San Jose Edges Georgia in Overtime 56-55
March 18, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2006) - Mark Grieb threw four touchdown passes and the San Jose SaberCats (3-5) stopped Georgia's two-point conversion attempt in overtime to post a 56-55 win in Arena Football League action Friday night.
Grieb, who completed 30-of-46 attempts on the night, tossed a 17-yard scoring pass to James Roe with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter to pull the SaberCats within 49-47. The two hooked up on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 49-49.
Georgia had one last opportunity to win the game in regulation time but kicker Nelson Garner missed a 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
San Jose scored on the first overtime possession when game Ironman Phil Glover ran in from 2-yards out, his third rushing touchdown of the game, and Brian Schmitz's PAT gave San Jose a 56-49 lead.
Following Offensive Player of the Game Derek Lee's fifth touchdown reception, a 36-yard strike from Matt Nagy in overtime, the Force elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the win.
Nagy's pass sailed over the head of Chris Jackson, bounced off the rebound net and fell harmlessly on the HP Pavilion turf as the SaberCats celebrated their victory snapping a 2-game losing streak.
Trailing 28-17 at halftime, the SaberCats scored the first 16 points of the second half. Rookie Ben Nelson, who had 13 receptions for 165 yards, scored on a 7-yard pass from Grieb to give San Jose a 33-28 lead midway through the third quarter.
Nagy completed 22-of-36 for 324 yards with seven touchdowns. His favorite target was Lee, who had 11 catches for 192 yards.
Georgia dropped to 4-4 on the year with all four losses coming by a combined five points.
San Jose played its sixth overtime game in franchise history and second this year. The SaberCats are 4-2 all-time in overtime games.
NOTES: Ben Nelson's 13 catches tie for the second-most in SaberCats history...Rookie lineman Van Brown, signed to the active roster last week, recorded a sack for a safety and pressured Nagy on the games final play...Rookie Jason Geathers made his AFL debut catching 3 passes for 39 yards with 2 PBUs on defense...Phil Glover ran for a career-high 3 TDs...San Jose is 3-1 all-time in overtime games played at HP Pavilion.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 18, 2006
- Brigade Puts up Fight Early but Falls to Wranglers in Austin - Kansas City Brigade
- Wranglers dominate at home, 64-37 - Austin Wranglers
- Destroyers defense dominates Soul in 53-20 rout - Columbus Destroyers
- San Jose Edges Georgia in Overtime 56-55 - San Jose SaberCats
- Las Vegas Falls to Arizona 33-47 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Georgia falls 56-55 to San Jose in overtime thriller - Georgia Force
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