SaberCats Dispatch Rattlers 77-70 in Thriller in the Desert
Sunday May 6, 2012
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The San Jose SaberCats (6-2) dispatched the Arizona Rattlers (5-3) 77-70, in front of 9,280 fans at the US Airways Center in a thriller on Saturday night in Phoenix, Ariz. Quarterback Mark Grieb passed two significant milestones tonight, moving into sole possession of second place and passing Clint Dolezel all-time for passing yardage, and into third place all-time (passing former Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner) for all-time passing touchdowns. He now has 861 touchdowns in his career. The former UC-Davis quarterback finished his night completing 30-39 passes for 388 yards and seven touchdowns. San Jose sweeps the season series, and moves into a first place tie with their opponent next Friday night, the Utah Blaze.
The Rattlers opened the scoring on their first possession when quarterback Nick Davila found wide receiver Kerry Reed for a 13-yard scoring strike, and Arizona led 7-0 early. Grieb responded with a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ben Nelson to knot things at seven. Davila hit Reed once more, this time from 11 yards out to take the lead back midway through the first quarter.
Grieb moved into sole possession of third on the all-time touchdown list with the 856th of his illustrious career, passing Bonner when he found a wide open Nelson on a nine-yard scoring toss. Davila threw his third touchdown of the first quarter as he picked out Maurice Purify down the sideline for a 45-yard score, and Arizona led 21-14. On the last play of scrimmage in the quarter, San Jose leveled things again, as fullback Tommy Taggart scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season.
Davila connected with Purify for a second score, this time from ten yards, and the back and forth battle continued, with the Rattlers moving on top 28-21. Grieb found wide receiver Hank Edwards, who was streaking down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown. The teams traded scores once again, as Davila found Purify for the third time on the night and Grieb connected with Samora Goodson for a 14-yard touchdown, tying things at 35. Arizona found the end zone on fullback Odie Armstrong’s five-yard scoring run, and after a successful onside kick, the Rattlers scored again with just 18 seconds remaining in the half as Davila and Purify hooked up for the fourth time, pushing Arizona’s lead to 49-35.
San Jose came out firing in the second half, scoring on their first possession, as Grieb picked out an uncovered Edwards to pull San Jose within one score at 49-42. Purify caught his fifth touchdown of the game to push the lead back to 14, at 56-42. Edwards then scored from one-yard out for his first rushing touchdown as a member of the SaberCats, but on the final play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Davila threw his eighth touchdown on the night to wide receiver Glen Fox, to push the lead to 63-49 after three.
SaberCats offensive lineman Mark Lewis scored for the sixth consecutive game, running it in from four yards to cut the lead in half. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball caromed off of the net and into the waiting arms of SaberCats defensive back Ruschard Dodd-Masters in the end zone for the tying touchdown with 12:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. San Jose grabbed its first lead of the night following an interception by Dodd-Masters when Grieb found wide receiver James Roe for an 11-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Arizona responded with another Armstrong rushing score, this from six yards out to knot things at 70.
San Jose took the lead back when Grieb picked out Goodson for a nine-yard touchdown with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter to put them on top 77-70. San Jose recovered an onside kick, but Arizona was able to come up with a defensive stop, and took over on downs on the San Jose eight yard line with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Gabe Nyenhuis sacked Davila and forced a fumble, recovered by linebacker Francis Maka, to seal the San Jose victory.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
San Jose SaberCats .. 21 14 14 28 - 77
Arizona Rattlers .. 21 28 14 7 - 70
ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SABERCATS
The ArenaBowl XVI, XVIII and XXI champion San Jose SaberCats, opened their 16th season in the Arena Football League Saturday night. Fans and sponsors can go to thesanjosesabercats.com or call 408-673-3400 to sign up to receive the latest news and updates about the SaberCats, as well as to purchase 2012 season tickets. Make sure to follow the SaberCats on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news on the team.
