SaberCats Clinch Playoff Spot with 62-35 Victory Over Talons
Sunday July 7, 2013
San Antonio Suffers Tough Road Loss in San Jose
SAN ANTONIO (July 6, 2013)– The 2012 Central Division Champion San Antonio Talons (8-7) suffered a tough loss against the San Jose SaberCats (11-4) on Saturday night at HP Pavillion with a score of 62-35 in front of a crowd of 8,976. Quarterback Rohan Davey was 18 for 38 with four touchdowns and three interceptions, two of which were returned for SaberCat touchdowns. San Jose counterpart, Russ Michna had an impressive outing with 5 touchdowns for 182 yards and no interceptions.
San Antonio received the ball to start the game when San Jose decided on an onside kick, giving the Talons short field position from the start. The San Antonio offense capitalized on this opportunity with a fourth down conversion on the opening possession. Rohan Davey found Brent Holmes to complete a four play, eleven yard drive with a touchdown to put San Antonio on the board first 7-0. After an impressive opening score, Brent Holmes comes up with a special teams tackle on San Jose’s first drive.
San Jose quarterback Russ Michna answered back quickly finding receiver Whittaker for a quick touchdown, but a missed kick by Pertuit leaves the score at an uneven 6-7 in favor of San Antonio. After a crucial defensive stop by San Jose, Michna tossed a 5 yard pass to Fred Williams who found a seam and secured a 32 yard run for the second consecutive San Jose touchdown 13-7.
Davey was picked off by Jabari Fletcher to begin the second quarter and despite a great defensive effort by Jamar Ransom, Michna hands it off to Jamarco Simmons to hurdled Andre Jones to dive into the endzone for a dramatic touchdown increasing the SaberCat lead 20-7. San Antonio’s offense, lacking a spark is now in a trailing position and has failed to answer 20 consecutive San Jose points. Davey’s passes, sailing all over the place can’t seem to find the hands of San Antonio receivers. San Jose’s defense continues to stop the Talons lackluster offense with yet another defensive stop and less than two minutes left in the first half. On the last drive of the half, Michna lofted a perfect pass to Williams for a touchdown meaning 27 unanswered points from San Jose. Talons trailing 27-7 at the half.
The SaberCats emerged after the half ready to put the nail on the coffin in this Saturday night contest. Fred Williams receives the kick from Demos, running all the way back to the one yard line which is exactly what San Antonio did not want to happen. Michna pitches to Fletcher who waltzes in the endzone for the score. SaberCats piling on the points 34-7 to begin the second half. Davey looks to be struggling with accuracy in this contest, and the SaberCat defensive line rushing the offense has created a tough game for San Antonio. Rohan Davey’s pass is picked off by Clevan Thomas for 28 yard interception and returned for a touchdown. 41-7 SaberCats.
Davey finally finds Jomo Wilson in the end zone with 7 minutes left in the third quarter to put an end to 41 unanswered points. San Antonio goes for 2, but incomplete leaves the score at a distant 41-13. A failed onside kick resulted in San Jose recovering and starting their drive with first and goal at the Talons 9 yard line. Michna finds a wide-open Whittaker in the left corner of the end zone to increase the SaberCat lead 48-13.
Davey found a wide open Brent Holmes for a 47 yard touchdown pass to begin the fourth quarter with a spark for the Talons offense. Chad “Tank” Cook plunging into the endzone secured a successful two point conversion on the third try, cutting the lead to 48-21. San Jose recovered another failed onside kick at their own 17 yard line. Michna runs a screen to Whittaker who follows his blocks on the first play of the drive, finding his way into the end zone to make it 55-21 with 11:04 left to play.
Davey, forcing a throw in the end zone is picked off by Clevan Thomas who runs it all the way back for a touchdown, his second pick 6 of the night 61-21 SaberCats. San Antonio’s offense has not given up. Davey pitches a dump pass to Moqut Ruffins for a quick score, but a failed two point conversion attempt leaves the Talons trailing 62-27. On fourth down, San Jose misses the field goal, and Carlton Brown’s sloppy special teams turns into a score. Dave finds Toler for a successful two point conversion cutting the lead to 62-35 at the one minute warning.
San Antonio’s last minute effort would not be enough to catch the explosive SaberCat offense on Saturday night at the HP Pavillion in San Jose. With this win the SaberCats were able to clinch a playoff spot, and the San Antonio Talons return to action in Week 17 to host the Tampa Bay Storm (7-8) at the Alamodome on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM in hopes of clinching their own spot in the postseason.
The San Antonio Talons are in their second season in the Arena Football League (AFL). The team won the AFL’s Central Division title, as well as hosted their first AFL playoff game in the 2012 season. For more information or to ask about season tickets please call 210.227.TEAM.
