Receiver makes immediate impact

Before most fans knew he was on the field, he was in the end zone.

So who is Demetris Bendross, and what was he doing catching a touchdown on the first play of the Storm's 47-36 victory over New Orleans on Saturday?

The offensive specialist was a three-year letterman at Florida A&M and a teammate of Storm defensive specialist Jonathan Ordway on the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Renegades the past two seasons.

After Tampa Bay traded receiver/defensive back T.T. Toliver to Nashville on March 30, Ordway called Bendross, a CFL free agent who was working for Bausch & Lomb in Tampa, and suggested he contact the Storm. Bendross was invited for a tryout, where he quickly impressed coaches with his speed.

"He's faster than a small town rumor," Storm coach Tim Marcumsaid.

Bendross, 28, was signed to the practice squad and activated after it became apparent offensive specialist Freddie Solomon (quad) couldn't play. Bendross didn't waste time making a first impression, hauling in a Shane Staffordpass down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

"Since I came in on the practice squad, that was my best route. And every time I ran it, I scored a touchdown in practice," Bendross said. "Eventually, I knew I was going to get it in the game, but I never knew it was going to be the first play."

New Orleans clamped down on the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder after the touchdown, limiting him to one catch for 1 yard the rest of the game. He made a rookie mistake on a kickoff return, running back into the end zone while attempting to elude tacklers and being brought down for a safety.

"I was learning as I was going," Bendross said. "It was my first time, and I told Coach that it won't happen again. It was just a mistake. I'll take the blame for it."

Bendross made up for the miscue by recovering a kickoff off the net that eluded teammate Clif Dell. Though he tired as the game went on and admitted to some mental mistakes, Bendross should make a smooth transition to the Arena game, Ordway said.

"He's a good athlete, and he's got a good attitude," he said. "So he'll be all right."

COMING TO LIFE: One week after Mike Sutton replaced him in the starting lineup, Kelvin Kinneyresponded with one of his best games of the season. Moved from defensive end to nose guard, Kinney, 6-7, 280 pounds, had a tackle and two quarterback hurries.

"He was a big difference in there," Marcum said. "He really came on, had a good push up the middle, got a couple of holding penalties (because) they were having to grab him."

EASIER ROAD? The Storm (8-5) likely needs to win two of its final three games to make the playoffs, Marcum said.

"Maybe it's going to take 11-5, but I think 10-6 might do it because everybody's playing everybody else," Marcum said.

On paper, Tampa Bay has the second-easiest road. The .462 combined winning percentage of its remaining opponents _ Georgia (9-4), New York (8-5) and Columbus (1-12) _ is second-lowest among playoff contenders from the National Conference. Georgia (.603) has the most difficult followed by Dallas (.550), New Orleans (.537), Orlando (.481) and New York (.436).

"If we can do what we're supposed to do, take care of business, we get a little help, who knows?" Marcum said. "We may host (a playoff game)."

STORM FLURRIES: Ordway's 14{ tackles broke the team record of 12 set by Antoine Worthman against Milwaukee in July 2000. The Storm signed Marcum's nephew, receiver/defensive back Mickey Peters, to the practice squad. Peters caught 193 passes for 2,293 yards and 22 touchdowns at Texas Tech from 2001-03.