San Jose’s winning streak continues
Daniel Frias
Tuesday July 3, 2001
It was deja vu. Just like they did two weeks ago at home against Nashville, the ‘Cats (8-3) defeated the Bobcats (4-7) in overtime Saturday night, 56-55, to extend their winning streak to three.
“We will take a win anyway we can get it,” said SaberCat coach Arbet. “The guys are stepping up when they have to to win football games and that’s the only thing you can ask as a coach.”
WR/DB James Hundon had a huge game. He scored the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown in overtime. On the very first play, he was wide open and caught a 44-yard TD pass from Grieb. Hundon, who played for the XFL’s San Francisco Demons, caught 10 passes for 175 yards and had four TD’s in the game.
I asked Hundon how he got so wide open on the play. He replied, “I’ve been beating them with corner routes a couple of times…” Teammate Shalon Baker immediately laughs and interjects his own theory. “Our offensive coordinator kept calling 10-yard stops all game. So he ran his route like he was going to run a stop-route and dude settled his feet and he burst right by him,” said Baker.
Arbet said, “Hundon has stepped up big. The thing about him is he has a lot of speed and is a good solid receiver. He’s a smart player and he gets open when he has to.”
Some familiar faces were back in the lineup for the ‘Cats. OL/DL Joe Jacobs was back in action. So was his Man/Beast counterpart FB/LB Bob McMillen. (This guy has the biggest calves I’ve ever seen in my life.) Also returning from an injury was the most handsome kicker in all of professional football, Jason Wells.
Wells was a little rusty. He missed the ‘Cat’s first PAT and a field goal, but later found his rhythm and made all his kicks including the PAT that sent the game into OT.
“It feels good to be back,” said Wells. “I’m excited. It ended up being a crucial night for us kicking-wise and I’m glad things went well.”
San Jose’s only rushing TD came just before the end of the third quarter when FB/LB Joey Dozier ran the ball 24 yards to tie the game at 28. After he scored, Dozier did his routine, patented centipede. He does that old-school break dancing move every time he scores. The fans love it, as do I. According to Dozier, he does that move because he wants to do something that the fans will like and they can get into.
Tit was the SaberCat’s secondary that helped keep them in the game. Omar Smith, Tracy Perkins, and Barry Wagner each had one interception apiece and Sam “El Toro” Hernandez chipped in with a QB sack. Pick-off artist Perkins caught his 37th Career INT in the fourth quarter, which puts him in second place for most career INT’s in the AFL.
The ‘Cats showed a lot of heart and determination and were in a catfight once again. They fought their way back to another exciting overtime victory. The Cats will have to continue to step up and fight because they travel to the desert on Friday in what should be a hot-tempered show-down against division-rival Arizona.
Daniel Frias was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2001 to 2002.
