SaberCats and Storm Showcase Arena Football excitement…
Tim Ball
Monday April 29, 2002
SaberCats 61, Storm 54. This is what Arena Football is all about, two teams scoring on virtually every opportunity, the game hanging on every play and on every second, making it impossible to leave your seat.
Different paths. Same direction
Both head coaches choosing opposite offensive strategies made for an exciting game. With San Jose’s Darren Arbet letting it fly from the coin toss and Tampa Bay’s Tim Marcum keeping the SaberCats off the field by using time-consuming drives kept the game surprisingly even.
In the first half, San Jose scored 28 points in just under six minutes of possession. Tampa Bay scored 30 points using 24 minutes. The Storm mixed it up with short passes and strong running plays and the SaberCats used a blitzkrieg passing attack of blazing speed and accuracy.
Quarterback challenge
Both quarterbacks led their teams with consistency and determination and their players responded in kind. Tampa Bay’s back-up quarterback Shane Stafford starting in place of injured John Kaleo performed excellently, even scoring a rushing touchdown. His only real error of the night was a costly interception to eventual game hero Bob McMillen, with only minutes left in the game. Stafford finished the game 24 of 41 for 270 yards with one interception.
San Jose’s Mark Grieb was impressive throughout the entire game. His use of precision pass plays and quick scores never slowed down from beginning to end. Hitting Reese, Hundon and Wagner for touchdowns in the first half, almost every pass hit the receiver in stride. It’s understandable to see why Storm coach Marcum didn’t want San Jose to have many possessions. Seeing what worked in the first half, Grieb went to the same three receivers for touchdown passes in the second half. Grieb was 17 of 24 for 334 yards on a night which saw his team on the field a combined 16 ˝ minutes.
Though employing different strategies, Grieb and Stafford kept their teams in position to win going in to the last two minutes of the game.
Fate steps in
Bob McMillen was given an opportunity that could only be produced in Arena Football. As fullback/linebacker McMillen plays both sides of the ball. This unique feature of AFL games set the stage for a unlikely and dramatic game-winning touchdown.
Quarterback Mark Grieb hit the fullback McMillen with a quick pass out of the backfield with only minutes left in the game for what looked to be for short yards, when McMillen broke loose and had nothing but daylight to the endzone. Defensive specialist Keita Crespina sprinted up behind McMillen and punched the ball out of the stunned running backs arms just two strides from the goal line. The ball bounded out of the endzone for a touchback and possession of the ball going to Tampa Bay for what should have been the game’s last drive.
Employing the same strategy that held the lead in the first half, head coach Marcum called for short plays to drive down the field and eat up the clock in the last minutes of the game. San Jose looked powerless to stop the inevitable Mike Black game-winning field goal and called for timeouts to stop the Storm’s momentum. Stafford went for a short pass toward the SaberCats goal line where linebacker Bob McMillen jumped up and intercepted the pass, broke two tackles and ran the length of the field (protecting the ball with both arms) diving headlong into the endzone for the go ahead and eventual game winning touchdown.
Alcorn again.
With plenty of time left for Tampa Bay to tie the game on the ensuing possession, San Jose kicker Daron Alcorn made sure it wouldn’t be easy. The Storm had been wreaking havoc on kickoff returns earlier in the game, so Alcorn promptly launched a 58-yard plus kickoff that split the uprights and fell out of the back of the endzone for a touchback. The unreturnable kick forced the Storm into driving the length of the field against the SaberCats fired-up defense.
The Storm misfired on the next four plays on the ensuing possession and went four-and-out, handing San Jose their first victory over Tampa Bay in team history. Bringing San Jose’s overall record between the teams to one win to five losses.
Rookie and veteran.
San Jose rookie Clevan Thomas shined once again. Thomas tied an AFL record with a kickoff return of 58 yards to give the SaberCats their second touchdown of the game and had a sensational return called back on an illegal block in the back penalty. The rookie smothered the Storm receivers the entire game, virtually eliminating the long ball threat. The SaberCats defensive specialist, though having some difficulty handling balls off the nets, (a skill a player can only learn from experience) proved he is here to stay.
Not to be outdone, (as if anyone could) AFL superstar and 11-year veteran Barry Wagner was involved in almost every play in this game, receiving Ironman of the Game honors. A native of the Tampa area (and former Orlando Predator), Wagner proved convincingly why he’s disliked by Storm fans. On one quick pass to the right side of the field, Wagner made a sharp cutback across the width of the field and scored on the left side of the endzone. After exchanging some words with frustrated Storm players after the score, Wagner was penalized for spiking the ball towards the Tampa players with the ball sailing into the stands. Wagner finished with three touchdowns on five receptions for 85 yards.
Every play, every player.
Head coach Darren Arbet has stressed continuity from the beginning of preseason. What he stressed late in the second half when his team started to forget this was R-Rated. Arbet was wearing a microphone for the NBC affiliate covering the game for the Bay area. In a moment of refocusing the team to the task at hand, Arbet momentarily chose drill sergeant motivational techniques. They netted results. The SaberCats never lost sight of the objective from then on, even when severe disappointment struck when McMillen fumbled the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The team rallied behind McMillen and the emotionally wounded fullback/linebacker came through in a big way.
In 19:10 of total possession time, the San Jose SaberCats scored 61 points. That’s one point for every 19 seconds. (19x60+10=1150 seconds divided by 61). That’s 94 ˝ points per game average, but who’s counting?
SaberCats go to Church.
All of the four Sabercats victories (including preseason) had defense as a key to clinching or outright winning the game. Defensive coach Michael Church was brought in for just this purpose. In a league where every team has explosive and fast players, defense will be the factor in reaching and being successful in the playoffs.
Since Church’s return, the SaberCats defense has shown a tenacity and focus that has been more than a little impressive. Led by Wagner and Thomas, these two players from opposite sides of AFL experience are highlighting the start of a season of great promise.
Costly mistakes.
The only drawback to this SaberCats victory was multiple and costly penalties across the board. Offensive, defensive and special teams combined for an alarming number of penalties, 10 for 126 yards. Some that caused touchdowns to be called back. As the season progresses this will be an area that San Jose must focus on.
Payback and pride. Revenge and rivalry
The Georgia Force is coming to San Jose Saturday May 4th. The Force will be looking to pay back the SaberCats for a somewhat embarrassing loss suffered in the preseason 68-35. In the inaugural game played at Turner Sports & Entertainment’s Philips Arena in Atlanta, the SaberCats overpowered the Force and showed former NFL quarterback Eric Zeier how fast things happen in Arena Football.
Georgia (the Former Nashville Kats) brings to San Jose a team comprised mostly of players who kept the SaberCats from going to the ArenaBowl for the last two seasons. With pride on the line for both teams, this rivalry is clearly one of the hottest in the AFL. Georgia is looking to bring their record to 2-1 at the cost of the SaberCats’ undefeated record. San Jose is not likely to let that happen easily…Game time is 7:30 pm pacific, at the Compaq Center.
The 50 yard indoor war? You can count on it…
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.
