San Jose Clinches Ninth Straight Playoff Berth
Published on May 25, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 24, 2008) - San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb threw eight touchdown passes and the SaberCats clinched their ninth consecutive Arena Football League playoff berth with a 59-42 win over the Colorado Crush.
Grieb tossed two scoring passes to Cleannord Saintil and one to Rodney Wright spanning the first and second quarters lifting San Jose to a 28-14 lead. His fifth scoring pass of the first quarter was a 7-yarder to Wright with three seconds left in the half.
But a 42 yard return by Chad Owens on the ensuing kickoff and a face mask penalty on the tackle gave the Crush a chance. John Dutton connected with Aaron Hosack with no time left pulling the Crush within 35-28 at the break.
San Jose (8-5) pulled away late in the fourth quarter. Up 45-42, Grieb hit Saintil on a 35 yard touchdown pass and on Colorado's next possession, Marquis Floyd intercepted a pass in his own endzone and raced 48 yards to the Crush 9-yard line.
The SaberCats upped their lead to 59-42 when Grieb hit James Roe on the very next play.
Grieb completed 23-of-30 passes for 271 yards in the game. Rodney Wright was Grieb's top target catching 12 passes for two touchdowns and 133 yards. It was Wright's eighth consecutive 100-yard game. He contributed on special teams as well, returning five kicks for 120 yards, and totaled 253 all-purpose yards.
Dutton connected on 30 of his 51 passes for 308 yards and six touchdowns. Chad Owens caught 11 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown while former SaberCat Ben Nelson hauled in nine receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Clevan Thomas recorded an interception for the second straight game and the SaberCats defense stopped the Crush on six possessions, including four turnovers on downs.
Colorado will host the New York Dragons (6-6) while San Jose travels to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Avengers (4-8).
NOTES:
The SaberCats recorded their 4th straight win over the Crush and have never lost to them at home (6-0) and during the regular season (7-0)...Alan Harper had his 5th sack of the season extending the team's league-lead to 23...James Roe had the 225th receiving TD of his career...Rodney Wright reached the 5,000 level in career all-purpose yards...Clevan Thomas had his 46th career interception and 150th defended pass of his career...A.J. Haglund set a single-season record for made FGs (19) and reached 300 career kick scoring points...Marquis Floyd had histeam-leading 9th interception, 50th career pass defended, and 30th career PBU...Dan Loney was inactive snapping his streak of consecutive starts at 47...Rookie Gene Frederic made his 1st career start at C in place of Loney.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 25, 2008
- San Jose Clinches Ninth Straight Playoff Berth - San Jose SaberCats
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