Former SaberCats still battling for ArenaBowl berths

Published on June 3, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 3, 2005) – As the Arena Football League Conference Finals begin this weekend and the road to ArenaBowl XIX in Las Vegas winds down, SaberCats fans may recognize some familiar faces taking to the field.

Four former SaberCats players—Colorado QB John Dutton and WR/LB Kevin McKenzie, Chicago FB/LB Bob McMillen, and Orlando WR/DB Bret Cooper—are expected to suit up and participate in the Conference Finals as their respective teams vie for a berth in the AFL's biggest game.

Dutton, who was a member of the SaberCats from 2000-02 and led San Jose to its first ArenaBowl championship in 2002, played a near flawless game, helping the top-seeded Crush dispose of the SaberCats, 56-48, in the first-round of this year's playoffs. Dutton completed 19-of-29 passes for 315 yards and six touchdowns, and more importantly did not commit any turnovers. Dutton didn't do it alone, though. He had the help of another ex-SaberCats player.

McKenzie was part of the SaberCats in 2003, the year in between their championship winning seasons. Against San Jose in the Conference Semifinals, McKenzie burned the SaberCats with a 56-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the game, which immediately gave momentum to the Crush and fueled the home crowd. McKenzie also added a 1-yard rushing touchdown against his former team, helping propel Colorado to their second consecutive Conference Finals appearance.

On Sunday, Jun. 5, Dutton, McKenzie and the Crush will square off against a Chicago Rush roster that features two former SaberCats players, McMillen and WR/DB Charles Pauley. McMillen was instrumental in helping Chicago overcome an 18-point deficit and defeat the Los Angeles Avengers, 52-45, in the Conference Semifinals. In addition to scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that sparked the Rush's comeback, McMillen also made two key defensive plays in the fourth quarter, sacking QB John Kaleo for a loss of two yards and scooping up a fumble with five seconds left in the game to seal the victory. McMillen, a teammate of Dutton from 2001-02, will attempt make life miserable for his former quarterback on Sunday, when the Rush attempt to beat the Crush for the third time this season in the Conference Finals.

Pauley spent his rookie campaign with the SaberCats last season before being selected by Chicago with the first pick in the 2005 expansion draft and joining the Rush. This season, Pauley appeared in nine games for Chicago before suffering a fracture in his left arm on May 1 that put him out of commission for the remainder of the year.

In the National Conference, Bret Cooper and the Orlando Predators will try to hand the No. 1 seed Georgia Force their first loss at home this year. A 12-year veteran of the AFL, Cooper played one season with the SaberCats in the infant years of the franchise in 1997. With a win against Georgia on Saturday, Cooper will make his fourth career ArenaBowl appearance—all with the Predators.

With players on three of the four remaining teams, at least one former SaberCat will be playing in this year's championship game, a testament to the wide-reaching impact of the SaberCats organization in the AFL.

The No. 3 seed Orlando Predators, the only current playoff team to win an ArenaBowl (1998, 2000), will travel to Georgia to face the No. 1 seed Force on Saturday, Jun. 4 at 12:00 p.m. The No. 1 seed Colorado Crush face the No. 3 Chicago Rush, who defeated Colorado twice in the regular season. That game will be held on Sunday, Jun. 5 at 12:00 p.m. All of the remaining playoff games, including the ArenaBowl, will be televised live on NBC.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 3, 2005


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