Destroyers Game Notes
May 28, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Buffalo Destroyers (3-3) Vs. San Jose Sabercats (6-0)
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2002
Kickoff: 7:00 PM
Site: HSBC Arena (18,457)
Officials: Riley Johnson (Referee), Paul Frerking (Umpire), Neil Brunner (Head Linesman), Paul Engleberts (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge)
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM (Buffalo), WJTN 1240 AM (Jamestown) (Jim Brinson, Bob Trimble, Bremante Bryant)
TV: None
Series Record: San Jose leads 3-0
Last Meeting: San Jose 83 Buffalo 54
Compaq Center at San Jose, July 22, 2000
Coaches: Ray Bentley (14-16, 3rd Year)
Darren Arbet (34-14, 4th Year)
THE SERIES: San Jose has won all three meetings.
@San Jose 83 Buffalo 54, July 22, 2000
San Jose 61 @ Buffalo 35, May 19, 2000
@San Jose 52 Buffalo 46, July 9, 1999 HEAD COACHES: Buffalo's Ray Bentley is in his second full season as head coach, his third overall. Bentley a native of Grand Rapids, MI earned All-MAC honors as a linebacker in 1981-82 at Central Michigan. Bentley's 10 year pro football career began in 1983 with the Michigan Panthers where he was part of the inaugural USFL Championship team. Bentley played for the Buffalo Bills from 1986-91, playing in two Super Bowls. Outside of coaching football, Bentley continues to work as an NFL play-by-play broadcaster for the FOX Sports Network.
San Jose's Darren Arbet enters his fourth season as head coach. He led team to league record 15 straight regular season wins over the 2000 and 2001 seasons. An original member of the team's coaching staff, he became the SaberCats second head coach and ninth former Arena Football League player to be named head coach of an AFL franchise on January 13, 1999. He joined the SaberCats for their inaugural season in 1995 as a defensive assistant and special teams coordinator and was named the team's player personnel director the following season. Arbet has guided the SaberCats to a league-best 22 regular season wins over the past two seasons and his 28 regular season victories in his first three years at the helm is the second-highest total by a head coach in his first three seasons on the job in the history of the league. Arbet played two seasons in the AFL as a FB/LB with the Los Angeles Cobras (1988) and Maryland Commandos (1989).
LAST WEEK: Grand Rapids 47 Buffalo 45 The Rampage spoiled the homecoming for Destroyers head coach and general manager Ray Bentley as the defending ArenaBowl champs edged the Destroyers 47-45 in front of 9,782 fans in Van Andel Arena.
In the fourth quarter, after a Lamont Cooper three yard run that pulled Buffalo within two at 38-40, Willis Marshall fumbled the kickoff and Buffalo recovered the ball on their own 13 yard line. With 4:43 remaining, K Steve McLaughlin missed a 46 yard field goal, his third miss of the game, the score remained 38-40. Buffalo pulled within two again with 41 seconds left on a Fred McNair to Eddie Brown score, but the Destroyers couldn't recover the onside kick and the Rampage ran out the clock.
McNair moved in sixth place all-time on the Arena Football League's career passing yards list on the Destroyers first offensive play when he hit WR/DB Carlos James with a 13 yard reception. McNair finished 22 of 36 for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown. McNair now has 18,116 career passing yards. He also moved into sixth place on the league's career passes attempted list with 2,409, passing Mike Perez (2,405).
Eddie Brown passed Chris Barber for sixth place all-time in the AFL's career tackles list with 1.5 tackles tonight. Brown now has 386 career tackles. Carlos James was named Ironman of the Game with six receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown and three tackles, one interception and a pass defense. LAST SERIES MEETING: San Jose 83 Buffalo 54 Compaq Center at San Jose, July 22, 2000 The Sabercats clinched their first Western Division title in team history and secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with an 83-54 win over Buffalo.
San Jose tied a league record with its 11th consecutive win finishing at 12-2. Sabercat Barry Wagner had four touchdowns and a game-high six tackles earning Ironman of the Game honors. QB Mark Grieb was named game MVP throwing 17 of 22 for 292 yards and a season-high seven touchdowns. Destroyers Kevin Mason threw for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Buffalo finishes the season 5-9 overall (5-5 under Ray Bentley) and earn their first playoff berth in team history.
DESTROYERS TRANSACTIONS:
Date Action Player
May 14 Signed Prac. Sq. OL/DL Ryan Shuff
May 14 Waived Prac. Sq. FB/LB Aaron Woloszyn
May 10 Activated from IR OS Jarrial Jackson
May 10 Placed on IR OL/DL Eric Miller
May 9 Signed Prac. Sq. FB/LB Aaron Woloszyn
May 6 Waived Prac. Sq. OS Derek Baker
April 26 Signed Prac. Sq. OL/DL Jeremy Johnson
DESTROYERS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL Eric Miller Leg Out
OL/DL Sam Mavrick Leg Out
DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: The Destroyers look to slay the Dragons as they host the New York Dragons Saturday, June 8 at 7:00PM at the HSBC Arena.
TEAM NOTES:
Indoor Air McNair: QB Fred McNair moved in sixth place all-time on the Arena Football League's career passing yards list on the Destroyers first offensive play when he hit WR/DB Carlos James with a 13 yard reception. McNair now has 18,116 career passing yards passing Tampa Bay's John Kaleo (injured, out for the season). He also moved into sixth place on the league's career passes attempted list with 2,409, passing Mike Perez (2,405).
He Knows The Way To San Jose: FB/LB Derrick Chachere is very familiar with the Sabercats. He played for San Jose from 1995-2000 and is the team's career leader in rushing attempts (154) and rushing yards (442). He is second on the Sabercats career rushing touchdowns list (34), fourth in fumbles forced (5) and tied for first in fumbles recovered (6).
Been There Too: WR/DB Bret Cooper is also a familiar face in the Bay Area. Cooper appeared in nine games for San Jose in 1997 catching 27 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 12 tackles, three interceptions and three pass defenses.
Changing Places: The last time San Jose played Buffalo, WR/LB Kevin Mason was the Destroyers quarterback. In two games vs. San Jose in 2000 Mason was 24 of 46 for 280 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He did not attempt a pass in the 1999 game.
Super Coop!: Despite missing a game this season, OS Lamont Cooper still is at the top of the league in many offensive categories. Coop is tops in the league averaging 237.2 all-purpose yards per game. He is second in total all-purpose yards with 1186. Cooper is also in the top ten in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Point Taken: K Steve McLaughlin has converted his last 25 consecutive extra points dating back to May 4 at Detroit. He is 38-40 on PAT's this season. Total Package: QB Fred McNair has accounted for 31 of the Destroyers 41 touchdowns (76%) this year, 26 passing and five rushing. 2 for 2: WR/DB Carlos James is second on the team in receiving with 22 catches for 275 yards and six touchdowns. James is also second on the team with 23 tackles.
Coop Can: OS Lamont Cooper has returned four kicks for touchdowns in only five games. He is on pace to break his own single season record of seven which he set last year. He is the AFL's all-time record holder in kickoffs returned for touchdowns with 24.
Three Peat: DS Corey Johnson has at least one interception in the last three games. His four on the season rank him second only behind Orlando's Kenny McEntyre who has five.
Touchdown Maker: OS Lamont Cooper rushed for a touchdown last week vs. Grand Rapids extending his consecutive games with a touchdown to 15 games dating back to last season when he was with Oklahoma. The last team to hold Cooper scoreless is San Jose (May 5, 2001).
Trifecta: QB Fred McNair has thrown at least three touchdown passes in his last 18 games dating back to last season with Carolina.
Home Sweet Home: The Destroyers are 3-0 at the HSBC Arena in 2002.
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