SaberCats topple Rattlers, 61-49
April 2, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
San Jose, Calif. (April 2 , 2006) - Quarterback Mark Grieb threw a SaberCats single-game record tying nine touchdown passes and San Jose (4-6) defeated Arizona 61-49 moving within a game of the first place Rattlers in the Arena Football League's Western Division.
Grieb connected with James Roe and Ben Nelson on first quarter scoring strikes to give San Jose a 13-0 lead after the first period. Nelson and Roe combined for 21 catches, 314 yards and all nine of Grieb's touchdowns helping the SaberCats post their third ever regular season sweep of Arizona.
Grieb completed 26-of-37 for 361 yards with no interceptions and San Jose evened the all-time series at 14-14.
Arizona's Sherdrick Bonner connected twice with Curtis Fagan in the second quarter, the second coming on a 15 yard pass with just 15 seconds left in the half to bring Arizona within 33-28.
But Grieb connected with Nelson on the first play of the ensuing offensive drive on a 41-yard strike upping San Jose's advantage to 40-28 at the break.
Arizona narrowed the gap to five points twice in the second half but could never grab the lead.
Nelson had the second-most receiving yards in San Jose game history with 203 and five touchdowns on 11 catches while Roe had 10 receptions for 111 yards and four scores.
One week after throwing his 700th career touchdown pass, Bonner tossed six in the loss completing 21 of 41 attempts for 347 yards. Fagan was the top receiver with 11 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
The SaberCats amassed 378 yards of total offense, the fifth consecutive game they've exceeded the 300-yard mark, against an Arizona defensive unit that entered the game allowing just over 272 yards per game.
San Jose travels to Tampa Bay next week looking for its first winning streak of 2006 and first since April 22, 2005.
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