Grieb Throws Six TDs In Win
July 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (July 14, 2007) - San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb passed for six touchdowns, including four to Ben Nelson, and the SaberCats Saturday overcame an infested first-half of turnovers to defeat the Arena Football League defending champion Chicago Rush, 61-49, and earn their 3rd trip to ArenaBowl in the last six years.
The American Conference SaberCats (15-3), who won ArenaBowls in 2002 and 2004, will meet the Columbus Destroyers, 66-56, winners over the Georgia Force in the National Conference title contest in Atlanta on July 29.
Grieb, directing San Jose to its 12th consecutive victory, hit 2nd-year receiver Nelson with three second-half scores, including a 19-yard toss with 11:07 in the 4th quarter that gave the SaberCats a 48-28 margin, their second 20-point bulge of the game.
San Jose salted the game away on a Julius Gant 10-yard return of an on-side kickoff and Grieb's 4-yard toss to Nelson with 1:20 remaining put the game away, 61-42.
There were six first-half turnovers, four by Chicago and included three of four interceptions by San Jose. Clevan Thomas had two and Marquis Floyd one pick until the third quarter when Floyd returned backup quarterback Russ Michna's pass 27 yards setting up Nelson's score which gave the SaberCats the 48-28 lead.
Michna relieved starter Matt D'Orazio, whose injured back hindered him through the first 29 minutes. D'Orazio was 6-of-18 passing with three interceptions and one score and Chicago decided to go with the left-handed Michna with one minute remaining in the first half.
Michna was 22-of-30 for 247 yards and five touchdowns, but couldn't match Grieb and overcome the 28-14-halftime deficit.
Grieb was 27-of-37 with one interception but had 291 yards. Surprisingly, he connected with his favorite target in James Roe for a game-high 10 receptions and 108 yards, but the eight-year AFL veteran had no touchdowns.
Nelson collected seven grabs and 75 yards and Rodney Wright nine receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown.
While the SaberCats were dishing out some big hits to D'Orazio, the game was all but an offensive showdown in the first quarter. Tied 7-7, two 1-yard runs by fullback Matt Kinsinger to begin the second period gave San Jose a 21-7 lead at 9:55 of the second.
While the SaberCats kept the Rush' best receiver in Bobby Sippio at bay in the first half, allowing only three catches for 45 yards and two scores, he finished with 15 grabs, 194 yards and five TDs.
"We stuck to our game plan, Unertl (Jeremy) made a great play on the pick, we got stopped once and had one fumble," said Grieb. "Other than that we scored on every drive."
NOTES: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio threw 3 INTs in a game for the 1st time in his career (regular and postseason)...Rush QB Russ Michna threw his 1st career TD pass...SaberCats DBs Clevan Thomas and Marquis Floyd tied a team playoff record with 2 INTs and the team matched a playoff record with 4...San Jose FB Matt Kinsinger tied a team playoff record with 2 rushing TDs...SaberCats DL Kendrick Office played in his first AFL game, starting at defensive end...SaberCats QB Mark Grieb moved into 2nd place, passing Andy Kelly (81), on the all-time postseason career pass TD list with 85...San Jose OL Julius Gant scored his 1st career postseason TD on a 10-yard kickoff return, the 2nd TD of his career...SaberCats WR James Roe became the 6th player in AFL history to record 100 postseason receptions, he also moved into 6th place on the career playoff reception list.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 14, 2007
- Rush season ends in San Jose, 61-49 - Chicago Rush
- Columbus and San Jose advance to ArenaBowl XXI - AFL I
- Rush Season Ends - Chicago Rush
- Grieb Throws Six TDs In Win - San Jose SaberCats
- Columbus and San Jose in ArenaBowl XXI - Columbus Destroyers
- Georgia Force Come up Short 66-56 - Georgia Force
- Destroyers Win National Conference Championship Game, 66-56 - Columbus Destroyers
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