Kats Defeated by SaberCats, Blame Six Turnovers

May 25, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release


NASHVILLE-The Nashville Kats were defeated by the San Jose SaberCats 48-34 in front of 8,034 Friday night at the Sommet Center. The Kats played a hard fought game but their four lost fumbles and two interceptions proved to be their undoing as their chances for the AFL playoffs got slimmer with only three regular-season games remaining. SaberCats QB Mark Grieb was named Offensive Player of the Game (26-of-37 266 yards and three touchdowns) and WR/DB Marquis Floyd was named Ironman of the Game. Kats DB Ahmad Hawkins, who was named Defensive Player of the Game, recorded his 12th interception of the season which set a team-record for interceptions in a season. He is one interception away from tying the AFL record for most interceptions in a season. Nashville's loss pushed the Kats to a 5-3 all-time record vs. San Jose and ended the Kats' three-game winning streak over San Jose.

The Kats were welcomed home by rowdy fans waiving their rally towels after a Week 12 win against the Chicago Rush that kept their playoff hopes alive and made for a crucial conference match-up with the SaberCats. The first quarter was filled with solid defense and time-consuming drives by both clubs as San Jose scored the only touchdown of the quarter on a QB Mark Grieb four-yard run.

Nashville exploded in the second-quarter with 24 points. Nashville first got on the board when Kats QB Jeff Smoker found WR Rocco Forgione in the endzone on a tip-toeing 24-yard touchdown catch. Attempting to catch the SaberCats off-guard, Nashville attempted an onside kick that was unfortunately for the Kats, returned for a 10-yard touchdown. AFL leading rusher Dan Alexander continued his superb season on the ground by scoring his 32nd and 33rd touchdown of the year. A penalty-laden quarter that saw San Jose flagged five times for 40 yards and Nashville twice for six yards, got even messier as San Jose lineman Julius Gant was ejected after throwing a punch. The play ignited both sides as the physical and intense play continued until the second quarter buzzer sounded.

San Jose came out in the third quarter blazing as they scored 21 points. Two of the touchdowns came through the air as Grieb found receiver Rodney Wright and James Roe on five-yard scores, respectively. Their third touchdown came when FB Phil Glover muscled his way into the end zone on a two-yard run to make the score 41-27 at the end of the third-quarter.

The fourth quarter started with points as the Kats found their way back on the board for the first time since the second quarter. Down 41-27, Nashville kept true to their resilient nature and got back in the end zone when Smoker connected with WR Kenny Higgins for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score 41-34 midway through the fourth quarter. The Kats held the SaberCats scoreless on the ensuing drive but a strip of Kats QB Smoker gave San Jose the ball which was capitalized on with FB Brian Johnson run, leaving the final score 48-34 San Jose. With the victory, San Jose clinched a berth in the 2007 AFL playoffs.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 25, 2007


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