Football League's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this game was ranked #3.[1]
In popular culture
This game was prominently featured in Warner's