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. Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Buildings and structures stubs | Arena football venues | Indoor ice hockey venues | Indoor lacrosse venues | San Jose sports ... City nickname: Capital of Silicon Valley Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... John Dutton(Born:September 20,1975) is an Arena Football League quarterback for the Colorado Crush. ... Danny White is an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. ... ABC (disambiguation) ... Lynn Curtis Swann (born March 7, 1952) is a former professional football player and current sports broadcaster. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... City nickname: Capital of Silicon Valley Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... Arena Football League logo The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ...

The game

For much of the 2002 season, the San Jose SaberCats were entertaining the possibility of an undefeated year. 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. See also: 2001 in sports, 2003 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Ward Burton wins the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Tony Stewart Indy Racing League - Sam Hornish Jr. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... Phoenix Uptown (northern skyline) in 2004, looking north Phoenix is the capital, largest city and largest metropolitan area in the state of Arizona, United States. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ...

That was not the case, however, as coach Darren 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. The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ...

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. John Dutton(Born:September 20,1975) is an Arena Football League quarterback for the Colorado Crush. ... In American sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) 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. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football League team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ...

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)

External Links

• ArenaFan Box Score