UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
ARENA BOWL STARS: Former Norfolk State standout receiver and Eddie Robinson
Award
winner James Roe hauled in five of San Jose quarterback
Mark Grieb's eight touchdown receptions and former
Alabama A&M standout and longtime AFL star
Barry Wagner rushed for a score as the Saber
Cats overcame a see-saw battle with Arizona to claim a 69-62
victory Sunday in Arena Bowl XVIII in Phoenix. Before a
sellout crowd of 17,391 at America West Arena, Roe scored on
receptions of 8, 11, 3, 38 and 31 yards to tie an
ArenaBowl record with five touchdown receptions. The five-year
AFL veteran also was named the game's Ironman and had
eight total receptions for 119 yards. Roe scored four of the
'Cats five first-half touchdowns, including a 38-yarder with
no time left on the clock to give the San Jose a 35-28
halftime lead. His final TD came midway through the third quarter
as he broke a tackle to score from 31 yards out to put the
'Cats up 42-35. After that, the game was tied three more times.
"It was a designed play when I bounced off the player near
the end zone and went in," said Roe, who was almost tackled
by defensive specialist Ricky Parker at the seven-yard line
on the reception. "It was amazing that I kept my
balance." Wagner, the AFL's all-time leader in scoring,
touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, receiving yards and tackles, put
San Jose back in front 49-42 when he opened fourth
quarter scoring with a 1-yard run. Wagner, who also had five
tackles and an assist, is in his 13th season in the AFL and was
making his seventh trip to the League championship game,
the second-most of any player in AFL history. The
championship was the third of his career. The only other black
college player on either team was the Saber Cats'
Devin Wyman, a lineman from Kentucky
State.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.