Week 17 Preview: Pittsburgh Power vs San Jose SaberCats

Thursday July 11, 2013

 Saturday, July 13 – 7:00 pm EDT
CONSOL Energy Center – Pittsburgh, PA
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1

THE GAME
The Pittsburgh Power (3-12) return home to CONSOL Energy Center this Saturday night for their final home game of the 2013 regular season against the San Jose SaberCats (11-4) of the National Conference West Division. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm EDT.
Last week, the Power traveled to Cleveland and suffered a tough 71-58 loss to their East Division rivals. The SaberCats enter Week 17 of AFL play having clinched a playoff spot last week in their 62-35 win over the San Antonio Talons.
Pittsburgh and San Jose saw each other once already this season in a Week 12 matchup at HP Pavilion. With under a minute left to play the game was tied, 54-54, but two quick touchdowns by San Jose gave them a 68-54 victory.
POWER TO WATCH | OFFENSE
Passing: Two-year AFL veteran quarterback, Steven Sheffield heads the Power offense, completing 61.1% of his passes for 1,878 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Receiving: Wide receiver Mike Washington leads the team with 116 receptions for 1,343 yards and 29 touchdowns. The 3-year AFL veteran has also recorded 3 rushing touchdowns this season for a team high 192 points. In Week 15 against the New Orleans VooDoo, Washington set a franchise single game record for receiving touchdowns with 5. Last week at Cleveland, wide receiver Julian Talley tied that record, catching 8 passes for 127 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 7 games with the Power, Talley has 64 catches for 749 yards and 16 touchdowns.
SABERCATS TO WATCH | OFFENSE
Passing: Five-year AFL veteran quarterback Russ Michna leads San Jose, completing 64.7% of his passes for 2,497 yards and 53 touchdowns. He has also added 4 rushing touchdowns.
Receiving: Former Power wide receiver Jason Willis leads the SaberCats receiving with 103 catches for 1,292 yards and 31 touchdowns for a team high 188 points. Earning Week 16 Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game and J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors, wide receiver Fred Williams also proves a threat on San Jose’s offense with 91 catches for 1,175 yards and 20 touchdowns.
POWER TO WATCH | DEFENSE
Defense: Three-year AFL veteran defensive back Sergio Gilliam leads the team’s defensive efforts with 80.5 tackles, 19 pass breakups, and 6 interceptions (including 3 returned for touchdowns). Also contributing are jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson (60 tackles and 2 interceptions) and defensive back Chris LeFlore (59 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions) also contribute to Pittsburgh’s defense.
SABERCATS TO WATCH | DEFENSE
Defense: Earning Week 16 Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, Cutters Catch of the Game, and AFL Highlight of the Game honors is defensive back Clevan Thomas. The 7-year AFL veteran currently leads the AFL in interceptions with 11. Defensive back Ken Fontenette has a team high 84 tackles.
POWER TO WATCH | SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick Returns: Defensive back Chris LeFlore has 56 kick returns for 974 yards and 2 touchdowns.
SABERCATS TO WATCH | SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick Returns: Wide receiver Fred Williams has 44 returns for 884 yards and 2 touchdowns.
UP NEXT
The Power travel to Tampa Bay next Saturday, July 20 to take on the Storm at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The game will be broadcast on TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk and kickoff is at 7:30 pm EDT.
For continuous updates of players, games, and Power news follow the team on social media @AFLPittsburgh. For live in-game updates follow @PowerGameday.