SaberCats Down Storm 69-49
April 1, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
San Jose (Mar. 31, 2007) - Quarterback Mark Grieb tossed eight touchdown passes to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors and lead the San Jose SaberCats past the Tampa Bay Storm, 69-49, in an Arena Football League game Saturday night before 13,916 at HP Pavilion.
Grieb did not throw an incompletion until halfway through the second quarter, and completed 23-of-26 passes on the night for 284 yards. He distributed the ball efficiently, throwing at least two touchdowns to all three SaberCats' receivers.
The Storm fell behind after San Jose's opening possession when Grieb hit WR Ben Nelson on a 33-yard stop-and-go route, and the SaberCats never relinquished the lead. Tampa Bay pulled within a touchdown at the beginning of the second period, but trailed by at least two possessions the rest of the game.
T.T. Toliver was a bright spot for the Storm, reeling in 12 catches for 162 yards and two TDs. In his first career AFL start, QB Stoney Case pieced together a respectable evening throwing for 271 yards and three TDs on 22-of-36 passing.
The Ironman of the Game was an unlikely hero. Rookie kicker A.J. Haglund enjoyed a remarkable game by returning a fumble recovery four yards for a TD and making four solo special teams tackles.
"I'm in front of the home crowd for the first time and I wanted to play my hardest," said Haglund. "(The touchdown) was the most exciting moment of my life, I was going to make a tackle and the ball bounced right to me."
Defensive player of the game honors were given to DB Marquis Floyd, who picked off a Case pass midway through the second quarter and returned it 46 yards for six points. The SaberCats' defense also registered two sacks on the Storm quarterback.
Wide receiver Ben Nelson had a team-high 10 receptions for 114 yards and four TDs. James Roe had five catches for 70 yards and Rodney Wright pulled in eight balls for 100 and both receivers caught two TDs apiece.
The SaberCats improve their record to 2-2 on the season and will host the Colorado Crush in San Jose next Friday. The Storm fall to 0-5 on the season to establish the worst start for the team in franchise history.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 1, 2007
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- Soul escape New York with win, 65-60 - Philadelphia Soul
- Crush win 55-48 in dramatic last minute comeback over Nashville - Colorado Crush
- Gladiators fall to Utah at home - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Kats lose Heartbreaker to Divison Rival Crush 55-48 - Nashville Kats
- Turnovers Costly in Soul's Defeat of the Dragons - New York Dragons
- D'Orazio, Sippio lead Rush to 66-31 rout of L.A. - Chicago Rush
- Wranglers lose to Desperados in final minute, 68-64 - Austin Wranglers
- SaberCats Down Storm 69-49 - San Jose SaberCats
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