SaberCats rollover VooDoo, 68-34
May 2, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
San Jose, CA (May 1, 2004) - Meeting for first time in history and battling for the best record in AFL, Saturdays game between the San Jose SaberCats and the New Orleans VooDoo was supposed to be a showdown of sorts but instead it became a record breaking one for the SaberCats.
New Orleans quarterback John Fitzgerald wasted no time hitting Ira Gooch with a 39-yard bomb on the second play of the game putting the VooDoo on the board with a 6-0 lead.
The VooDoo continued their magic as Calvin Coleman picked off a Mark Grieb pass intended for James Roe at the SaberCats 21-yard line. New Orleans would later convert with a running-play touchdown by Dan Curran and a 13-0 lead.
The magic would soon end as Keala Keanaaina put the SaberCats on the board, pounding through for a 7-yard touchdown run cutting the Voodoo lead 13-7.
Mid-way through the second quarter San Jose's defense prevented the VooDoo from getting into the end zone holding the VooDoo to a 45-yard field-goal attempt by Brian Schmitz. Schmitz missed the field goal but teammate Aaron Hamilton converted with a touchdown on a net recovery and a 27-14 New Orleans lead.
With: 35 seconds before the half, San Jose lineman Devin Wyman deflected a John Fitzgerald pass that landed into the hands of Omarr Smith.
This would mark a turning point in the game as Mark Grieb responded with 3-yard touchdown toss to James Roe, his second of the game, with :04 seconds left in the first half. The touchdown reception also gave Roe his 100th career touchdown and San Jose their first lead of the game at 28-27.
Matt Kinsinger received his 20th career touchdown run as a SaberCat with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:12 into the 3rd quarter topping a 34-27 lead.
San Jose's defense continued to play a factor as Charles Pauley caused a forced fumble on the VooDoo's Tremaine Neal, landing into the hands of James Roe who returned the fumble for 37-yards.
Mark Grieb would capitalize on the turnover by getting his first touchdown run of the season on a 3-yard touchdown run and a 41-27 lead.
The scoring drive continued for the SaberCats as rookie Charles Pauley received his first career interception with less than five minutes left in the third quarter. James Hundon would later break free with a 27-yard touchdown reception putting the lead 48-27.
The final San Jose score would occur with over 2:00 left in the game on a 1-yard Barry Wagner touchdown run finalizing the score at 34-68. New Orleans would be held scoreless in the 4th quarter.
New Orleans quarterback John Fitzgerald would tie a single-game record for interceptions thrown by a San Jose opponent with five.
Mark Grieb was named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game going 23-of-29 with 1 interception and 5 touchdowns. Grieb posted 1800th career passing attempts and finished the game with five touchdowns.
Fred Coleman received Ironman of the Game honors and Omarr Smith was named Defensive Player of the Game.
The SaberCats will hit the road again playing their final two road games versus Western Division rivals Arizona on May 9th and Las Vegas on May 16th.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 2, 2004
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