Game 5 - Thunder at Sabercats, 4.25.15, 7:30 pm

[DiamondThief]

Portland Thunder at San Jose Sabercats

What: The Thunder are in the South Bay to face the division-leading Sabercats. 
When: Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. (PT).
Where: U.S. Airways Center; Phoenix, AZ.
Thunder Media: Radio - 750/102.9 The Game.
National Media: Stream - ESPN3.
Schedule: May 30 - Sabercats at Thunder. July 18 - Thunder at Sabercats.
Series History: Regular season - Rattlers lead 3-0.
Note: This is the second of three straight road games for the Thunder.
Forum: To comment, please login or register.

The Thunder are 2-2 overall, 0-1 on the road and 1-0 in division play. They are coming off a 65-47 road loss to the Arizona Rattlers on April 18. They are averaging 46.0 points per game (8th in the AFL), allowing 49.8 points (3rd), and are averaging 274.0 yards of total offense. The Thunder are second in the Pacific Division and fourth in the National Conference.

The Sabercats are 4-0 overall, 1-0 at home and 0-0 in division play. They are coming off a 68-48 road win over the Jacksonville Sharks on April 17. They are averaging 54.3 points per game (6th in the AFL), allowing 36.0 points (5th), and are averaging 256.3 yards of total offense. The Sabercats are first in the Pacific Division and first in the National Conference.


PORTLAND THUNDER


Thunder OL John Martinez (photo courtesy Portland Tribune)


ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Darron Thomas (QB)
2 - Duane Brooks (WR)
3 - Kyle Rowley (QB)
4 - Osagie Odiase (DB)
5 - V'Keon Lacey (WR)
6 - Okechukwu Okoroha (DB)
7 - Marquis Jackson (DL)
8 - KC Obi (DL)
12 - Jamar Howard (WR)
14 - Michael Braunstein (K)
15 - Perez Ashford (WR)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Allen Chapman (DB)
28 - Remond Willis (LB)
32 - Brandon Tett (LB)
50 - Jeraill McCuller (OL)
52 - Frank Trotter (DL)
66 - Jake McDonough (OL/DL)
70 - John Martinez (OL)
75 - Jordan Mudge (OL)
79 - John Collins (OL)
91 - Sione Tuihalamaka (DE)
Jared Perry (WR)

Mike Hohensee - Head Coach
Ernesto Purnsley - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Lee Johnson - Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Coordinator
Will Harrell - Offensive/Defensive Line Coach

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Kyle Rowley 1,034
Passing TDs - Kyle Rowley 19
Rushing TDs - John Martinez 3
Receptions - Jamar Howard 43
Receiving Yards - Jamar Howard 585
Receiving TDs - Jamar Howard 13
Tackles - Andre' Martin 21.5
Sacks - Marquis Jackson 4
Interceptions - Beyce Peila 2


SAN JOSE SABERCATS


Sabercats WR Reggie Gray (photo courtesy bensalloutblitz.com)


ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Reggi Gray (WR)
3 - Davis Hyland (DB
5 - Ken Fontenette (DB)
6 - Eric Crocker (DB)
7 - Darius Reynolds (WR)
8 - Clevan Thomas (DB)
9 - Erik Meyer (QB)
10 - Nathan Stanley (QB)
11 - D.J. Stephens (WR)
12 - Nick Pertuit (K)
13 - Donte Paige-Moss (DE)
17 - Adron Tennell (WR)
19 - Diondre Borel (WR)
24 - Mike Williams (DB)
32 - Odie Armstrong (FB)
36 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
40 - Rodney Fritz (DE)
44 - Matt Armstrong (C)
64 - Rich Ranglin (OL)
66 - Jeff Maddux (C)
68 - George Bussey (OL)
70 - Colin Madison (OL)
98 - Francis Maka (MLB)
99 - Jason Stewart (NG)

Darren Arbet - Head Coach
Omarr Smith - Assistant Head Coach
Terry Malley - Offensive Coordinator
Cedric Walker - Defensive Coordinator
Jaff Jarnigan - Offensive Line/Defensive line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Erik Meyer 941
Passing TDs - Erik Meyer 21
Rushing TD's - O. Armstrong 5
Receptions - Reggie Gray 31
Receiving Yards - Reggie Gray 301
Receiving TDs - two with 6
Tackles - Ken Fontenette 27
Sacks - Luis Vasquez 3.5
Interceptions - Virgil Gray 3


ANGI'S TAKES

THUNDER
Portland is looking for it's first-ever win over the Sabercats. The Thunder didn't have too much success against the Sabercats last season, losing all three contests by an average of 24.3 points. The Thunder never scored more than 34 points in any of their contests. The Thunder came out flat last week against the Rattlers, but had a decent second half in the lopsided loss. Howard caught 9 passes for 138 yards and four scores in the game. His 13 touchdown grabs lead the AFL (he is second in both receptions and receiving yards. Rowley threw for 296 yards and 6 touchdowns. Peila, claimed his third interception in two weeks and now leads the team in that category.

SABERCATS
San Jose is one of two remaining undefeated teams in the AFL (the Philadelophia Soul are the other). The Sabercats' offense has had some minor issues, but their defense has been solid. Meyer was brought over in the off season to lead the team. The 2013 AFL MVP has thrown for 21 touchdowns and just 1 interception. He passed for 246 yards and 8 scores in last week's 20-point win over the Jacksonville Sharks. Hyland had 14 tackles and an interception against the Sharks. Fonteette added 11 tackles of his own, while former Thunder DB Crocker recorded an interception. Pertuit leads all AFL kickers with 35 points.


QUOTABLE

Thunder DB Mike Hohensee on red zone offense against the Rattlers: “We gave it away in the red zone. We got down there, and maybe forgot how to run a route, or forgot how to block. We made a mess of things, and you cannot give a team like that (Arizona) momentum.”


FEATURED TWEETS




EXTRA

Call this your Jamar Howard watch. the Thunder wide receiver leads the AFL in touchdown catches, and is second in yards and receptions.


Original photo courtesy CSNNW



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[bsquared]

I'll try to be around for this week's thread! Did it aggravate anyone else to have Arizona's announcers keep talking about how this was a breakout game for Howard? HE'S IN THE TOP TWO OF EVERYTHING. It was a slightly above average game for him. Plus with the talk about taking a knee...man, those guys didn't even sort of do their homework for the game.

[Kasey]

Apr 21, 2015 21:01:58 GMT -8 bsquared said:

I'll try to be around for this week's thread! Did it aggravate anyone else to have Arizona's announcers keep talking about how this was a breakout game for Howard? HE'S IN THE TOP TWO OF EVERYTHING. It was a slightly above average game for him. Plus with the talk about taking a knee...man, those guys didn't even sort of do their homework for the game.

after they started talking about Howard, i looked at Angi's preview. she noted right in there that he was right up there in the two two (still is!). someone did some lousy research ... or did no research at all. They also didn't mention the game last year that really would have served as his coming out game. i didn't recall the exact stats, but i know he put up a over 100 yards and a few touchdowns, and that is with McNeil getting his share of the action. the taking a knee thing and "they're not in victory formation" was just sad!

i don't know how active the thread will be since the game conflicts with game 3 of the Blazers playoff game. i'll try to pop in and i know Angi will as well. we'll see how it goes!

[SurferGirl]

Good luck to the Thunder!

[Yeseeka]

I wish the game was not on at the exact same time as the Blazers game. I remember how badly San Jose beat us last year so I'm not really all that confident coming into this game. I hope they prove that wrong.

[Brian]

I'm hoping for the shocker, but I really just don't see it happening. This is a tough stretch in the schedule.

[DiamondThief]

Apr 21, 2015 21:01:58 GMT -8 bsquared said:

I'll try to be around for this week's thread! Did it aggravate anyone else to have Arizona's announcers keep talking about how this was a breakout game for Howard? HE'S IN THE TOP TWO OF EVERYTHING. It was a slightly above average game for him. Plus with the talk about taking a knee...man, those guys didn't even sort of do their homework for the game. 

I am going to try to get into the thread a little bit, but the Blazers playoff game will be hopping tonight.

I brought up the thing about Howard in the AF chat and everyone was trying to defend the Arizona announcers. They screwed up. Accept it, fix it and move on!

[DiamondThief]

Game is starting.

[bsquared]

Buy one less player and get ESPN3 working, San Jose. It's not hard.

[DiamondThief]

Apr 25, 2015 18:42:56 GMT -8 bsquared said:

Buy one less player and get ESPN3 working, San Jose. It's not hard.

I heard it was bad but wow. This 23-6 score is absolutely nuts.

[DiamondThief]

Final

Thunder 45
Sabercats 64

Thunder
Kyle Rowley - 19/35, 205 yds, 3 TD, 2 int
Darron Thomas - 4/7, 38 yds, 2 TD
V'Keon Lacey - 8 rec, 77 yds, TD
Perez Ashford - 6 rec, 78 yds, TD
John Martinez - rush TD
Osagie Odiase - 8 tkl, fum rec
Quincy Butler - int

Sabercats
Erik Meyer - 20/30, 283 yds, 7 TD, int
D.J. Stephens - 10 rec, 171 yds, 3 TD
Reggie Gray - 7 rec, 70 yds, 2 TD
Darius Reynolds - rush TD
Ken Fontenette - 9 tkl, int
David Hyland - 9 tkl, int

Thunder Game Ball - V'Keon Lacey.

Boxscore