SaberCats Strong First Half Sinks VooDoo; Rocco Sets VooDoo Single-Season Passing Record
Published on July 8, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (July 7, 2012) - The New Orleans VooDoo (8-8) never quite got in a rhythm on Saturday night, falling 55-31 to the San Jose SaberCats (11-6) at the HP Pavilion.
The VooDoo fell behind 20-3 after the first quarter, but rallied to come within 10 points, 34-24, at halftime. In the first half, Rocco passed for 141 yards, which was enough to become the VooDoo's single-season record holder for most passing yards in a season, now standing with 4,697.
Rocco finished the game with only 152 passing yards due to being injured by a late hit from SaberCats defensive lineman Tim McGill, which resulted in a roughing the passer penalty. Backup quarterback Brian Zbydniewski was called into duty and guided the offense the rest of the way, finishing with 65 yards passing and a touchdown.
"This was a tough loss that we have to recover from not only physically but emotionally as well," said VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara. "San Jose is a good football team; so are we. Unfortunately, we didn't play that way tonight and I take responsibility for this loss."
The VooDoo and SaberCats had a stalemate third quarter until San Jose blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt by Gary Cismesia, which was returned for a touchdown. The score was the only points of the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Zbydniewski found Quorey Payne across the middle for 34-yard catch-and-run touchdown to come within 10, 41-31, but it was as close as New Orleans would come to mounting a comeback as the SaberCats scored the game's final 14 points.
San Jose was led by future AFL Hall of Fame quarterback Mark Grieb, completing 22-of-30 pass attempts for 242 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Grieb started the game 10-of-10 passing for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The SaberCats moved one step closer to the playoffs with their win, standing as one of three teams in the National Conference West Division with 11-plus wins. With the loss, the VooDoo still stand atop the American Conference South Division at 8-8, holding tiebreakers over Georgia (8-8) and Jacksonville (8-8).
The VooDoo travel to the Tampa Bay Storm (7-9) on Saturday, July 14 for an important South Division contest. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. CT in the St. Pete Times Forum.
Arena Football League Stories from July 8, 2012
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- SaberCats Clinch Playoff Berth - San Jose SaberCats
- SaberCats Strong First Half Sinks VooDoo; Rocco Sets VooDoo Single-Season Passing Record - New Orleans VooDoo
- SaberCats Silence VooDoo, 55-31, Can Possibly Clinch Playoff Berth Tomorrow - San Jose SaberCats
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