SaberCats Shut down Shock, Win 55-28
August 3, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The #2 San Jose SaberCats (13-5, 1-0) eliminated the #3 Spokane Shock (11-7, 0-1), 55-28, Saturday night at the SAP Center in front of 11,333 fans. The SaberCats dominated from the get-go and never looked back. Quarterback Nathan Stanley earned his first career playoff victory, completing 18-of-35 passes for 193 yards with five touchdowns and zero turnovers. Wide receivers Reggie Gray and Dominique Curry notched two touchdown catches apiece, and fullback Odie Armstrong contributed two more on the ground. The defense stole the show, however, dominating all night. Defensive back Ken Fontenette hauled in two interceptions, and David Hyland added another. The team finished with seven sacks, three-and-a-half from defensive lineman Jason Stewart, two from linebacker Francis Maka, and one-and-a-half from defensive lineman Terrance Carter.
Opening up the game, the Shock quickly moved inside the San Jose five-yard line, but quarterback Erik Meyer was picked off by Hyland in the end zone. The SaberCats' Stanley, making his first career playoff start, would convert on the extra possession, finding Curry on a 13-yard out for an early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, Spokane would once again come up short, turning the ball over on downs thanks to back-to-back sacks by Stewart. The San Jose offense would once again make good on the extra possession, as Stanley connected with wide receiver Ben Nelson for a 29-yard score and 14-0 lead. The Shock would come up empty for a third straight possession, as Fontenette intercepted Meyer as the first quarter came to a close.
Again executing with a short field, Stanley once again found Curry, this time from seven-yards, to extend the SaberCats lead to 21-0. The San Jose defense would continue to dominate, as Fontenette stepped in front of a Meyer pass for the second straight possession. Continuing to apply the pressure, Stanley connected with Gray from six-yards out to push the lead up to 28-0. Inside the final minute, Spokane continued to sputter on offense, turning the ball over on downs for the second time in the half. A weird play ended the first half, as Gray hauled in a pass across the middle, and in an effort to call time out, fumbled with the Shock recovering.
Starting with the ball in the second half, SaberCats kicker Nich Pertuit finished off a five-plus minute drive with 25-yard field goal to push the lead to 31-0 in favor of the home team. Spokane would finally get on the board midway through the third quarter, as Meyer spotted wide receiver Mike Washington for the score. The San Jose offense would continue to execute, as Stanley found Gray for the second time on the evening, pushing the lead back up to 31.
After the Shock turned the ball over on downs to open the fourth quarter, Armstrong bulldozed his way into the end zone from eight yards out to put San Jose up 45-7. Spokane would dent the scoreboard for a second time, as Meyer connected with wide receiver Rashaad Carter to cut into the deficit at 45-14. Pertuit would respond with his second field goal of the night, this one from 20-yards out. On the ensuing possession, Meyer hooked up with Carter for the second time, making the score 48-21 in favor of San Jose. After recovering an onside kick attempt, the Shock continued to push in the fourth quarter, coming up with their third touchdown of the final frame. Finishing off the scoring, Armstrong reached the end zone to make the final score 55-28.
Next weekend the SaberCats will play the winner of the other National Conference game between the Arizona Rattlers and the Portland Thunder. If the Rattlers win, San Jose will travel to Arizona. If the Thunder pull off an upset, the SaberCats will play the host.
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Arena Football League Stories from August 3, 2014
- Predators Defeat Pittsburgh 56-48, Advance to American Conference Championship - Orlando Predators
- Pittsburgh Power Fall to Orlando in AFL Playoffs - Pittsburgh Power
- SaberCats Shut down Shock, Win 55-28 - San Jose SaberCats
- Shock Season Ended by 55-28 Loss to San Jose - Spokane Shock
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