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San Jose's Wright sets reception record in ArenaBowl loss
| Sunday, Jul 27 2008 9:31 PM
Last Updated: Sunday, Jul 27 2008 9:55 PM
NEW ORLEANS — There is no celebration in defeat.
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The fact that Bakersfield native Rodney Wright set a new ArenaBowl record for the most receptions in a game was irrelevant. Wright and the San Jose SaberCats suffered a narrow 59-56 loss to the Philadelphia Soul.
Having opened the afternoon's scoring on an eight-yard touchdown reception from veteran quarterback Mark Grieb, Wright went on to snare 13 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
"In a game like this I don't care if you have 500 yards and eight touchdowns," explained Wright, who was an ArenaBowl winner with the SaberCats last year in this same New Orleans Arena. "It means nothing if you lose the game. I'll never feel able to look back and say that I broke the record."
Wright's second trip to the end zone came with 28 seconds remaining in the game and cut a Philadelphia lead that had stretched to 19 points earlier in the second half to 11. A dramatic onside kick recovery and quick touchdown later, the SaberCats trailed by only a field goal.
"We were close but the ball just didn't bounce our way," said a tearful Wright from a somber SaberCats locker room. "When you know you're the better team and you know you can play better you hate to lose the game like that.
"This team is built to come back and is built to win championships so there was never a doubt in my mind that we would come back."
Wright burst onto the first-quarter stage with seven receptions for 68 yards and the opening touchdown. He was eight yards shy of 100 before halftime.
"Me personally, I think I could have played better," added Wright. "So you've got to look yourself in the mirror and see what you could have done better."