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The Turnover That Never Came “I just think we need to worry about us and getting better.”---Quarterback Mark Grieb
It’s been a bit of a slow start for the defending Arena Bowl Champion San Jose SaberCats. While this is nothing new for the team, it’s not the ideal way to start the season. Or is it? In year’s past the team has struggled in the early goings only to finish the season like gangbusters. In a game I call “the humblizer” (as if there is any such word) the Chicago Rush peppered the Cats forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them beating them handily 70-47 in the 2008 season opener. San Jose came back the next week and eeked out a win against Grand Rapids 66-58 to pull even at 1-1. Last week in their home opener the SaberCats won by a score of 63-43 over the Arizona Rattlers in a game that should have yielded quite a few more points. The record of 4 successful field goals by A.J. Haglund showed his competency and importance to the team, however at least two of those drives should have resulted in 7 points. Success in the red zone is vitally important to the success of any team. Saturday night, San Jose faced their toughest opponent in this young season as they took on the undefeated Dallas Desperados. These two teams have not met since the 2005 season in which San Jose came away the victor 83-71. Dallas was first up on the board with a Josh White rush for 1 yard, however, San Jose answered tying the game at 7 when Mark Grieb’s quarterback sneak resulted in a saunter into the end zone from the 3-yard line. This was his first touchdown run of the season. With 47 seconds left in the first quarter Dallas’ Marcus Nash found the end zone for the second time in the game handing San Jose a bit of a bonus when they missed the extra point attempt. Dallas led at this point 13-7. The second quarter saw San Jose take the lead 14-13 on a Grieb to Cleannord Saintil pass for 7 yards and the touchdown. The Desperados pulled back into the lead 20-14 when Will Pettis rushed for 3 yards and the score. With 3:43 left in the half Mark Grieb connected with Jason Geathers for a 10-yard catch in the end zone and a slim 21-20 lead. The San Jose lead was extinguished when Dallas’ Chris Sanders connected with Marcus Nash however the Desperados extra point attempt failed for the second time in the half and the score stood at 26-21. With 55 seconds left in the half, Dallas’ attempted on-side kick was recovered by San Jose on the Dallas 3 yard line. A holding penalty pushed San Jose back out to the 14 yard line. Two plays later, both plays passes to Cleannord Saintil resulted in a 28-26 lead for the SaberCats. With 28 seconds left on the clock San Jose had to keep Dallas out of the end zone. The SaberCats defense held Dallas and the Desperados were forced to go for the field goal which put them in the lead at the half 29-28. Having won the coin toss, Dallas had chosen to receive in the second half. The Desperados went to work and mid-way through the third quarter, took their lead to 35-28 when Anthony Armstrong caught a 13-yard pass from Chris Sanders. For the third time in the game the extra point failed. The next San Jose series culminated in a one-yard rush into the end zone by San Jose fullback Brian Johnson tying up the game at 35 with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
It was a disappointed James Roe that stopped for a few words after the game. “Each team has got to find it’s own identity. Last year, it took us awhile,” he said. “This year we are still trying to find it but we’ll get it together. Dallas played a good game. They’ve got some good players over there that I have a lot of respect for and they came to play. They came out and made one play more than we did.” He did praise his team for their never quit attitude. “It shows a lot of character, we never feel that we are out of it.” He felt good about the game plan and the preparation that the coaches came into this game with. “They just made one extra play. That field goal that Remy hit was real big.” Roe finished with 7 catches, 83 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Grieb felt that the team started out a bit rough. “I thought we played pretty well. I thought we matched their intensity and actually I thought that we had more intensity to be quite honest. They executed well and the margin for error was very small and we made one or two too many,” he said. “I think we just need to worry about us and getting better.” He admits that the team has been in this position before, struggling to find the answers in the early going. “I don’t think it’s a time for panic. I think it’s time to question what we are doing and are we doing the right things.” Grieb finished the game with 356 yards and 6 touchdowns, also turning in one rushing score. Offensive Player of the game honors went to San Jose’s Cleannord Saintil who hauled in a record 18 catches for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns. The team will now travel to Kansas City for their next game followed by a trip to the “Big Easy” to take on the New Orleans VooDoo.
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By
Barbara Mason Bay Area Sports/Raiderdrive.com