Too Many Mistakes Spell Disaster for San Jose

“We just made too many mistakes.  It’s disappointing.”---Quarterback Mark Grieb

By Barbara Mason 04.01.11
Bay Area Sports Drive

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The San Jose SaberCats came back into the Arena Football League with a vengeance seeming to pick up right where they had left off.  Last week’s game against the Chicago Rush saw San Jose take a step backwards.  They were off just a step or so never getting into the rhythm needed to beat the solid Rush.  Friday night the SaberCats took on the Iowa Barnstormers hoping to get the tempo that they had started the season off with when they beat the defending champion Spokane Shock in week one. 

At the end of the first quarter San Jose led by a slim margin 14-13.  San Jose had scored on their first possession to take an oh so slight edge that was erased when they fumbled mid-way through the quarter and the all-important turnover was forced by Iowa.  The SaberCats were faced with catch-up at that point and needed a turnover of their own. 

The first two quarters of this game saw the Barnstormers scoring at will while San Jose had to work just a bit harder for their touchdowns. Both teams were able to score on their remaining drives.  Each time San Jose would score, Iowa answered. 

With just under two minutes left in the half, the SaberCats attempted to close out the half with the go-ahead score.  A short #16 Grieb pass into the end zone to #73 Mark Lewis tied up the game as kicker Juan Gamboa missed the extra point, That lone turnover in the first quarter told the tale of the first half tied up at 34-34.  Iowa would start the second half with the ball. 

With the onside kick to start the second half recovered by Iowa, the Barnstormers found the end zone with ease taking the 41-34 lead in the first ten seconds of the second half.  San Jose had their work cut out for them.  A Grieb pass to Nichiren Flowers on San Jose’s first possession of the third quarter tied the game once again at 41.  Again both teams went to work and both teams scored to continue the deadlock at 48-48. 

This see saw battle continued into the fourth quarter as both teams traded touchdowns and with 8:46 left in the game the score was deadlocked at 62.   The Barnstormers took back not only the lead 69-62 but held San Jose on downs on their ensuing series just about putting the SaberCats away.  A recovered fumble gave San Jose life only to relinquish it when they were unable to move the ball.  Iowa was in control with one minute left in the game.  Scoring quickly, Iowa had taken a 76-62 lead.  Not backing down, San Jose marched downfield undaunted scoring with 28 ticks left on the clock.  With the score 76-69, a SaberCat onside kick was all that was left.  Recovered by Iowa this wild game had come to an end in favor of the Barnstormers bringing their record to 2-1 and dropping San Jose to a 2-2 season record. 

“It was a game where we had to be good on every possession and there’s games like that in arena football,” said quarterback Mark Grieb after the game.  “We just made too many mistakes.  It’s disappointing.  I don’t know what to say, it’s frustration for me.  I feel like we are better than what we’re playing right now.  We just have to go back and see what we’re doing,” he said.  The frustration he is feeling is clearly etched on his face and with the help of film a lot will be uncovered this upcoming week. 

Coach Darren Arbet felt that they were just outplayed.  “They made more plays than we did.  Our guys fought hard and made a lot of plays tonight but we just didn’t make enough,” he said.

In the fourth quarter the SaberCats had a recovery of a fumble that couldn’ve tied up this game.  When San Jose stalled on that series, unable to make a first down; that sealed the game for Iowa.  “They gave us an opportunity and we didn’t take advantage of it then and that’s one of the reasons we didn’t win the football game,” said Arbet.   

Now standing at 2-2, the San Jose SaberCats will go back to the drawing board.  This is two losses in a row for them, a pattern that they need to break sooner rather than later.  They will be home next Friday night at HP Pavilion taking on the Utah Blaze.  This will be a week of working on getting back on track, getting back to some SaberCat football.

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