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SaberCats Game Notes

May 7, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Los Angeles Avengers (2-1) at SaberCats (3-0).
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (PDT)
Site: Compaq Center at San Jose (14,041)
Officials: Referee: Joe Rider; Umpire: Nels Strickland; Head Linesman: Rusty Spindel; Line Judge: James Mello; Back Judge: Rich Wilborn.
Television: No local television.
Radio: San Jose's flagship station The Ticket (KTCT) 1050-AM and KNBR 680-AM will broadcast the game live from Compaq Center. Bob Fitzgerald will handle play-by-play duties with former San Francisco 49er and four-time Super Bowl champion Keena Turner serving as the color analyst.
Internet: Log on to www.ticket1050.com to hear a live webcast of the game.
Series Record: San Jose leads the series 3-1
Last Meeting: San Jose 44, Los Angeles 47 (regular season game; June 2, 2001).
Streaks: Los Angeles won 1.
Coaches: San Jose, Darren Arbet (33-16 overall, 4th season). Los Angeles, Ed Hodgkiss (2-1 overall, 1st season).

OVERVIEW: After three weeks of the 2002 Arena Football League season the SaberCats are the lone undefeated team with a 3-0 mark. San Jose hosts Western Division rival the Los Angeles Avengers in the 100th regular season game in franchise history on Saturday, May 11 in the Compaq Center. Including postseason play, the SaberCats have won six straight home games, 9 of 10 and 15 of 17. For the third consecutive week San Jose's defense came up big late in the game. The SaberCats held the highest scoring team in the league without a point in the fourth quarter and used James Hundon's team single-game record tying five touchdown catches to defeat the Georgia Force, 59-53, on May 4. The SaberCats scored the final 16 points of the game to overcome a 10-point third quarter deficit. San Jose's defense stopped two fourth quarter Georgia drives that both resulted in missed field goals. The last miss came with over four minutes to play and the SaberCats were able to run out the clock WR/LB Jerry Reese hauled in a 12-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter to surpass Steve Papin as the SaberCats' career TD reception leader. It was the 66th career TD catch for Reese. QB Mark Grieb threw six TD passes to give him exactly 150 in his AFL career. The SaberCats improved their record to 25-6 in regular season games since the start of the 2000 season.

THE SERIES: San Jose leads the series 3-1, but the Avengers won the last meeting between the teams 47-44 in Los Angeles on June 2, 2001...The SaberCats have won both meetings with Los Angeles in San Jose outscoring the Avengers 130-55...The SaberCats have scored 70 or more points in a game nine times in their history and they have done it twice against Los Angeles. San Jose put up its fifth-highest scoring total in a 78-25 win over the Avengers in the first-ever meeting between the clubs on May 27, 2000. The 53-point margin of victory in that game represents the second biggest win in SaberCats history. The SaberCats also beat Los Angeles 75-72, the second-highest combined scoring game in San Jose history, in Los Angeles on June 8, 2000. The teams also combined for 734 yards of total offense in that game.

SERIES NOTABLES: In three games against the Avengers, San Jose QB Mark Grieb has thrown 13 touchdown passes with just one interception and has completed 45-of-71 (63.4%) attempts for 664 yards...Los Angeles OS Chris Jackson, the league's leading scorer, has 17 receptions for 219 yards and four touchdowns in three games against San Jose...In four series games the teams have combined to score a touchdown in just about every possible way. Outside of the usual run and pass scores, San Jose has scored on a net recovery and fumble return while Los Angeles has added scores by kickoff and missed field goal returns and a blocked field goal attempt...The SaberCats recorded 10 quarterback sacks against Los Angeles in the two games played in San Jose. They set a team game with 6 sacks against Los Angeles on May 27, 2000, and added 4 sacks on April 14, 2000...OL/DL Mike Ulufale has 3.0 sacks, 3 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles in four games against LA. He had a career-high 2.0 sacks against on May 27, 2000.

LAST SERIES MEETING: LOS ANGELES 47, San Jose 44 (June 2, 2001 • STAPLES Center) – Los Angeles beat San Jose for the first time in their two-year existence holding off the SaberCats 47-44. Trailing 47-29 following an 8-yard Travis Hannah TD reception early in the fourth quarter, the SaberCats made a valiant comeback but fell short. San Jose scored the final two touchdowns of the game and converted a 2-point conversion to close within the final margin with 1:27 remaining. The SaberCats were unsuccessful on the ensuing onside kick and a personal foul on the Avengers' following possession gave Los Angeles the opportunity to run out the clock. The SaberCats put themselves in an early hole as for the second straight game they went scoreless in the first quarter. Shannon Culver's 8-yard TD catch from Erik Wilhelm put the Avengers up 7-0 after one period. San Jose tied the game early in the second quarter when John Dutton connected with James Roe on a 7-yard TD pass 43 seconds into the second quarter. San Jose took the lead when Dutton hit Roe again, this time from 17-yards out to give the SaberCats a 14-10 lead mid-way through the second. Los Angeles scored the final 17 points of the half and took a 27-14 lead at the intermission when Mark Ricks returned a missed Carlos Huerta field goal 52-yards for a score as time expired in the first half. San Jose managed just 93 yards of total offense in the first half and Mark Grieb replaced starting QB John Dutton on San Jose's final series of the second quarter. Ricks' second interception of the game led to the first points of the second half. Grieb's pass went through the hands of Steve Papin and dropped right to Ricks. Ed Smith scored on a 6-yard run to give the Avengers a 33-14 lead less than three minutes into the third quarter. Roe caught his third TD pass of the game with 10:06 left to pull San Jose within 33-21 but San Jose couldn't stop the Avengers until it was too late. Jackson, who was named Ironman of the Game, scored his second TD of the game with 6:29 left in the third to restore LA's lead to 40-21. Steve Papin left the game in the third quarter with a knee sprain after returning a kickoff 43 yards. Papin finished with four catches for 33 yards and had 120 yards in kickoff returns before leaving the game. Grieb finished 12-of-20 for 154 yards and 3 TDs after replacing Dutton, who was ineffective in the first half of play. Roe caught a game-high 12 passes for 149 yards and 3 scores.

ALL-TIME SERIES SCORES Date Score June 2, 2001 @Los Angeles 47, San Jose 44
April 14, 2001 @San Jose 52, Los Angeles 30
July 8, 2000 San Jose 75, @Los Angeles 72
May 27, 2000 @San Jose 78, Los Angeles 25

THE IFS...:

If the SaberCats defeat Los Angeles it would...
*Give San Jose five straight regular season home wins and six straight overall.
*Be San Jose's fourth win over the Avengers.
*Be San Jose's 61st regular season victory all-time.
*Give San Jose a 33-18 regular season home record.
*Give San Jose a 22-15 record against Western Division foes.

THE COACHES:

San Jose – Darren Arbet, 4th season
31-14 (.689) regular season; 33-16 (.673) overall 3-1 (.750) career vs. Los Angeles
Arbet became the SaberCats' winningest head coach when San Jose beat Arizona in the quarterfinals of the AFL playoffs last year. The win gave Arbet 30 victories in 46 career games. He surpassed former head coach Todd Shell, who posted 29 wins in 57 career games. Arbet owns a 33-16 (.673) overall record and is 31-14 (.689) in regular season games. The SaberCats are 25-6 (.806) in regular season games under Arbet since the start of the 2000 season. He was named the AFL's Coach of the Year in 2000 following a league record tying 12 regular season wins, Arbet guided the SaberCats to an AFL record 15 consecutive regular season victories (11 in '00, 4 in '01) and is the only head coach in team history to post a playoff victory.

Los Angeles – Ed Hodgkiss, 1st season
2-1 (.667) overall 0-0 career vs. San Jose
Hodgkiss is in his first season as a head coach in the AFL. He became the third head coach in Avenger history on October 5, 2001 and currently owns a 2-1 (.667) overall record. Hodgkiss had been with Indiana/Albany Firebirds since 1997 and served as the team's offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-01). In those three years the Firebirds had one of the top offensive units in the AFL and ranked among the league leaders in many offensive statistical categories. In 1999, the Firebirds led the league scoring 58.7 points per game and were crowned ArenaBowl champions.

RECENT RESULTS: Three games. Three crucial stops. Three wins. The San Jose SaberCats have begun to develop a winning pattern. For the third consecutive week, the SaberCats defense used late-game heroics to earn a victory, this time stopping a Georgia Force drive with just under five minutes remaining to earn a 59-53 victory at the Compaq Center. San Jose trailed the Force for most of the game after falling behind 20-14 early in the second quarter. Both clubs traded scores throughout the rest of the evening with the SaberCats never getting closer than 53-51 until they forced a Georgia field goal on fourth-and-10 with 12 minutes to play. The Force's Scott Szeredy missed a 52-yard attempt and San Jose recovered the errant kick on its own 5-yard line. On the ensuing play, SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to James Hundon. The two-point conversion pass from Grieb to Jerry Reese moments later provided the final margin of victory. Hundon's fifth touchdown on the night tied a franchise record and it was Grieb's 150th career touchdown pass. Two weeks ago, the SaberCats opened the season with a 52-51 victory over Arizona when Clevan Thomas intercepted Rattler Sherdrick Bonner's pass with over a minute to play to preserve victory. A week later on April 27, Bob McMillen returned an interception 46 yards for the game-winning score in a 61-54 decision at Tampa Bay. For the second time in as many seasons, the SaberCats opened the season 3-0 and are the Arena Football League's lone undefeated team after Toronto dropped a 58-47 contest at Arizona. After SaberCats kicker Daron Alcorn closed the Force lead to 20-17 with a 22-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, Georgia quarterback Kevin McDougal hit receiver Markeith Cooper on a 13-yard touchdown pass to open the Force lead to 26-17. Grieb, who was knocked out of the game on the SaberCats previous possession, returned on the next series to complete a 15-yard touchdown pass to Hundon to close the gap to 26-24. The rest of the night unfolded in similar fashion with both teams trading scores until San Jose had back-to-back defensive stops and offensive scores to close the game. Grieb's 33 pass attempts on the night moved his career total to 709 and into first place on the SaberCats career chart. Reese, Barry Wagner and Matt Kinsinger all had touchdowns on the night for the SaberCats. Hundon finished the night with 184 receiving years.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: At 2-1, the Avengers are above the .500 mark for the second time in the franchise's three-year history (they were 1-0 to start this season)...QB Tony Graziani entered the AFL record book by hooking up with OS Chris Jackson on a 49-yard touchdown pass at Arizona on April 27...Graziani joins 11 other QB's who have completed a 49-yard pass, including San Jose's Scott Wood, who completed his to Jerry Reese at Milwaukee on May 24, 1999...This game marks the third of three consecutive road games, all against Western Division foes, for the Avengers. Los Angeles is the only AFL team scheduled to play three straight games away from home this year.

ROSTER MOVES: OL/DL Joe Jacobs and WR/LB James Roe were placed on IR last week. Jacobs sustained an ankle sprain at Tampa Bay on April 27 and Roe injured his shoulder making his only catch in the same game. OL/DL Chuck Reed and WR/LB Shalon Baker were activated off IR to replace them.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES
Date Action Player
5/2 Placed on IR OL/DL Joe Jacobs
5/2 Activate from IR OL/DL Chuck Reed
5/1 Activate from IR WR/LB Shalon Baker
5/1 Placed on IR WR/LB James Roe
4/26 Signed to PS WR/LB Eddie Williams
4/25 Waived OL/DL Ken Talanoa
4/19 Signed to PS WR/LB James Battle

MILESTONES:

*OL/DL Sam Hernandez needs 1/2 sack for 50 career.
*WR/LB Jerry Reese needs 14 receiving yards for 3,100 career.
*WR/LB James Roe needs 2 TD catches for 40 career and 20 receiving yards for 1,600 career.
*WR/DB Barry Wagner needs 13 catches for 800 career.
*OL/DL Mike Ulufale needs 1.5 sacks for 10 career.
*WR/LB Shalon Baker needs 1 TD catch for 50 career.
*FB/LB Bob McMillen needs 24 rush yards for 700 career.
*OL/DL Chuck Reed needs 3 sacks for 20 career.

INJURY REPORT: Outside of the usual bumps and bruises associated with a professional football game, the SaberCats remain relatively healthy. QB Mark Grieb was kicked in the thigh and sat out one play against Georgia. It was the first time this season Grieb was not under center for an offensive play.

Player Injury Status
Clevan Thomas Shoulder Sprain Probable
Mark Grieb Quad Contusion Probable
Matt Kinsinger Hip Pointer Probable

TALE OF THE TAPE: San Jose ranks in the top five in all four major offensive categories, including leading the league in total offense (332 ypg) and pass offense (312 ypg), and tied for 2nd in scoring (57.3 ppg). Los Angeles is one of three teams allowing fewer than 47 points in a game. The Avengers rank 3rd in scoring defense at 46.3 ppg.

TRENDS:

HEADS OR TAILS – San Jose has won the coin toss in all three games this year and has elected to defer to the second half. The strategy has paid off as the SaberCats have scored a touchdown on two of three drives to start the second half. The possession has been much needed because the SaberCats have trailed at halftime in all three games.

GETTING OFFENSIVE – Dating back to last season the SaberCats have reached the 300-yard mark in total offense in nine straight regular season games and have amassed a total of 3,276 yards, an average of 364 yards per game. During that 9-game span the SaberCats have a record of 8-1. The last time San Jose did not reach 300 total yards was at Los Angeles on June 2, 2001 when they totaled 236 yards of offense. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE – The SaberCats have won six straight games on their home turf, nine of their last 10 and 15 of their last 17. Since the start of the 2000 season San Jose owns a 16-3 (.842) record and under Head Coach Darren Arbet the SaberCats are 20-6 in games played at the Compaq Center.

GOOD ODDS – QB Mark Grieb has completed 70 percent or more of his passes in 11 of his last 15 regular season starts and has a 10-1 record in those games.

NOTES:

ROOKIE SENSATION – DS/KR Clevan Thomas was tabbed the AFL's Rookie of the Month for April after tallying a game-saving interception and a league record tying 58-yard kickoff return in his first two games. Against Georgia on May 4, Thomas had 6 KO returns for 109 yards and a MFG return for 17 while adding 2.5 tackles. Thomas leads the team with 17.5 tackles and is the only San Jose player to return a kick in three games.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS – In a game known for its offense and high-scores, the SaberCats are the only undefeated team in the league thanks to crucial defensive plays. San Jose held the highest scoring team in the league scoreless in the fourth quarter and overcame a 10-point deficit to improve to 3-0 with a 59-53 win over Georgia on May 4. The defense stopped two fourth quarter Force drives and forced Georgia to attempt field goals of 47 and 52 yards, both of which missed. They were the only two possessions of the quarter for Georgia. It was the first time this year the SaberCats held an opponent scoreless in a quarter and the first time since June 30, 2001 when San Jose blanked Florida in the third quarter.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – FB/LB Bob McMillen was tabbed the AFL's ‘ADT' Defensive Player of the Week after week 2. McMillen's 46-yard interception return for a touchdown with :34 left in the game snapped a 54-54 tie to give San Jose the win at Tampa Bay on April 27. Big Mac also added a season-high 5.0 tackles and a career-long 47-yard pass reception as the SaberCats posted their first-ever win over Tampa Bay.

J HUN – Offensive specialist James Hundon continued his impressive play for the SaberCats last week against Georgia. Hundon tied team single-game records with 13 receptions and five touchdowns and added 184 receiving yards, the fifth-highest total in SaberCats history. Jhun has reached the 100-yard mark in receiving yards in all three games this season and has already tied the team record for consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards in a season. James Roe had three straight 100+-yard games twice last season and Shalon Baker had three straight during the 1999 season. Dating back to last year's regular season, Hundon has a stretch of five straight 100-yard receiving games.

GOOD GRIEB! – Is it too early to start talking about Offensive Player of the Year honors? In Mark Grieb's case, probably not. Grieb completed 24 of 33 passes for 292 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in San Jose's win over Georgia on May 4. In three games this season Grieb has completed 68 of 99 attempts (68.7%) for 936 yards and 19 TDs without an interception. Including two playoff games last season, Grieb has now thrown 200 consecutive passes without being intercepted and has thrown for 44 TDs during that stretch. Dating back even further, Grieb has just one interception in his last 341 attempts while tossing 72 touchdown passes.

THE RUN RETURNS – Entering their game against Georgia on May 4, the SaberCats had just 5 net rush yards on 8 carries, uncharacteristic for a team annually at or near the top of the league rushing stats. In an effort to thwart a strong Georgia pass rush, the SaberCats ran the ball 15 times, the most attempts since they had 17 against Orlando on May 26, 2001. The ploy was successful as the SaberCats ran up 55 yards, an AFL season-high and the sixth-most in a game in team history. Matt Kinsinger totaled a career-high 20 yards on 3 carries, including a 14-yard TD run and Bob McMillen added 19 yards on 5 carries.

REESE GETS A PIECE – WR/DB Jerry Reese became San Jose's career leader in touchdown receptions when he hauled in No. 66 against Georgia on May 4. Reese moved ahead of Steve Papin, who had 65 TD catches in his San Jose career. In the game JR had just two catches for 23 yards but added a team-high 4.5 tackles to earn Ironman honors. Reese is second behind Papin in career receptions (210 to 326), and receiving yards (3,086 to 4,282).

PAPER OR PLASTIC – OL/DL Sam Hernandez continues to work his way towards a personal milestone. The AFL's career leader in quarterback sacks added 1/2 a sack to his total against Georgia on May 4. Hernandez now has 49.5 sacks in his career and has recorded at least 1/2 a sack against 20 teams. Hernandez has recorded at least a partial sack in 34 of his 102 career games and has two or more sacks in 11 games.

SIMPLY THE BEST – Speaking of milestones, you can add another to Barry Wagner's list. The 11-year veteran scored the 80th rushing touchdown of his career on a 1-yard scamper in the first quarter against Georgia on May 4. Wagner is the AFL's all-time leader in rush TD's. Another milestone is approaching fast. Wagner needs 13 catches to become the second player in AFL history with 800 in a career. Indiana's Eddie Brown leads Wagner with 813 catches and also has the edge in receiving touchdowns (272 to 239). With 251 receiving yards this season for a career total of 11,227, Wagner has the edge over Brown who has 11,049.

EFFICIENCY – The SaberCats lead the league in total offense with 996 yards, an average of 332 per game, and they have amassed that total on 123 offensive plays, the seventh-fewest among the 16 teams in the league. The SaberCats are averaging a league-best 8.1 yards per play and have scored 22 offensive touchdowns, the second-highest total in the AFL.

PLAYERS/MATCH-UPS TO WATCH:

TONY GRAZIANI – With Graziani's main threat, OS Chris Jackson, out of action for a few weeks after being put on IR, he must now spread the ball around to his other receivers. Graziani teamed with Jackson on 31 of his 65 completions, 12 of his 16 TD passes and 514 of his 914 passing yards. The only other Los Angeles receiver with more than five receptions is Greg Hopkins with 17. Hopkins is also the only other player with more than one TD catch (3) and more than 55 receiving yards (234).

SAN JOSE OFFENSE vs LA DEFENSE – The top rated offense in the league versus one of the better defensive units. The SaberCats lead the league with 332 yards of total offense per game and are tied for 2nd at 57.3 points per game. San Jose has reached the 300-yard mark in total offense in nine straight dating back to last season and have scored 50 or more points in every game totaling 562 points (62.4 ppg). The last time San Jose failed to reach the 300-yard mark in total offense or the 50-point plateau came in the same game; June 2, 2001 at Los Angeles in a 47-44 loss. The Avengers are 3rd in scoring defense allowing an average of 47.3 points per game, but in their last two contests they have allowed 63 and 51 points, an average of 57 ppg. Los Angeles held New York to a league season-low 25 points on April 19.

JAMES HUNDON – Hundon has been the go-to guy for San Jose this season. He leads the team in receptions (29), receiving yards (419) and receiving TDs (10) through three games and is second in the league to Los Angeles' Chris Jackson in all three categories. At his current pace, Jhun will have 135 catches, 1,955 yards and 47 TD catches and will obliterate the team season records. Steve Papin holds the season record for receptions (91 in ‘99) and receiving yards (1,256 in ‘98) and James Roe is the single-season TD reception leader (28 in '01).

LINE PLAY – In four series games the SaberCats have registered 10 sacks to zero for Los Angeles. Things appear more even this year as both teams are tied for the league lead with 5 sacks apiece while on the offensive side of the ball each team has allowed two sacks in three games. Los Angeles' Tony Plantin is tied for the league lead with 2.0 sacks while San Jose's Sam Hernandez and Mike Ulufale each have 1.5 on the year. Three of Ulufale's 8.5 career sacks have come against Los Angeles, including a career-high 2.0 on May 27, 2000.

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