By: Eric He

SAN JOSE — In a game featuring two teams speeding in opposite directions – one toward an undefeated season and the other toward the worst record in the AFL – the latter pulled off a major upset, as the Los Angeles KISS handed the San Jose Sabercats their first loss of the season on Saturday night at SAP Center with a 48-42 overtime win.

The KISS (2-9) forced a turnover on downs on the Sabercats’ (11-1) first possession of overtime, and won it with a 16-yard touchdown catch by Demarco Sampson, who just kept his toe inbounds to pull off the victory for Los Angeles.

It was just the KISS’ second win of the season and the Sabercats’ first defeat.

“They played a great game and they made every play possible,” said defensive back Clevan Thomas. “A game like that we have to find a way to win.”

Down 42-35 in the dying seconds, the Sabercats tied the game as time expired with a four-yard touchdown catch by Reggie Gray, and the extra point by Nick Pertuit sent the game to overtime.

The KISS took their first lead of the game early in the fourth on a pick-six by Rayshaun Kizer, who intercepted a pass by Erik Meyer at the Sabercats 19-yard line and returned it untouched for the score to put the KISS up 35-28.

The Sabercats answered with a quick three-play drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown reception by Jeremy Keller with five minutes remaining, only to have the KISS come right back with a three-play drive of their own capped off by a 29-yard score by Donovan Morgan to give the KISS a 42-35 advantage.

Los Angeles hung around in the first half, and, after a stellar third quarter in which they held the Sabercats scoreless and, tied the score at 28-28 with 1:18 to play in the frame on an eight-yard reception by Morgan.

The Sabercats were held to just two touchdowns in the second half as the offense that led the league in points per game heading into the game was unrecognizable. Meyer, who finished with 312 yards on 20-of-42 passing and five touchdowns, was sacked five times and the team committed five turnovers a whole. To add insult to injury, he left the game in overtime after taking a big hit.

“We didn’t get it done offensively,” said head coach Darren Arbet. “I’m sure the guys understand that. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got to practice and get better.”

Added wide receiver Jeremy Kelley, who recorded 126 yards on six catches and a touchdown, “We’re going to bounce back from this. I don’t think we capitalized on every opportunity.”

It was a one-score game at halftime, much tighter than expected despite the Sabercats recording nearly double the amount of total yards (220 vs. 116). After the KISS tied the game at 7-7, Gray scored touchdowns on consecutive drives – the first a tough catch along the boards of the right corner of the end zone, and the second a wide-open 18-yard reception. With his second score, Gray recorded his 200^th career touchdown reception.

The two teams traded touchdowns before Laron Scott delivered a 50-yard kickoff return for a score that cut the Sabercats lead to 28-21 at halftime.

The Sabercats scored first less than five minutes into the game on their opening drive. It was a 31-yard touchdown pass from Meyer to D.J. Stephens, streaking down the left side of the field to put San Jose up 7-0 early.

Both defenses held up for the remainder of the quarter – with a little luck from the left goalpost as it rejected Pertuit’s 20-yard field goal attempt – and the KISS were able to tally to start the second and tie the game on a three-yard touchdown completion from Southwick to Austin Franklin.

With the loss, the Sabercats fell just short of setting a franchise-record for consecutive wins to start a season, but to them, it’s no big deal.

Said Thomas: “It’s disappointing but the main thing when we talk about what we want is winning a championship.”

When asked to follow-up on whether this team, like 2002 squad that also fell short of a 12-0 record, could win it all, he responded, “Of course. Without a shadow of a doubt.”

Notes

Coming into Saturday, the Sabercats ranked first in the league in offense (60.6 PPG) and defense (36.8 PPG). … San Jose defeated Los Angeles in Week 2 by the score of 54-28. … The KISS have now won two straight games losing 15 in a row . … At halftime, the Sabercats paid tribute to Omarr Smith, a longtime player and current Assistant Head Coach.