Three SaberCats Earn First-Team All-League Honors
May 20, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 20, 2003) - The San Jose SaberCats topped all Arena Football League teams with three first-team all-league picks and four total selections as the league announced its All-Arena League teams today. Veteran WR/DB Barry Wagner, DS Clevan Thomas and 1st year FB/LB Keala Keanaaina all gained first-team recognition while OL/DL Sam Hernandez was named to the second-team.
Wagner, who led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2003, earned his second consecutive first-team selection and league record eighth overall. The 12-year veteran had one of his finest all-round seasons finishing second on the team in tackles (63.0), interceptions (4) and pass breakups (11), while placing third in rush yards (76), receptions (51) and receiving yards (508).
In his first season with the SaberCats, Keanaaina led the AFL and set a team season record with 250 rush yards, the 12th highest single-season total in league history, in 15 games. The former Cal Bear also set a team mark with 49 attempts and placed fifth in the league with 10 rushing touchdowns while posting 25.0 tackles.
Thomas, last season's Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year, established a new AFL record with 13 interceptions to earn his second consecutive first-team selection. The former Florida State Seminole led the circuit with 35 passes defended in 14 games and also set a league mark for consecutive games with an interception when he posted one in each of the first seven games of the season. Thomas also had three touchdowns on interception returns and scored four times on kickoff returns.
Hernandez, the AFL's career leader in quarterback sacks, earned his fifth all-league selection by being named to the second team. The 11-year veteran led the team with 5.0 sacks and became the first player in league history with five or more sacks in six different seasons. He also anchored an offensive line that allowed the second-fewest sacks in 2003.
The Tampa Bay Storm and Dallas Desperados each had three total selections, while the Arizona Rattlers, Chicago Rush, Indiana Firebirds, Los Angeles Avengers and Orlando Predators had two each. The Georgia Force, New York Dragons, Buffalo Destroyers and Las Vegas Gladiators were each represented with one selection.
Arizona placed QB Sherdrick Bonner and WR/DB Randy Gatewood on the first team. Los Angeles was the only other team with multiple first-team selections with OS Chris Jackson and WR/LB Greg Hopkins earning spots.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 20, 2003
- 2003 AFL Season in Review - AFL I
- Wagner Named Ironman of the Week - San Jose SaberCats
- Rush and Hlavacek Earn All-Arena Honors - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Georgia Force Game Notes - Georgia Force
- Dallas Desperados Game Notes - Dallas Desperados
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- AFL Attendance Up 15 Percent in 2003 - AFL I
- Rampage Announce 2003 Team Award Winners - Grand Rapids Rampage
- AFL Names All-Arena Teams - AFL I
- Desperados Host Force in First Round Playoff Game - Dallas Desperados
- Three SaberCats Earn First-Team All-League Honors - San Jose SaberCats
- L.A. Avengers place Jackson and Hopkins on All-Arena first team - Los Angeles Avengers
- Rattle the Rattlers Gladiator Fan Bus Set for Phoenix Departure on Sunday, May 25 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Desperados Playoff Game Changes Date & Venue - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators' Kicker Steve Videtich Named Second Team All Arena - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Desperados Trio Named to All-Arena Teams - Dallas Desperados
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- AFL Playoff Schedule Announced - AFL I
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