SaberCats Defense Keys 58-43 Victory
Tim Ball
Sunday February 8, 2004
You know, there’s a bet as to who was getting the first interception return of the season. With Clevan Thomas and Omarr Smith back together in the same defensive backfield, it would have to be one of them, right? Well, it’s time to pay up, but not to one of those speedsters. The honor (and cash) goes to 300-pound lineman Chuck Reed in what should be in the finals for the play of the year.
Just before halftime, as Detroit was threatening to take the lead in a 28-28 slugfest, Reed read the play, then reached out and behind him to paw-swat and catch a sneaky sidearm throw from Detroit Fury quarterback Andy Kelly.
With ball in arm and 38 yards to a touchdown, Reed made a run for it. And the big lineman and San Jose never looked back in a 58-43 victory over Detroit.
“I really wasn’t anticipating the pass, but that’s a simple arena play that happens early in the season,” Reed said to the Mercury News.
On making the athletic interception Reed continued, “I was surprised when I caught it. Then, when I turned around, nobody was there. That’s about the fastest I’ve run in awhile.”
So what about the rest of the game?
Detroit kept pace with San Jose until the dark cloud of defense loomed large and, unfortunately for the home crowd, the problem was that what rained down was on the wrong jersey.
History
Detroit boasts an amazing quarterback. Kelly ranks number one all time in touchdown passes with well over five hundred (that’s 500-plus!) and his very name causes nausea to every season ticket holder in San Jose.
Kelly, then with the Nashville Cats, knocked the SaberCats out of the playoffs in 2000 and 2001, and then ended San Jose’s 18-game home winning streak last year when the Fury came to town and shocked San Jose.
The SaberCats would have had a long night with Kelly in the driver’s seat if given the chance. By keeping Kelly backing up, San Jose allowed the Fury only fifteen points the entire second half.
Current events
Prior to Reed’s interception near the end of the second quarter, the Fury answered every San Jose score. Detroit’s WR/LB Junior Lord led his team with nine catches for 78 yards and one touchdown, and had some early success against San Jose defenders.
Coming out for the second half, it was not Detroit that unleashed the fury. Once defensive specialists Thomas and Smith found their rhythm in the second half, their excellence set up the turnovers that sealed Detroit’s fate. At one point in the fourth quarter, Smith defended three straight pass attempts to Lord, and San Jose took over on downs.
And later, when Kelly pressed his luck once too often against Smith, the back-to-back ArenaBowl champion came up with his first interception of the year.
Overall, the SaberCats lived up to their “every man on every play” work ethic.
Wide receiver/linebacker Barry Wagner increased his career totals by scoring a TD on a rushing play and simply outshone every player in the game with brilliant special teams coverage. On returns, wide receiver/defensive back Rasheid Davis showcased his blazing speed, while Thomas, when given his only chance, came up one yard short of a touchdown.
Receiver James Roe caught two touchdowns and threw a six-yard pass to offensive specialist James Hundon for his first score of the season. Fullback Kevin Buck rushed for two touchdowns and quarterback Mark Grieb was typically efficient, completing 16 of 20 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Other than having to endure three sacks, Grieb cruised through the game with the luxury of seeing the defense take control with “rules legend” defender Sam Hernandez living up to his reputation by forcing and recovering a Kelly fumble.
San Jose’s solid special teams play kept Kelly and the Fury on a longer field, and rookie kicker Dan Frantz settled in quickly and committed few mistakes. Frantz completed his debut by making one field goal from 24 yards out and completed six of seven PAT’s. Not bad for a kicker replacing league stalwart and SaberCats fan favorite Daron Alcorn.
Just chilling
San Jose gets a bye week to work on pass protection and await a trip to Los Angeles to play the division rival Avengers in what could easily be an ArenaBowl preview.
While things certainly went well for the SaberCats in the season opener, the Fury looked good enough times to make the coaching staff replay and replay game films. With the new playoff format and league talent, there can be little room for weakness.
On Sunday we will see where it all begins. Some teams will join the SaberCats in the win column and others will join the ranks of the motivated. But one thing is for sure; SaberCats fans will still be talking about Reed’s interception.
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.
