DETROIT-The San Jose Sabercats had contributions from their defense and special teams to prevail over the Detroit Drive 20-13 in Week 4 of the AFL season.
The first quarter was dominated by punts until late in the period when San Jose moved 54 yards on 9 plays. Andre Stanfill closed out the drive with a 3-yard quarterback keeper to give the Sabercats a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter.
On Detroit's next possession, Lou Couch threw a long bomb that was picked off by Russ Bird, who returned it 59 yards to the Drive 27-yard line. On the next play, Stanfill fired a 27-yard touchdown pass to Claud Flack to put San Jose up 14-0 with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter. The Drive would respond moving the ball 85 yards on 12 plays. Couch finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Patch Brolie to make it 14-7 with 4:58 to go in the half. Following a Sabercats' punt, Detroit would drive 82 yards on 13 plays, and Cletis Frayer would connect on a 20-yard field goal with 9 seconds to go to make it 14-10 at halftime.
San Jose's initial possession of the second half was spoiled when T.T. Presley picked off Stanfill and returned it 15 yards to the Sabercats' 38-yard line. However, San Jose would force the Drive to punt, and the Sabercats would drive 82 yards on 12 plays. Ethan Wycoff finished it off with a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-10 with 6:57 to go in the third quarter. A deep return by Renaldo Halter on the ensuing kickoff would help set Frayer up for a 40-yard field goal attempt. But Madison Gandy blocked the attempt and scooped it up for a 21-yard return to midfield. Wycoff would miss a 41-yard field goal attempt at the end of the third.
The teams traded turnovers on consecutive plays to start the fourth quarter. Artie Thom fumbled on his own 28-yard line, and Curry Jerris recovered for the Sabercats. But on the next play, Stanfill was picked off by Cord Biggs at the 6, and he ran it back 22 yards to the 28-yard line. The Drive were forced to punt at the San Jose 47, but Delbert Alonso's kick was blocked by Chuck Wleborn who ran it back 16 yards to the Detroit 31-yard line. Following the block, Wycoff would miss a 50-yard field goal attempt. Following a Detroit punt, San Jose drove 55 yards on 13 plays, and Wycoff would connect on a 27-yard field goal to make it 20-10 with 2:27 to go in the fourth quarter. The Drive would respond going 55 yards on 7 plays. Frayer would kick a 24-yard field goal with 40 seconds to go to make it 20-13. Detroit would attempt an onside kick, but Hack McDonald fell on it for the Sabercats at the 44-yard line and San Jose would kill the clock.
San Jose (3-1) gained 311 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 138 yards on 29 carries. Alan Sale led the team with 58 yards on 15 carries. He also led with 4 receptions for 45 yards. Stanfill was 14-of-36 passing for 197 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 24 yards. The Sabercats will host the Arizona Rattlers next week.
Detroit (1-3) gained 343 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 117 yards on 26 carries. Thom led the team with 46 yards on 8 carries. Couch was 21-of-37 passing for 242 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 16-yard loss. Dave Huntley led the receivers with 6 catches for 101 yards. The Drive will visit the New York Dragons next week.
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