Wednesday, October 5, 2016

AFL: Sabercats "Sale" Past Force, 24-21

SAN JOSE-Despite four interceptions by Timmy Carey, two of which were returned for a touchdown, the San Jose Sabercats were able to push past the Georgia Force, 24-21 in a Week 6 AFL contest.

Through the first half of the opening quarter, the punters dominated the action. Then, Van Board sacked Norm Damron at Georgia's 10-yard line and the fumble was recovered by San Jose's Rusty Stephens. But three plays later, Carey was intercepted by Ward Hilton at the 1 and returned it to the 14-yard line. Georgia was forced to punt, and Nelson Wynn placed it on the Sabercats' 2-yard line. Lin Byers then picked off Carey and returned it for an 18-yard pick six to give the Force a 7-0 lead with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter. The Sabercats recovered from the pick and drove 68 yards on 8 plays. Carey finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Turk Costigan to tie it at 7 with 12 seconds left in the quarter.

After the Force went three-and-out, the Sabercats moved the ball again with a 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Carey throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to put San Jose up 14-7 with 11:01 left in the first half. The Force went three-and-out again, then Hilton intercepted Carey again at the Sabercats' 48-yard line. The Force drove 34 yards on 8 plays, but Wilbur Ahmad missed a 24-yard field goal. Two plays later, Carey was intercepted for the fourth time, and Winford Denning returned it 18 yards for the second pick six of the game and a 14-14 tie with 2:48 remaining in the second.

The third quarter proceeded much as the first quarter had. San Jose punted, and then Georgia drove into position for a field goal, but Ahmad missed a 46-yarder. Then the teams traded punts, and the Sabercats drove 50 yards on 7 plays. Alan Sale punctuated the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Sabercats a 21-14 lead with 1:42 left in the third.

Georgia punted early in the fourth, and San Jose's Ethan Wycoff missed a 50-yard field goal attempt. Georgia had to put again, and Wynn's attempt was blocked at the Sabercats' 36-yard line. After a 4-play, 28-yard drive, Wycoff kicked a 25-yard field goal with 8:27 to go in the fourth to put the Sabercats up 24-14. The Force responded with a 10-play, 79-yard drive with Damron scrambling in from 4 yards out to make it 24-21 with 4:25 to go in the fourth. Georgia kicked it straight away, and the Sabercats, led by Sale, ran out the clock, getting to the Force 1-yard line as time ran out.

San Jose (4-2) gained 459 yards of total offense. The Sabercats gained 174 rushing yards on 28 carries. Sale set a single-game record with 149 rushing yards on 23 carries and a TD. Carey was 23-for-45 passing for 304 yards, 2 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 19 yards. Costigan led Sabercats receivers with 8 catches for 128 yards and a TD. Next week, San Jose visits the Nashville Kats.

Georgia (2-4) gained 247 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 77 yards on 20 carries. Clem Foulks led the team with 33 yards on 7 carries. Damron went 20-for-33 passing for 185 yards, and was sacked twice losing 15 yards. Aaron Sidney had 5 catches for 37 yards, Paden Bonewell caught 5 passes for 24 yards, Prince David caught for 4 passes for 70 yards. The Force host the Arizona Rattlers next week.

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