L.A. Facelift Still Not Enough
Dave Harwood
Wednesday May 15, 2002
Without OS Chris Jackson in the Avenger lineup due to injury, the Avengers focused the offense around Dukes. On Dukes first carry of the night, he lumbered for a 39-yard rushing score. Dukes later returned a kickoff for a 56-yard score and capped off his night with a one-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. That was pretty much it, as the Avengers scored only 10 more points over the remaining 30 minutes as Dukes was contained by the Saber Cats in the second-half.
Dukes returned to the AFL after a two-year absence in which he attended numerous NFL training camps. Who would not want Dukes.... other than the NFL? Dukes nearly became the AFL`s all-time leading rusher with 803 yards in his first three seasons in the AFL from 1996 to 1998, then with the Albany Firebirds. Dukes ran for 364 yards two straight seasons in 1997 and 1998. He seemed destined to play in the NFL, but after attending mini-camps from one side of the country to the other, Dukes found that to have a productive football career, the AFL was his best option.
The Avengers could run all night if they wanted; it still was not going to stop the Saber Cats. L.A. controlled the game clock (38 minutes to 22) through out the game, but the Saber Cats scored quickly and often as they produced points on all of their drives in the first half (7 for 7). The Saber Cats scored on 12 of 13 drives in all while Los Angeles scored on 7 of 14 drives, 2 for 6 in the second half. To show how explosive the `Cats were on Saturday, eight of San Jose`s 12 scoring drives used up 1:30 or less on the clock (And remember the clock is always moving).
Thanks to the failure of the XFL, the Saber Cats offensive core is back for a full-year. If you remember, Grieb and Hundon were AFL-AWOL last year as they sought one more attempt at the `outdoor` version of the game (whatever that is) in the XFL. Grieb and Hundon have made huge contributions offensively for the Saber Cats. Grieb is re-writing the AFL`s passing formula as he is currently at a 138.0 clip with 25 touchdowns and no interceptions. Hundon is second in all receiving categories in the league with 35 catches for 513 yards and 13 touchdowns.
On the defensive side, game MVP OL/DL Sam Hernandez recorded two sacks and moved to 51.5 for his career. Ironman honors were given to Omar Smith who contributed with a key tackle-for-loss, along with five total tackles and a receiving touchdown.
With the game in hand after the third quarter, our focus up in the rafters was such notable stats as: "The Saber Cats are now 4-0 in coin-tosses that they have won,” and "Each coin toss the Saber Cats have won, they have deferred to the second half.”
In other stats for San Jose, it was the seventh straight victory at home dating back to last season. Also, the 78 points were the most the Saber Cats have scored all season.
The Saber Cats remain the only undefeated team in the league and travel to Orlando (1-3) while the Avengers will look to regroup at home against the Tampa Bay Storm (1-3).
Dave Harwood was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2001 to 2003.
