June 21,2015
LAS VEGAS -- The San Jose Sabercats (12-1) scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to pull away from the Las Vegas Outlaws (4-8), securing a 63-31 road victory on Father's Day.
The Outlaws got out to an early lead, scoring on a three-yard touchdown pass from J.J. Raterink to Will Wright. After the SaberCats evened the score at 7-7 on an Erik Meyer 10-yard touchdown pass to Adron Tennell, Gerald Young returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, as Las Vegas found itself up 14-7 in the first quarter.
As
they have done the entire season, the resilient SaberCats' defense
forced the necessary stops to provide the offense with opportunities.
San Jose took its first lead of the game at 21-14, with a 15-yard
touchdown pass from Meyer to Darius Reynolds
in the second quarter. The Outlaws added a 35-yard field goal at the
end of the first half, cutting the SaberCats' lead, 21-17. Meyer
completed 20-of-28 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns, adding
another on the ground.
Receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, San Jose relied on Tennell and Reggie Gray
to matriculate down the field, setting up Meyer for the one-yard
quarterback sneak, finding pay dirt as the lead swelled to 28-17. Gray,
the leading receiver for the SaberCats this season, hauled in a
team-high eight receptions for 67 yards; while Tennell added five
receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Making his second appearance of the season, rookie defensive back Fred Obi
intercepted a Raterink pass in the third quarter, returning it down to
the two yard line. The turnover set up Reynolds for a two-yard rush,
spinning off the pile and running in the touchdown, extending the
SaberCats lead to 35-17. Reynolds finished with four receptions for 56
yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing).
One of the premier pass rushers in the league and a San Jose native, Francis Maka
found himself unabated to Raterink on several instances, finishing with
two sacks. The ability to get pressure on the quarterback, while the
secondary tightens its coverage is referred to by the SaberCats team as
"pressure picks, coverage sacks". This combination of effective defense
has kept San Jose among the leader in the Arena Football League in
defensive scoring.
Jumping
the receiver's route, Obi grabbed his second interception of the game,
returning this one for a 20-yard touchdown to give San Jose a commanding
56-17 lead at the 9:02 mark in the fourth quarter. Obi finished with a
team-high eight total tackles and had the first two interceptions of his
AFL career.
Entering the game in relief of Raterink, who threw three interceptions, Dennis Havrilla
rushed for 30 yards on his first possession, capping off the fourth
quarter drive with a seven yard touchdown run, cutting into the
SaberCats 56-24 lead. Additionally, Young also led the team in receiving
with six receptions for 95 yards and added a one yard touchdown run in
the final minute.
POSTGAME AWARDS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: SJ WR Darius Reynolds
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: SJ DB Fred Obi
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: LV WR Gerald Young
Cutters Catch of the Game: SJ WR Darius Reynolds 15 yard touchdown reception 2nd Quarter
Highlight of the Game: SJ DB Fred Obi Interception for a touchdown 4th Quarter
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