By Matthew T.F. Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. –The Arena Football League is all about high-octane offense, a carousel of marches into the end zone to routine triple-digit combined scoring. At least, that’s been the status quo. The San Jose SaberCats are changing all of that, one defensive stop at a time.

“We want people to respect the defense,” said Cats defensive back Ken Fontenette.

The SaberCats topped the New Orleans VooDoo 56-35 Friday night at the SAP Center, eliminating New Orleans (2-12) from playoff contention. San Jose mastered the feat with a suffocating defense that surrender less than 40 points for the ninth time all season.

“Every year I’ve been here since 2013 we’ve wanted to change the culture,” added Fontenette. “We want to make Arena Football a defensive game. It’s a pride thing.”

Of course, the Cats brought the offense too. AFL Most Valuable Player candidate Erik Meyer threw for 229 yards and 7 touchdowns to lead San Jose (14-1) to the victory and a league-leading 14^th win. “Big Play” Reggie Gray notched 92 receiving yards while finding the end zone 4 times. He also picked up 115 yards on four punts returns.

“Time in and time out in practice we’re going against the best defense in the league,” said Gray. “We have that chemistry where Erik trusts us (in the red zone). It’s all about getting down there and executing.”

Cats on both sides of the ball had or neared record-breaking nights, with defensive back Ken Fontenette setting single-season record and wide receiver Reggie Gray inching closer to one of his own. Fontenette collected 17.5 tackles, breaking Cats assistant coach Omarr Smith’s single season record of 114 in 2008 by 6.

“It’s a great honor,” said Fontenette. “Any time you can do something to get your name in the record books with this franchise and the players that come through here is an honor. I didn’t really know though. One of the fans told me. It’s all about the win and the team. Everybody’s set aside their individual goals. It’s all about winning.”

Gray meanwhile stands on the doorstep of two significant milestones. His 9 catches Friday puts him one shy of tying Rodney Wright for the single season mark of 134 while his 47 touchdowns are 4 shy of besting James Roe’s 40 set in 2007.

“There are three games left,” said Gray. “Whatever the records are, God willing, maybe I’ll get there or maybe not. As long as we get the ‘W’. Individual records are great, but at the end of the day it’s all about the ‘W’. If you get the record and lose, what kind of satisfaction do you have in that?”

San Jose stifled the VooDoo in the first quarter, allowing only 86 yards and no scores.  The Cats used an undisciplined quarter by their visitors to take an early edge with New Orleans committing seven penalties for a loss of 37 total yards before ultimately taking over on a turnover.

After Clevan Thomas intercepted New Orleans quarterback Adam Kennedy pass on third and goal, the Cats converted on their lone offensive possession of the quarter. Quarterback Erik Meyer connected with Reggie Gray on a 13 yard pass with just under 5 minutes left for a 7-0 lead.

San Jose would pick up right where they left off to start the second quarter. In the first drive of the quarter Meyer capped a 7 play, 38 yard drive with a 10 yard completion to Darius Reynolds in the end zone, doubling up the VooDoo just 4:30 in to the frame.

Kennedy broke through the SaberCats defense on New Orleans’ next drive, hitting receiver Chris Duvalt on an 11 yard toss to break the shutout 4:20 away from halftime. The SaberCats rallied back after a 44-yard Gray kick return to the VooDoo 13 yard line. Meyer got lineman Rich Ranglin involved on a screen pass, flipping it to the 315-pounder for a jog across the goal line and another six points for San Jose. Ranglin, the 2014 lineman of the year, has now doubled his 2014 TD total with 6.

“Rich is a versatile self-proclaimed tight end,” said Gray with a chuckle. “He’s big for this offense. He’s one of the best blockers in the league if not the best. His ability to get the ball in the backfield forces teams to not key in on the great receivers that we have.”

New Orleans native Nich Pertuit converted one of eight extra points for a 21-7 lead with 180 ticks of the clock remaining.

New Orleans answered back with a quick drive of its own, with Kennedy orchestrating a two-play, 47-yard drive topped with a 19 yard touchdown pass to Duvalt to bring New Orleans a score back at the one minute warning. One minute was all Meyer and the Cats needed to create breathing room following a one-yard quarterback scramble for the score as time expired in the half. Meyer now has a rushing touchdown in three-straight contests and has a total of six on the season.

Gray picked up his second touchdown of the game on the first drive of the second half, reeling in a pass up the middle for an 11-yard score and a 35-14 lead 2:35 in. The Cats then forced a turnover on downs on 4^th-and-5 to regain possession at the VooDoo 19 yard line. After a sack and an incomplete pass, Meyer connected with former NFLer Ben Nelson for a highlight reel touchdown.

Nelson managed to catch the 25 yard toss with one foot in play while sprawling to make the catch. Fourth-year VooDoo coach Dean Cokinos challenged the play, but the score stood for a 42-14 Cats with 4:59 left in the third quarter. The VooDoo would score on an 18 yard strike from Kennedy to Johnny Lester with 1:41 left in the stanza now trailing 42-21.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Gray scoring the first and third while Charlie McClain and Duvalt scored for the New Orleans.

The SaberCats continue a three-game homestand with a contest next Saturday at SAP against the Portland Thunder. They’ll receive a bye week then finish off the home schedule with a game against the Arizona Rattlers before facing the LA Kiss, the team that handed San Jose it’s lone loss, to wrap up the regular season.