SaberCats dominate Preds
March 7, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
Mark Grieb fired five touchdown passes and former Predators WR/DB Barry Wagner scored three times as the San Jose SaberCats routed the Orlando Predators, 57-38. The win lifted the SaberCats to 2-3 on the season; while the Predators fell to 4-2.
"San Jose is a good team and defending league champions," Predators head coach Jay Gruden said. "They had two weeks to get ready for us and came in with a great game plan. On the other hand I am very disappointed in the way we played tonight. Our quarterback and receivers have to do a better job."
Gruden, who was ejected in the fourth quarter, expressed frustration. "I have to watch on film, but it seems like Jimmy Fryzel was being held on every play. On the interception at the end of the game, it looked like it was a clear push off."
The Predators had a chance to take a lead in the fourth quarter when 10-yard pass to Justin Skaggs had cut the San Jose lead to 43-38. On San Jose's ensuing series, Orlando's Jerrian James knocked the ball loose from James Roe and Reggie Doster recovered for the Predators. But linebacker Marlon Moye-Moore was whistled for off-sides negating the play. Grieb hit James Roe on a 12-yard touchdown pass two plays later and San Jose had a 50-38 lead.
On Orlando's next drive, Clevan Thomas interecepted Hamilton in the end zone to effectively end of the game.
In a bizarre first half, San Jose took a 33-26 lead into the locker room at halftime on the strength of a pair of Wagner touchdown receptions.
Wagner, who won six consecutive Ironman of the Year awards while playing for the Predators in the 90's, put the SaberCats us 27-16, rumbling 35 yards for a touchdown. Wagner was set up on an isolation play on the right hand side, caught a screen pass from Mark Grieb and broke one tackle and ran untouched into the end zone.
The Predators cut the to 27-23 on Fryzel's 13-yard grab with 40 seconds remaining but San Jose answered quickly. After Rashied Davis' 57-yard kickoff return for touchdown was called back when it was rule he stepped out of bounds, Grieb still needed just four plays to put San Jose up 33-23. Wagner did the honors again, catching a 2-yard touchdown pass at the 19-second mark.
Just before half, Hamilton hit three straight passes to set up Brian Gowins 38-yard field goal that made it a seven-point game at halftime at 33-26.
The Predators now must hit the road again, where they will face division rivals New Orleans (5-1) and Georgia (5-1) in a pair of back-to-back games. "You always hate to lose at home in from of your fans," Gruden said. "If there is one positive, both this loss and the Dallas loss were out of conference and out of division."
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