Saturday Playoff Game Recaps
Published on August 4, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Orlando 49, NEW JERSEY 46 (6,034)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- JAY GRUDEN threw for 269 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Orlando Predators to a 49-46 quarterfinal round playoff victory over the New Jersey Gladiators.
Gruden, who also threw four scoring passes in last week's first-round victory over Buffalo, completed 24-of-37 passes, including a 9-yard strike to JUNIOR LORD with just 1:34 remaining in the game to give Orlando a 49-40 lead. Lord finished with seven catches for 68 yards and three scores. SIAHA BURLEY had nine receptions for a team-leading 104 yards and two touchdowns for the Predators, who advanced to the semifinals for the ninth time in 12 postseason appearances.
JAY MCDONAGH completed 22-of-33 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns including a 3-yard toss to KIRK POINTER with 27 seconds left to account for the final score. MIKE HORACEK hauled in 12 passes for 131 yards and one score for New Jersey.
-----------------------------------
SAN JOSE 55, Tampa Bay 48 (13,074)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Ticker) -- JOHN DUTTON threw a touchdown pass to James Roe with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to lift the San Jose SaberCats over the Tampa Bay Storm, 55-48, in the quarterfinals of the ArenaBowl XVI playoffs.
Dutton capped a two-play, 45-yard drive with a 35-yard strike to Roe with 1:28 left to snap a 48-48 tie and give his team the lead for good. Despite being picked off twice, Dutton finished with a team playoff-best 327 passing yards on 24-of-38 attempts. He also threw six touchdowns and found BARRY WAGNER six times for 64 yards and a score in the first, third and fourth quarters.
Wagner added one-yard rushing touchdowns in both the first and second quarters and JAMES HUNDON caught eight passes for 106 yards and a score for the No. 1-seeded San Jose, which outscored Tampa Bay 28-3 in the final 20 minutes of play in their comeback from a 45-27 third quarter deficit.
SHANE STAFFORD, who completed 14-of-39 passes for 268 yards and four scores in the game for Tampa Bay, connected with DAVID SAUNDERS on a 36-yard touchdown with 5:22 remaining in the first half for a 23-20 Storm lead. The Storm held that lead until early in the fourth quarter.
Saunders ended with five receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns and LAWRENCE SAMUELS collected 66 yards on three catches and scored twice for Tampa Bay, which held the SaberCats to 27 first-half points, the second lowest scored by the club this year.
--------------------
SUNDAY GAME PREVIEW
--------------------
NO. 11 CAROLINA COBRAS (7-8) AT NO. 2 ARIZONA RATTLERS (11-3), 3:00 PM ET, America West Arena
Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER and the AFL's top scorer, Arizona WR/DB CHRIS HORN (218 points) have been the spark to the Rattlers offense, while DS CECIL DOGGETTE and DEREK STINGLEY hound the defensive secondary for Hall of Fame head coach DANNY WHITE. Carolina QB JOHN FITZGERALD has the hot hand with 25 TDs and only 4 INTs in his last 5 starts, while OS AARON BAILEY has been his primary target. The second-year AFL standout tied a First-Round record with six touchdowns in the Cobras' victory over defending champion Grand Rapids last Sunday.
TV: The New TNN -- Eli Gold, Charles Davis, Jill Arrington
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from August 4, 2002
- Estes Named July's Top Player - Portland Forest Dragons
- Saturday Playoff Game Recaps - AFL I
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.
