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San Jose SaberCats game notes

April 11, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Las Vegas Gladiators (5-6) at SaberCats (5-6).
Date: Friday, April 14, 2006.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (PDT).
Site: HP Pavilion at San Jose (14,041).
Officials: Referee: Terry Brown; Umpire: Rick Lowe; Head Linesman: Allen Baynes; Line Judge: Art Lucky; Back Judge: Scott Helverson.
Television: FOX Sports Net will televise the game with Barry Tompkins (play by play), Mike Pawlawski (color) and Amy Gutierrez (sideline) bringing fans the action. Locally the game will be shown on tape delay on FSN Bay Area on Saturday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m.
Radio: San Jose's flagship station KNBR-1050 will broadcast the game live with Bob Fitzgerald calling the play-by-play and former San Francisco 49er great Keena Turner supplying the commentary. The station will air an extended pregame show with Damon Bruce and Ray Woodson starting at 5:00 p.m.
Internet: Log on to www.KNBR.com to hear a live webcast of Friday night's game.
Series Record: SaberCats lead 4-2.
Last Meeting: Las Vegas 51, SaberCats 48 (Feb. 6, 2006 in Thomas & Mack Center).
Series Streak: Las Vegas Won 1.
Coaches: San Jose, Darren Arbet (8th season; 78-37 regular season, 87-41 overall). Las Vegas, Ron James (2nd season; 13-14 regular season and overall).


OVERVIEW: The SaberCats posted consecutive wins for the first time this season with a come-from-behind 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7 and will now play four of their last five games at home, beginning with a Western Division showdown with the Las Vegas Gladiators on Friday. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net and can be seen locally on FSN Bay Area on tape delay Saturday, Apr. 15 at 10:00 a.m. San Jose's flagship radio station KNBR 1050 will air the game live on Friday. The SaberCats tied a league and team record with six rushing TDs and Omarr Smith returned an interception 16-yards for the game-winning score as the SaberCats upended the Storm. Mark Grieb failed to throw a TD pass for the first time in his career as San Jose's starting QB, but completed the 2,000th pass of his career and eclipsed the 26,000 level in passing yards in the victory giving head coach Darren Arbet sole possession of 5th place on the career wins list with 87. San Jose and Las Vegas enter Friday's game tied for second place in the Western Division at 5-6, just one game behind Arizona. The Gladiators were victorious in the earlier meeting beating San Jose 51-48 on Feb. 6. San Jose leads the all-time series 4-2 and has won both games played in San Jose.
THE SCHEDULES:

2006 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (5-6)
Date Opponent Result Score (Rec)
Jan. 28 UTAH Lost 35-48 (0-1)
Feb. 6 @Las Vegas Lost 48-51 (0-2)
Feb. 12 @Arizona Won 58-50 (1-2)
Feb. 19 @Grand Rapids Lost 52-66 (1-3)
Feb. 26 @Chicago Lost (ot) 48-54 (1-4)
Mar. 4 @Utah Won 65-50 (2-4)
Mar. 12 LOS ANGELES Lost 61-75 (2-5)
Mar. 17 GEORGIA Won (ot) 56-55 (3-5)
Mar. 25 @Nashville Lost 48-51 (3-6)
Apr. 2 ARIZONA Won 61-49 (4-6)
Apr. 7 @Tampa Bay Won 52-43 (5-6)
Date Opponent Time (PT) Radio/TV
Apr. 14 LAS VEGAS 7:30 pm 1050/FSN
Apr. 22 AUSTIN 7:30 pm 1050
Apr. 29 @Los Angeles 7:30 pm 1050/20
May 6 COLORADO 7:30 pm 1050
May 13 COLUMBUS 7:30 pm 1050

2006 LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (5-6)
Date Opponent Result Score (Rec)
Jan. 27 @Austin Lost 46-64 (0-1)
Feb. 6 SAN JOSE Won 51-48 (1-1)
Feb. 12 @Colorado Lost 55-65 (1-2)
Feb. 17 GEORGIA Lost 34-54 (1-3)
Feb. 25 @Dallas Lost 48-55 (1-4)
Mar. 5 PHILADELPHIA Won 67-49 (2-4)
Mar. 10 GRAND RAPIDS Won 66-41 (3-4)
Mar. 17 ARIZONA Lost 33-47 (3-5)
Mar. 24 @Utah Won 49-47 (4-5)
Apr. 2 LOS ANGELES Won 63-49 (5-5)
Apr. 9 NASHVILLE Lost 44-58 (5-6)
Date Opponent Time (PT) TV
Apr. 14 @San Jose 7:30 pm FSN
Apr. 23 @Chicago 1:00 pm CSN, INHD
Apr. 29 UTAH 7:30 pm AFL Net
May 6 @Arizona 7:00 pm AFL Net
May 13 @Los Angeles 7:30 pm AFL Net

THE SERIES: San Jose leads the all-time series 4-2 and has won both games played in HP Pavilion by a combined 52 points...The SaberCats have scored 298 points, an average of 74.5 points per game, in their four wins and just 83 points, an average of 41.5 points per game, in their two losses...Three of San Jose's 23 70-plus point games and two of the team's nine highest scoring games have come against Las Vegas...James Roe and Ben Nelson, San Jose's top two receivers, did not play in the first meeting between the teams. Roe was on IR after sustaining a concussion in the season opener and Nelson started the year on IR after injuring his ankle in training camp.


WHAT'S AHEAD: Beginning Friday the SaberCats will play four of their remaining five games at home and will not leave the state of California. San Jose hosts the Austin Wranglers in the first-ever meeting between the teams on Saturday, Apr. 22 at 7:30 p.m. before playing its final road game of the year on Apr. 29 at Los Angeles. San Jose concludes the 2006 regular season with home games against the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush (May 6) and Columbus Destroyers (May 13).

SABERCATS SIDELINE REPORT: Bob Fitzgerald returns as host of the SaberCats Sideline Report, which airs every Sunday during the season on NBC11 at 11:50 p.m. immediately following Sports Sunday. Join Fitz and a special guest every week for this action-packed 8-minute segment.

SERIES NOTABLES: The SaberCats have scored at least 66 points in each of their four series wins and scored just 83 points combined in their two losses...In their four wins the SaberCats have scored 20 or more points in a quarter nine times (16 qtrs.)...San Jose has scored first in each of the last five series games...The combined point total (156) in San Jose's 81-75 win at Las Vegas on Mar. 28, 2005 represents the sixth-highest scoring game in AFL history and the second-highest in San Jose history...In that same game the team's combined for a SaberCats record 60 fourth quarter points...Las Vegas has twice amassed over 400 yards of total offense in the series, including a SaberCats opponent record 456 on Mar. 20, 2004, and has outgained San Jose in five of the six meetings...San Jose intercepted at least 2 passes in each series game and has totaled 14 in the series with four different players (Clevan Thomas, Omarr Smith, Barry Wagner and Tremain Mack) returning an INT for a TD against the Gladiators...DS Clevan Thomas has 4 of his 29 career INTs against Las Vegas...QB Mark Grieb has started all six series games against Las Vegas while the Gladiators' Jason Fife will be the fourth QB to start for Las Vegas against San Jose...Former SaberCats FB/LB Matt Kinsinger and OL/DL Rob Gatrell are on the Gladiators roster in 2006. Kinsinger led San Jose in rushing last season and is the third leading rusher in SaberCats history with 393 yards. He played four seasons in the Green and Gold and won two titles. Gatrell played in 2 games as a reserve lineman with San Jose in 2004.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Las Vegas 51, SABERCATS 48 - Monday, February 6, 2006 - Thomas & Mack Center - Las Vegas offensive specialist Marcus Nash had four touchdown receptions, including three in the fourth quarter, to help the Gladiators post a home-opening 51-48 win over the San Jose SaberCats. Mark Grieb threw five touchdown passes for the SaberCats, but San Jose dropped to 0-2 on the season for the first time since 1998. Gladiators quarterback Craig Whelihan tossed a 17-yard scoring pass to Nash with 4:28 left in the fourth to give his team a 44-41 lead. Following a San Jose turnover on downs, Whelihan hit Nash on the first play of the ensuing possession to build the Gladiators lead to 51-41. Grieb connected with newly acquired Kevin McKenzie on a 6-yard strike with 17.9 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. The Gladiators recovered San Jose's onside kick attempt and ran out the clock for their first win of the season. SaberCats defensive specialist Clevan Thomas intercepted Whelihan on the first offensive play of the game and Grieb hit Calvin Schexnayder on a 15-yard scoring play to give San Jose a quick 7-0 lead. Thomas had a pair of interceptions in the game and had a third nullified by a penalty. Despite the quick start, San Jose struggled offensively losing an interception and a fumble while turning the ball over twice on downs. Schexnayder, who joined the team last week, started at OS for San Jose and had a pair of touchdown grabs before being knocked out of the game by a vicious hit from Las Vegas DB Dameon Porter late in the fourth quarter. He didn't return after posting a team-high 10 receptions for 152 yards. Grieb threw for 317 yards on 25-of-42 passing and an interception. NOTES: Clevan Thomas set a new SaberCats record with his 4th career multi interception game...Brian Schmitz became the first San Jose kicker to make two field goals in a game since Dan Frantz connected twice at Los Angeles on March 26, 2004...Schmitz has started the season converting all 11 of his PAT attempts.

Score By Quarters
SaberCats................................ 10 10 14 14 - 48
Gladiators................................ 7 16 7 21 - 51

SCORING SUMMARY
SAN Schexnayder 15 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
LVG Blalock 4 run (Houle kick)
SAN FG Schmitz 17
LVG Whelihan 1 run (Houle kick)
SAN Pauley 16 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
LVG FG Houle 26
LVG Whelihan 1 run (kick failed)
SAN FG Schmitz 41
SAN Coleman 1 run (Schmitz kick)
LVG Nash 28 pass from Whelihan (Houle kick)
SAN Schexnayder 23 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
LVG Nash 9 pass from Whelihan (Houle kick)
SAN Coleman 5 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
LVG Nash 17 pass from Whelihan (Houle kick)
LVG Nash 12 pass from Whelihan (Houle kick)
SAN McKenzie 7 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Passing - SJ: Grieb 26-44-1-332. LV: Whelihan 16-28-2-191.
Rushing - SJ: Johnson 2-3; Glover 1-2; Grieb 2-1; McKenzie 1-0; Coleman 3-0. LV: Jackson 6-41; Whelihan 5-4; Blalock 1-4; Nash 1-2.
Receiving - SJ: Schexnayder 11-167; Pauley 6-69; Coleman 5-51; McKenzie 4-45. LV: Nash 12-134; Hill 2-24; Jackson 1-20; Blalock 1-13.
Kick Returns - SJ: McKenzie 2-48; Schexnayder 2-4; Johnson 1-5. LV: Prentiss 4-85; Blalock 2-46.

ALL-TIME SERIES SCORES
Date Score
Feb. 6, 2006 @Las Vegas 51, San Jose 48
Mar. 28, 2005 San Jose 81, @Las Vegas 75
Feb. 5, 2005 @San Jose 66, Las Vegas 31
May 16, 2004 @Las Vegas 44, San Jose 35
Mar. 20, 2004 @San Jose 79, Las Vegas 62
Mar. 2, 2003 San Jose 72, @Las Vegas 37




2006 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Category (Rank) SaberCats Gladiators
Scoring Offense 53.1 (5) 50.5 (9)
Scoring Defense 53.8 (15) 52.5 (11)
Total Offense 310.2 (T-2) 279.9 (11)
Total Defense 292.8 (12) 296.3 (15)
Pass Offense 296.0 (3) 243.0 (14)
Pass Defense 278.5 (16) 276.4 (11)
Rushing Offense 14.2 (14) 36.9 (1)
Rushing Defense 14.4 (3) 19.9 (9)
Pass Rating 113.7 (6) 99.1 (12)
Pass Defense Rating 116.1 (16) 107.5 (11)
Interceptions 10 (T-9) 10 (T-9)
Kickoff Return Avg. 16.0 (T-14) 18.8 (T-5)
Field Goal Return Avg. 9.5 (15) 22.4 (5)
Turnover Margin +1 (T-8) -9 (18)
3rd Down Conversions 42.5% (13) 44.1% (11)
4th Down Conversions 47.6% (T-7) 40.0% (15)
Sacks By 13 (T-8) 10 (T-12)
Sacks Against 12 (T-11) 10 (T-8)

2006 SABERCATS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS
Player Category No. Rank
Mark Grieb Total Offense 301.4 2nd
Mark Grieb Pass TDs 54 5th
Mark Grieb Pass Completions 269 2nd
Mark Grieb Passing Yards 3,314 2nd
Mark Grieb Pass Avg/Game 301.3 3rd
Mark Grieb Passer Rating 113.1 5th
Mark Grieb Pass Attempts 414 3rd
Mark Grieb Completion Pct. 65.0 9th
Clevan Thomas Fumbles Recovered 2 T-8th
Clevan Thomas Fumbles Forced 4 T-3rd
Clevan Thomas Total Tackles 56.0 15th
Brian Schmitz PAT Kicks Made 63 T-6th
Brian Schmitz PAT Kick Attempts 72 T-5th
Phil Glover Rushing TDs 10 1st
Phil Glover Rush Attempts 33 T-6th
Brian Johnson Rushing TDs 7 T-8th
Marquis Floyd Fumbles Forced 3 T-6th

THE IFS...:
If the SaberCats defeat Las Vegas it would...
*Get them to .500 for the first time this season (6-6).
*Give them a 5-2 all-time series lead.
*Give them a 3-game winning streak.
*Be their 3rd straight home win.
*Break a 1-game losing streak to the Gladiators.
*Give them a 44-27 all-time record against Western Division opponents.
*Give them a 27-12 all-time home record against Western Division opponents.
*Give them a 108-62 all-time regular season record.

THE COACHES:
San Jose - Darren Arbet, 8th season
78-37 (.678) reg. season; 87-41 (.680) overall
4-2 (.667) career vs. Las Vegas
2-1 (.667) career vs. Ron James
Now in his eighth season at the helm of the SaberCats, two-time Coach of the Year Darren Arbet moved into sole possession of 5th place on the AFL's all-time wins list surpassing Perry Moss when San Jose defeated Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. It was Arbet's 87th career victory. Last season Arbet led the SaberCats to their 6th consecutive winning season and playoff appearance. Since the start of the 2000 season his teams have compiled a 72-29 (.713) regular season record and have set league records for most regular season wins (13 - 2002), most wins in a season (16- 2002), most consecutive wins in a regular season (12 - 2002), most wins to end a season (11 - 2000) and the longest regular season win streak (15 - 2000-01). Last season Arbet became the second fastest head coach to reach 80 career wins, doing it in 111 games. Only Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum, who reached the 80-win mark in 96 games, got to that milestone quicker.

Las Vegas - Ron James, 2nd season
13-14 (.481) reg. season and overall
1-2 (.333) career vs. San Jose
1-2 (.333) career vs. Darren Arbet
James is entering his second season as Head Coach of the Gladiators. Las Vegas led the AFL in total offense and total defense last year while posting an 8-8 record. Prior to becoming the head coach, James served as assistant head coach/line coach and special team's coordinator for the Gladiator organization from 2001-2004. James has nine years of AFL experience having served as the line coach and player personnel director with the Houston Thunderbears from 2000-2001 and as an assistant with the Albany Firebirds in 1990 and 1991. In addition to coaching in the AFL, James has coached a combined total of 14 years on the collegiate level. James was a four-year starter at Siena College where he achieved First-Team All N.C.F.A. All-America honors in 1985 and was named a first-team all conference selection twice. Upon completion of his college football career, James had brief NFL stops with the New York Giants, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals.

JUST WIN BABY! - With San Jose's win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7, head coach Darren Arbet moved past Perry Moss into sole possession of 5th place on the all-time wins list with 87. Arbet beat the league's career wins leader Tim Marcum to break the tie and is just three wins away from 90. Arbet has posted a winning record in games against the four coaches ahead of him going 6-2 against Marcum, 11-7 against Danny White, 5-2 against Mike Hohensee and 4-2 against Mike Dailey for a combined 26-13 (.667) record.

CAREER COACHING RECORDS
Rk. Coach Team Record
1. Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 180-73
2. Danny White Utah 144-73
3. Mike Hohensee Chicago 99-92
4. Mike Dailey Colorado 96-61
5. Darren Arbet San Jose 87-41
6. Perry Moss None 86-35

ROSTER MOVES: The SaberCats made just one roster move prior to their game at Tampa Bay activating WR/DB Marquis Floyd from injured reserve on Apr. 6 and placing WR/DB Rodney Wright back on the injured list after he re-injured his toe against Arizona on Apr. 2.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES
Date Action
Mar. 10 Signed OL/DL Van Brown. Re-signed OL/DL Alan Harper and put OL/DL Chuck Reed on IR.
Mar. 11 Activated WR/DB Barry Wagner from IR. Placed WR/LB Kevin McKenzie on IR.
Mar. 16 Activated OL/DL Albrey Battle and WR/LB Jason Geathers from IR. Placed OL/DL Joe Jacobs and OL/DL George Williams on IR.
Mar. 23 Signed OL/DL Frank Beede. Activated WR/LB Kevin McKenzie from IR. Placed WR/DB Marquis Floyd and WR/LB Jason Geathers on IR.
Apr. 1 Activated FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston, OL/DL Chuck Reed and WR/DB Rodney Wright from IR. Placed OL/DL Van Brown, OL/DL Julius Gant and WR/LB Kevin McKenzie on IR. Released OL/DL Nikia Adderson.
Apr. 3 Activated from IR and waived WR/LB Fred Coleman.
Apr. 6 Activated WR/DB Marquis Floyd from IR. Placed WR/DB Rodney Wright on IR.

INJURY REPORT: At press time the SaberCats had 13 players on injured reserve. League rules stipulate that players on IR must be inactive for two weeks. The players listed below with an asterisk by their name are eligible to be activated to the 24-man roster for this week's game.

INJURY REPORT
Player Injury Status
Atnaf Harris* L foot stress IR
Chris Lewis* Back strain IR
Rufus Brown* L wrist sprain IR
Fitu Tu'ua* L 3rd finger IR
Alan Harper* Flu symptoms/Knee IR
Calvin Schexnayder* R Ankle Sprain IR
George Williams* L knee IR
Joe Jacobs* Lower back IR
Jason Geathers* Hamstring IR
Van Brown* Hyperextended Elbow IR
Julius Gant* R Quad tendonitis IR
Kevin McKenzie* R Ankle sprain IR
Rodney Wright Foot IR

MILESTONES
Player Milestone Needs
Phil Glover 100 career rush attempts 10
Phil Glover 20 career rush TDs 2
Mark Grieb 500 career pass TDs 14
James Roe 500 career receptions 11
James Roe 150 career TD catches 1
Kevin McKenzie 3,000 career receiving yds 276
Joe Jacobs 40 career sacks 1.5
Brian Schmitz 60 career FGs made 1
Barry Wagner 50 career INTs 2
Barry Wagner 2nd place on team's career receptions list 2
Clevan Thomas 30 career INTs 1
Terrance Joseph 10 career INTs 1
Charles Pauley 1,000 career receiving yds 142
Charles Pauley 15 career receiving TDs 3

RECENT RESULTS: SABERCATS 52, Tampa Bay 43 - Friday, April 7, 2006 - St. Pete Times Forum - Phil Glover and Brian Johnson each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and defensive specialist Omarr Smith returned an interception 16 yards for a score to rally the San Jose SaberCats past the Tampa Bay Storm, 52-43. Rookie JaJuan Huddleston scored his 1st career touchdown and Barry Wagner added his AFL career-best 126th rushing touchdown for the SaberCats, who tied a league record by scoring six times on the ground. Tampa Bay quarterback Shane Stafford threw three first half scoring passes, including a 9-yard strike to Freddie Solomon with :03 left to give the Storm a 23-21 lead at the intermission. Huddleston's 2nd career rush attempt resulted in a 3-yard score giving the SaberCats a 35-29 lead after three quarters. Stafford connected with Lynarise Elpheage and Solomon on consecutive possessions to start the fourth quarter helping the Storm to a 43-35 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the game. But the SaberCats scored 17 points in the next 3:33 to pull out the win. Johnson scored for the second time on a 1-yard run and Grieb added the two-point conversion on a nifty boot leg to forge a 43-43 tie. On Tampa Bay's next possession, Smith stepped in front of a Stafford offering intended for Solomon and went 16 yards the other way for the go-ahead touchdown. Demetrius Bendross had the ball stripped by Marquis Floyd on the ensuing kickoff and Tampa's Alphonso Roundtree was tackled in the endzone by Charles Pauley for a safety giving San Jose its final margin. In what was billed as a dual of the top passing QBs in the league, San Jose's Mark Grieb did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his career as a starting quarterback but did complete 20-of-36 passes for 223 yards. Tampa's Stafford finished the night 23-of-39 for 252 yards and six scores but was intercepted twice.

Score By Quarters
SaberCats................................ 7 14 14 17 - 52
Storm...................................... 10 13 6 14 - 43

SCORING SUMMARY
TBY Bendross 11 pass from Stafford (Gramatica kick)
SAN Wagner 1 run (Schmitz kick)
TBY FG Gramatica 31
SAN Glover 1 run (Schmitz kick)
SAN Johnson 7 run (Schmitz kick)
TBY Samuels 4 pass from Stafford (Gramatica kick)
TBY Solomon 9 pass from Stafford (kick failed)
SAN Glover 4 run (Schmitz kick)
TBY Certain 3 pass from Stafford (kick failed)
SAN Huddleston 3 run (Schmitz kick)
TBY Elpheage 4 pass from Stafford (Gramatica kick)
TBY Solomon 4 pass from Stafford (Gramatica kick)
SAN Johnson 1 run (Grieb rush)
SAN Smith 16 interception return (Schmitz kick)
SAN Pauley safety

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Passing-SJ: Grieb 20-36-1-223. TB: Stafford 23-39-2-252.
Rushing-SJ: Glover 9-16; Johnson 2-8; Huddleston 2-3; Wagner 1-1; Grieb 1-(-2). TB: None.
Receiving-SJ: Roe 8-75; Nelson 6-89; Pauley 3-18; Johnson 1-14; Wagner 1-14; Glover 1-13. TB: Solomon 8-107; Samuels 6-69; Elpheage 5-37; Bendross 2-29; Peters 1-7; Certain 1-3.
Kick Returns-SJ: Pauley 4-120; Smith 1-0; Roe 1-(-4). TB: Bendross 7-87.

TRENDS:
HOME COOKIN - The SaberCats will play four of their remaining five games at home where the team has had an impressive record under head coach Darren Arbet. San Jose is currently riding a 2-game home winning streak and since Arbet assumed the reins in 1999 the SaberCats are 45-11 (.804) in regular season games and 53-13 (.803) in all games played in HP Pavilion. The SaberCats are 2-0 all-time against Las Vegas in HP Pavilion and in their 12-year history have posted a 59-24 (.711) record in regular season home games.

STAYIN IN CALI - From now until the end of the 2006 regular season the SaberCats will not leave the state of California. San Jose will host Las Vegas on Friday, Austin (Apr. 22), Colorado (May 6) and Columbus (May 13) in the regular season finale with only a road trip to Southern California to face the Avengers in the middle of the four-game home swing.

PAYDIRT - The SaberCats matched a league and team record by scoring six times on the ground in their 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. San Jose's effort marked the 15th time in league history a team has scored six rushing TDs in a game and it was the 6th time the SaberCats have accomplished the feat. Only one team, the old Detroit Drive who originally established the record in 1990 and did it twice, scored six rush TDs in a game more than once. San Jose has twice scored six times on the ground against the Gladiators doing so in a 79-62 win on Mar. 20, 2004 and again in an 81-75 win on Mar. 28, 2005.

OFFENSE SELLS TICKETS - In their four wins over the Gladiators the SaberCats have scored 298 points (74.5 ppg) and have surpassed the 70-point mark three times. Two of San Jose's nine highest scoring games have come against Las Vegas and the SaberCats have scored 145 points (72.5 ppg) in two games in San Jose. In their two losses San Jose has scored just 83 points (41.5 ppg).

INTERCEPTORS - The SaberCats have intercepted at least 2 passes in each of the six series games with Las Vegas and have totaled 14. DS Clevan Thomas had a pair of INTs in the first meeting this year between the teams and has four in his career against Las Vegas. Omarr Smith with three and Barry Wagner with two are the other current SaberCats with multiple career INTs against Las Vegas.

BACK TO BACK - With their 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7, the SaberCats won consecutive games for the first time since last April. San Jose had gone 14 games without back-to-back victories since winning twice in a row against Dallas on Apr. 15, 2005 and at Colorado on Apr. 22, 2005.

CRY FOUL - The SaberCats were penalized 10 times in their game at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7, the fifth game this season they have been flagged 10 or more times. San Jose has totaled 93 penalties on the year and is tied with Nashville for the second highest total in the league, one behind Grand Rapids, who leads the circuit with 93 penalties.

THE FEWER - After allowing 50 or more points in eight of their first nine games in 2006, the SaberCats have held their opponent to under 50 points in each of the last two games, including a season-low 43 to Tampa Bay in their win on Apr. 7. San Jose has won 11 of its last 12 games when allowing fewer than 50 points with its only loss coming in the season opener to Utah, 48-35, on Jan. 28.

THE ROE FACTOR - The SaberCats are 4-2 all-time against Las Vegas and in each of their four wins WR/LB James Roe has started while in San Jose's two losses Roe was on injured reserve and did not play. Coincidence?

HEADS OR TAILS - The SaberCats won the opening coin toss in their game at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7 and have been successful 10 times in the team's 11 games. San Jose also won the coin toss to start overtime in both OT games to give them a 92.3 percent success rate this year.

NOTES:
THE WACKY WEST - It was expected to be a competitive division, and it has been all season long. The SaberCats remain one game back of the Rattlers and are tied with Las Vegas. With a win on Friday the SaberCats will move ahead of the Gladiators for second place and need to win by four or more points to claim the head-to-head tie-breaker. San Jose already holds the tie-break advantage over Arizona by virtue of its two wins. While San Jose plays four of its last five at home, Las Vegas is on the road four times in the last five weeks and Arizona travels three times. Since the AFL went to a four-division format in 1995, no team with a sub-.500 record has won a division title and just two teams, Orlando (2002) and New York (2003), have won division titles with a .500 mark.

2006 WESTERN DIVISION STANDINGS
Team W L GB Pct Div Conf
Arizona 6 5 -- .545 4-3 5-3
San Jose 5 6 1.0 .455 3-3 3-6
Las Vegas 5 6 1.0 .455 3-1 4-3
Utah 3 8 3.0 .273 2-4 3-5
Los Angeles 3 8 3.0 .273 2-3 3-5

RUNNING MEN - FB/LB Phil Glover tied a team record with 9 rush attempts and scored two of San Jose's league and team record tying 6 rush TDs in the SaberCats 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. Glover now leads the league with 10 rushing TDs, the 6th highest season total in team history, and with a season-high tying 16 yards reached the 200-mark (215) for his career. Fellow FB/LB Brian Johnson also reached a personal milestone by surpassing the 100-mark (102) in career rush yards with 8 and also scored twice on his only 2 carries. Johnson's 7 rush TDs tie him for 8th in the AFL and he and Glover are currently tied for the team rushing lead with 69 yards.

MOST RUSH TDs, TEAM, SEASON
Rank Player Year Rush TDs
1. Barry Wagner 2003 18
2. Steve Papin 1999 13
3. Barry Wagner 2004 12
Derrick Chachere 1999 12
5. Steve Papin 2000 11
6. Phil Glover 2006 10
Keala Keanaaina 2003 10
Barry Wagner 2002 10
Joey Dozier 2001 10

AIR SUPPLY - The SaberCats took the air out of the football in their 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. For the first time in team history they did not throw a TD pass in a game. San Jose scored six rushing TDs and added another on an interception return but failed to throw a scoring pass for the first time in 168 regular season games and 16 playoff tilts. The team's previous low for TD passes in a game was one, which was accomplished 11 times, the last coming on May 16, 2004 in a 44-35 loss at Las Vegas.

TD LESS - For the first time in his career as the SaberCats starting QB Mark Grieb did not throw a TD pass in a game in San Jose's 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. Grieb had previously tossed one scoring pass in a game on four different occasions, the last being on May 16, 2004 in a loss at Las Vegas. The other three times Grieb threw only one TD pass in a game the SaberCats won. He launched one TD pass for the first time in his career in a 52-33 win at Los Angeles on June 8, 2002 and did it twice during the 2003 season. The SaberCats were 62-40 winners over Carolina on Mar. 28 when the team rushed for 6 TDs, and came away with a 47-34 win at Tampa Bay on May 11 scoring on a kickoff return, interception return and net recovery.

MILESTONES - Despite not throwing a scoring pass at Tampa Bay, Mark Grieb still reached a few personal milestones. Grieb completed 20-of-36 attempts for 223 yards and led the team inside Tampa Bay's 10-yard line setting up three 1-yard scoring runs and TD jaunts of 7, 4 and 3 yards. Grieb threw the 2,000th completion of his career and reached the 26,000 plateau (26,097) in career passing yards and eclipsed the 25,000 mark (25,094) for his San Jose career on Apr. 7.

AFL CAREER PASS COMPLETIONS
Rank Player, Team Completions
1. Andy Kelly, Utah 3,506
2. Clint Dolezel, Dallas 3,024
3. Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona 2,852
4. Aaron Garcia, New York 2,833
5. John Kaleo, Columbus 2,701
6. Todd Hammel, Colorado 2,161
7. Mark Grieb, San Jose 2,015

PICKIN IT - DS Omarr Smith, who returned to the lineup earlier this season after being shelved with a serious knee injury in a game at New Orleans on Feb. 13, 2005, snared his 1st interception of the year, which he returned 16 yards for the go-ahead score, in San Jose's 52-43 win at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7. Smith's 25th career INT was especially sweet since it came on his 29th birthday and against a team he played for in 2003, when he helped lead the Storm to an ArenaBowl title. It was also the 5th time in his career Smith returned an interception for a TD and the 4th time as a SaberCat, tying him with Barry Wagner, Clevan Thomas and James Roe for the team's all-time lead. The INT was the 17th for Smith as a member of the SaberCats tying him with Tommy Jones for 4th place on the team's career list.

TEAM CAREER INTERCEPTIONS
Rank Player INTs
1. Clevan Thomas (2002-present) 29
2. Pat McGuirk (1995-98) 24
3. Barry Wagner (2000-present) 19
4. Omarr Smith (2000-present) 17
Tommy Jones (1998-01) 17

THE DYNAMIC DUO - San Jose's receiving tandem of Ben Nelson and James Roe have combined for 126 receptions, 1,651 yards and 32 TDs this season and both will be playing against Las Vegas on Friday for the first time this season. Roe missed the first game between the clubs after sustaining a concussion in the season opener and being placed on IR. Nelson was already on the injured list when the teams squared off on Feb. 6 after injuring his ankle in training camp. Nelson, the team leader with 834 receiving yards, had his streak of four consecutive 100-yard games stopped one short of tying the team record in Tampa Bay on Apr. 7 when he totaled 89 on 6 catches. Roe, who leads the team in receptions (69) and receiving TDs (19), caught 8 balls for 75 yards in the win.

PAULEY WANTS A RETURN - Former San Jose State star Charles Pauley, who was an All-American kick returner in college, became the sixth SaberCat to handle kickoff return duties this season. Pauley returned kicks for the first time in his three-year AFL career at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7 and totaled 120 yards on 4 attempts in San Jose's 52-43 win. C.P. had a team season-long 44 yard return and it appeared he was going to go the distance on the play, but when he tried to move the ball to his other hand on the return it squirted loose and fell into the first row of seats on the Storm 15-yard line. Pauley went 25 yards on his 1st career attempt and added returns of 38 and 13 yards to amass the team's 3rd highest kickoff return yard total this season.

ALMOST THERE - Veteran Barry Wagner tallied one catch against the Storm on Apr. 7 and is slowly moving toward catching Steve Papin for 2nd place on the SaberCats' career receptions list. The catch was the 325th in Wagner's San Jose career, leaving him one short of tying Papin, and the 976th of his 15-year AFL career.

TEAM CAREER RECEPTIONS
Rank Player Receptions
1. James Roe 489
2. Steve Papin 326
3. Barry Wagner 325
4. James Hundon 307
5. Shalon Baker 263

AGAINST THE GLADS - QB Mark Grieb has started all six games for San Jose against Las Vegas and has thrown for 1,522 yards and 23 TDs on 117-of-171 (68.4%) passing with six INTs for a rating of 115.19. But it's been a tale of two QBs for Grieb. When he's good the SaberCats win, when he's bad the SaberCats lose. In San Jose's four wins Grieb has a passer rating of 135.75 completing 73 percent of his passes (73-of-100) for 998 yards with 17 TDs and just 2 INTs. In the team's two losses Grieb has thrown 4 INTs with just 6 TDs and has a passer rating of 82.13 on 44-of-71 passing (62%) for 524 yards. Grieb tied a team record and career-high with 3 INTs in a 44-35 loss at Las Vegas on May 16, 2004.

HUDDLE UP - Rookie FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston has been getting the bulk of his playing time recently on the defensive line. The former af2 star with the Central Valley Coyotes has started the last two games on the D line and has tallied 3.5 tackles. Huddleston played in the season opener against Utah on Jan. 28 but was on IR with a variety of injuries before being activated on Apr. 1 and starting against Arizona on Apr. 2. Huddleston had his 1st career rush attempt and scored his 1st AFL touchdown on his 2nd carry at Tampa Bay on Apr. 7.


IN THE TAMPA BAY GAME:
The SaberCats won the opening coin toss for the 10th time in 11 games.
Darren Arbet won his 87th career game breaking a 5th place tie with Perry Moss for most coaching wins in AFL history.
Tampa Bay scored a TD on its opening drive for the 11th time this season.
Phil Glover tied a team record for rush attempts (9) and reached 200 career rush yards.
Mark Grieb reached the 26,000 mark in career pass yards and completed his 2,000th career pass but failed to throw a TD pass for the first time in his career as a starter.
JaJuan Huddleston scored his 1st career TD on a 3-yard run in the 3rd quarter.
San Jose put WR/DB Rodney Wright on IR and activated WR/DB Marquis Floyd on Thursday.
Charles Pauley returned kickoffs for the first time in his career and totaled 120 yards on four attempts.
DS Terrance Joseph was inactive for the 4th straight game.
Brian Johnson eclipsed the 100 mark in career rush yards (102).
San Jose evened the series with the Storm at 6-6

LAS VEGAS PLAYERS TO WATCH:
OS MARCUS NASH - The 2004 Offensive Player of the Year once again proved to be a dominant force against the SaberCats earlier this season with 12 catches for 134 yards and four TDs in the Gladiators 51-48 victory on Feb. 6, 2006. Nash set a Las Vegas and SaberCats' opponent record with 229 receiving yards and tied a record with 6 TD catches among his 15 total in San Jose's wild 81-75 win on Mar. 28, 2005. In six career games against San Jose, Nash, a pass catching machine against the SaberCats, has caught 59 passes for 861 yards and 22 TDs. As a member of the Detroit Fury during the 2003 season, he caught two TD passes lifting his club to a 45-42 win that snapped San Jose's 18-game home winning streak. Over the 2004 and 2005 seasons Nash caught more passes, gained more receiving yards, scored more points and TDs than anyone else in the AFL.

QB JASON FIFE - Entering his first season in the AFL, the former Oregon Duck took over for QB Craig Whelihan after the Gladiators started the season 1-3. Fife has started the last seven games for Las Vegas and has completed 140-of-225 passes for 1,584 yards with 32 TDs and 8 INTs. He saw his first AFL action against Dallas on Feb. 25 where he completed 24-of-36 attempts with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. Fife is also the Gladiators leading rusher with 130 yards and 8 TDs on 33 carries. Fife will be facing San Jose for the first time.

FB/LB MATT KINSINGER - The former SaberCat signed with Las Vegas in the offseason after four years in the Green and Gold (2002-05) and has played in just seven games this season in part to a variety of injuries. Kinsinger has rushed for 27 yards and a TD on 12 carries and has totaled 10.5 tackles and a sack on defense. Kinsinger faced San Jose twice as a member of the Houston ThunderBears in 2001 and will be facing his former team for the first time since leaving. Kinsinger left San Jose as the team's third leading all-time rusher with 393 yards.



WEEKLY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
v UTA (1/28) QB Joe Germaine, UTA
@LVG (2/6) OS Marcus Nash, LVG
@ARZ (2/12) OS Calvin Schexnayder, SJS
@GRR (2/19) WR/DB Timon Marshall, GRR
@CHI (2/26) OS C.J. Johnson, CHI
@UTA (3/4) QB Mark Grieb, SJS
v LAA (3/12) WR/LB James Roe, SJS
v GEO (3/17) WR/LB Derek Lee, GEO
@NAS (3/25) WR/LB Cory Fleming, NAS
v ARZ (4/2) OS Ben Nelson, SJS
@TBY (4/7) OS Freddie Solomon, TBY
v LVG (4/14)
v AUS (4/22)
@LAA (4/29)
v COL (5/6)
v CLB (5/13)


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
v UTA (1/28) DS Kelvin Hunter, UTA
@LVG (2/6) DL Wilky Bazile, LVG
@ARZ (2/12) DS Clevan Thomas, SJS
@GRR (2/19) DS Johnnie Harris, GRR
@CHI (2/26) DS Jeremy Unertl, CHI
@UTA (3/4) DS Clevan Thomas, SJS
v LAA (3/12) DS Antuan Simmons, LAA
v GEO (3/17) DS Nate Coggins, GEO
@NAS (3/25) DS Monty Montgomery, NAS
v ARZ (4/2) DS Joe Todd, ARZ
@TBY (4/7) DS Omarr Smith, SJS
v LVG (4/14)
v AUS (4/22)
@LAA (4/29)
v COL (5/6)
v CLB (5/13)


IRONMAN PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
v UTAH (1/28) WR/DB Orshawante Bryant, UTAH
@LVG (2/6) WR/DB Coco Blalock, LVG
@ARZ (2/12) WR/DB Charles Pauley, SJS
@GRR (2/19) WR/DB Marquis Floyd, SJS
@CHI (2/26) WR/LB James Roe, SJS
@UTAH (3/4) WR/LB James Roe, SJS
v LAA (3/12) WR/DB Kevin Ingram, LAA
v GEO (3/17) FB/LB Phil Glover, SJS
@NAS (3/25) WR/LB Cory Fleming, NAS
v ARZ (4/2) WR/LB James Roe, SJS
@TBY (4/7) WR/LB Lawrence Samuels, TBY
v LVG (4/14)
v AUS (4/22)
@LAA (4/29)
v COL (5/6)
v CLB (5/13)



THE SABERCATS RECORD WHEN...:

Scoring Allowing
0 - 9 points 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-0
20-29 points 0-0 0-0
30-39 points 0-1 0-0
40-49 points 0-3 2-1
50-59 points 3-1 3-3
60-69 points 2-1 0-1
70-79 points 0-0 0-1
80+ points 0-0 0-0

Games decided
by 7 or fewer points 1-3
by 3 or fewer points 1-2

Leading after the 1st 3-3
Trailing after the 1st 2-1
Tied after the 1st 0-2

Leading at Half 3-1
Trailing at Half 2-5
Tied at Half 0-0

Leading after the 3rd 4-2
Trailing after the 3rd 1-4
Tied after the 3rd 0-0

Scoring First 3-4
Opp. Score First 2-2

More Total Offense 3-5
Less Total Offense 2-1

More Pass Yards 2-5
Less Pass Yards 3-1

More Rushing Yards 4-0
Less Rushing Yards 1-5

Thursday games 0-0
Friday games 2-0
Saturday games 1-2
Sunday games 2-3
Monday games 0-1

On NBC 1-2
On TV20 3-2
On NBC11 0-1
On FSN 1-1

vs. West 3-3
vs. Central 0-3
vs. South 2-0
vs. East 0-0

Winning coin toss 4-6
Losing coin toss 1-0

Outscoring Opponent 5-0
Being Outscored 0-6



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 11, 2006


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