LOSS TO TAMPA BAY PUTS RED DOGS’ BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
			TAMPA, FL (July 17, 1999) -- Starting the playoff stretch one would expect a sense of urgency out of a team fighting for a playoff spot. In the first quarter of tonight’s game at the Ice Palace, 11,247 fans witnessed the New Jersey Red Dogs come out and take a quick 14-7 lead on touchdown receptions by Chad Lindsey (6-yards) and Dimitrious Stanley (1-yard, set up by his 47-yard reception on the previous play). However, that was last time the Red Dogs appeared to have any jump in their steps as the Storm would go on to outscore New Jersey 21-3 in the second quarter to take a 28-17 halftime lead. Tampa Bay’s QB, Peter Tom Willis, was an efficient 12-of-17 for 158 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as he led the Storm’s resurgence heading into halftime. He would finish the night with six touchdown passes. AFL Rookie Dimitrious Stanley led the way for the Red Dogs on offense by hauling in career highs of 10 receptions for 148 yards yards and one touchdown. New Jersey’s Rickey Foggie, pressured throughout the night by the #1 ranked defense in the league, finished the night 27-of-49 for 314-yards and three scores. The Storm defense bottled up Alvin Ashley throughout the night, holding the league’s fourth leading receiver to six receptions for 47-yards. The Red Dogs mounted a comeback in the third quarter on two touchdowns by Willie Latta. However, Tampa Bay’s defense collared the Dogs in the fourth quarter, shutting them out. The Red Dogs next face the New England Sea Wolves on Monday, July 26, in Hartford, in what amounts to a must-win game to keep New Jersey’s playoff hopes alive. GAME NOTES: OL/DL Jerome Brown had three receptions for 24 yards... Rookie WR/DB Willie Latta recorded his first AFL rushing touchdown, a 7-yard score in the third quarter... The loss marks the second three-game losing skid of the season. ALVIN ASHLEY WATCH. . . Saturday night versus the Tampa Bay Storm proved to be another challenge for Alvin Ashley as the #1 defense in the league held the Red Dogs’ star to six receptions and 47 yards. To date, Ashley has racked up 1,233 yards and 23 touchdowns off of 98 receptions. The next closest Red Dog is AFL Rookie Dimitrious Stanley who has 512 yards and five touchdowns off of 45 receptions. Alvin is currently 4th in the League in Receptions (98), 5th in Receiving Yards (1,233), 5th in All-Purpose yards with 2,203 yards, and 10th in Touchdowns (23) and Scoring (138 points). Alvin is also averaging 12.6 yards per catch as well as 183.6 1All-Purpose yards per contest. THE DOMINATING DEFENSE . . . Though the 'Dogs "D" was scorched once again, this time for 55 points by the Tampa Bay Storm. Despite the loss, the "D" remains among the league leaders. The scoring defense drops slightly to #3 in the league with a mark of 44.7 points per game. The 'Dogs total defense, allowing an average of only 251.3 yards per game, remains at #3 in the league overall. Also at #3 in the league is the pass defense, which is allowing a miniscule-by-AFL-standards 225.6 yards per game. The "D" is now second in league lead in sacks with 17, one behind Grand Rapids. Individually, Pierre Hixon leads the team in tackles with 47 (22nd in the league). AFL Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Keita Crespina, who has missed two games due to an injury, is tied for second on the team with 44 tackles (24th overall). Although he did not record a sack, Robert Stewart still leads the league with seven on the season. SOME GAME NOTES . . . Dimitrious Stanley put on an offensive display as he accounted for 10 receptions and 148 yards... Willie Latta produced his second consecutive solid game, scoring twice in the third quarter, once on a 7-yard run and once on an 11-yard reception... He also contributed two tackles on defense... Jerome Brown added four receptions and 43 yards receiving, his first receptions of the year... Rickey Foggie, pressured all night by the league’s #1 defense, went 27-of-49 for 314 yards and three touchdowns... Henry Baker led the team with five tackles...