Arizona comes from behind to nip SaberCats
May 30, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
San Jose, CA (May 30, 2004) - Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner threw for three second-half touchdowns and the Rattlers' defense shutdown San Jose to overcome a 20-point deficit and defeat the SaberCats, 50-43, Sunday in the final game of the Arena Football League regular-season.
The loss by San Jose (11-5) drops them to the No. 2 seed and the SaberCats will play host to the Tampa Bay Storm (9-7) at 11:45 a.m. Saturday in HP Pavilion. With the Arizona (11-5) win, and Colorado's 56-47 win over Chicago, the Rattlers, who become the No. 1 seed, will play host to the Los Angeles Avengers (10-6) on Sunday.
The Avengers lost at home, 52-50, to Orlando (10-6) and the Predators will play at Chicago (11-5) on Sunday and Colorado (11-5) will play at New Orleans (11-5) in the other quarterfinal game Sunday. The VooDoo defeated Austin, 38-21, to gain the No. 4 spot behind Chicago.
Behind the line play of Bryan Henderson, Wendall Gaines and Tony Plantin, the Rattlers held San Jose to no points in the third quarter and limiting the SaberCats to nine in the fourth.
Bonner was 15 of 17 passing in the second half for 154 yards and had touchdown passes to Justin Taplin, Siaha Burley and Hunkie Cooper. The 4th-down pass to Cooper with 30 seconds left and Nelson Garner's kicked extra point gave Arizona its first lead of the game, 44-43.
San Jose took over and quarterback Mark Grieb moved the ball to the SaberCats' 18 yard line. Barry Wagner dropped a 2nd-down pass with one second left at the Arizona one yard line and then Dan Frantz' 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Gaines, who gobbled up the ball and carried it in for a touchdown.
With 15 seconds left in the second half, Grieb connected with James Hundon for 13 yards and San Jose led, 34-14. But Garner kicked a 49-yard field goal as time ran out to close the gap to, 34-24.
Arizona got the opening second-half kickoff and Bonner moved the team 45 yards in seven plays with fullback Bo Kelly going in from three yards out. That started the rally and closed San Jose's lead to 34-24.
Grieb connected with Hundon on what looked like a touchdown with 8:27 left in the 3rd quarter, but a holding penalty called the play back. Six plays later, the SaberCats were in a 4th-and inches situation at the Arizona 7-yard line and Wagner was stopped on a running play by Rattlers' lineman Vince Amey.
Bonner then connected with Taplin for 37 yards and San Jose's lead was down to 34-30. Frantz hit a 33-yard field goal at 13:26 of the fourth quarter and Shalon Baker then forced a fumble of a Tom Pace reception and recovered the ball with 10:53 remaining.
On the ensuing series, San Jose drove to the Arizona 3-yard line and a Frantz 18-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Bryan Henderson and recovered by Ricky Parker.
Bonner ended up 22 of 32 for 213 yards and four TD passes. Grieb was 28 of 38 for 274 and five TD passes.
Burley ended up with eight catches for 105 yards and a pair of scores. Hundon and Fred Coleman each had two TD receptions out of eight catches apiece.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 30, 2004
- Gladiators finish Destroyers, 64-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers drop season finale, 64-51, to Vegas - Columbus Destroyers
- Storm hold on to beat Desperados, advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Desperados Drop Seventh Consecutive Game, Falling to Storm - Dallas Desperados
- Arizona comes from behind to nip SaberCats - San Jose SaberCats
- Dragons Season Ends with a Win - New York Dragons
- New Orleans VooDoo to face Colorado Crush in inaugural home playoff game - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush knocks down Rush, 56-47 - Chicago Rush
- VooDoo activate WR/LB Anthony Collins and WR/LB Tremaine Neal from injured reserve - New Orleans VooDoo
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