SaberCats Defeat Gladiators, 72-37
March 3, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 2, 2003) - Quarterback Mark Grieb threw four touchdown passes and the San Jose defense scored a pair of touchdowns to propel the SaberCats to a 72-37 win over the Las Vegas Gladiators before a crowd 8,627 at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday afternoon.
Grieb completed 18-of-27 attempts for 252 yards with no interceptions and was named the game's MVP.
Following a 31-yard Steve Videtich field goal that gave Las Vegas a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, Grieb connected twice with James Roe on scoring plays of 17 and 21 yards to give San Jose a 21-10 lead with just under six minutes to play in the half.
San Jose defensive specialist Clevan Thomas intercepted a Jay McDonagh pass on the Gladiators next possession and returned the ball 32 yards for a score to give San Jose a 28-10 lead with a minute to play. It was Thomas' league-leading seventh interception of the year and the third returned for a score.
Veteran Todd Hammel replaced McDonagh on Las Vegas's next possession. McDonagh completed 9-of-21 for 86 yards and two interceptions.
After Las Vegas turned the ball over on downs, Daron Alcorn drilled a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to increase the SaberCats lead to 31-10.
Barry Wagner scored two second half touchdowns for San Jose, one on a fumble recovery in the endzone and the other on a 3-yard run, his 92nd career rushing touchdown, for a 58-30 lead with 9:35 to play in the game.
James Hundon caught his second TD pass of the game, a 29-yard toss from Grieb with 3:17 remaining, to give him two or more TD grabs in all five games this season and 17 straight dating back to last season. Hundon finished with seven catches for a season-high 118 yards.
Roe scored his third touchdown of the game on the Gladiators next possession when he recovered a Todd Hammel fumble at the New Jersey 7-yard line and scampered into the endzone to supply the SaberCats with their final margin of victory.
In just over two quarters of play, Hammel completed 13-of-23 for 228 yards and three scores. Mike Horacek led all receivers with 11 receptions for 166 yards.
San Jose rookie Rashied Davis was tabbed Ironman of the game after rushing for five yards and a TD, catching a 9-yard pass and collecting 4.0 tackles and his first career interception.
The SaberCats return to action next Sunday when the travel to Chicago to battle the Rush in a regionally televised NBC game. The SaberCats return home on March 14 to battle the Buffalo Destroyers in the first of three straight home games.
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