SAN JOSE-Alan Sale became the first (and most likely only) player to reach 1,000 rushing yards this AFL season. But despite his best efforts, and the rest of the San Jose Sabercats, it wasn't enough as the Albany Firebirds pulled out a 17-14 victory in Week 15 of the AFL season.
San Jose moved into scoring position on their first drive, but Ethan Wycoff's 40-yard field goal attempt went up in flames as a bad snap caused Darin Powers to throw an incomplete pass to Brent Spano. The teams would trade punts into the second quarter when Albany got a chance to score after Austin Carle recovered a Sale fumble at the Sabercats 34-yard line. But Dom Wenning missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. The Firebirds would finally catch a break when Wayne Davison picked off Andre Stanfill at the Albany 48-yard line. After an 8-play, 52-yard drive, Sinbad Gargaro hit Scooter Colby for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Firebirds a 7-0 lead with 22 seconds to go in the half. Elson Saxon fielded a short kickoff and returned it 23 yards to the San Jose 41. Then, after a 34-yard pass from Stanfill to Ramon Counce, Wycoff kicked a 42-yard field goal at the buzzer to make it 7-3 at the half.
Early in the second half, Albany moved 54 yards on 5 plays, and Wenning kicked a 24-yard field goal to go up 10-3 with 10:25 remaining in the third quarter. The teams would trade punts, then San Jose would drive 52 yards on 7 plays. Wycoff would finish it off with a 33-yard field goal to make it 10-6 with 54 seconds to go in the third.
Both teams exchanged punts, and then the Firebirds went on a 9-play, 62-yard drive. Gargaro finished it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Garry Farr to make it 17-6 with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter. The Sabercats would answer with a 4-play, 63-yard drive. Stanfill ended it with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sale, and a 2-point conversion to make it 17-14 with 5:05 remaining in the fourth. After a Firebirds punt, the Sabercats would get turned away on fourth down in the last two minutes, and Albany broke a six-game losing streak.
Albany (6-9) gained 307 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 75 yards on 25 carries. Abdul Fowler led the team with 39 yards on 15 carries. Gargaro went 24-of-37 passing for 267 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked four times, losing 35 yards. Teddy Harley caught 5 passes for 72 yards. Colby caught 5 passes for 39 yards and a TD. The Firebirds will finish off the regular season hosting the Arizona Rattlers.
San Jose (10-5) gained 285 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 90 yards of 26 carries. Sale led the team with 50 yards on 13 carries and 5 receptions for 28 yards and a TD. As mentioned earlier, Sale is the first 1,000-yard rusher this season (1,014 yards on 226 carries and 9 TD. He's also caught 34 passes for 268 yards and 4 TD). Stanfill was 18-of-29 passing for 225 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 30 yards. The Sabercats will visit the Detroit Drive to finish out the regular season.
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