PHOENIX-Alan Sale caught the winning touchdown in overtime to lift the San Jose Sabercats to a 22-16 victory over the Arizona Rattlers in a Week 3 AFL game.
The first quarter was dominated by punting until San Jose fielded a punt in Arizona territory and drove 27 yards on 5 plays. Ethan Wycoff put an end to the drive with a 32-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
After an Arizona punt, San Jose's Panco Rhymer had his punt blocked, and Lorne Untage returned it 9 yards for the Rattlers to the Sabercats' 35-yard line. However, Kadeem Raburn's pass on the following play was picked off by Montrose Whitfield at the 20-yard line. Three plays later, Andre Stanfill was strip-sacked by Anson Shipley and the ball was recovered by Whitey Teel at the 30. After seven plays netted 14 yards, Burt Hamrick would kick a 33-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 6:03 to go in the second quarter. The Sabercats then responded with a 14-play, 58-yard drive ending with a 26-yard field goal by Wycoff with 10 seconds to go in the half to take a 6-3 lead.
The Rattlers started the second half with an 8-play, 80-yard drive. Raburn finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Teal to take a 10-6 lead with 11:31 left in the third quarter. Teel would then intercept a Stanfill pass and return it 17 yards to the San Jose 47-yard line. Following a 6-play, 22-yard drive, Hamrick would kick a 42-yard field goal to take a 13-6 lead with 8:12 to go in the third. The Sabercats would respond with a 13-play, 70-yard drive. Wycoff kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 13-9 with 2:29 to go in the third quarter.
Arizona took the ball on their next drive, and moved 53 yards on 10 plays. Hamrick ended the drive with a 25-yard field goal to extend their lead to 16-9 with 13:17 left in the fourth quarter. After a San Jose punt, Raburn's pass was picked off by Gregory Taylor at the Rattlers' 19-yard line. Four plays later, Stanfill hit Teddy Stacy for a 6-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 16 with 8:05 to go in the fourth. The teams exchanged punts until the end of the period, and the game went into overtime.
At the start of the overtime, Stanfill was picked off by Chris Harrell at the Sabercats' 37-yard line. But two plays later, Raburn was intercepted by Mac Shockley who raced 47 yards to the Rattlers' 20-yard line. Four plays later, Stanfill connected with Sale for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 12:32 left in the overtime to take the 22-16 win.
San Jose (2-1) gained 355 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 100 yards on 34 carries. Sale led the team with 46 yards on 22 carries. He also caught five passes for 74 yards and a TD. Stanfill was 24-of-38 passing for 283 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 28 yards. Festus Blanks caught 5 passes for 75 yards. The Sabercats visit the Detroit Drive next week.
Arizona (0-3) gained 228 yards of total offense. The Rattlers ran for 95 yards on 21 carries. Raburn led the team with 20 yards on 2 carries. He was 14-of-29 passing for 145 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked once for a 12-yard loss. Melvin Jones (18 yards), Griffin Buck (32 yards), Shelby Lerti (9 yards), Will Meads (22 yards), Crockett Rail (35 yards) and Arvil Stilson (19 yards) each caught 2 passes in the game. The Rattlers visit the Grand Rapids Rampage next week.
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