Kats Let One Slip Away in San Jose
Charliy Nash
Monday June 18, 2001
The second half started so differently it almost seemed the two teams had changed uniforms. The Kats’ first possession, kept alive be two big penalty calls, ended with an interception which San Jose easily converted into a touchdown. The next time they got the ball the Kats went three-and-out and had to unsuccessfully try a long field goal. San Jose’s drive was cut short by an Adrian Lunsford (WR/DB) interception which the Kats turned into a touchdown as the third quarter ended.
The fourth quarter saw the 17-point lead evaporate. A late interception led to a San Jose field goal which tied the game at 51-51 as regulation ended.
Nashville won the overtime coin toss, but deferred the first possession to San Jose. Both teams scored touchdowns. Nashville went for the two-point conversion and the win. It took three plays to get the play off. A pass to WR/LB Cory Fleming, in his first game since breaking his ankle in pre-season, resulted in a pass interference penalty. On the next play several players on both sides of the ball moved. A penalty was assessed against Nashville, moving them back ten yards. On the third attempt QB Andy Kelly’s pass to Fleming was perfectly defended, giving the Sabercats the one point win.
Penalties played a big factor in this game, but there was a marked difference in the types of penalties committed by the two teams. Most of the penalties by the Kats were “intensity” penalties on the defense. A few offsides. A few second neutral zone infractions. The kind of mistakes players make when they’re being aggressive. Many of the Sabercats infraction were of the undisciplined variety. A Kats missed field goal turned into a first down because of an outside rush. A sack was negated by one of two facemask penalties. The San Jose defensive backs drew several pass interference penalties attempting to cover OS Tyronne Jones, who has four touchdown catches, and Fleming.
Zebras
There were two controversial calls. A San Jose touchdown was negated when the officials ruled that the ball was trapped off the back wall of the endzone. Watching the replay it looked like WR/DB James Roe might have made the catch before the ball touched the wall, but it was difficult to tell for sure (and very difficult for the officials making the call without the benefit of a replay). The call resulted in the Kats taking over on downs. The other controversy was over a non-call. An endzone pass to Fleming was deflected by WR/LB Shalon Baker, who was playing the jack linebacker position and had clearly left the defensive box early.
Seedings
This weekend’s games changed the map of the Southern division. Arizona’s victory over Tampa Bay opened the door for the Kats, but this loss now moves them behind the Orlando Predators who overcame a 16-point lead by the New York Dragons. If you think that this doesn’t matter because of the new playoff seeding, then you don’t know the Southern division. (Tampa Bay and Orlando are tough to unseat -ed.)
Charliy Nash has covered both incarnations of the Nashville Kats, and now has make the 2 hour drive to Huntsville for an Arena Football fix. He also covers the Tennessee Titans as a blogger for nfl.com and still hopes this will eventually lead to a paying gig.
