By Aaron Wilson
A classic performance delivered.
The return of a key performer.
Teamwork, and capitalizing on opportunities.
The Houston SaberCats put it all together in a 37-20 victory in a pivotal road match against the San Diego Legion.
The win improved the SaberCats’ record to 8-4 overall and gives them 41 points overall, one more than the Utah Warriors for first place in the Western Conference division, ahead of the Warriors’ next match.
With four tries, 434 meters carried, four conversions and three penalty goals, the SaberCats overcame a time of possession deficit of 54 minutes, 51 seconds to 45 minutes, 49 seconds and having just 46.33 percent of possession in the Legion’s territory.
“I think physicality and just relentless effort,” prop Pono Davis said. “When you turn on the film, you see the boys flying around, making tackles, having fun, celebrating every cancer we got. I think that was the key, backing each other and playing hard for each other.”
The SaberCats benefited greatly from the return of fly half Davy Coetzer, their leading scorer with 58 points this season.
He added nine points against the Legion for the SaberCats, one more than A.J. Alatimu and four more than Juan-Dee Oliver.
“It’s good to have him back out there,” Pono Davis said. “He’s one of those X-factors. He always makes a difference when he’s on the field. He makes great decisions. He definitely has an impact. He’s Davy Coetzer. He’s one of those guys who makes plays out there.”
The SaberCats got tries from Oliver, Tautalatasi Tasi, Johan Momsen and Dominic Akina.
Akina led the SaberCats with 96 meters made, one more than Drake Davis, who had a team-high seven defenders beaten.
Jay Renton led the squad with 59 passes. Seth Smith and Marno Redelinghuys tied with a game-high 17 tackles.
Oliver opened the scoring of the game with a try followed by a Coetzer conversion and penalty goal.
Akina added a first-half try with another Akina conversion heading into halftime.
In the second half, Momsen kept the momentum going with a try followed by a Coetzer conversion and a Tasi try followed by a Alatimu conversion.
Alatimu made a difference in the kicking game along with Drake Davis, a former LSU football player, with his all-around performance.
“Drake is a really driven and competitive athlete,” Pono Davis said.
The SaberCats, the defending Western Conference division champion, have been a resilient team all season.
“Whenever we’re all connected and having a good game, we’re really firing on all cylinders,” Pono Davis said. “It’s hard to beat us when we’re playing like that. If we continue to play for each other and celebrate good things, we’ll continue to have success.”
