San Jose Doesn`t Disappoint
Tim Ball
Tuesday June 3, 2003
The players on the field were tense and rehearsing their parts, while kids and parents filtered in to find their seats. The place was filling with excitement only found in uncertain anticipation.
SaberCats players to a man knew the twelfth seeded Georgia Force was no team to take lightly. Having already beaten Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and winning against San Jose in week three, there weren’t many smiles during pre-game warm-ups. Even from happy-faced Keala Keanaaina and Matt Kinsinger.
“We’re prepared for the man-on-man match-ups, but in the playoffs you have to rise to a different level,” said defensive coordinator Michael Church. “Every opportunity becomes bigger because there is no tomorrow. One fumble, one missed tackle and you’re watching the next game on TV. Georgia proved all they needed too with the win in Dallas.”
Coach Church did have his defense ready. Georgia’s excellence was evident as rookie quarterback Leon Murray drove the length of the field on the opening drive of the game but needed six minutes on eight plays for the touchdown.
It took San Jose one play to even the score. SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb found OS James Hundon on a short pass and the speedy receiver did the rest. Then the preparation coach Church talked about went into effect.
After the ensuing kickoff, Georgia went four and out as all four of Murray’s passes came up empty. Within two minutes, the Force found themselves in SaberCats-Land. Also known as the red zone. In SaberCats-Land, all visitors have to walk backwards.
Georgia had a shakeup earlier this season at quarterback but had found their man.
“They have a great rush,” said quarterback Leon Murray. “Their DB’s did a great job of covering and the combination and got it done for them today. They came out and played hard.”
“They made plays all game long. They executed on offense and we couldn’t stop them. We usually hold people to fewer than fifty points a game. That was the difference,” said Darryl Hammond. “We did not play our best tonight, plain and simple.”
Six TD Superstar performance
WR/DB Kevin McKenzie, say it six times. Then say touchdown a half a dozen times as well. While the San Jose veterans went about business against the Georgia Force, McKenzie, a second year player in the AFL and first-year with San Jose, was putting his name in the record books by scoring six touchdowns.
McKenzie (5’-11”, 193, Washington St.) scored his first touchdown of the night on a six-yard pass that had the SaberCats never looking back. All eyes would be on McKenzie by game’s end. With the talented Georgia players never too far away from the lead, it was McKenzie who kept them that way.
McKenzie scored on short runs (one yard and two yards), a short passes and long passes (6, 45, 40,) and when the chance to receive a kickoff was presented in the second quarter, McKenzie went “coast to coast” virtually untouched.
“Sometimes it falls your way,” said McKenzie in the understatement of the season. “You have to make the most out of the opportunities when your number is called. The preparation in practice pays off. When you go against the guys I have to face in practice, it definitely gets you ready. It was me tonight but we have the guys on this team that it could have been someone else just as easily.”
Mobbed by fans and media after the game, McKenzie has come a long way in a short time. Since being acquired from the Florida Bobcats in the dispersal draft before the start of the 2003 season, McKenzie has bided his time. Wearing number 80 on a team where most of the superstars have a single number, fans who didn’t know him before the game want his autograph on every T-shirt and hat.
Long road to success
McKenzie exemplifies the team concept of head coach Darren Arbet and staff. Players want to play -- they’re not on the team as window dressing. Frustration of competitive and highly conditioned athletes waiting their turn is overcome by the realization of commitment to excellence and teamwork.
This has brought as much controversy to San Jose as division championship banners. What is seen as an unfair advantage by a team that employs and retains talent is really the willingness of athletes of wanting to be a part of a great team rather than seeking individual greatness.
Georgia Force head coach Marty Lowe and his entire staff fielded questions after the game. Seated together in the visitor’s locker room, all coaches were looking up with the pride of knowing that they and their team gave it their best through good times and bad times.
“San Jose has players that have been together a long time,” said Lowe. “They have a core group of guys and manage to add a few players each season that fit the team. Their maturity helps them when it counts. That’s a big part of success.”
While next year awaits the Georgia Force, this year wasn’t that bad either. With multiple quarterback changes, Murray emerged as a formidable and talented rookie that may be just what Lowe needs to get to the ArenaBowl. One of the scariest 8-8 teams in history and with league legend Darryl Hammond reportedly coming back next season, things are bright indeed for the Force.
Big feet step up
San Jose beat Georgia the way all good football games are decided. Star players run around getting all the credit while the lineman hardly get noticed. But on the field, linemen are the masters of power where those that ignore them get crushed.
Yes, McKenzie had a great day. And Grieb and his cast of offensive superstars didn’t disappoint. But two of the best lines in the league took to the field to have it out. Georgia’s top-ranked linemen had just bested the Dallas line, who are the pride of the Desperados franchise. Needless to say, San Jose’s big men had their work cut out for them.
It was here that the game was decided. From Georgia’s second possession on, San Jose had the Force on the run and didn’t stop driving them back until the game was over.
“They have a strong line. That’s why they are where they’re at,” said FB/LB Matt Kinsinger. “We managed to get the momentum and never let it get away. Against a team with such a good line it’s a matter of who is going to tire first. Our guys up front kept driving them back on their heels.”
OL/DL Sam Hernandez, the AFL’s all-time sack leader, added two more. “It’s crunch time and all that,” said a smiling Hernandez. “They didn’t back off and neither did we.”
“It was a good win in that we faced a great team,” said OL/DL Frank Beede. “They’re powerful and fast and there is no time you can let up. These are the kinds of wins you can be proud of.”
“We got it done from wire to wire against a great team,” said an always-smiling FB/LB Keala Keanaaina. “We know how good Georgia is and we responded to each possession with no let up. If you let this kind of team in the game you’re in for a long day.”
Loyal supporters
From season ticket holders to first time visitors, the SaberCats didn’t disappoint the crowd.
Sitting in the front row just left of center in the endzone, Scott Hunter and friends Frank Julienne and Tim Brewer are spirited and fun guys who rise to bash forearms after every good SaberCats turn of events.
“We’ve been here through a lot of years,” said seat owner Scott Hunter. “I don’t like nail-biters. Georgia is one of those teams that keep you worried the whole game. I’m glad today wasn’t one of them.”
Traveling a hundred miles (one way) to make in his first Arena Football game was Soledad High School athletic director and head coach Jim Lockwood and children Ryan 8, and Kristen 5. “I’ve watched on TV this year but seeing the game live is fantastic,” said Lockwood. “Both Georgia and San Jose have outstanding players but San Jose’s line just wore down Georgia. The SaberCats are everything I heard they were.”
Leaning on the barriers at the end of the game, Ryan was hunting for players while little Kristen was searching for SaberKittens’ dancers for autographs. “This is a great aspect of the arena game,” continued a fatherly Lockwood. “Both my kids enjoy this as much as I do.”
Just then other smiles entered the picture as Keala Keanaaina and Matt Kinsinger walked by.
Historic playoffs
Next up for San Jose are their true rivals, the Arizona Rattlers. Since San Jose’s inaugural season, only the SaberCats or the Rattlers have been the Western Division champions. As for that other game, Orlando and Tampa Bay have played in or won all but five ArenaBowls.
However, while the War on I-4 takes place in Florida, the Best in the West will be going at it in California.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
