TAMPA, FL -- The Tampa Bay Storm improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2001 season with a 62-45 victory over the Austin Wranglers Sunday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Playing without offensive specialist Freddie Solomon, Tampa Bay still eclipsed the 60-point mark for the second straight week, improving to 43-1 all-time when scoring at least 60 points.

The Storm prevailed despite committing 10 penalties in the game and turning the ball over three times. Austin (0-2) also turned in a sloppy effort, committing 13 penalties and turning the ball over four times.

The win gave Tampa Bay eight straight regular season victories. That streak is the longest current regular season winning streak in the Arena Football League.

Without Solomon, the Storm turned to Clif Dell to fill in at offensive specialist. And Dell did not disappoint, hauling in a career-high four touchdown receptions. In all, Dell, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, had six catches for 68 yards.

Lawrence Samuels led all Storm receivers with seven catches for a game-high 139 yards and a touchdown. He also recovered a kickoff off of the net and recorded 1.5 tackles in earning Ironman of the Game honors.

Storm defensive specialist Jonathan Ordway was named Defensive Player of the Game. Ordway had a career-high two interceptions, one of which he returned 49 yards for a first half touchdown. The 49-yard interception return tied Ordway with Tracey Perkins and Clinton Hart for the longest in Storm history.

Ordway also recorded 5.5 tackles and had two pass breakups in the game.

Storm quarterback Shane Stafford tossed seven touchdown passes on the afternoon. He finished 20-of-30 for 278 yards and an interception. He also rushed for a score.

The Wranglers used a Storm special teams lapse to score the first points of the game. The Tampa Bay defense held the Austin offense to a 49-yard field goal attempt on the game’s first possession. Tony Dodson’s kick was wide right and returned by Storm WR/DB Anthony Derricks. However, Derricks was stripped of the football at the three-yard line. The ball bounded back into the endzone where Austin lineman Tom Briggs recovered it for a touchdown and a 7-0 Austin lead.

The Storm answered with a 36-yard pass from Stafford to Samuels on Tampa Bay’s first offensive play from scrimmage. Two plays later Stafford hit Clif Dell in the endzone for a five-yard touchdown. Matt George’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 9:09 left in the first quarter.

After both teams missed long field goals, Ordway gave the Storm the lead, returning an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. George’s extra point pushed the Storm advantage to 14-7 with 10:02 left in the first half.

The Tampa Bay defense again turned the Wranglers away deep in Storm territory, this time inside the five yard line. Austin WR/DB Charlie Davidson attempted to score on a running play, but was stripped of the football at the two-yard line where Storm lineman Ernest Certain recovered.

Tampa Bay, however, could not capitalize. The Storm marched into Austin territory, but rookie WR/DB Lynaris Elpheage fumbled the ball back to the Wranglers at the Austin 19-yard line. From there Austin needed seven plays before John Fitzgerald connected with Henry Bryant on a four-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14 with 34 seconds left in the second quarter.

Tampa Bay needed just 16 seconds to regain the lead, as Stafford hit Dell on a 38-yard touchdown pass. George’s extra point put Tampa Bay on top 21-14 with 18 seconds left in the first half.

The Storm opened the second half with a 39-yard pass from Stafford to Samuels to get the ball to the Austin five-yard line. Three plays later Stafford found Dell in the back of the endzone for a three-yard touchdown pass. The extra point made it 28-14 with 11:14 left in the third quarter.

The Storm then made it 35-14 after Samuels recovered the ensuing kickoff at the five-yard line. Two plays later Stafford connected with Dell on their fourth touchdown hookup of the game.

Austin finally got back on the scoreboard after Stafford tossed his first interception of the season. The pass was picked off by Kelvin Hunter, who returned it to the Tampa Bay 19-yard line. On the next play Fitzgerald hit Kevin Nickerson on a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 35-21 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

Tampa Bay answered the Austin score with a three-yard touchdown run by Stafford, putting the Storm on top 42-21 with 2:10 left in the third quarter. Austin responded on the next play from scrimmage, as Fitzgerald again connected with Nickerson on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Dodson’s kick sailed wide left, however, and the Storm led 42-27 with 45 seconds left in the quarter.

After the Storm turned the ball over on downs, Austin pulled to within 42-33 when Fitzgerald hit Dan Chiaverini with an eight-yard touchdown pass. Dodson again failed to convert on the extra point, leaving Tampa Bay with a nine-point edge with 11:35 left in the game.

Tampa Bay extended its lead to 49-33 after Stafford and Samuels connected on a 26-yard touchdown play. Then after Ordway recorded his second interception of the game, Stafford sealed the Storm win with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ronney Daniels. George missed the extra point, and the Storm led 55-33 with 2:28 left to play.

Austin added a 16-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald to Nickerson. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, and Tampa Bay led 55-39 with 1:00 left in the game.

Tampa Bay iced the victory with a four-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kenny Christian to increase the lead to 62-39 with just 35 seconds left in the game.

Nickerson scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald with three seconds left to close out the scoring.

Nickerson caught five passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns. Austin backup quarterback John Fitzgerald replaced an injured Bobby Pesavento in the first quarter and finished 23-of-38 for 234 yards and six touchdowns. He threw both Austin interceptions.

Pesavento, who was injured on the first play of Austin’s second drive, was 1-for-4 for 12 yards.

The Storm take to the road to face their arch rivals Orlando next Friday at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Both teams enter the contest with identical 2-0 records. Tampa Bay has won five straight in the series.