ArenaBowl XII was the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 season, making it the third longest-running professional football league in ...

's twelfth Arena Bowl, which took place August 23, 1998. It pitted the #4

Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played its ...

(9-5) of the National Conference against the #1

Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm were a professional arena football team based in Tampa, Florida, US. It played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally the team was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. The f ...

(12-2), also of the National Conference. This was the second and final ArenaBowl to have the " War on I-4" rivalry on the big stage. For the Predators, it was their fourth ArenaBowl appearance in their eight years of existence (having lost ArenaBowls VI, VIII and IX). This year, they were under the command of first-year head coach (and former Tampa Bay Storm QB)

Jay Gruden Jay Michael Gruden (born March 4, 1967) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is an offensive consultant for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach of the Washington ...

. For the Storm, this was their eighth overall appearance as they were going for their fifth ArenaBowl title in eight seasons. Not only did they face their arch-rivals from Orlando, but they also had face their former star player in Jay Gruden.

Game summary

In the first quarter, the Predators drew first blood with kicker David Cool getting a 23-yard field goal, yet the Storm took the lead with QB Peter Tom Willis completing a 12-yard TD pass to OS

George LaFrance George Herbert LaFrance III (born September 24, 1965) is a former Arena Football League offensive specialist. In a playing career lasting twelve years, he played for the Detroit Drive (1988- 1993), the Tampa Bay Storm (1994-1999), and the New Je ...

. Orlando would respond with QB

Pat O'Hara Patrick O'Hara (born September 27, 1968) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the Pass game analyst for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach of the New Orleans ...

completing a 23-yard TD pass to OS Robert Gordon, yet Tampa Bay answered with Willis and LaFrance hooking up with each other again on a 9-yard TD pass. In the second quarter, the Predators drew closer with back-up QB

Connell Maynor Connell Maynor (born January 21, 1969) is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Alabama A&M University . Maynor previously served in the same capacity at Hampton University from 2013 to 2017 and Winston ...

getting a 3-yard TD run, while the Storm had kicker

Björn Nittmo Björn Arne Nittmo (born July 26, 1966) is a former Swedish born American football placekicker, being the only Swedish-born player ever to complete as much as a full season in the National Football League. Football career The left-footed Nittmo, ...

get a 44-yard field goal. Afterwards, Orlando took the lead prior to halftime with FB/LB

Rick Hamilton Richard R. Hamilton (born April 19, 1970) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New York Jets. He played college football at the University of Central ...

getting a 36-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Predators took control with Hamilton getting a 5-yard TD run, a safety with OL/DL Webbie Burnett tackling

in the end zone after LaFrance recovered his own fumble in the end zone after being hit on the one yard line. Barry Wagner set up Hamilton 's 10-yard run by intercepting WR/DB

Barry Wagner Barry Wagner (born November 24, 1967) is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators, with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship, and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships ...

returning a missed field goal 48 yards for a touchdown. The only response that Tampa Bay could show was Willis and LaFrance hooking up with each other yet again on a 7-yard TD pass. Afterwards, Orlando wrapped up the period with Cool kicking a 20-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Predators continued its beatdown with DS Damon Mason returning an interception 22 yards for a touchdown (with a failed PAT). All that was left of the Storm's firepower was Willis' 8-yard TD pass to WR/LB Stevie Thomas (with a failed PAT). Immediately afterwards, Orlando wrapped up its very first Arena Bowl title with Gordon returning a kickoff 8 yards for a touchdown.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter *ORL – FG Cool 23 *TB – LaFrance 12 pass from Willis (Nittmo kick) *ORL – Gordon 23 pass from O'Hara (Cool kick) *TB – LaFrance 9 pass from Willis (Nittmo kick) 2nd Quarter *ORL – Maynor 3 run (Cool kick) *TB – FG Nittmo 44 *ORL – Hamilton 36 run (Cool kick) 3rd Quarter *ORL – Hamilton 5 run (Cool kick) *ORL – Safety Burnett *ORL – Hamilton 10 run (Cool kick) *ORL – Wagner 48 missed field goal (Cool kick) *TB – LaFrance 7 pass from Willis (Bowden run) *ORL – FG Cool 20 4th Quarter *ORL – Mason 22 Interception Return (Cool kick failed) *TB – Thomas 8 pass from Willis (Nittmo kick failed) *ORL – Gordon 8 Kickoff Return (Cool kick failed)

External links

ArenaFan Box Score
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arenabowl Xii 012 1998 Arena Football League season 1998 in sports in Florida 20th century in Tampa, Florida Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Storm Sports competitions in Tampa, Florida 1998 in American television August 1998 sports events in the United States