Post by DiamondThief on May 25, 2015 15:42:16 GMT -8
San Jose Sabercats at Portland Thunder
What: The Sabercats visit the Rose City to face the Thunder.
When: Saturday, May 30, 3 p.m. (PT).
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter; Portland, Oregon.
Thunder Media: TV - CSNNW. Radio - 750/102.9 The Game.
National Media: Stream - ESPN3.
Series History: Sabercats lead the series 4-0.
This season: April 25 - Sabercats 64, Thunder 45.
Schedule: July 18 - Thunder at Sabercats.
Forum: To comment, please login or register.
HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2015
Portland Thunder Schedule 2015
Portland Thunder Season Preview
The Sabercats are 9-0 overall, 5-0 on the road and 2-0 in Pacific Division play. They are coming off a 70-58 home win over the Cleveland Gladiators on May 23. They are averaging 61.2 points per game (1st in the AFL), allowing 37.4 points (1st), and are averaging 274.3 yards of total offense. The Sabercats are first in the Pacific Division and first in the National Conference.
The Thunder are 3-5 overall, 3-1 at home and 1-1 in Pacific Division play . They are coming off a 69-43 road loss to the Orlando Predators on May 23. They are averaging 46.3 points per game (10th in the AFL), allowing 53.9 points (8th), and are averaging 256.5 yards of total offense. The Thunder are second in the Pacific Division and fourth in the National Conference.
SAN JOSE SABERCATS
Sabercats' QB Erik Meyer (photo courtesty azcentral.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Reggie 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)
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)
54 - Kimani Jones (C)
64 - Rich Ranglin (OL)
66 - Jeff Maddux (C)
68 - George Bussey (OL)
70 - Colin Madison (OL)
88 - Jeremy Kelley (WR)
90 - Damien Borel (DE)
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 1,812
Passing TDs - Erik Meyer 42
Rushing Yards - Odie Armstrong 78
Rushing TD's - Odie Armstrong 8
Receptions - Reggie Gray 67
Receiving Yards - Reggie Gray 767
Receiving TDs - Reggie Gray 13
Tackles - Ken Fontenette/David Hyland 63.5
Sacks - Jason Stewart 5.5
Interceptions - Ken Fontenette 7
KO Return Ave - Reggie Gray 22.1
* not on active roster
PORTLAND THUNDER
Thunder QB Kyle Rowley (photo courtesy Portland Tribune)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
2 - Jared Perry (WR)
3 - Kyle Rowley (QB)
4 - Osagie Odiase (DB)
5 - V'Keon Lacey (WR)
7 - Marquis Jackson (DL)
8 - KC Obi (DL)
9 - Duane Brooks (WR)
10 - Kevin Goessling (K)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
14 - Maurice Williams (WR)
15 - Perez Ashford (WR)
17 - Matt Pierce (DB)
18 - Alex Carder (QB)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
23 - Robert Hayes (MLB)
28 - Remond Willis (LB)
50 - Jeraill McCuller (OL)
52 - Frank Trotter (DL)
66 - Jake McDonough (OL/DL)
70 - John Martinez (OL)
73 - Sam Longo (OL)
75 - Jordan Mudge (OL)
79 - John Collins (OL)
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 1,590
Passing TDs - Kyle Rowley 29
Rushing Yards - John Martinez 37
Rushing TDs - John Martinez 5
Receptions - V'Keon Lacey 54
Receiving Yards - *Jamar Howard 610
Receiving TDs - V'Keon Lacey 13
Tackles - Osagie Odiase 39
Sacks - Marquis Jackson 4.5
Interceptions - Bryce Peila 2
KO Return Ave - Duane Brooks 20.2
* not on active roster
ANGI'S TAKES
SABERCATS
San Jose is the lone unbeaten team in the AFL and week in and week out they are showing why. They are scoring more points and giving up fewer points than any other team in the AFL. They already have a five-and-a-half game lead over the Thunder in the Pacific Division and seem to be the favorite to represent the National Conference in ArenaBowl XXVIII. Meyer is as good as it gets at quarterback and is the only QB to beat the Thunder with two teams (the Shock last season and the Sabercats earlier this season). Reggie Gray is a dual threat guy who leads them in all receiving categories, and can be a deadly returning kickoffs. He was voted AFL MVP for his week 9 performance against the Gladiators. Fontenette leads a talented defense and leads the team in tackles and interceptions. A couple former Thunder players help round out the defense; defensive lineman Paige-Moss is third in sacks with 4.5, and defensive back Crocker is third in tackles with 31.5.
THUNDER
Aside from a home victory two weeks ago over AFL doormat the KISS, the Thunder have had a rough go of it in their last five games. They committed just one penalty in the first quarter last week against the Predators, but miscues ensued to enable Orlando to run away with the win. Thomas went down to injury, so Rowley is back under center. This should be a good thing, but the former ArenaBowl MVP has struggled this season. The Thunder traded a claim position to the Jacksonville Sharks for quarterback Alex Carder on May 25. It would be rough for Carder to start here, but he could get the nod. Lacey emerged last week as a potential go-to receiver before being ejected on a questionable call as he attempted to get loose from Orlando fans who were holding him following a sideline catch. Brooks got the start in place of Perez Ashford and had a strong game, catching 12 passes for 107 yards and a pair of scores. He also averaged 21.7 yards on his kickoff returns. Odiase continues to make his mark on defense and leads the team with 39 tackles.
QUOTABLE
Thunder Head coach Mike Hohensee on the Thunder's nine accepted penalties against the Predators: “Those things aren’t going to help us win any football games. We had plenty of guys play their hearts outs, that played hard until the end, but a few didn’t play hard enough, or smart enough for us to win a football game against a decent football team on the road.”
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
Both teams have substantially used two quarterbacks this season. The Thunder will be without Thomas for the rest of the season due to the leg injury he suffered against the Predators on May 23 (recent trade acquisition Alex Carder has been acquired in a trade from Jacksonville and will back up Kyle Rowley). Here is a breakdown of the teams' QB production this season.
To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.
Graphic courtesy of David.
