Dallas edges San Jose, 67-64
April 6, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
DALLAS, Tex. (April 6, 2003) -- Will Pettis scored on a 2-yard run with 22.3 seconds remaining following a controversial defensive holding penalty against the SaberCats and Dallas ended San Jose's six-game winning streak with a 67-64 win at Reunion Arena.
The Desperados got the opportunity to score the winning touchdown after George Williams batted down a Jim Kubiak pass at the line of scrimmage on a fourth down play. The referees flagged San Jose's Clevan Thomas for holding prior to the knockdown and Pettis scored on the next play to give Dallas the advantage.
San Jose kicker Daron Alcorn had a chance to tie the score with no time remaining but his 39-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
The lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter as Dallas outscored San Jose 29-14 to overcome a 12-point third quarter deficit. Kubiak tossed three of his eight touchdown passes in the final stanza and completed 17-of-24 for 303 yards without an interception for the game.
Barry Wagner gave San Jose a 64-60 lead scoring on a 1-yard run on fourth down with 41 seconds left. The SaberCats opted for an on-side kick following the score and Dallas' Tom Briggs recovered the ball at the SaberCats 6-yard line.
San Jose QB Mark Grieb connected with James Roe on an 18-yard scoring play with just over three minutes left in the third to stake the SaberCats to their biggest lead of the game at 50-38. Grieb threw his seven scoring passes in the first three quarters and completed 28-of-40 for a season-high 329 yards.. He was intercepted twice.
James Hundon, playing his first game in over a month, amassed a game-high 160 receiving yards and a pair of scores on 10 receptions and James Roe hauled in 11 balls for 122 yards and four scores. It marked just the second time in SaberCats history that two recievers had double-digit receptions in the same game.
Kubiak connected with Dialleo Burks on a 45-yard scoring play on the game's first offensive play just 30 seconds after the opening kickoff to give Dallas a quick start. San Jose responded with a pair of Grieb scoring passes and a Sam Hernandez sack for a safety for a 16-7 lead with 4:12 left in the opening quarter.
Wagner hauled in his only scoring pass of the game, a 4-yarder with no time left in the first half, to give the SaberCats a 36-31 lead at the break.
The SaberCats return home to HP Pavilion on Friday, April 11 to battle the Detroit Fury in a game set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (PT).
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 6, 2003
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- Buffalo Defense Seals Win On Final Play - Buffalo Destroyers
- Dallas edges San Jose, 67-64 - San Jose SaberCats
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