Thunder, SaberCats Welcome in 2014 Season on CBS Sports Network
March 17, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Thunder (0-0) host the San Jose SaberCats (0-0) in a special Monday night edition of "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" on CBS Sports Network tonight at 10:00 p.m. EST from the Moda Center in Portland.
The St. Patrick's Day showdown will also be the first game in franchise history for the Thunder, who enter their inaugural season in the Arena Football League. The SaberCats, meanwhile, enter their 18th year in the League and are coming off their 11th playoff appearance in the last 12 years.
"I think the biggest difference between us and San Jose is that San Jose knows what they have. They've been with these guys for years now," Thunder coach Matthew Sauk said. "This first game's going to be exciting to see how we did recruiting-wise."
Portland's top recruit is rookie quarterback Darron Thomas, who was a two-year starter for the University of Oregon, guiding the Ducks to the 2011 BCS National Championship game and a victory in the 2012 Rose Bowl. Thomas has been pushed in camp by former University of Idaho starter and Chicago Bears draft pick, Nathan Enderle. Both are expected to see playing time in the season opener.
The SaberCats are led by veteran quarterback Russ Michna. Michna joined the SaberCats midway through last season, debuting in Week 5 and finished the year with 3,116 passing yards, 68 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 starts.
On the perimeter, San Jose boasts an impressive veteran trio of Jason Willis, Huey Whittaker and reigning J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Year, Reggie Gray. Willis corralled 123 passes last season for a team-high 1,606 yards and 35 touchdowns. Whittaker - who doubles as a Jack linebacker on defense - came up two yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark as a receiver last season. Gray, a three-year veteran of the AFL, has tallied at least 130 receptions, 1,900 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons in the League. He also has an outstanding rapport with Michna, as the two played together for two seasons in the AFL with the Chicago Rush, and for two years in college at Western Illinois University.
Portland's receiving corps may lack San Jose's experience, but it is not without talent. Duane Brooks and Jeffrey Soloman demonstrated big play capability in limited action with the Spokane Shock in 2013, while local product Justin Monahan could end up being a dark horse candidate for NET10 Wireless Rookie of the Year honors. The Thunder will also feature former San Jose wideout Samora Goodson, who actually led the SaberCats in receiving in 2012.
On the other side of the ball, rookie defensive end Donte Paige-Moss had a fantastic training camp and figures to be Portland's top pass rusher. The Thunder will also rely on veteran leadership in the secondary, led by the first pick of the AFL Expansion Draft, Eric Crocker. Crocker will be joined in the defensive backfield by fourth-year pro and Portland native Patrick Stoudamire, as well as former SaberCats defender Dwight McLean.
For San Jose, future Arena Football Hall of Fame defensive back Clevan Thomas returns for his ninth season to patrol the secondary. Last season's Riddell Defensive Player of the Year logged 15 interceptions in 2013. He is joined by the SaberCats leading tackler from a year ago, Ken Fontenette, as well as offseason acquisitions David Hyland and Simeon Castille. The pass rush will be led by the two-headed All-Arena monster of Francis Maka and Jason Stewart, who were responsible for more than half of the team's sacks last season, racking up 11.5 and 11 respectively.
Kickoff for tonight's Pacific Division matchup is set for 10:00 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network.
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Arena Football League Stories from March 17, 2014
- Shock Announce Mike Levy as Team President - Spokane Shock
- Thunder, SaberCats Welcome in 2014 Season on CBS Sports Network - San Jose SaberCats
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