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SaberCats Hold Off Storm, 73-70

June 15, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


San Jose, CA - Tampa Bay scored 70 points for the second consecutive week but it was not enough to overcome the San Jose SaberCats as the Storm fell 70-73 Saturday night at the HP Pavilion in front of 14,042 fans. The 73 points surrendered is the second most in franchise history and helped San Jose record its third consecutive Western Division title.

Mark Grieb led the SaberCats with 26 completions for 274 yards and nine touchdowns as San Jose recorded its first victory against a National Conference opponent this season. His primary target was Cleannord Saintil with a game-high 12 receptions for 107 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.

Brett Dietz threw for a franchise-high 10 touchdowns on 25 completions for 309 yards as he spread the ball around to five receivers including offensive lineman Tom Kaleita. While Lawrence Samuels led the team with 11 receptions Hank Edwards led all receivers with 165 yards and five touchdowns on seven receptions.

The first quarter was sloppy as each offense turned the ball over twice, Tampa Bay on an interception and downs, San Jose on an interception and a fumble. Tampa Bay scored quickly to start the game as Dietz connected with Tyrone Timmons on 13-yard post the second play of the game. Timmons finished the game with four receptions and two touchdowns to bring his four game total to 11 touchdowns.

Offense ruled the second quarter as the teams combined to score 52 points as San Jose outscored Tampa Bay 31-21 to take a three point lead into the half. However it was big defensive play by SaberCats lineman Ron Jones that swung the tide in San Jose's favor as he sacked Dietz and forced a fumble that Steve Watson recovered for a touchdown. The league's leading kicker A.J. Haglund closed out the second half with an 18-yard field goal as San Jose went into the half up 38-35.

San Jose took the momentum into the third quarter as Grieb connected with Wright for a 31-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the quarter. Wright finished the game with eight receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. The teams traded touchdowns as Dietz connected with Edwards for his fifth touchdown of the game; the most San Jose has allowed any receiver this season.

The fourth quarter Samuels scored three touchdowns as the Storm fought to get back into the game. San Jose extended its lead to 17 points midway through the fourth as Clevan Thomas picked off Dietz. San Jose capitalized with Saintil's fourth touchdown reception. Tampa Bay continued to fight until the very end as the team scored with just under a minute left to bring the score with in 10. After a pooch kickoff by Seth Marler, 10-for-10 on extra points, Jeroid Johnson recorded his second interception of the game. However Tampa scored with only seven seconds left on the clock and San Jose recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.

Despite the loss to San Jose, Tampa Bay remains alive in for a National Conference playoff berth heading into its regular season finale at home against he Los Angeles Avengers.

Notes

* Torrance Marshall's streak of nine of nine consecutive games with a touchdown came to an end.

* Kick Returner Sedrick Robinson became the AFL's all-time kickoff return yards leader on his third return of the evening, an 18-yard return. He entered the game needing 41 yards to surpass Hunkie Cooper (9,810 yards) and finished the game with 9,978career kickoff return yards. He also surpassed the 100 yard return barrier for the second game in a row and 43rd time in his career - second most in AFL history.

* James Roe caught three touchdowns for the Sabercats, giving him 232 career touchdown receptions, eighth most all-time in the AFL. He needs four more to surpass Cory Fleming to move into seventh place.

* Lawrence Samuels became the first player in the AFL to surpass 1,000 career receptions and only the sixth in professional football history. With 11 receptions in the game he now has 1,007 in his career as he surpassed Terry Vaughn to move into fifth all-time.

* San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb threw his 700th career touchdown pass to Rodney Wright in the second quarter. He threw 9 touchdowns in the game giving him 706 career touchdown passes.

* Hank Edwards scored five touchdowns, that is the most touchdowns San Jose has allowed to any receiver this season and the second time he has caught five touchdowns in a game this season.

* San Jose defensive lineman Andrew Browning, out of Boise Sate, corralled a two-yard sack in his first AFL game.

* The Storm defense collected three sacks the most in any game this season.

* Tom Briggs injured his ribs in the second quarter and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Tampa. Nyle Wiren and Marcus Owen filled in for him on the defensive line.

* Brett Dietz threw a franchise-high 10 touchdowns surpassing his career high of eight touchdown passes

The Storm returns home for the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Avengers Jose (5-10) Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Catch 47, 620 AM-WDAE). San Jose hosts the Georgia Force (10-5). Kickoff at the HP Pavilion at San Jose is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Colorado Crush travel to Arizona to take on the Rattlers on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 16 - 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com) in an American Conference matchup as the Crush look to battle its way into the playoffs.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 15, 2008


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