San Jose SaberCats game notes
March 7, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: SaberCats (1-0) at Chicago Rush (0-1).
Date: Friday, March 9, 2007.
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. (PDT).
Site: Allstate Arena (16,000).
Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski; Umpire: Rick Nelson; Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath; Line Judge: Bob McElwee; Back Judge: Rich Wilborn.
Television: FSN Plus will carry the game live and in HD with Ted Robinson and Keena Turner calling the action. FSN Plus is available on Comcast Digital Cable channel 410 (720 HD), DirecTV channel 655 (96 HD) and Dish Network channel 448.
Radio: San Jose's flagship station KNBR-1050 will broadcast the game live with Grant Napear and Steve Papin. The two will host a 30-minute pre-game show starting at 4:30 p.m. live from the Allstate Arena.
Internet: A live webcast is available at www.KNBR.com.
Series Record: SaberCats lead 4-3.
Last Meeting: Chicago 59, SaberCats 56 (American Conference Championship, June 3, 2006 in HP Pavilion).
Series Streak: Chicago Won 3.
Coaches: San Jose, Darren Arbet (9th season; 84-37 regular season, 94-42 overall).
Chicago, Mike Hohensee (14th season; 95-86 regular season, 106-95 overall).
MEDIA CONTACTS:
San Jose, Phil Simon (wk: 408.573.5587; cell: 408.234.4677; email: psimon@sanjosesabercats.com).
Chicago, Mike Alzamora (wk: 773.243.3445; cell: 773.456.0030; email: malzamora@chicagorush.com).
OVERVIEW: After posting their first season-opening win since the 2004 season, the SaberCats are back on the road to take on the defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush on Friday, Mar. 9. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m. (PT) with FSN Plus televising the game live and in HD back to Northern California. San Jose's flagship radio station KNBR 1050 will air the game live from Allstate Arena. Ben Nelson, the AFL's Rookie of the Year last season, tied a team game record with 14 receptions helping the SaberCats edge the Los Angeles Avengers, 66-58, on Sunday, San Jose's first win on opening day since a 58-43 win at Detroit on Feb. 5, 2004 and the club's 8th straight regular season win. The SaberCats won their first 3 games in 2004, and 7 of 8, on their way to their second ArenaBowl title. Nelson totaled 180 receiving yards and 4 TDs while adding a pair of tackles and an onside kick recovery to earn Ironman of the Game honors...A defensive stand by San Jose preserved the win at LA. The SaberCats kept the Avengers out of the endzone on their final possession, one of four full stops on the night...The SaberCats hold a 4-3 all-time series lead over Chicago, but the Rush has won the last three games, including wins in both games last season, one being the American Conference Championship game. The Rush also posted a regular season OT win, 54-48, on Feb. 26.
THE SCHEDULES:
2007 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (1-0)
Date Opponent Result Score
Mar. 4 @Los Angeles Won 66-58
Date Opponent Time (PT) Radio/TV
Mar. 9 @Chicago 5:00 pm 1050/FSN+
Mar. 24 @Georgia 4:00 pm 1050/NBC11
Mar. 31 TAMPA BAY 7:30 pm 1050
Apr. 6 COLORADO 7:30 pm 1050
Apr. 13 @New Orleans 5:00 pm 1050/FSN+
Apr. 21 LOS ANGELES 7:30 pm 1050-680
Apr. 28 UTAH 7:30 pm 1050
May 5 @Arizona 7:00 pm 1050-680/FSN
May 12 LAS VEGAS 7:30 pm 1050
May 19 GRAND RAPIDS 7:30 pm 1050
May 25 @Nashville 5:00 pm 1050/FSN+
Jun. 1 ORLANDO 7:30 pm 1050
Jun. 9 @Utah 6:00 pm 1050/FSN
Jun. 16 ARIZONA 7:30 pm 1050
Jun. 25 @Las Vegas TBD 1050/FSN
2007 CHICAGO RUSH (0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Mar. 4 @Kansas City Lost 41-54
Date Opponent Time (PT) TV
Mar. 9 SAN JOSE 5:00 pm
Mar. 18 NEW YORK 12:00 pm
Mar. 24 @Columbus 4:00 pm
Apr. 1 LOS ANGELES 10:30 am ESPN2
Apr. 7 @Nashville 5:00 pm
Apr. 21 @Grand Rapids 4:00 pm
Apr. 30 PHILADELPHIA 5:00 pm ESPN2
May 7 COLORADO 5:00 pm ESPN2
May 11 @Dallas 4:30 pm
May 19 NASHVILLE 5:00 pm
May 26 @Arizona 7:00 pm
Jun. 2 @Los Angeles 7:30 pm
Jun. 9 GRAND RAPIDS 5:00 pm
Jun. 18 @Colorado 7:00 pm ESPN2
Jun. 23 KANSAS CITY 5:00 pm
SABERCATS/FSN REACH DEAL: FSN Bay Area will televise 7 of the SaberCats 8 road games during 2007 live and in HD. The network will also produce and air a 30-minute weekly show with host Chris Townsend. FSN Bay Area will carry four games and is available on Comcast Cable channel 40 (720 HD), DirecTV channel 654 (96 HD) and Dish Network channel 419. FSN Plus will air two games and is on Comcast Digital Cable channel 410, DirecTV channel 655 and Dish Network channel 444-454.
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 guest every week for this action-packed 8-minute segment.
THE SERIES: San Jose leads the all-time series 4-3, but the Rush has won the last three games, including both contests last season. Chicago posted a 59-56 win in San Jose in the American Conference Championship game on June 3, to advance to its first ArenaBowl. The Rush won in OT during the regular season, 54-48, in Allstate Arena on Feb. 26...The Rush holds a 2-1 series edge in games played in Allstate Arena...San Jose's last series win came on June 12, 2004, a 49-35 semifinal playoff win vaulting the SaberCats into ArenaBowl XVIII...The teams have played each other every year since 2002 with two games each in 2004 and 2006.
SERIES NOTABLES: Chicago beat San Jose for the first time, 55-39, on April 10, 2005 giving head coach Mike Hohensee his first win over the SaberCats in nine tries...There have been two postseason meetings between the teams, one took place in 2004 with San Jose posting a 49-35 Conference Championship win on June 12 to advance to the ArenaBowl for the second time in three years, and the other took place in 2006 with Chicago posting a 59-56 semifinal victory on June 3 to advance them to the ArenaBowl...Each time the SaberCats and Rush have met in the American Conference Championship, the winning team has gone on to win the ArenaBowl...The SaberCats have at least one INT in five of the six series games, including three in each of the first two contests, and have totaled nine against the Rush...Clevan Thomas has 3 INTs while Omarr Smith has 2 picks...QB Mark Grieb tied a San Jose team record and career-high by throwing 3 INTs when the teams met during the 2006 regular season, a 54-48 Rush overtime win...San Jose set a team record for combined kick return yards with 252 (200 KOR, 52 MFG) and 3 return TDs against Chicago on June 15, 2002...Clevan Thomas was responsible for all three return scores (2 KOR, 1 MFG return), including a 53-yard score on the opening kickoff...San Jose allowed a record 32 third quarter points against Chicago and the teams combined for a SaberCats record 52 third quarter points on June 15, 2002...Seven different players have suited up for both teams, including current Rush players FB Bob McMillen (San Jose 2001-02) and K Dan Frantz (San Jose 2004-05) and Charles Pauley, Andy Chilcote, Jai Hill, Curtice Mcfarlane and Hamin Milligan.
LAST SERIES MEETING: Chicago 59, SABERCATS 56 - Saturday, June 3, 2006 - HP Pavilion - Quarterback Matt D'Orazio threw six touchdown passes and ran for another lifting the Chicago Rush to a 59-56 win over the SaberCats in the Arena Football League's American Conference Championship game. The win advanced the Rush its first ever ArenaBowl and snapped San Jose's 8-game winning streak. D'Orazio completed 21-of-36 attempts for 219 yards in the game with five of his scoring tosses going to OS Bobby Sippio. Sippio totaled seven catches in the game for 78 yards. San Jose took its largest lead of the game early in the second quarter when Mark Grieb tossed a 19 yard scoring pass to Kevin McKenzie for a 21-10 advantage with 9:08 left in the quarter. Grieb completed 28-of-36 for 314 yards and five touchdowns and also scored on a 10-yard run. But Chicago's DeJuan Alfonzo countered with a 51-yard kickoff return score on the ensuing kick and a sack and forced fumble by John Moyer on San Jose's next possession resulted in a 1-yard scoring run by D'Orazio helping the Rush reclaim the lead at 22-21 with 3:45 left in the first half. The teams traded touchdowns until early in the fourth quarter when, following a San Jose turnover on downs, D'Orazio hit Sippio on a 17-yard scoring toss for a 52-42 Rush lead with 7:35 remaining. San Jose countered when Grieb hit a streaking McKenzie down the sideline for a 40-yard scoring play after a Rush defender fell down. McKenzie figured in the scoring late in the fourth by returning a kickoff 58 yards for a score bringing San Jose within three with 27 seconds left, but Brian Schmitz' onside kick attempt was recovered by Sippio and the Rush ran out the clock to advance to the ArenaBowl. The SaberCats played the entire second half without FB/LB Brian Johnson, who sustained a knee injury late in the second quarter, and OL/DL Rex Richards, who injured his calf. Roe also sustained an injury early in the fourth and didn't return and Barry Wagner played sparingly throughout the contest.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Rush........................................ 10 22 7 20 - 59
SaberCats.............................. 7 21 14 14 - 56
SCORING SUMMARY
CHI FG Frantz 20
SAN Roe 6 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
CHI Sippio 23 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick)
SAN Grieb 10 run (Schmitz kick)
SAN McKenzie 19 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
CHI Alfonzo 51 kickoff return (Frantz kick failed)
CHI D'Orazio 1 run (Frantz kick failed)
SAN Floyd 34 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
CHI Sippio 9 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick)
CHI FG Frantz 51
SAN Roe 8 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
CHI Sippio 5 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick)
SAN McKenzie 2 run (Schmitz kick)
CHI Alfonzo 3 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick failed)
CHI Sippio 17 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick)
SAN McKenzie 40 pass from Grieb (Schmitz kick)
CHI Sippio 6 pass from D'Orazio (Frantz kick)
SAN McKenzie 58 kickoff return (Schmitz kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING - CHI: D'Orazio 21-36-0-215. SJ: Grieb 28-36-0-314.
RUSHING - CHI: D'Orazio 9-20; McMillen 1-1; Molden 2-0. SJ: Grieb 1-10; Johnson 1-5; Glover 2-4; McKenzie 1-2; Floyd 1-1.
RECEIVING - CHI: Sippio 7-79; Robinson 5-54; Alfonzo 3-25; Molden 3-25; Cook 1-16; Dantzler 1-15; McMillen 1-2. SJ: Floyd 10-116; Nelson 7-87; Roe 6-37; McKenzie 5-74.
KICK RETURNS - CHI: Wright 4-64; Alfonzo 2-59; Sippio 2-28; Robinson 1-0. SJ: McKenzie 5-122; Thomas 1-28.
ALL-TIME SERIES SCORES
Date Score
Jun. 3, 2006 Chicago 59, @San Jose 56 (playoff)
Feb. 26, 2006 @Chicago 54, San Jose 48 (ot)
Apr. 10, 2005 @Chicago 55, San Jose 39
Jun. 12, 2004 @San Jose 49, Chicago 35 (playoff)
Apr. 16, 2004 @San Jose 51, Chicago 43
Mar. 9, 2003 San Jose 71, @Chicago 49
Jun. 15, 2002 @San Jose 74, Chicago 68
2007 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Category (Rank) SaberCats Rush
Scoring Offense 66.0 (2) 41.0 (15)
Scoring Defense 58.0 (t-11) 54.0 (8)
Total Offense 274.0 (12) 241.0 (16)
Total Defense 321.0 (12) 318.0 (11)
Pass Offense 258.0 (12) 233.0 (14)
Pass Defense 307.0 (13) 225.0 (4)
Rushing Offense 16.0 (7) 13.0 (t-9)
Rushing Defense 14.0 (11) 93.0 (18)
Pass Rating 104.5 (13) 111.1 (11)
Interceptions 0 (t-12) 1 (t-6)
Kickoff Return Avg. 20.3 (4) 16.8 (11)
Field Goal Return Avg. --- 23.0 (1)
Turnover Margin -2 (t-14) -2 (t-14)
3rd Down Conversions 71.4% (3) 75.0% (2)
4th Down Conversions --- ---
Sacks By 1 (t-6) 0 (t-15)
Sacks Against 0 (t-1) 2 (16)
RECENT RESULTS: SaberCats Hold Off Avengers, 66-58 - Ben Nelson tied a team record with 14 receptions, including four touchdowns, and Rodney Wright scored three times helping the San Jose SaberCats to a season-opening 66-58 win over the Los Angeles Avengers on Sunday night at STAPLES Center. In a game that saw 124 points scored, it was a defensive stand that preserved the win for San Jose (1-0). Following a missed 25-yard field goal attempt by rookie kicker A.J. Haglund, the Avengers (0-1) gained possession with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter trailing by 8 points. After an apparent Los Angeles touchdown was nullified by an offensive penalty with 5 seconds left, a desperation Sonny Cumbie pass off the net fell incomplete. But a defensive holding call gave the Avengers another chance and Cumbie's next pass went incomplete as time expired giving San Jose its first opening night win since the 2004 season. Nelson opened the scoring on a 6-yard touchdown catch from Mark Grieb just 33 seconds into the game on San Jose's first offensive play after an onsides kick recovery by the Avengers was negated by an offsides penalty. Nelson's 9-yard scoring catch with 5 seconds left in the first half gave the SaberCats a 38-31 lead at intermission. Grieb and Nelson connected seven times for 97 yards and a pair of scores in the third quarter and Wright scored on a 3-yard run with 1:48 left in the frame to give the SaberCats a 59-45 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Grieb completed 25 of 37 attempts for 258 yard and six touchdowns for the game. San Jose's offensive line of Dan Loney, Todd Williams and Patrick Afif did not allow a sack and Grieb was rarely pressured. Wright added a pair of rushing scores and caught 7 passes for 54 yards and a TD. Nelson, Wright and James Roe played the entire game as San Jose's three receivers. Cumbie threw for 315 yards and 7 TDs on 25 of 41 passing. Lenzie Jackson was his favorite target hauling in 13 catches for 196 yards and three scores. NOTES: Ben Nelson's 14 receptions tied the team record held by James Roe and James Hundon and his 180 yards is the 10th highest single-game total...Nelson was named Ironman of the Game after recording 2 special teams tackles and recovering an onsides kick...FB Matt Kinsinger rushed for 8 yards giving him 401 for his San Jose career...K A.J. Haglund made all 9 PAT tries and connected on his 1st AFL field goal attempt (26 yards)...Lenzie Jackson's 196 receiving yards is the 3rd most by a SaberCats opponent.
THE IFS...:
If the SaberCats defeat Chicago it would...
*Give them a 2-0 season record
*Snap a 3-game losing streak to the Rush
*Be their 9th straight regular season win
*Give them a 5-3 lead in the series
*Give them a 29-16 all-time record vs. Central Division
*Give them a 15-10 all-time road rec. vs. Central Division
*Give them a 51-38 all-time regular season road record
*Give them a 114-62 all-time regular season record
*Give them 124-70 all-time record
THE COACHES:
San Jose - Darren Arbet, 9th season
84-37 (.694) reg. season; 94-42 (.691) overall
4-3 (.571) career vs. Chicago
5-3 (.625) career vs. Mike Hohensee
Two-time Arena Football League Coach of the Year and ArenaBowl champion Darren Arbet enters his ninth season as head coach of the San Jose SaberCats and his second as the club's general manager. Last season Arbet guided the SaberCats to their seventh straight winning season and playoff appearance by going 10-6, the sixth time in his eight seasons the team has posted a double-digit regular season win total. The team also captured its fifth Western Division title under Arbet (sixth overall) and advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. Arbet enters the 2007 campaign with 93 career wins, the fifth-most in AFL history, and his .689 overall winning percentage is the third-highest among coaches who have been involved in at least 25 games. Arbet has also compiled the third-best postseason winning percentage (.667) and is one of just six head coaches in league history to amass 10 playoff victories. Under the direction of Arbet San Jose has enjoyed unmatched success vaulting the franchise to elite status in the AFL. Since the start of the 2000 season, Arbet's second as head coach, the SaberCats have claimed two ArenaBowl championships (2002, 2004), compiled the most regular season wins (77), the second-most playoff wins (10) and have averaged nearly 12 victories a season. In addition, the club has set league records for regular season wins in a season (13 in 2002), overall wins in a season (16 in 2002), consecutive regular season wins in a season (12 in 2002), regular season wins to end a season (11 in 2000) and the longest regular season win streak (15 in 2000-01). Arbet's ties to the AFL date back to the late 1980s when he played two seasons as a fullback/linebacker with the Los Angeles Cobras (1988) and Maryland Commandos (1989) before a wrist injury that required three surgeries ended his career. During his playing days, Arbet lined up against former Philadelphia head coach Michael Trigg, who was a quarterback with the Detroit Drive, and Georgia Force offensive coordinator Steve Thonn, who played WR/DB with the Chicago Bruisers.
Chicago - Mike Hohensee, 14th season
95-86 (.525) reg. season; 106-95 (.527) overall
3-8 (.273) career vs. San Jose
3-5 (.375) career vs. Darren Arbet
Mike Hohensee is the third-winningest coach in AFL history with 106 career victories and is only the third head coach in league history with more than 100 career wins, trailing only Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum and Utah's Danny White. The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 59-46 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the team's six seasons. In addition to winning ArenaBowl XX, the Rush has won two Central Division titles (2002, 2004) and advanced to the AFL semifinals four times under Hohensee, including each of the past three seasons. One of only four men to be involved in the Arena Football League in each of the league's 21 seasons, Hohensee has a regular season record of 95-85 (51-41 with the Rush) and a postseason ledger of 11-9.
CHASING 100 - San Jose head coach Darren Arbet moved within six of his 100th career win following the SaberCats 66-58 win at Los Angeles on Mar. 4. Heading into Friday's game, Arbet and Rush head coach Mike Hohensee have combined for exactly 200 AFL wins. Hohensee ranks 3rd all-time with 106 and Arbet ranks 5th with 94. Arbet and the SaberCats will face all-time wins leader Tim Marcum (181) and his Tampa Bay Storm on Mar. 31, he will twice face Danny White, who ranks 2nd all-time with 149 wins, and the Utah Blaze, and will go against Mike Dailey and the Colorado Crush on Apr. 6.
CAREER COACHING RECORDS
Rk. Coach (Year) Team Record
1. Tim Marcum (19th) Tampa Bay 181-78
2. Danny White (15th) Utah 149-75
3. Mike Hohensee (14th) Chicago 106-95
4. Mike Dailey (11th) Colorado 99-65
5. Darren Arbet (9th) San Jose 94-42
ROSTER MOVES: The SaberCats set their 2007 roster at the conclusion of training camp and have been rather silent since. The team signed veteran lineman Chuck Reed on Feb. 24 and placed him on RTR on Feb. 26.
ROSTER MOVES
Date Action
Feb. 23 Placed DL Jeff Littlejohn, DL Tim Martin and DB Brandon Smith on IR. Traded OL Kyle Rasmussen to Grand Rapids for future considerations. Re-signed WR/DB Marquis Floyd, LB Phil Glover and DB Clevan Thomas.
Feb. 24 Signed OL Chuck Reed. Traded DB Rufus Brown to New York for future considerations. Placed OL William Obeng, OL Troy Reddick, QB Scott Rislov, WR Cleannord Saintil and FB Shawn Willis on IR. Activated FB Matt Kinsinger from IR. Released-Exempt WR Burl Toler. Waived-injured DB Reynard Carrie, Tyler Moore and DL Chris Solomona. Waived DL Barrett Allen, LB Daniel Garay, WR Rufus Skillern and DL Ron Warner.
Feb. 26 Placed OL Chuck Reed on Refused to Report.
2006 SEASON REVIEW:
It's not how you start; it's how you finish, as the saying goes. For the 2006 SaberCats that couldn't have been truer. Sitting at 3-6 and tied for the worst record in the American Conference after nine weeks of play, the SaberCats did the unimaginable. They ran the table, won the Western Division title for the sixth time in franchise history and first since 2003, and ended with the second-best record in the Conference and a 7th consecutive playoff berth. Entering the season with high expectations, the SaberCats saw those dashed with a home opening loss to the expansion Utah Blaze. Not only did San Jose lose its home opener for the first time since 1998, also lost was James Roe, who sustained a concussion on the team's first offensive drive after catching a scoring pass. OS Rodney Wright also injured his toe and left the game early in the first quarter leaving San Jose short-handed in its 48-35 loss. The SaberCats then embarked on a record five-game road trip. They lost at Las Vegas on Feb. 6, dropping to 0-2 for the first time since Darren Arbet became head coach. San Jose got its first win of the year at division rival Arizona in Week 3, but consecutive defeats at Grand Rapids and in overtime at Chicago saw the team floundering with a 1-4 record, its worst five-game start ever. The road trip ended and the bleeding stopped - temporarily - with a win at Utah in Week 6 and the SaberCats returned home to play seven of their last 10 games in HP Pavilion. San Jose suffered a 75-61 loss to Los Angeles at home in Week 7, but a talented rookie emerged to supply a dynamic option to QB Mark Grieb and the team's offense. Ben Nelson, in just his 2nd AFL start, had 11 catches for 168 yards and a pair of scores, and teamed with James Roe, who returned to the lineup in Week 4, to provide a potent receiving duo. Also in that game the legendary Barry Wagner passed Hunkie Cooper as the league's career leader in all-purpose yardage, adding yet another record to his resume. Staring a 2-6 record straight in the face, the SaberCats dug deep in a Week 8 win over Georgia. Mark Grieb and James Roe hooked up on a scoring pass and 2-point conversion with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game to forge a 49-all tie and force OT. San Jose denied Georgia on its 2-point conversion when the Force went for the win after pulling within a point in the extra session. The momentum of a thrilling OT win a week earlier would not carry over and the SaberCats dropped a 51-48 decision at Nashville in Week 9 to drop to 3-6. The streak began with another win over Arizona in Week 10. Grieb threw for 361 yards and tied a team game record with nine TD passes in a 61-49 win. Despite their 4-6 record the SaberCats trailed the division-leading Rattlers by just one game after the win. A trip to Tampa saw the SaberCats win consecutive games for the first time all season and they did it without the help of a TD pass. San Jose tied a league and team record by scoring six rushing TDs and DS Omarr Smith supplied the go-ahead points by returning an interception 16-yards for a score late in the fourth quarter in a 52-43 win. For the first time in his career as San Jose's starting QB, Mark Grieb did not throw a scoring pass. San Jose reached the .500 mark in a 69-59 Week 12 win over Las Vegas. Grieb threw for 388 yards and eight TDs, but it was another fourth quarter defensive score that proved noteworthy. Lineman Rex Richards recovered a fumble in the endzone following a sack by Joe Jacobs, and San Jose had a 10-point lead that the Gladiators could not overcome. The 3-game win streak appeared to be in jeopardy against Austin in Week 13. In the first ever meeting between the teams, the Wranglers built a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and led by 22 points twice during the first half. The SaberCats would overcome the deficit to post the largest come-from-behind win in a regulation game in team history. A key fourth quarter special teams play helped in the rally. Following a TD that cut the deficit to 3 points, Barry Wagner stripped the ball from Sedrick Robinson, who had already returned two kickoffs for scores, on the kickoff and Wes Stephens recovered in the endzone giving San Jose its first lead of the game. It took Grieb's 500th career TD pass, however, to pull out the win. His 5-yard strike to Roe in the corner of the endzone with 17 seconds left lifted San Jose to its 4th straight win. After a 53-36 win in Los Angeles that saw Arbet post his 90th career victory, the SaberCats faced the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush in a Week 15 battle. Two touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of the first half propelled the SaberCats to a 61-56 win. Charles Pauley went 57-yards for the team's first kickoff return TD of the year with 37 seconds left and Omarr Smith returned an interception 42 yards with no time left to give San Jose a lead it would not relinquish. Despite 371 passing yards from former SaberCat John Dutton, San Jose was able to pull out the victory in a contest that featured the past two ArenaBowl champions. San Jose concluded the season with yet another dramatic victory. Columbus built a 41-26 lead late in the first half, but the SaberCats used a 35-3 second half scoring run to win their 7th straight game and deny the Destroyers a playoff berth. Grieb broke his own league record for passing yards in a season throwing for 302 in the game giving him 4,841 on the year breaking his 2005 record of 4,796. Grieb also led the AFL with eight 300-yard passing games and the SaberCats amassed a league record 5,066 yards of total offense on the year, the first team in AFL history to eclipse the 5,000 level. FB/LB Phil Glover set a team record with 55 rush attempts and led the league with 15 rush TDs. He also placed sixth in the AFL with 156 yards. The team's receiving duo of Roe and Nelson each matched the team record with seven 100-yard receiving games and Nelson became the second rookie in league history to record over 1,400 yards, falling six yards shy of the rookie with a season total of 1,405. San Jose's remarkable run also gave the team double-digit regular season win totals in six of the last seven seasons.
PLAYOFFS - The SaberCats enjoyed a first round bye in the postseason after claiming the division title and hosted arch-rival Arizona in a Divisional Playoff game. Behind 320 passing yards and 8 TD strikes from Mark Grieb the SaberCats overcame an early 20-7 deficit and defeated the Rattlers for the third time in 2006. Rookie Ben Nelson tied an AFL postseason record with 6 TD receptions and totaled 12 for 202 yards in the win advancing San Jose to the American Conference Championship game against Chicago. Beset by injuries to four different players during the game, the SaberCats were unable to overcome being shorthanded and dropped a 59-56 decision to the Rush. San Jose was playing in its sixth semifinal game in the past seven seasons and used a strong performance by Mark Grieb, who threw for 314 yards and five TDs while adding another on a 10-yard scamper, to stay close until the clock expired.
2006 SEASON RESULTS
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
Apr. 14 LAS VEGAS Won 69-59 6-6
Apr. 22 AUSTIN Won 63-59 7-6
Apr. 29 @Los Angeles Won 53-36 8-6
May 6 COLORADO Won 61-56 9-6
May 13 COLUMBUS Won 68-47 10-6
Playoffs
May 27 ARIZONA Won 62-48 11-6
Jun. 3 CHICAGO Lost 56-59 11-7
TRENDS:
JUST WIN BABY! - The SaberCats' win at Los Angeles on Mar. 4 extended their streak of consecutive regular season games won to 8, matching the 3rd longest run in team history. San Jose won an AFL record 15 straight regular season games from May 6, 2000 to May 5, 2001 and had a 13-game run from July 21, 2001 to July 5, 2002. San Jose's last 8-game regular season win streak stretched from Apr. 19, 2003 to Feb. 28, 2004.
HALF CENTURY - The SaberCats won their 50th regular season road game when they beat L.A. on Mar. 4 and continue their season-opening 3-game trip against the Rush in Chicago on Friday. San Jose owns a 50-38 (.568) record in regular season road contests and has won three straight overall. However, the SaberCats have lost two straight in Chicago and are 1-2 in games played in the Windy City.
VS. CHI-TOWN - Beginning in 2002, the SaberCats and Rush have played a combined seven times with San Jose leading the all-time series 4-3. It looked as if the team from the Bay was more dominant after winning the first four meetings between the teams, but the tables quickly turned as Chicago jumped back into the momentum seat winning the next three contests. Chicago's current run of 3 straight wins over San Jose is tied for the longest active streak of any current AFL team. The Nashville Kats are also currently riding a 3-game win streak over San Jose.
DROPPING 60 - The SaberCats had never scored 60 or more points in a season opening game until last Sunday, when they defeated Los Angeles 66-58. The SaberCats also posted their 50th win when reaching the 60+ point mark in a regular season game and now own a 50-7 (.877) all-time record. In each of their two games against Chicago last season, the SaberCats failed to put 60 on the board and lost both times, including the American Conference Championship tilt. San Jose's last loss when reaching the 60-point mark came on Mar. 12, 2006 in a 75-61 loss to Los Angeles.
2-0 = ARENABOWL - If the SaberCats can pull out of Chicago with a victory, it might suggest San Jose is headed toward a third ArenaBowl championship. The last two times the SaberCats started the season with a record of 2-0 was in 2002 and 2004, and in both years the franchise captured the league title. The last time the team started the season on the road for the first two games was 2004, where San Jose defeated Detroit and Los Angeles.
THE RING'S THE THING - Two former SaberCats who each won an ArenaBowl title with San Jose are now members of the Rush and ring bearers once again. FB Bob McMillen was a key component of the SaberCats 2002 title team and K Dan Frantz claimed his first championship with the SaberCats in 2004. Both contributed to the Rush's improbable title run last season and are back contributing to the club's cause.
THE SACK MAN - In two career AFL games DL Ron Jones has accumulated a pair of sacks with both coming at the expense of Avengers QB Sonny Cumbie. Jones was credited with a sack at Los Angeles Mar. 4 when he pressured Cumbie into an intentional grounding penalty on the final play of the first half. It was Jones' first game in a SaberCats uniform. As a member of the Nashville Kats last season, Jones was also credited with a sack of Cumbie during a 73-56 loss at STAPLES Center on May 6.
COACH HO - After going winless against San Jose in his first 8 tries as an AFL head coach, Chicago's Mike Hohensee, and the Rush, are riding a 3-game winning streak. Hohensee has coached the Albany Firebirds, Anaheim Piranhas, New England Sea*Wolves and now Chicago against San Jose compiling a 3-8 record.
NOTES:
SOPHOMORE SLUMP? - Don't try to tell Ben Nelson there is such a thing. The second-year wideout disproved all doubters after hauling in a team-record tying 14 balls for 180 yards and 4 TDs in a 66-58 win at Los Angeles on Mar. 4. Nelson reached the 30 career TD catch mark with his 4 against the Avengers and he also tied Titus Dixon for 6th place on the team's career list of most games with 100 receiving yards at 8. His 180 yards represents the 10th highest single-game total in team history. The reigning ROY added another honor to his resume as well after being named the Ironman of the Game. Nelson's critical onside kick recovery at the end of the third quarter set up a Rodney Wright TD run and his two special teams tackles earned him that honor.
MOST RECEPTIONS, TEAM, GAME
No. Name Opponent Date
14 Ben Nelson at Los Angeles Mar. 4, 2007
14 James Roe vs Austin Apr. 22, 2006
14 James Hundon vs Los Angeles May 17, 2003
100 YARD RECEIVING GAMES, TEAM, CAREER
Rk. Name, Years Games
1. James Roe, 2000-2007 27
2. James Hundon, 2001-2004 22
3. Steve Papin, 1997-2001 17
4. Shalon Baker, 1998-2005 10
5. Jerry Reese, 1995-1996, 1999-2004 9
6. Ben Nelson, 2006-2007 8
Titus Dixon, 1995-1997 8
THE WRIGHT STUFF - After playing in only two games during an injury-plagued 2006 season, WR Rodney Wright emerged as the offensive threat the coaching staff anticipated he could be with his showing in the opener at Los Angeles. Wright started the game catching 7 passes for 54 yards and a TD, ran for 8 yards and a pair of TDs on 5 carries and returned 3 KOs for 79 yards. Wright's 2 career rushing TDs prior to last Sunday came in the 2005 season opener at Tampa Bay and his 7 receptions equal the 2nd highest game total of his brief career. Wright also played on the kickoff return team and contributed with 2 tackles proving that the Ironman still exists.
RUNNING MAN - With new sub rules in place this season, the SaberCats used only one FB in their game at Los Angeles on Mar. 4. Matt Kinsinger rushed for 8 yards against the Avengers giving him 401 in his San Jose career moving him into 2nd place on the team's career list ahead of Tom Petithomme (400). Kinsinger needs just 41 yards to tie all-time leader Derrick Chachere. Kinsinger also carried the ball 7 times and scored a TD. He now has 130 career rush attempts in the Green and Gold leaving him in 4th place, just 24 carries away from the top spot on the list. Kinsinger started his AFL career with Houston in 2001 before being selected by San Jose in the dispersal draft. He left for Las Vegas last season before returning to San Jose as a free agent in 2007.
THE SAN JOSE 500 - No, not a car race, but QB Mark Grieb's TD pass total as a SaberCat. Grieb tossed 6 TD passes at Los Angeles in the season opener raising his career total as a member of the SaberCats to 501. Grieb tossed 20 TD passes for the Anaheim Piranhas back in 1997 with the rest coming in a San Jose uniform. No other QB in SaberCats history has even thrown for triple-digits. Tony Kimbrough ranks 2nd on the team's career list with 80.
MOST RUSH YARDS, TEAM, CAREER
Rk. Name, Years Yards
1. Derrick Chachere, 1995-97, 99-00 442
2. Matt Kinsinger, 2002-05, 07 401
3. Tom Petithomme, 1995-96, 99 400
4. Mike Jones, 1998-2002 328
5. Steve Papin, 1997-2001 323
MOST RUSH ATTEMPTS, TEAM, CAREER
Rk. Name, Years Carries
1. Derrick Chachere, 1995-97, 99-00 154
2. Steve Papin, 1997-2001 145
3. Barry Wagner, 2000-06 136
4. Matt Kinsinger, 2002-05, 07 130
5. Mike Jones, 1998-2002 104
WHAT'S MY LINE? - San Jose's offensive line of center Dan Loney and guards Patrick Afif and Todd Williams kept record-setting QB Mark Grieb upright all night in the team's season-opening 66-58 win at Los Angeles on Mar. 4. Grieb was not sacked and rarely pressured during the game and completed 25-of-37 passes for 258 yards and 6 TDs. Julius Gant and George Williams both contributed on the team's short yardage 'Jumbo' formation.
THIRD TIME IS A CHARM - A.J. Haglund is the third kicker to play in the SaberCats' opener in as many seasons. Current Rush kicker Dan Frantz (2004) and Brian Schmitz (2005) preceded the AFL rookie, who came from the af2 and was named the Kicker of the Year for that league in 2006. Haglund had a nice debut converting all 9 of his PATs, perfectly executing an onside kick and making his 1st career AFL field goal attempt (26 yards). With the af2's Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz last season Haglund converted 69 consecutive PATs at one point and ended the year with a 93.5 percent accuracy rate.
A STAND WITH THE SABERCATS - Despite allowing 321 yards of total offense to the Avengers, the SaberCats defense came up big to preserve their season-opening 66-58 win. San Jose twice stopped L.A. on downs and forced an incomplete pass on the game's final play to escape with the 8-point victory. Defensive linemen George Williams and Ron Jones were credited with sacks in the win. Jones pressured Avengers QB Sonny Cumbie on the final play of the first half and forced an intentional grounding penalty.
AGAINST THE RUSH - Mark Grieb has started all 7 games for the SaberCats against Chicago and has thrown for 2,023 yards and 36 TDs on 154 of 227 passing. In San Jose's four wins against the Rush, Grieb has thrown 20 TDs and just one INT while completing 87 of 128 attempts for 1,099 yards. In three losses, Grieb has tossed 4 INTs compared to 16 TDs while completing 67 of 99 for 924 yards. Both of Grieb's 300-yard passing games against the Rush have come in a losing effort. He threw for 368 yards in a 55-39 loss at Chicago on Apr. 10, 2005, and tossed for 314 yards in last season Conference Championship game on June 3 in San Jose.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Following Friday's game the SaberCats will enjoy an extended period of rest as their bye falls during the week Mar. 17-18. The team returns to action on Saturday, March 24 when the team's season-opening 3-game road trip concludes against the Georgia Force in Atlanta. NBC11 will televise that game live to the Bay Area while the team's flagship radio station KNBR 1050 will bring the action home live over the airwaves.
CHICAGO PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB MATT D'ORAZIO - After leading the Rush to an ArenaBowl championship in his first year with the team, the six-year AFL veteran looks to guide his offense to another title run in 2007. D'Orazio played in 15 games during the regular season, throwing for 3,552 yards and 63 TD on 305-of-443 passing - his passer rating of 123.4 was third best in the league. In his first career game against San Jose in Week 5 at Chicago, D'Orazio threw for 351 yards and 7 TD passes including a 27-yard strike to defeat the SaberCats 54-48 in overtime. The two teams' next meeting would be the American Conference Championship in San Jose, where the SaberCats fell 59-56 after D'Orazio tossed 6 TDs and ran for another to earn Offensive MVP honors.
WR BOBBY SIPPIO - Joined the Rush for the final five regular season games after being released by Tampa Bay in 2006, and many have attributed Chicago's successful season-ending run to win ArenaBowl XX to him. Sippio stepped in as the offensive specialist for the Rush and caught 17 TDs on 654 receiving yards, and played a big part in Chicago's four-game playoff run reeling in 33 passes for 452 yards and 10 TDs. In three career games against San Jose (2 Dallas/Chicago), Sippio has caught 16 passes for 210 yards and 9 TDs - five of those came against the SaberCats in the American Conference Championship.
FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN - Solidified a spot in AFL history after becoming the all-time rushing leader with 1,417 career yards, and is the only player ever to have rushed for more than 100 yards in seven straight seasons. McMillen ranks second in rushing attempts (449) and third in rushing TDs (80) in AFL history. A member of the SaberCats for two seasons (including the 2002 Championship team), McMillen has played against his former team 14 times (9 Arizona/5 Chicago), racking up 91 yards and 4 TDs on 25 carries. In his two playoff appearances against the SaberCats, McMillen has been held in check after only gaining 1 yard on 1 carry each time.
WEEKLY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
@LAA (3/4) WR Lenzie Jackson, Los Angeles
@CHI (3/9)
@GEO (3/24)
v TBY (3/31)
v COL (4/6)
@NWO (4/13)
v LAA (4/21)
v UTH (4/28)
@ARZ (5/5)
v LVG (5/12)
v GRR (5/19)
@NAS (5/25)
v ORL (6/1)
@UTH (6/9)
v ARZ (6/16)
@LVG (6/25)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
@LAA (3/4) DB Omarr Smith, San Jose
@CHI (3/9)
@GEO (3/24)
v TBY (3/31)
v COL (4/6)
@NWO (4/13)
v LAA (4/21)
v UTH (4/28)
@ARZ (5/5)
v LVG (5/12)
v GRR (5/19)
@NAS (5/25)
v ORL (6/1)
@UTH (6/9)
v ARZ (6/16)
@LVG (6/25)
IRONMAN PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opp. (Date) Player
@LAA (3/4) WR Ben Nelson, San Jose
@CHI (3/9)
@GEO (3/24)
v TBY (3/31)
v COL (4/6)
@NWO (4/13)
v LAA (4/21)
v UTH (4/28)
@ARZ (5/5)
v LVG (5/12)
v GRR (5/19)
@NAS (5/25)
v ORL (6/1)
@UTH (6/9)
v ARZ (6/16)
@LVG (6/25)
THE SABERCATS RECORD WHEN...:
Scoring Allowing
'07 All-Time '07 All-Time
0 - 9 points 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-1 0-0 3-0
20-29 points 0-0 0-7 0-0 17-1
30-39 points 0-0 8-16 0-0 27-5
40-49 points 0-0 18-18 0-0 30-14
50-59 points 0-0 37-13 1-0 27-24
60-69 points 1-0 28-6 0-0 4-13
70-79 points 0-0 15-1 0-0 5-5
80+ points 0-0 7-0 0-0 0-0
2007 All-time
Games decided
by 7 or fewer points 0-0 36-32
by 3 or fewer points 0-0 15-20
Leading after the 1st 1-0 69-19
Trailing after the 1st 0-0 24-30
Tied after the 1st 0-0 20-13
Leading at Half 1-0 83-17
Trailing at Half 0-0 26-40
Tied at Half 0-0 4-5
Leading after the 3rd 1-0 90-12
Trailing after the 3rd 0-0 19-46
Tied after the 3rd 0-0 4-4
Scoring First 1-0 66-31
Opp. Score First 0-0 47-31
More Total Offense 0-0 79-34
Less Total Offense 1-0 34-28
More Pass Yards 0-0 69-35
Less Pass Yards 1-0 44-26
Equal Pass Yards 0-0 0-1
More Rushing Yards 1-0 96-28
Less Rushing Yards 0-0 16-31
Equal Rushing Yards 0-0 1-3
Thursday games 0-0 4-1
Friday games 0-0 32-18
Saturday games 0-0 57-24
Sunday games 1-0 18-17
Monday games 0-0 2-2
vs. Western Division 1-0 42-26
vs. Central Division 0-0 28-16
vs. Southern Division 0-0 24-10
vs. Eastern Division 0-0 19-10
Winning coin toss 0-0
Losing coin toss 1-0
Outscoring Opponent 1-0 113-0
Being Outscored 0-0 0-62
Records are for regular season games.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 7, 2007
- Russell ESPN Arena Football Monday highlights Championship Week - AFL I
- Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Rampage Welcome Las Vegas for Home Opener Tomorrow - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Kats Make Roster Changes - Nashville Kats
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- San Jose SaberCats game notes - San Jose SaberCats
- Rattlers Make the Cricket Connection - Arizona Rattlers
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Comcast SportsNet to air eight Rush games - Chicago Rush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
