2016 Week 12 Preview: Storm vs KISS

(photo credit: tampabaystorm.com)

The Los Angeles KISS (4-6) will travel east to take on the Tampa Bay Storm (1-9) on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The KISS enter this game having lost two straight games to Orlando and Philadelphia. Tampa Bay has lost all but one game season, as they defeated the Arizona Rattlers, 63-56 in Week 9. The Storm and KISS are meeting for the first time this season, as these two teams will go at it again in July at the Honda Center.

With starting quarterback Nathan Stanley out with an injury, rookie quarterback Pete Thomas has filled in quite nicely for Stanley. Thomas has completed 74 of his 136 passes, for 955 yards and 21 touchdowns. In seven games played this season, Thomas has only thrown two interceptions. Thomas’s top target has been superstar wide receiver Donovan “Captain” Morgan.

Morgan has caught 63 passes for 808 yards and 27 touchdowns. Brandon Collins has been a great option opposite to Morgan, as he has reeled in 62 catches for 687 yards and 11 touchdowns. The KISS defense has been led by one player all season: Fredrick Obi. Obi leads the team in tackles (62.5), and he leads the team in interceptions (4). Also leading the KISS defense this year has been Josh Victorian, who is second on the team in tackles and interceptions.

It has been a tough season for the Storm, but they’ve played much better recently because of the return of their starting quarterback. Jason Boltus has completed 141 of his 254 pass attempts, for 1,736 yards and 29 touchdowns. The top target for Boltus this year has been T.T. Toliver.  Toliver has caught 71 passes for 1,041 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

The Storm defense has been led by Cortez Stubbs, who leads the team in tackles (49.0), and in interceptions (3). This is a very important game for both teams, as the KISS look to climb up the standings in the National Conference, while the Storm are looking for a win to kick start their season.

It will be crucial for the KISS to limit turnovers and penalties, as that has plagued them all season long. Tampa Bay will look to get off to a good start, because when they’ve fallen behind early, its been hard for them to dig themselves out of the hole.