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San Jose Sabercats update

February 8, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release


THE QUICK FACTS: Game: SaberCats (0-2) at Arizona Rattlers (0-2). Date: Sunday, February 12, 2006. Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. (PST). Site: U.S. Airways Center (16,221). Officials: Referee: Tom McCabe; Umpire: Paul Frerking; Head Linesman: Brent Durbin; Line Judge: Bob McElwee; Back Judge: Keith Washington. Television: The Bay Area's Warner Brother's affiliate, KBWB (WB20), will air the game live with Bob Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and former SaberCat Steve Papin (color) calling the action. Radio: San Jose's flagship station KNBR-1050 and KNBR-680 will broadcast the game live with Barry Tompkins handling play-by-play duties and former SaberCat James Hundon supplying the color commentary. The station will air a 30-minute pre-game show starting at 4:30 p.m. Internet: Log on to www.KNBR.com to hear a live webcast of Sunday's game. Series Record: Rattlers lead 14-12. Last Meeting: Rattlers 54, SaberCats 44 on May 14, 2005 in Phoenix. Series Streaks: Rattlers Won 1. Coaches: San Jose, Darren Arbet (8th season; 73-33 regular season, 82-37 overall). Arizona, Gene Nudo (1st season; 0-2 regular season and overall).

OVERVIEW: Off to their worst start in eight seasons, the SaberCats look to break into the win column for the first time in 2006 when they battle the winless Arizona Rattlers in the second game of a franchise record five-game road trip on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 5:00 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised live in the Bay Area on WB20. San Jose fell to 0-2 for the first time under head coach Darren Arbet with a 51-48 loss at Las Vegas on Monday, despite five touchdown passes from Mark Grieb and a pair of interceptions by DS Clevan Thomas. San Jose had the lead six times in the game, but three TD receptions by Las Vegas OS Marcus Nash in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. The last time the SaberCats lost consecutive games at the start of a season was in 1998 when they lost three straight under Todd Shell. The team was able to end that season with a 7-7 record and qualified for the postseason. The SaberCats and Rattlers will play for the 27th time on Sunday with Arizona holding a 14-12 series lead. The San Jose/Arizona rivalry is the second longest running in AFL history behind the Orlando/Tampa Bay ‘War on I-4' series, which is at 37 games...With a victory on Sunday, the SaberCats will give Arizona its first ever 0-3 start to a season.

THE SCHEDULES:

2006 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (0-2) Date Opponent Result Score Jan. 28 UTAH Lost 35-48 Feb. 6 @Las Vegas Lost 48-51 Date Opponent Time (PT) Radio/TV Feb. 12 @Arizona 5:00 pm 1050-680/WB Feb. 19 @Grand Rapids 11:00 am 1050/WB Feb. 26 @Chicago 10:00 am 1050-680/NBC Mar. 4 @Utah 6:00 pm 1050-680/WB Mar. 12 LOS ANGELES 3:00 pm 1050/NBC Mar. 17 GEORGIA 7:30 pm 1050/FSN Mar. 25 @Nashville 5:00 pm 1050/NBC11 Apr. 2 ARIZONA 3:00 pm 1050/NBC Apr. 7 @Tampa Bay 4:30 pm 1050/WB Apr. 14 LAS VEGAS 7:30 pm 1050/FSN Apr. 22 AUSTIN 7:30 pm 1050 Apr. 29 @Los Angeles 7:30 pm 1050/WB May 6 COLORADO 7:30 pm 1050 May 13 COLUMBUS 7:30 pm 1050

2006 ARIZONA RATTLERS (0-2) Date Opponent Result Score Jan. 29 @Los Angeles Lost 31-40 Feb. 3 AUSTIN Lost 34-53 Date Opponent Time (PT) TV Feb. 12 SAN JOSE 5:00 pm Feb. 18 UTAH 6:00 pm Feb. 24 @Columbus 4:00 pm FSN Mar. 4 @Nashville 6:00 pm Mar. 10 ORLANDO 6:00 pm Mar. 17 @Las Vegas 7:30 pm FSN Mar. 24 LOS ANGELES 6:00 pm FSN Apr. 2 @San Jose 3:00 pm NBC Apr. 7 @Utah 6:00 pm FSN Apr. 15 CHICAGO 7:00 pm Apr. 23 @Grand Rapids 11:00 am Apr. 29 @Dallas 5:00 pm May 6 LAS VEGAS 7:00 pm May 12 @Colorado 6:00 pm FSN

THE SERIES: Arizona leads the all-time series 14-12 and holds a 13-9 advantage in regular season games...The SaberCats have won three of the four postseason contests, including ArenaBowl wins in 2002 and 2004...Arizona won the last meeting between the teams, 54-44, on May 14, 2005 in Phoenix and owns a 7-4 record in games played in U.S. Airways Center...Ten of the series games have been decided by 7 points or less and 15 games have been won by 11 or fewer points...Each team has won three games in the series by 21 or more points...This will be the 27th series game, the second longest running rivalry in the AFL to only Tampa Bay/Orlando, who have played 37 times (including playoffs). WHAT'S AHEAD - San Jose's franchise record road trip continues next week when the ‘Cats travel to Grand Rapids to face the Rampage on Sunday, February 19. The SaberCats have never lost to the Rampage posting a 7-0 record. Game time is set for 11:00 am (PT) and fans can watch the action live on KBWB (WB20) or listed on the SaberCats flagship radio station KNBR 1050.

SERIES NOTABLES: The SaberCats and Rattlers have each won five Western Division titles in the 11 seasons since the AFL went to a four-division format in 1995. San Jose won its fourth straight division title in 2003 as well as the division title in 1995. Arizona won four straight from 1996-1999 and sealed another title in 2004. Los Angeles became the only other team to win the West capturing the crown last season...The SaberCats played their first ever regular season game against Arizona on May 12, 1995 losing in overtime to the Rattlers, 43-37...San Jose has played the most games (26) and has the most wins (12) against Arizona than any other opponent...San Jose's 52-14 win on August 18, 2002 in ArenaBowl XVI was Arizona's worst defeat since a 71-21 loss at Orlando on July 17, 1992...The Rattlers have dealt the SaberCats their worst two defeats in franchise history: 75-37 (38 pts) on June 5, 1999 in Arizona and 59-22 on June 9, 1997 in San Jose...Arizona and San Jose have returned back-to-back kickoffs for a TD in a game twice, the only time in SaberCats history that has happened. On Aug. 6, 1995, Arizona's Hunkie Cooper and San Jose's Titus Dixon went the distance, then on May 14, 2005, San Jose's Rashied Davis and Arizona's Tom Pace turned the trick. Arizona won both games...Albrey Battle's 30-yard reception against Arizona on April 3, 2005 was the longest of his career and the 2nd longest by a San Jose TE...Mark Grieb threw a SaberCats single-game record 9 TDs against Arizona on July 6, 2001 and established a team playoff record with 8 TD passes against the Rattlers on Aug. 4, 2001 and matched on June 27, 2004 in ArenaBowl XVIII...Arizona's 59-52 win at home on July 12, 2002 was the only loss the SaberCats suffered that year. In that game Rattlers lineman Stacey Evans threw Mark Grieb to the turf breaking his collarbone. San Jose went on to win ArenaBowl XVI defeating the Rattlers, 52-14, behind San Jose backup QB John Dutton.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Arizona 54, SaberCats 44 - Saturday, May 14 - America West Arena - Mark Grieb completed 29-of-44 attempts for 289 yards, but was intercepted twice by Randy Gatewood. Arizona's QB Sherdrick Bonner tossed six touchdown passes and the Rattlers forced three turnovers. Bonner completed 18-of-29 for 228 yards without an interception. Arizona struck first when Bonner tossed a 24-yard scoring strike to Gatewood on the first offensive possession and the Rattlers never trailed. Rashied Davis hauled in a 6-yard scoring pass from Mark Grieb tying the game 7-7 and establishing a new SaberCats season record with his 39th touchdown of the year breaking Steve Papin's 2000 record. Davis tied the game at 14-14 with a 56-yard kickoff return at the end of the first quarter, but Arizona answered right back on the following kickoff when Tom Pace scampered 55 yards to quickly give the Rattlers the lead back. Arizona built its lead to 34-14 early in the third quarter by scoring two touchdowns following the kickoff return touchdown. Pace added his second kickoff return score of the game in the fourth quarter by taking an onside kick attempt 11-yards. This was the 15th game between the two teams that has been decided by 11 or fewer points.

Score By Quarters SaberCats................................ 14 0 7 23 - 44 Rattlers................................... 14 13 14 13 - 54

SCORING SUMMARY ARZ Gatewood 24 pass from Bonner (Kral kick) SAN Davis 6 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) ARZ Hlavacek 36 pass from Bonner (Kral kick) SAN Davis 56 kickoff return (Frantz kick) ARZ Pace 55 kickoff return (Kral kick) ARZ Gatewood 5 pass from Bonner (Kral kick blocked) ARZ Burley 14 pass from Bonner (Kral kick) SAN Roe 14 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) ARZ Burley 11 pass from Bonner (Kral kick) SAN Wright 3 pass from Grieb (Frantz kick) ARZ Pace 11 kickoff return (Kral kick) SAN Wagner 1 run (Roe pass) ARZ Bryant 11 pass from Bonner (Kral kick failed) SAN Davis 6 pass from Grieb (Dozier rush)

INDIVIDUAL STASTICS Passing: SAN - Grieb 29-44-2-289. ARZ - Bonner 18-29-0-228. Rushing: SAN - Dozier 2-4; Wagner 1-1; Grieb 1-(1). ARZ - Glover 2-8; Germaine 2-2; Kelly 1-(1); Burley 1-(-2). Receiving: SAN - Davis 11-96; Roe 7-83; Wright 7-60; Kinsinger 1-20; Dozier 1-16; Wagner 1-9; Buck 1-5. ARZ - Bryant 6-73; Burley 4-44; Pace 3-41; Gatewood 3-29; Hlavacek 1-36; Kelly 1-5. Kick Returns: SAN - Davis 3-93; Wright 2-39. ARZ - Pace 3-82; Hlavacek 1-19; Burley 1-0.

ALL-TIME SERIES SCORES Date Score May 14, 2005 @Arizona 54, San Jose 44 April 3, 2005 @San Jose 48, Arizona 27 June 27, 2004 San Jose 69, @Arizona 62 (ABXVIII) May 30, 2004 Arizona 50, @San Jose 43 May 9, 2004 @Arizona 58, San Jose 41 June 8, 2003 Arizona 66, @San Jose 49 (Playoff) March 23, 2003 @San Jose 59, Arizona 58 Feb. 2, 2003 San Jose 49, @Arizona 28 Aug. 18, 2002 @San Jose 52, Arizona 14 (ABXVI) July 12, 2002 @Arizona 59, San Jose 52 April 20, 2002 @San Jose 52, Arizona 51 Aug. 4, 2001 @San Jose 68, Arizona 49 (Playoff) July 6, 2001 San Jose 73, @Arizona 63 April 21, 2001 @San Jose 48, Arizona 37 June 1, 2000 San Jose 55, @Arizona 34 April 29, 2000 Arizona 51, @San Jose 42 June 12, 1999 @Arizona 75, San Jose 37 May 15, 1999 @San Jose 54, Arizona 50 June 6, 1998 @Arizona 48, San Jose 26 May 9, 1998 Arizona 62, @San Jose 43 June 9, 1997 Arizona 59, @San Jose 22 May 24, 1997 @Arizona 59, San Jose 50 Aug. 2, 1996 @San Jose 30, Arizona 29 May 4, 1996 @Arizona 61, San Jose 59 Aug. 6, 1995 Arizona 41, @San Jose 40 May 12, 1995 Arizona 43, @San Jose 37 (OT)

2006 TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON Category (Rank) SaberCats Rattlers Scoring Offense 41.5 (12) 32.5 (18) Scoring Defense 49.5 (12) 46.5 (9) Total Offense 272.0 (8) 192.5 (18) Total Defense 230.5 (4) 226.0 (3) Pass Offense 270.0 (5) 191.5 (17) Pass Defense 177.5 (2) 185.5 (3) Rushing Offense 2.0 (17) 1.0 (18) Rushing Defense 31.0 (15) 40.5 (18) Pass Rating 101.4 (8) 51.9 (18) Pass Defense Rating 103.8 (12) 78.5 (4) Interceptions 2 (T-7) 1 (T-14) Kickoff Return Avg. 16.1 (10) 19.3 (5) Field Goal Return Avg. No Returns 18.5 (3) Turnover Margin -2 (T-13) -2 (T-13) 3rd Down Conversions 33.3% (15) 22.2% (18) 4th Down Conversions 33.3% (T-12) 33.3% (T-12) Sacks For 4 (T-3) 0 (T-14) Sacks Against 3 (14) 4 (T-15)

THE IFS...: If the SaberCats defeat Arizona it would... *Be their first win of the season. *Snap a 2-game losing streak. *Break a 1-game losing streak to the Rattlers. *Give the Rattlers their first-ever 0-3 start. *Be their 13th all-time win over the Rattlers. *Move them within 1 win of tying the series (13-14). *Break a 4-game losing streak against division opponents. *Give them a 103-58 all-time regular season record. *Give them a 46-35 all-time reg. season road record. *Give them a 41-26 all-time record against Western Division foes.

THE COACHES: San Jose - Darren Arbet, 8th season 73-33 (.689) reg. season; 82-37 (.689) overall 11-7 (.611) career vs. Arizona Now in his eighth season at the helm of the SaberCats, two-time Coach of the Year Darren Arbet enters the 2006 season ranked 6th in the AFL with 82 career victories and needs just four more wins to tie Perry Moss for 5th place. 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 67-25 (.728) 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.

Arizona - Gene Nudo, 1st season 0-2 (.000) regular season and overall 0-0 career vs. San Jose The third Head Coach in franchise history and third in as many seasons, Gene Nudo is now in his twelfth season associated with the Rattlers organization and first as the team's Head Coach. Nudo joined Arizona's coaching staff in 1995 taking the role of assistant head coach before becoming a member of the team's front office in 1996. In his 12 seasons at the team level, Nudo's franchises have competed in five ArenaBowls, winning one with Arizona in 1997. A true pioneer in the AFL, Nudo coached the first-ever Arena Football game in Rockford, Illinois in 1986.

ROSTER MOVES: With WR/LB James Roe and WR/DB Rodney Wright going on injured reserve with injuries sustained in the season opener, the SaberCats added Kevin McKenzie and Calvin Schexnayder to their roster to bolster the troops. Also signed to the roster was 2003 af2 Lineman of the Year Wes Stephens, who played under SaberCats defensive coordinator Kevin Guy for two seasons at Tennessee Valley of af2. McKenzie was released by Colorado for financial reasons prior to the start of the season. He played in San Jose during the 2003 season and tied an AFL playoff record by scoring six TDs in a San Jose win over Georgia on May 31. McKenzie helped the Crush win ArenaBowl XIX last season and earned All-Ironman Team honors following the 2004 season. Schexnayder signed with San Jose before the 2004 campaign, but played in just nine games over the two seasons. His contract was not renewed and Shakes became a free agent following the 2005 season.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES Date Action Jan. 23 Placed DS Rufus Brown, OL/DL Julius Gant, OS Jason Geathers, OS Atnaf Harris and QB Chris Lewis on IR. Jan 26 Signed OL/DL Frank Beede. Placed OL/DL Alan Harper on IR Jan 28 Placed WR/DB Barry Wagner on IR. Feb 1 Signed Niccolo Cancellieri to international PS. Feb 3 Signed WR/LB Kevin McKenzie, WR/LB Calvin Schexnayder and OL/DL Wes Stephens. Placed WR/LB James Roe and WR/DB Rodney Wright on IR.

INJURY REPORT: At press time the SaberCats had 14 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.

INJURY REPORT Player Injury Status Albrey Battle* R ankle tendonitis IR Atnaf Harris* L foot stress IR Chris Lewis* Back strain IR Rufus Brown* L wrist sprain IR Julius Gant* L groin strain IR Jason Geathers* R Hip flexor IR Omarr Smith* R patellar tendon IR Dan Loney* L knee IR Fitu Tu'ua* L 3rd finger IR Ben Nelson* L ankle sprain IR Alan Harper* R ankle IR Barry Wagner* L Hamstring IR James Roe Concussion IR Rodney Wright Turf toe IR

MILESTONES: Player Milestone Needed Mark Grieb 25,000 career pass yards 1,664 450 career pass TDs 10 100 GP in SJ career 3 Barry Wagner AFL career all-purpose yardage leader 165 50 career INTs 3 Clevan Thomas 30 career INTs 3 career lead in PDs 3 Joe Jacobs 40 career sacks 3.0 Karl Bates 10 career sacks 1.0 Charles Pauley 600 career rec. yards 91 Fred Coleman 1,700 career rec. yards 19 Terrance Joseph 10 career INTs 1 Omarr Smith 25 career INTs 1 Rodney Wright 60 career receptions 1 Phil Glover 150 career rush yards 1 Chuck Reed 25 career sacks 2.5 Nikia Adderson 10 career sacks 3.0

RECENT RESULTS: Las Vegas 51, SABERCATS 48 - 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 onsides kick 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.

TRENDS: STARTING THE SEASON - The SaberCats have lost consecutive games at the start of a season for the first time since 1998 when they began that year 0-3. The team's longest regular season losing streak under head coach Darren Arbet is three games, which was done on two different occasions.

ROAD WOES - Including last season and the playoffs, the SaberCats are just 3-7 in games away from HP Pavilion. Sunday's game against the Rattlers is the second of a franchise record five-game road trip. San Jose does own an all-time record of 45-35 (.563) in regular season road contests.

HIGH FIVE - Sunday's game is the second of five straight on the road for the SaberCats, the longest road trip in team history. The longest trip previously was just three games, which the team did on four different occasions. The Austin Wranglers will also endure a 5-game road trip during the 2006 season.

PENALTY PARADE - The SaberCats were penalized 10 times in their game at Las Vegas on Feb. 6, and those were just the infractions that were accepted. In contrast, the Gladiators were penalized just three times. San Jose was also whistled 10 times in their opener against Utah on Jan. 28 and leads the AFL with 20 penalties. New Jersey holds the AFL record for penalties in a season with 165 during the 1999 season.

INFLICT SOME PAIN - San Jose has a chance to give the storied Arizona franchise something never seen before in the Valley of the Sun. A SaberCats victory would keep the Rattlers winless through the first three games of a season for the first time ever. Arizona began the 1992, 1993 and 2004 seasons with a 0-2 record, but on each occasion the Rattlers were able to secure a win in the third game of the season.

WILD, WILD WEST - The Western Division is the only division in the AFL without and undefeated team. That means both Arizona and San Jose, with identical 0-2 records, are just one game out of first place heading into their critical showdown on Sunday. San Jose has lost four straight games to division foes with its last victory coming over Arizona on April 3, 2005. Overall San Jose is 40-26 in games against Western Division opposition but just 15-15 in division matchups on the road.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING? - No team in the history of the Arena Football League has ever won a championship after starting the season 0-2. San Jose and Arizona have each won two ArenaBowl titles in their existence but this is the first time the two storied franchises have bolted out of the gate winless in their first two attempts.

CHANGE THINGS UP - It might behoove the SaberCats to let the Rattlers score first in their meeting on Sunday. In each of their first two games the SaberCats won the toss and elected to defer. The defense came up with a turnover on the opponents first possession which the SaberCats turned into a touchdown. San Jose, however, ended up losing both contests.

OH FOR '06 - Entering this weekend's games, the combined record of the SaberCats next three opponents is 0-6. Arizona, Grand Rapids and Chicago, San Jose's next three opponents, along with Kansas City and the SaberCats, are the only winless teams in the AFL after two weeks. NOTES: HEAD TO HEAD - In their careers with their respective teams, QBs Mark Grieb and Sherdrick Bonner, two of the most prolific passers in the game, have started against each other a total of 13 times with strikingly similar results. Grieb has the edge in most every category, including wins. One of the biggest wins came in ArenaBowl XVIII when Grieb tossed a title game record 8 TD passes. Bonner threw for an ArenaBowl record 367 yards in San Jose's 69-62 win. Grieb has three 300-yard passing games while Bonner has two in their head-to-head meetings. Despite not playing last week in a loss to Austin, Bonner should be ready come Sunday.

GRIEB vs BONNER Rec Cmp-Att-Yds Comp % TD/INTs Rating 7-6 278-440-3,376 63.2 71/4 122.5

BONNER vs GRIEB Rec Cmp-Att-Yds Comp % TD/INTs Rating 6-7 235-399-3,056 58.9 72/5 117.4

PAPER OR PLASTIC - Joe Jacobs registered 1.5 quarterback sacks against Utah on opening night lifting his career total to 37.0. Jacobs needs 3.0 sacks to become just the fourth player in AFL history to record 40.0 sacks in a career. Jacobs also leapfrogged former Tampa Bay FB/LB Andre Bowden into 6th place on the all-time list. Now in his sixth season with the SaberCats, Jacobs has totaled 14 sacks in the Green and Gold.

AFL CAREER SACKS LEADERS Rk Player, '06 Team Sacks 1. Sam Hernandez, none 59.0 2. Sylvester Bembery, none 43.0 3. Tom Briggs, Austin 40.0 4. Robert Stewart, none 39.5 5. James Baron, Nashville 39.5 6. Joe Jacobs, San Jose 37.0

TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN - One of the model franchises in the AFL since joining the league in 1992, Arizona has fallen on difficult times recently. The Rattlers had a streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances snapped last season when they went 7-9, the second-fewest wins ever in a season for them. Head coach Danny White did not have his contract renewed after taking the team to its third consecutive ArenaBowl in 2004. He had been with the club since its inception. Team executive Gene Nudo took over the reins as head coach and is the third in as many seasons. Todd Shell was the head coach in 2005 but was dismissed following some personal issues.

CLEVAN THE MAN - Good news for the SaberCats and bad news for opposing quarterbacks is that two-time Defensive Player of the Year Clevan Thomas appears to back in top form. Thomas was sidelined early in the 2004 season with a major knee injury. He rejoined the team last season but didn't appear to be the same player that won Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and set a league record with 13 interceptions in 2003. Thomas had a pair of INTs at Las Vegas on Feb. 6, giving him a team record four career multi-interception games. Already the SaberCats career leader with 27 interceptions, Thomas moved closer to breaking Pat McGuirk's career record of 88 passes defended. With four passes defended this season (2 INT's, 2 PBUs) Thomas needs two to tie the record and three to become the new leader.

CAREER PASSES DEFENDED Rank Player PDs 1. Pat McGuirk 88 2. Clevan Thomas 86 3. Tommy Jones 62 4. Barry Wagner 59 5. Omarr Smith 51

GETTING HIS KICKS - New kicker Brian Schmitz has made his presence felt early for the SaberCats. After missing his first two FG attempts as a SaberCat in the season opening loss to Utah on Jan. 28, Schmitz connected on both attempts at Las Vegas on Feb. 6. He became the first kicker to make two FGs in a game since Mar. 26, 2004 when Dan Frantz made a pair. Schmitz closed out the first half at Las Vegas by nailing a 40-yard attempt, the longest by a San Jose kicker since Daron Alcorn made a 42-yard attempt against Indiana on April 19, 2003. The only kicker to attempt a FG and PAT for the New Orleans VooDoo, Schmitz has also been money on his PATs converting all 11 to start the season.

MOVIN & SHAKIN - Calvin Schexnayder made a successful return to the SaberCats lineup at Las Vegas on Feb. 6 with 10 catches for 152 yards and 2 TDs. It was the 11th career 10-plus reception game and 2nd as a member of the SaberCats with both coming against the Gladiators. In his only other career start at OS with San Jose, Schexnayder had 11 catches in a win over Las Vegas on Feb. 5, 2005. However, Shakes left the game in fourth quarter after taking a vicious hit from DB Dameon Porter and did not return. His status for this week is unknown at this time.

THE FIRST TIME - QB Mark Grieb had his first career start as a member of the SaberCats against the Rattlers on May 15, 1999 and directed the team to a 54-50 win. In that game Grieb tossed a pair of scoring passes, including the game-winner to Shalon Baker with 18 seconds left in the game to give San Jose just its second win over their rivals. During his San Jose career, Grieb has started 15 games against Arizona and owns a 9-6 record. He has thrown for 3,789 yards and 77 touchdowns with just four INTs completing 419-of-515 passes. Grieb set a team single-game record with 9 TD passes at Arizona on July 6, 2001 and twice threw for a club playoff record 8 TD passes against the Rattlers.

K-MAC IS BACK - WR/LB Kevin McKenzie returned to the SaberCats and played his first game in the Green and Gold since the 2003 playoffs at Las Vegas on Feb. 6. Originally acquired by San Jose in the 2001 Dispersal Draft, McKenzie played the 2003 season in San Jose before bolting to Colorado for the following season. K-Mac earned All-Ironman Team honors as a member of the Crush in 2004 and won an ArenaBowl title last season. McKenzie had 4 catches for 45 yards and a TD and also returned 2 kickoffs for 48 yards. In 2003 K-Mac had 316 yards and a TD on 12 kickoff returns. A salary cap casualty, he became a free agent after his release from the Crush prior to the start of the year.

RECORD HOLDER - Entering his 15th season in a league that's just 20 years old, Barry Wagner is the AFL's career leader in scoring (2,466), touchdowns scored (406), rushing TDs (125), receptions (962) and receiving yards (13,090). Wagner is also on the verge of becoming the AFL's all-time leader in all-purpose yards. He became just the 3rd player in league history to eclipse the 20,000 yard mark and needs just 165 yards to supplant Hunkie Cooper for the all-time lead. Wags missed the first two games due to a hamstring injury.

CAREER ALL-PURPOSE YARDAGE LEADERS Rk Player A-P Yards 1. Hunkie Cooper 20,587 2. George LaFrance 20,480 3. Barry Wagner 20,423

PAULEY WANTS THE BALL - Forced into extensive duty with injuries to key personnel, WR/DB Charles Pauley has been a bright spot leading the team with 17 catches, 165 yards and 4 TDs. The former San Jose State star has already surpassed his entire career TD reception total entering the season (2) and has nearly doubled his career catch total in just two games. CP had 6 catches for 69 yards and a TD at Las Vegas on Feb. 6.

IN THE LAS VEGAS GAME: Starting OS Calvin Schexnayder had a team-high 10 catches in his season debut, it was the 11th career 10-plus reception game of his career...OL/DL Wes Stephens made his SaberCats debut playing on the line and was also the team's short-snapper...WR/LB Fred Coleman caught the 30th TD pass of his career...K Brian Schmitz made his 55th career field goal.

RATTLERS PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB SHERDRICK BONNER - One of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the AFL, Sherdrick Bonner has started all but four of the 26 series games against San Jose and owns a 12-9 record in those starts. In his career against the SaberCats, Bonner has thrown for 5,015 yards and 102 touchdowns completing 400-of-668 passes. He has four 300-yard passing games against San Jose and has tossed six or more TD passes in a game 11 times. Bonner has been intercepted by San Jose just 12 times and has thrown more than one pick in a game just once, that coming on Aug. 4, 2001 in a playoff game loss. Now in his 14th AFL season, Bonner is near the top of almost all the major passing stat categories in the league's career record books.

WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD - The 2003 Ironman of the Year is one of the league's best two-way players and is Arizona's career TD receptions leader. Now in his 11th AFL season, Gatewood has played 21 career games against San Jose has 28 TD grabs among his 72 receptions. Still a threat on the defensive as well, Gatewood has 8 interceptions in his career against San Jose, including a pair in the last meeting between the teams on May 14, 2005. Gatewood has been a part of some epic battles between the SaberCats and Rattlers, including his highlight reel performance in Arizona's 66-49 win in the semifinals of the 2003 playoffs. For the game, Gatewood grabbed 5 TDs and amassed 227 yards on 12 catches and added an 11-yard INT.

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