ArenaBowl XVI
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XVI was played between the San Jose SaberCats
and Arizona Rattlers
in San Jose, California
on August 18, 2002. A game with considerable expectations given the teams' intense rivalry and respective success that year, the SaberCats
surprised everyone by posting the most dominant victory in ArenaBowl
history, holding the Rattlers
scoreless until the final period, and winning the game by the lopsided score of 52-14 to earn their first Arena Football League title in franchise history. With the SaberCats' victory, Darren Arbet
also became the first African-American head coach
in pro-football to win a championship in North America.
season, the San Jose SaberCats were entertaining the possibility of an undefeated year
, which would have been and would still remain a first for the Arena Football League. They defeated their Western Division rivals, the Arizona Rattlers, 52-51 in the season opener, and continued their success en route to a 12-0 start. However, their rematch with the Rattlers in Phoenix
on July 12 cost them not only their undefeated record, but also starting quarterback Mark Grieb
, who suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the SaberCats' 59-52 loss. Though it would prove to be San Jose
's only loss of the season, it set the stage for what figured to be an extremely competitive ArenaBowl championship game.
That was not the case, however, as coach Arbet's San Jose squad took a 24-point lead by halftime, and extended it to 45-0 early in the fourth quarter before Arizona finally scored on a touchdown pass from Sherdrick Bonner
to Maurice Bryant with 9:24 remaining in the contest. Each team scored one more touchdown, and the SaberCats emerged with a 52-14 blowout victory.
Quarterback John Dutton, who replaced Grieb following the injury, continued to roll as he had throughout the playoffs, completing 20 of 26 passes for 236 yards and five touchdowns (three to James Hundon) and earning MVP
honors. Wide receiver/defensive back Omarr Smith was named the Ironman of the Game, as he had four receptions and also led a San Jose defense that forced three Rattler turnovers. San Jose won the Foster Trophy for the first time in franchise history, while the loss would prove to be the first of three consecutive ArenaBowl failures for Arizona, though they would be significantly more competitive in their future championship game appearances.
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
and Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
on August 18, 2002. A game with considerable expectations given the teams' intense rivalry and respective success that year, the SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
surprised everyone by posting the most dominant victory in ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
history, holding the Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
scoreless until the final period, and winning the game by the lopsided score of 52-14 to earn their first Arena Football League title in franchise history. With the SaberCats' victory, Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet
Darren Arbet is an Arena Football League head coach for the San Jose SaberCats. He has a career record of 109-45, including 3 titles, ArenaBowl XVI, ArenaBowl XVIII, and ArenaBowl XXI.-High school years:...
also became the first African-American head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
in pro-football to win a championship in North America.
Game summary
For much of the 20022002 in sports
2002 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria-American football:...
season, the San Jose SaberCats were entertaining the possibility of an undefeated year
Perfect Season
A perfect season is any sports season, excluding the playoff portion of a season, in which a team remains undefeated and untied. The feat is extremely rare at the professional level of any team sport, and has occurred more commonly at the collegiate level in the United States.A perfect season may...
, which would have been and would still remain a first for the Arena Football League. They defeated their Western Division rivals, the Arizona Rattlers, 52-51 in the season opener, and continued their success en route to a 12-0 start. However, their rematch with the Rattlers in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
on July 12 cost them not only their undefeated record, but also starting quarterback Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
, who suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the SaberCats' 59-52 loss. Though it would prove to be San Jose
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
's only loss of the season, it set the stage for what figured to be an extremely competitive ArenaBowl championship game.
That was not the case, however, as coach Arbet's San Jose squad took a 24-point lead by halftime, and extended it to 45-0 early in the fourth quarter before Arizona finally scored on a touchdown pass from Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner is a former Arena football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League.-High school years:...
to Maurice Bryant with 9:24 remaining in the contest. Each team scored one more touchdown, and the SaberCats emerged with a 52-14 blowout victory.
Quarterback John Dutton, who replaced Grieb following the injury, continued to roll as he had throughout the playoffs, completing 20 of 26 passes for 236 yards and five touchdowns (three to James Hundon) and earning MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
honors. Wide receiver/defensive back Omarr Smith was named the Ironman of the Game, as he had four receptions and also led a San Jose defense that forced three Rattler turnovers. San Jose won the Foster Trophy for the first time in franchise history, while the loss would prove to be the first of three consecutive ArenaBowl failures for Arizona, though they would be significantly more competitive in their future championship game appearances.
Scoring summary
1st Quarter- SJ - Hundon 28 pass from Dutton (Alcorn kick)
2nd Quarter
- SJ - Hundon 2 pass from Dutton (Alcorn kick)
- SJ - FG Alcorn 31
- SJ - Wagner 2 run (Alcorn kick)
3rd Quarter
- SJ - Roe 12 pass from Dutton (Alcorn kick)
- SJ - Reese 32 pass from Dutton (Alcorn kick)
4th Quarter
- SJ - McMillen 1 run (Alcorn kick)
- AZ - Bryant 30 pass from Bonner (Cooper pass from Bonner)
- SJ - Hundon 2 pass from Dutton (Alcorn kick)
- AZ - Kelly 3 run (pass failed)