There’s No Place Like Home for the San Jose SaberCats

We didn’t make plays when we had to and that’s the whole story.”---Coach Darren Arbet

By Barbara Mason BASD/Raiderdrive.com 3/14/06
Published and crested by Larry Garcia

Things did not go very well for the San Jose SaberCats in their season home-opener 6 weeks ago.  They lost ace James Roe (left) to a concussion however he is back stronger than ever and now becomes San Jose’s go-to-man for the offense.  Taking on the hapless Los Angeles Avengers Sunday, last year’s division winner, San Jose desperately needed this win to remain competitive within the Western division. Veteran Barry Wagner was also back in action, which gave the team even more depth.

It’s a shame that the team can’t rub those ruby red slippers together and magically reverse those losses that they suffered out on the road.  Even if they could, there is not a single SaberCat that would have it that way.  They want to win the old-fashion way, and that is to earn it.  So far this season the team has struggled putting them in a position that is foreign to them.  San Jose is coming off a division win against Utah having made eight stops in that game, and it would appear that the team is finally coming around. 

Despite quarterback Mark Grieb throwing 8 touchdown passes for 395 yards, it was just not enough.  Veteran Barry Wagner turned in 200 yards on returns making him the all-time leader in gaining all-purpose yards, yet the team faltered. On paper it seemed that San Jose had all the right stuff for the victory.  Every time San Jose struck, Los Angeles answered cashing in on several costly errors made by the SaberCats, and coming away with a 75-61 victory.

This was a game full of opportunity for San Jose however mistakes proved costly for the SaberCats.  They went into the locker room at half time trailing 28-37.  A completed pass to James Roe in the second quarter that would have put the team into a scoring position was coughed up and a botched on side kick gave Los Angeles, who recovered it, a quick score.  It was Los Angeles who took full advantage of the mistakes in the first half of this game.  “We came out good in the beginning, and then we didn’t play well the last three quarters.  We didn’t make plays when we had to and that’s the whole story,” explained Coach Arbet.  “We didn’t play well in all three phases of the game and anytime you don’t do that, you could lose the football game, and that’s what we did today,” he said.

While the SaberCats were keeping stride with Los Angeles in the second half, they were unable to make up the deficit that had them trailing at the half.  The SaberCats did so much right.  James Roe had 4 touchdowns accumulating 156 yards and the offensive player of the game.  Mark Grieb threw 8 touchdown passes.  It seem that the turning point in the game occurred when the SaberCats let go of the lead they had going in the first half and fell to an eleven-point disparity at the half. It was an uphill battle for the team the rest of the game. The SaberCats had a chance to tie it up in the waning minutes, however Mark Grieb was unable to find anyone open and Los Angeles took over with less than a minute left in the game.  With 2 ticks left on the clock, the Avengers added insult to injury with the final score by Los Angeles’ Tony Locke.  Both teams now stand at 2-5 residing in the basement of the Western Division.  If there is a bright spot in San Jose’s future, it’s the fact that the three teams that hold first place are a mere one game ahead of San Jose and Los Angeles. 

Quarterback Mark Grieb spoke of the squandered opportunities in this game.  “We had a chance to tie the game up and we didn’t do it.  That’s disappointing from an offensive standpoint.  You can score 9 out of 10 times, but if you don’t score that 10^th time then you’ve got something to work on,” he said.  He also alluded to the fact that at this point in the season they are only one game out of first place.  “Nothing is insurmountable right now and I think it’s easy to start getting down about things record wise.  We have pretty good reason to be down about it to be honest with you but we’re not that far off.  You just play it to the end.  It would be foolish for us at this point to get too down on ourselves.  We’re still in it,” he said.  Grieb’s take on the whole thing is that the team is not that far away.

A downcast yet determined James Roe as always gave thanks to his Lord.  The strength he has in his faith had seen him through many a tough time.  Despite being named the offensive player of the game, it was bittersweet for him.  He shouldered some of the blame for the loss referring to the turnover he made.  “It’s a tough one.  You work so hard, and my hat goes off to LA.  They came and did what they had to do,” Roe explained.  “That fumble that I had kind of turned things around and it hurts.  That was very big,” he said. 

The San Jose SaberCats have less than a week to get ready for their next game.  Their next rival will be the Georgia Force this coming Friday night March 12th at HP Pavilion, kickoff at 7:30.

Despite the outcome of this game, the San Jose SaberCats still feel that there is no place like home.  They hate to disappoint their fans with losses, this one being their second home loss this season.  There are three things, however, that the fans can be proud of when it comes to the San Jose SaberCats, things that are a given. This team has that which would make the Wizard of Oz himself proud, and the scarecrow, the tin man and the cowardly lion green with envy.  They play with a lot of heart, a lot of smarts and most importantly of all; they always play with a lot of courage. 

A special thanks to the SaberCats Organization from Bay Area Sports Drive!