Avengers Defeat SaberCats 54-42
Published on May 8, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 7, 2005) - QB John Kaleo threw seven touchdown passes, five to Offensive Player of the Game Tony Locke, as the Los Angeles Avengers won for the first time ever in San Jose, 54-42, over the SaberCats in front of 14,203 fans at HP Pavilion at San Jose.
Los Angeles (9-5) now has a one game lead over San Jose (8-6) and sole possession of first place in the Western Division with two games remaining in the season.
Since San Jose posted a team-record 89 points against the Colorado Crush on Apr. 22, their offense has seemed to struggle. The Avengers forced four turnovers and stopped San Jose a total of eight times.
Los Angeles held the SaberCats scoreless in the second quarter and limited the league's top offense to just seven first half points.
Joey Dozier scored on a 7-yard run with 8:48 left in the first quarter to give the SaberCats a 7-0 lead, but Los Angeles scored 28 unanswered points to take a 28-7 lead early in the third.
San Jose would score 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to trim Los Angeles' lead to 28-21. The two teams traded scores three times before a missed Remy Hamilton field goal with 35 seconds left gave San Jose a chance to win the game.
But on the first play of San Jose's drive, game Ironman Kevin Ingram intercepted his third pass of the game and returned it 7-yards for a score to put the game out of reach and end San Jose's hopes of a fourth quarter comeback.
San Jose's offense never seemed to find a rhythm during the game as the Avengers defensive line produced four sacks and pressure that contributed to Grieb's three interceptions. Defensive Player of the Game Michale Spicer finished the night with two sacks and 4.0 tackles.
SaberCats OS Rashied Davis scored twice with his second of the game, a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, giving him 38 on the year tying Steve Papin's 2000 single season record.
San Jose travels to Arizona to face the Rattlers in their final road game of the season on May 14, while Los Angeles hosts Las Vegas on the same night.
Notes: Grieb threw his 75th touchdown of the season on a 11-yard pass to Shalon Baker to tie his franchise record set in 2004...San Jose's seven points in the first half was its lowest total of the season...In his first game back since the 2004 ArenaBowl, OL/DL Sam Hernandez forced a fumble and recorded a sack...Before tonight, San Jose was undefeated at home (5-0) against Los Angeles...Inactives for the game for the SaberCats were Barry Wagner, Erin Damond, Jeff Ruffin and Joe Jacobs.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 8, 2005
- Crush beat VooDoo, 63-57; Kelly reaches 700 career TDs - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush Stops Skid, Turns Back VooDoo - Colorado Crush
- Storm Fall on Road, Force Clinch Division - Tampa Bay Storm
- Rampage out of tune in Music City, lose 54-33 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Avengers Defeat SaberCats 54-42 - San Jose SaberCats
- Las Vegas downs Desperados, 58-38 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Wranglers Pound Predators 56-42 - Austin Wranglers
- Dragons outlast Destroyers, 56-44 - Columbus Destroyers
- Grand Rapids loses to Nashville - Grand Rapids Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
