ORLANDO-Alan Sale accounted for three touchdowns as the San Jose Sabercats defeated the Orlando Predators 27-20 in Week 14 of the AFL season. As a result, the Georgia Force have clinched the Southern Division.
The Sabercats started with the ball and moved into position for Ethan Wycoff to attempt a 53-yard field goal, but the kick was wide. Orlando's drive ended with Ramon Roden getting intercepted by Rod Gaines at the Predators 48-yard line. Seven plays later, Sale scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to put San Jose up 7-0 with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter. Following a Predators punt, San Jose drove into position for Wycoff to attempt a 47-yard field goal late in the first. Donnie Kapp blocked the kick and returned it to the Sabercats 24-yard line.
Following the blocked kick, Orlando drove 24 yards on 3 plays. Roden completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Doering to tie the game at 7 with 14:11 remaining in the second quarter. The Sabercats responded with a 12-play, 73-yard drive, ending with Wycoff kicking a 20-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 9:07 to go in the half. The teams traded punts, then late in the second, Franco Hanan picked off Roden at the San Jose 13-yard line. Four plays later, Sale ran in from 2 yards out with 5 seconds to go in the half, and the Sabercats led 17-7 at the half.
RW Warden returned the second half kickoff 40 yards to the Sabercats 46, and three plays later, Roden fired a 45-yard touchdown pass to Steven Thompson to make it 17-14 with 13:47 to go in the third quarter. Following a San Jose punt, Orlando went 34 yards on 6 plays. Abel White kicked a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 with 8:58 to go in the third.
The teams traded punts later in the third, and the Sabercats then drove 73 yards on 19 plays. Wycoff kicked a 37-yard field goal to put San Jose up 20-17 with 11:01 to go in the fourth quarter. Roden was picked off by Elois Zepecki at the Predators 27-yard line. Three plays later, Andre Stanfill, filling in for the injured Timmy Carey, tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Sale to make it 27-17 with 9:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. Orlando tried to get back in the game, but White missed a 44-yard field goal attempt. Following a Sabercats punt, Orlando drove 55 yards on 10 plays. White would then connect on a 35-yard field goal to make it 27-20 with 36 seconds to go. The Predators attempted an onside kick, but failed.
San Jose (10-4) gained 426 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 130 yards on 33 carries. Sale led the team with 90 yards on 22 carries and 2 TD. Carey went 15-of-24 passing for 163 yards. Stanfill went 10-of-17 for 143 yards and a TD. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Turk Costigan was the leading receiver with 9 catches for 92 yards. The Sabercats will host the Albany Firebirds next week.
Orlando (6-8) gained 224 yards of total offense. The Predators basically ignored the run, gaining 13 yards on 9 carries. D.J. Giles was the leader with 7 yards on 6 carries. Roden went 23-of-36 passing for 237 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 26 yards. Doering caught 7 passes for 103 yards and a TD. Thompson caught 7 passes for 92 yards and a TD. Next week, Orlando will visit the Milwaukee Mustangs.
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