Sabercats Lose Shootout 76-69 To Barnstormers
April 2, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE - A Friday night shootout between the San Jose SaberCats (2-2) and Iowa Barnstormers (2-1) ended in a 76-69 victory by the visiting Barnstormers as the SaberCats fell to 2-2 on the season. SaberCats QB Mark Grieb finished the game with 391 yards and nine touchdowns through the air in the effort. The Barnstormers were led by QB Brad Banks who threw for 383 yards and 11 total touchdowns (10 passing, one rushing).
Owner/Head Coach weighed in on the close loss after the game. "You know, the guys battled and Iowa just made a few more plays than we did. Iowa played a great game and our guys fought but we just came up short."
The SaberCats wasted no time scoring a touchdown in Grieb's 100th consecutive AFL start on a 17-yard touchdown pass to WR Nichiren Flowers, who tied a single-game career high with four touchdown receptions. Iowa struck back with a touchdown of their own on a short pass to WR Errick McCown. The Barnstormers recovered a SaberCats fumble on the ensuing drive and turned it into a seven point lead after a two-play drive capped by a touchdown pass from QB Brad Banks to WR Todd Blythe. The SaberCats answered with the second touchdown pass of the game from Grieb to Flowers, made possible by a one-handed catch by Goodson on the previous play in a fourth and long situation and putting San Jose up 14-13.
Following an Iowa touchdown and second missed PAT of the game, the SaberCats answered with an 18-yard connection from Grieb to FB/LB Chad Cook. The teams traded touchdowns with the San Jose score highlighted by Grieb connecting with Goodson for a 23-yard touchdown to give the âCats a 28-27 lead. After Iowa regained the lead 34-28, OL Mark Lewis hauled in his second touchdown reception of the season to tie the game at 34 at halftime. SaberCats WR Samora Goodson finished with career-highs in receptions (10) and receiving touchdowns (2).
After the game, Goodson was looking towards putting forth a stronger effort in coming weeks. "Correct the mistakes. It's one of those things that is on our shoulders. We beat ourselves and it's going to be on ourselves to fix what we did wrong."
Iowa kicked off the second half with a touchdown on the first play regaining a seven point lead before Nichiren Flowers caught his third touchdown of the game in the corner of the end zone to knot the game at 41. Following another Iowa touchdown the SaberCats drove the length of the field scoring on a Chad Cook touchdown run, his eighth rushing touchdown of the season to knot the game at 48 following the third stanza
Iowa struck back with a touchdown pass to WR Jesse Schmidt, who led the Barnstormers with 178 yards receiving on 12 receptions for six touchdowns. The SaberCats answered back quickly when WR Burl Toler caught his first career touchdown reception, a 47-yard connection from Grieb, to even the score at 55. An Iowa touchdown put the Barnstormers ahead by seven before the SaberCats answered with the fourth touchdown reception of the game for Flowers. The score tied at 62, Iowa connected on a deep touchdown pass, pulling ahead 69-62. An Iowa interception gave the Barnstormers the ball near midfield, and after advancing inside the 10-yard line, SaberCats DL Chris Perri forced a fumble that was recovered by San Jose.
The âCats were unable to convert on a fourth down, and Iowa regained possession of the ball with less than three minutes remaining. Barnstormer QB Brad Banks rushed for a touchdown to extend the Iowa lead to 14 points. Grieb connected with Goodson for a touchdown to pull the âCats within seven with 28 seconds remaining. An unsuccessful onside kick attempt by San Jose allowed Iowa to run out the clock and preserve the seven point win.
The SaberCats (2-2) welcome the Utah Blaze (2-1) for their first matchup of the season on Friday, April 8 at 7:30 PDT. It will be San Jose's second divisional game of 2011.
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Arena Football League Stories from April 2, 2011
- Chicago Rush Fall 55-48 to Undefeated Cleveland Gladiators - Chicago Rush
- Gladiators Crush the Rush to Improve to 3-0 - Cleveland Gladiators
- Barnstormers Tame SaberCats 76-69 - Iowa Barnstormers
- Command in Awe as Shock Wins by 27 Points - Kansas City Command
- Shock secure 61-34 victory - Spokane Shock
- Sabercats Lose Shootout 76-69 To Barnstormers - San Jose SaberCats
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