Palmetto's Joe Hills has big night for Tampa Bay Storm

Joe Hills; photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Joe Hills fell seconds short of earning hero status, but still turned in a stellar performance for the Arena Football League Tampa Bay Storm.

The former Palmetto High standout caught his second touchdown pass with 37 seconds left in the game, which gave the Storm a 79-76 lead over the Philadelphia Soul Friday night at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Tampa missed clinching the game when defensive back Riley Swanson dropped a sure interception that would have sealed things and on the next play Philadelphia scored the winning touchdown.

Hills caught seven passes for 84 yards that included touchdown receptions of six yards each. The 6-5, 215 pound rookie from Tennessee State joined the team June 13th and in two games has caught 12 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Hills played for the Spokane Shock earlier this season and caught 24 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2011 before being released as he battled some injuries.