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San Jose SaberCats Game Notes

March 11, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Buffalo Destroyers (3-3) at SaberCats (4-2).
Date: Friday, March 14, 2003.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Site: HP Pavilion at San Jose (14,041).
Officials: Referee: Riley Johnson; Umpire: Rick DiBernado; Head Linesman: Neil Brunner; Line Judge: Paul Engelberts; Back Judge: Bud McCleskey.
Television: No local television for this game.
Radio: San Jose's flagship station The Ticket (KTCT) 1050-AM will broadcast the game live with Bob Fitzgerald handling play-by-play duties and George Atkinson supplying the color commentary.
SaberCats Sideline Report: Hosted by Bob Fitzgerald, SSR is shown every Sunday at 11:52 p.m. on NBC11. The information packed 8-minute segment will get you up close and personal with the World Champions.
Internet: Log on to www.ticket1050.com to hear a live webcast of the game.
Series Record: San Jose leads 4-0.
Last Meeting: San Jose 63, Buffalo 35 (June 1, 2002 in Buffalo).
Series Streaks: San Jose Won 4.
Coaches: San Jose, Darren Arbet (5th season; 45-17 regular season, 50-19 overall). Buffalo, Ron Selesky (1st season; 3-3 regular season and overall).

OVERVIEW: After finishing a season opening stretch of five of their first six games on the road, the SaberCats will now play seven of their remaining 10 games at HP Pavilion where they have won 15 straight games (including playoffs) and 18 out of the last 19 contests. The SaberCats open a three-game homestand on Friday, March 14 against Eastern Division co-leader the Buffalo Destroyers. The SaberCats have never lost to Buffalo going 4-0 all-time. San Jose posted its third consecutive win overall and second straight on the road with a 71-49 defeat of the Chicago Rush on March 9. During their current 3-game streak, the SaberCats have outscored their opponent 223 to 126 and lead the AFL in scoring at 65.5 points per game. Aaron Bailey, playing in place of the injured James Hundon, set a SaberCats game record with four rushing TDs and scored a 5th on a 47-yard pass reception to lead San Jose's offense in its win over the Rush. February Defensive Player of the Month Clevan Thomas is making a case for the March award. He tied a team record with an interception in his sixth straight game and leads the circuit with eight picks. The SaberCats forced four Rush turnovers and lead the league with a plus-17 margin.

THE SERIES: San Jose has never lost to Buffalo going 4-0 all-time, winning twice at home and on the road...The last meeting between the teams in San Jose came on July 22, 2000 with the SaberCats posting their second-highest point total in an 83-54 win, they also clinched the first of three straight Western Division titles in that game...San Jose has won the last three meetings by an average of 27.7 points per game.

WHAT'S AHEAD: Friday's game is the first of three straight at home for San Jose. The SaberCats host Arizona in an NBC game on Sunday, March 23 and end the homestand against Carolina on Friday, March 28.

SERIES NOTABLES: The SaberCats have tallied eight sacks in four series games against Buffalo...In three games against the Destroyers, all wins, San Jose QB Mark Grieb has completed 60-of-83 passes (72.2%) for 875 yards and 19 TDs without tossing an interception. In those three games San Jose has scored 207 points (69 ppg) and has beaten Buffalo by an average of 27.7 points per game...San Jose holds a plus-5 turnover margin against Buffalo in the series...The SaberCats have recorded 7 interceptions in the series and have at least one pick in all four games. Seven different players have had an INT, including Clevan Thomas, who snared one on June 1, 2002 at Buffalo...San Jose recorded its second highest point total and also clinched the 2000 Western Division title with an 83-54 win in San Jose on July 22.

LAST SERIES MEETING: San Jose 63, Buffalo 35 (Saturday, June 1, 2002 • HSBC Arena) – San Jose QB Mark Grieb threw 7 touchdown passes to lead the undefeated SaberCats to a 63-35 win over the Buffalo Destroyers. Grieb connected with Jerry Reese, the first of three times the pair struck during the game, on a 12-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. San Jose has led after the first period in every game this season. Barry Wagner caught touchdown passes of 8 and 20 yards and James Hundon hauled in a 23-yard toss from Grieb as the SaberCats built a 28-14 halftime lead. Reese, the game's Ironman, caught a 25-yard strike from Grieb to cap a 2-play 45-yard drive at the start of the second half to increase San Jose's lead to 35-14. Former SaberCat Derrick Chachere scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns on the night on a 7-yard run with just over four minutes left in the third quarter to close the gap to 35-21. San Jose's Shalon Baker put on a one-man show at the close of the third quarter and in the fourth. Baker caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Grieb to give San Jose a 42-21 lead after three quarters. Baker then scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 3-yard scamper and on Buffalo's ensuing possession, he intercepted a Jeff Loots pass and returned it 23-yards for his third score of the night. SaberCats kicker Daron Alcorn failed to attempt a field goal for the second consecutive game but converted all nine of his PATs to run his streak of successful conversions to 26. Grieb completed 25 of 35 passes for 338 yards and was named game MVP. His seven scoring tosses went to four different receivers. For the second straight game the San Jose defense forced four turnovers. Rookie DS Clevan Thomas had his second career interception and Baker and Bob McMillen had fumble recoveries.

THE IFS...:

If the SaberCats defeat Buffalo it would...
*Be San Jose's 15th straight home victory.
*Give San Jose a 5-0 all-time mark vs Buffalo.
*Give San Jose a 75-42 all-time regular season record.
*Give San Jose a 39-18 regular season home record.

THE COACHES:

San Jose – Darren Arbet, 5th season
45-17 (.726) reg. season; 50-19 (.725) overall 4-0 (1.000) career vs. Buffalo

Arbet became the 8th head coach in AFL history to win 50 games and the second fastest to reach the milestone with San Jose's win at Chicago on Mar. 9. Arbet reached 50 in his 69th game while Tim Marcum got win No. 50 in 63 games. Last season Arbet guided the SaberCats to the best regular season record (13-1) ever in league history, the most victories in a season (16) and the franchise's first league title. Arbet has compiled a 45-17 (.726) career mark in regular season games and currently owns the third-best regular season winning percentage in AFL history among coaches with at least 10 victories. Named AFL Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002, Arbet's teams have gone 44-11 (.800) overall in the past four seasons. Spanning the 2000 and 2001 seasons, Arbet led the SaberCats to a league record 15-game regular season winning streak and twice in the last three years the SaberCats have had 12-game win streaks.

Buffalo – Ron Selesky, 1st season
3-3 (.500) reg. season and overall 0-0 career vs. San Jose

The third head coach in Destroyers history, Selesky owns a 3-3 (.500) mark in his first season. Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors after guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division championship. The Conquest also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 Arena Cup playoffs. In two seasons Selesky compiled an overall record of 19-13. He joined the Conquest after leading the expansion Louisville Fire to a 6-10 mark in 2001. Prior to his stint in Louisville, Selesky spent one season as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Carolina Cobras. He was the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. While in Tampa Bay, the Storm compiled a 31-11 regular-season record and earned a berth in ArenaBowl XII in 1998.

RECENT RESULTS: Offensive specialist Aaron Bailey set a San Jose game record with four rushing touchdowns and added a fifth on a pass reception helping head coach Darren Arbet earn his 50th career victory with a 71-49 defeat of the Chicago Rush. With the victory the SaberCats improved to 4-2 on the year and will play seven of their remaining 10 games at home. Bailey staked San Jose to a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run just over five minutes into the game and added his second scoring run, a 2-yard scamper, to give San Jose a 22-6 lead after the first quarter of play. The former Carolina Cobra added 1 and 2 yard scoring runs in the second half to break the club record of three rush TDs in a game. Chad Salisbury replaced an ineffective Brian Ah Yat at quarterback late in the second quarter for the Rush and got Chicago within 43-35 following an 8-yard scoring pass to Anthony Ladd. Salisbury completed 12 of 17 for 150 yards and four scores. The SaberCats put the Rush away after that scoring the game's next 21 points. Rashied Davis, named Ironman of the Game for the second straight week, capped off the run by returning an interception 33 yards for a score to give the SaberCats a 64-35 advantage with 7:47 left in the game. San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb completed his first nine passes of the game and finished 19 of 25 for 267 yards and three TDs. James Roe and Davis each caught six passes while Bailey had a game-high 104 receiving yards on five catches. San Jose's defense made its presence known in the game early. Sam Hernandez posted career sack No. 50 when he got to Ah Yat in the endzone for a safety and a 9-0 lead early in the game. The SaberCats also added three interceptions to raise their league leading total to 15. Davis, Roe and Clevan Thomas posted the picks with Thomas tying a team record with a pick in six straight games. Lineman Brian Johnson lifted San Jose over the 70-point mark for the third straight game when he returned an on-side kick by the Rush 6-yards for his first career TD late in the game.

ROSTER MOVES: The SaberCats placed OS James Hundon on IR after he underwent hernia surgery on March 3. San Jose also placed linemen Dan Loney (knee) and Brian Lytle (ankle) on IR. Activated to fill the roster spots were OS Aaron Bailey and linemen Frank Beede and Cedric Pittman.

INJURY REPORT: San Jose escaped its most recent game without serious injuries. Aside from the usual bumps and bruises associated with a professional football game, the SaberCats remain relatively healthy.

INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Status
Kevin Buck Lower leg strain Probable
Albrey Battle Lower leg cramps Probable

MILESTONES:

*K Daron Alcorn needs 4 FGs for 100 career.
*OS Aaron Bailey needs 2 TD catches for 40 career.
*WR/DB Anthony Cobbs needs 6 tackles for 80 career.
*QB Mark Grieb needs 441 passing yards to pass Ron Lopez for 14th on AFL's career list.
*FB/LB Keala Keanaaina needs 14 rush yards for 100 season and career.
*WR/LB James Roe needs 1 TD catch for 50 career.
*DS Clevan Thomas needs 3 INTs to tie team season record and 4 to tie league record for INTs in a season.
*WR/DB Barry Wagner needs 8 rush TDs for 100 career.

TALE OF THE TAPE: San Jose leads the league in scoring at 65.5 ppg while the Destroyers are allowing a league-low 41.7 ppg...The SaberCats have reeled off three straight 70-plus point games and have four on the year but they will face a team in Buffalo that has not allowed more than 54 points in a game this season...San Jose leads the league in scoring despite having the second lowest average time of possession (28:31) in the league. The only team that has the ball less time per game than San Jose is Buffalo (28:18)...The SaberCats have turned a league-high 22 turnovers into 20 touchdowns on the year and lead the league with a plus-15 turnover margin. Buffalo is tied for second in the league with a plus-7 margin.

LEAGUE HONORS: OS Aaron Bailey was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week for Week 6 after scoring a team record 4 rush TDs and adding a fifth on a 47-yard pass reception in the SaberCats 71-49 win at Chicago on Mar. 9. It marks the second weekly honor for Bailey and the 7th time a San Jose player has won the award...DS Clevan Thomas earned Defensive Player of the Month honors for February after tallying six interceptions and five pass breakups in San Jose's four games for the month.

TRENDS:

HOME COOKING – San Jose plays seven of its last 10 games at home and if recent success on home turf continues, the rest of the league could be in trouble. Including playoffs, the SaberCats have won 15 straight home games, 18 of their last 19 and 24 of their last 26 games played in San Jose. Since the start of the 2000 season the SaberCats own a 25-3 (.893) record at home and under Head Coach Darren Arbet, the SaberCats are 29-6 (.829) in games played in San Jose.

THAT 70s SHOW – With their 71-49 win at Chicago on Mar. 9, the SaberCats tied 2002 team records for consecutive 70-plus point games and most 70-plus point games in a season. San Jose reached the 70-point mark for the third straight game and for the fourth time this year. The SaberCats defeated Las Vegas, 72-37 on Mar. 2 and Colorado, 80-40, on Feb. 22. They also tallied 72 points at Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

THE MALLEY FACTOR – Since Terry Malley took over as the SaberCats offensive coordinator with six games remaining in the 1999 season, the team has reached the 60-point mark 28 times in 61 games (includes playoffs). Prior to his arrival the SaberCats had scored 60 or more points six times in 65 games. San Jose's all-time record when reaching the 60-point plateau is 31-3. All four of San Jose's 80-point games and 15 of the team's 17 70-plus point games have come with Malley as the team's offensive coordinator.

PICKIN' IT – Dating back to last season and including playoffs, the SaberCats have had at least on interception in their last 12 games for a total of 24 picks. With nearly half the team total is last year's Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year Clevan Thomas with 11. The SaberCats increased their 2003 league leading interception total to 15 with three picks off three different passers at Chicago on Mar. 9 and are on pace for 40 on the year. The AFL record for INTs in a season is 29 set by Orlando in 1992.

THREE ANYONE – Friday's game marks the first of three straight contests at HP Pavilion for the SaberCats, who have never played three straight regular season home games in the same season. Last year San Jose won three straight home playoff games en route to the league title.

JUST WIN – In his career as a member of the SaberCats, Mark Grieb owns a 33-6 regular season record as the team's starting quarterback.

SIMPLY RED ZONE – The SaberCats are a perfect 24-for-24 on scoring chances inside the red zone this season, scoring 21 touchdowns and three field goals once getting inside the opponents 10-yard line. San Jose scored five TDs for a 5-for-5 red zone performance in its 71-49 win at Chicago on March 9.

HALF AND HALF – The SaberCats have held a halftime lead in every game this season by outscoring the opposition 191 to 119 in the first half.

BIG GEORGE – The return of OL/DL George Williams to the SaberCats means one thing – wins. Williams played in 12 regular season games and all three playoff contests last season and the team went unbeaten. Williams was activated off IR on Feb. 21 and the SaberCats are 3-0 since his return. San Jose now owns an 18-0 record with Williams in the lineup.

TOs = TDs – The SaberCats have parlayed a league-high 22 turnovers into 20 touchdowns on the season. San Jose capitalized on all four Rush turnovers in a 71-49 win at Chicago on Mar. 9. After the Rush pulled within eight points, the SaberCats forced turnovers on three consecutive Chicago possessions and turned them into 21 points to increase their lead to 29 points and put the game away. Rookie Rashied Davis capped the run by returning an interception 33 yards for a score giving San Jose eight defensive touchdowns on the year.

NOTES:

REACHING 50 I – San Jose head coach Darren Arbet became the 8th coach in AFL history to reach 50 career wins with the SaberCats' defeat of Chicago on Mar. 9 and the second fastest to reach the milestone behind only Tampa Bay head coach Tim Marcum. Arbet reached 50 wins in his 69th game while Marcum reached the milestone in his 63rd game.

REACHING 50 II – OL/DL Sam Hernandez, the league's career leader in quarterback sacks, tacked on No. 50 in San Jose's win at Chicago on Mar. 9. Hernandez got to Rush QB Brian Ah Yat in the endzone for a safety in the first quarter of San Jose's 71-49 win. It was Hernandez's 4th career sack for a safety. During his illustrious career, Hernandez has been credited with at least one full sack against 20 teams and has 2.0 or more sacks in a game 12 times.

NICE DEBUT – OS Aaron Bailey, playing in his first game as a SaberCat, scored a team game record four rushing TDs and added a fifth on a season-long 47-yard pass reception in San Jose's win at Chicago on Mar. 9 to earn league Offensive Player of the Week honors. Bailey caught five passes for a game-high 104 yards and scored his four TDs on five attempts. During his two years at Carolina, Bailey ran the ball just one time.

CLEVAN THE MAN – DS Clevan Thomas matched a team record by grabbing an interception in his 6th straight game. Thomas snared his league-leading 8th pick of the year at Chicago on Mar. 9 equaling the 1998 record established by Tommy Jones. Thomas also needs three INTs to match Jones' 1998 team record of 11 in a season and four picks to tie the league season record of 12. Only 15 players in the history of the league have had more INTs in a season than Thomas with Dameon Porter (Chicago, 2001) and Tracey Perkins (Tampa Bay, 1997) leading the way with 12. Thomas ranks third on the SaberCats career INT list with 13 and trails only Jones (17) and Pat McGuirk (24) for the team's all-time lead.

MAKE A POINT – The SaberCats scored 70 or more points for the third straight game, for the fourth time this season and 17th time in team history with their 71-49 win at Chicago on Mar. 9 matching team records for consecutive 70-plus point games and most 70-plus point games in a season. San Jose scored 70 or more points in a game four times during the 2000 and 2002 seasons and 15 of the team's 17 70-plus point games have come since the start of the 2000 season.

WHAT A RUSH – The SaberCats scored five rushing TDs in their 71-49 win at Chicago on Mar. 2 and have scored 15 times on the ground in the past three weeks. San Jose currently leads the circuit in rushing TDs with 20 and is on pace to shatter St. Louis' 1996 league record of 41 rush TDs. Six players have rushed for 2 or more scores with Keala Keanaaina leading the way with five. The SaberCats are on pace for 53 rush TDs which would make them league leaders for a fifth consecutive season.

KICKIN IT – Daron Alcorn became San Jose's all-time leader in kick scoring when he tallied nine points (all PATs) at Chicago on Mar. 9 to raise his SaberCats' career total to 214. Alcorn passed Carlos Huerta, who amassed 208 points during his three years with the team. Alcorn is eyeing a few other milestones as well. The seven-year veteran needs 19 points to reach 700 and is four field goals shy of becoming the fourth kicker in league history with 100.

RAH-SHEED – Rookie WR/DB Rashied Davis has made a splash since being inserted into the lineup three games ago. Against Colorado on Feb. 22, Davis scored his 1st career TD on a 1-yard run and caught three passes. At Las Vegas on Mar. 2, Davis nabbed his 1st career interception, ran for 5 yards and a TD, and caught a 9-yard pass to earn game Ironman honors. Last week at Chicago, Davis caught his 1st career TD pass and returned an INT 33 yards for a TD to earn game Ironman honors for a second straight week. After just three games Davis ranks 4th on the team in receptions with 10, second in INTs with a pair and 5th in tackles with 10.0.

WEEKLY BESTS – Rookie OL/DL Brian Johnson scored his 1st career TD when he picked up an on-side kick attempt and went 6-yards for the score...WR/LB James Roe had his 4th career INT and the first NOT returned for a TD. (all milestones occurred at Chicago on Mar. 9, 2003)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 11, 2003


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