SaberCats Improve to 4-0 With 78-44 Win Over Avengers
May 12, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - After opening the season with three wins by a combined 14 points, the San Jose SaberCats exploded for a 78-44 victory over the Los Angeles Avengers at the Compaq Center on Saturday tying the franchise's best start, which was set in 2001.
Quarterback Mark Grieb was 17-for-26 with 255 yards passing and six touchdowns in helping the SaberCats improve to 4-0 and remain the league's lone unbeaten club.
The SaberCats opened the game scoring on their first seven possesions and took the lead for good when fullback Matt Kinsinger rumbled three yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter for a 13-7 lead.
On San Jose's next possesion, Omarr Smith made a leaping touchdown catch on a pass from Grieb to push the SaberCats lead to 20-7.
Kinsinger scored his second touchdown on the night, this time on a two-yard run with five-and-a-half minutes remaining in the second quarter. It was the first two-touchdown game for Kinsinger. The San Jose offense remained efficient the entire night. Nine of the SaberCats 12 scoring drives lasted under two minutes.
Los Angeles managed to keep the game relatively close until the second half when the SaberCats converted two Avenger onside kick attempts into touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, the Avengers managed just 10 second half points.
San Jose defensive lineman Sam Hernandez, already the Arena Football League's all-time sack leader, hauled down Avengers quarterback Tony Graziani twice to up his career record to 51.5. He also added 3.5 tackles and a pass breakup to earn game MVP.
For San Jose, it was the seventh straight victroy at home dating back to last season. In addition, the 78 points were the most the SaberCats have scored all season.
With the victory, the SaberCats stayed one game ahead of Arizona in the Western Division standings. SaberCats reciever James Hundon had his string of three straight 100+-yard receiving games snapped, but still had six catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns.
San Jose returns to action on Friday night at Orlando. Kickoff is set for 4:30 Pacific Time.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 12, 2002
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