San Jose Shows Its True Colors

“Just looking at them, I knew they were going to win that game.”--Coach Darren Arbet

By Barbara Mason-7/13/08
Bay Area Sports Drive Magazine (Visit our SaberCats vs. Rapids playoff photo gallery)

Photos by Andy Lopusnak of Bay Area Sports Drive

It started with an interception; not a very pretty way to start.  The game that the San Jose SaberCats played the rest of the half however was beyond pretty, in fact it was close to the perfect game that Coach Darren Arbet has been looking for all season.  Saturday afternoon San Jose took on the Grand Rapids Rampage at HP Pavilion in the Conference finals, with the winner moving on to the “Big Easy” for ArenaBowl XXII.  

In the absence of the injured James Roe; Gene Frederic, Jason Geathers, Cleannord Saintil, Brian Johnson, and Rodney Wright put it all together, stepping up to put their team ahead at the half 38-14.  Both Clevan Thomas and Omarr Smith had picks with Smith very nearly intercepting a second time as the final minute of the half ticked away.  It was push-up time for Smith; that’s how close it was.

At this point, one could almost smell the jambalaya, hear the jazz, and feel the oppressive heat that belongs to New Orleans.  That was almost because this was arena football and there was an entire half yet to be played. Anyone who knows the game, knows that it is not over until the final tick of the clock has expired.

The Rampage came out in the second half with a kickoff return for the touchdown putting San Jose on notice that they were hardly finished.  San Jose answered later in the third quarter with Omarr Smith’s second interception of the game after a Grand Rapids hold on 4^th down.  Through three quarters, San Jose seemed to have all the answers leading by the score of 48-28. 

Each time that Grand Rapids showed signs of climbing back into the game, San Jose sent them sliding backwards.  With San Jose leading 48-35 in the fourth quarter, the Rampage’s attempted onside kick failed and San Jose’s Clevan Thomas not only recovered the ball, but romped into the end zone for a 55-35 San Jose lead. 

With just over 4:00 minutes left in the game, Grand Rapids tried their second onside kick of the game that was again recovered by San Jose.  With five interceptions in this game, San Jose proved to be more than the Rampage could handle.  Omarr Smith had three of the five picks in this game giving San Jose the victory and their second trip to New Orleans for another crack at an ArenaBowl title.

When it seemed all but over, it was Jason Geathers who rubbed the Rampage’s face in it when he intercepted number 5 running it back for the score with 6 seconds left in the game and a 81-55 final.

It was as near to that perfect game that Coach Darren Arbet has been looking for this season.  Cleannord Saintil had five touchdowns, Jason Geathers had four, Gene Frederic had the very first touchdown of his career, Clevan Thomas had a touchdown and kicker A.J. Haglund kicked two field goals while being close to perfect on extra points missing only one.

One of the bright spots on this team was missing in action in the person of James Roe.  Still nursing a knee injury suffered in last week’s game, Roe took on a different role.  He was on the sidelines encouraging, teaching and supporting his team.  While admitting disappointment in not being able to play, the fact remains that he had so much to do with the success of this year’s team and bringing them back to New Orleans.  “The team looked good today.  They picked it up big time,” said Roe after the game.  “My hat goes off to everyone who played.  Jason Geathers played tremendously and looked so good today,” he said.  “It just hurts so much because you’re used to being out there, but they got the victory that’s the most important thing.”

“Mr Cool”, quarterback Mark Grief threw with 80% accuracy in the game with 8 touchdowns.  “This team (Grand Rapids) has scored eighty to ninety points a game and so for our defense to hold them to 55 points that’s big time,” said Grieb.  This guy is heading back to another Arena Bowl and stands a very good chance at winning another MVP award, and another car, and where in the world is he going to be keeping all these vehicles.  He is looking forward to another go in two weeks and feel that he is living a dream right now.  “It’s great.  I get a chance to do something that people dream about doing and I love it.  I love the guys that I play with everyday.  I get the chance to play for a championship and some people never even get one.”

“The guys came in today with such great focus,” said a beaming Coach Darren Arbet.  “Just looking at them, I knew they were going to win that game. They believed in themselves and got it done.”

With five touchdowns in this game, rookie Cleannord Saintil has made an indelible mark in the league this year.  Heading for his first ArenaBowl in his rookie year is remarkable enough in itself and coupled with how he has played, it has be very nearly unprecedented.  “I felt like I needed to step up because James Roe wasn’t playing,” he said.  “That kind of motivated me to come out and play the way I played.  It feels good and all I am worrying about right now is to go to New Orleans and bring one back for San Jose.”  He feels blessed and privileged to be playing arena football. 

The game that had started off rather sloppy for the SaberCats finished in true San Jose style.   They had shown their true colors, those of a team that fights adversity and comes out on top.  It’s now off to ArenaBowl XXII for San Jose and a shot at something that has not been done very often: back-to-back ArenaBowl championships.