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STOCKTON, Calif. - Veteran quarterback John Fitzgerald threw for 166 yards (8-for-15) and three touchdowns to help lift the Kansas City Brigade to a 58-35 win over the San Jose SaberCats in an Arena Football League preseason scrimmage hosted by the arenafootball2 league's Stockton Lightning at Stockton Arena on Tuesday night.

Fitzgerald, who stepped away from the playing field in 2007 to coach the af2's Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, completed all of his work by halftime as he guided the Brigade to a 31-14 advantage after the first half. His first two touchdown strikes were of the 34 and 19-yard variety to WR Mike Horacek, who helped get the Brigade on the scoreboard just two plays into the game with a long bomb down the left sideline to Horacek just 1:29 into the game.

Fitzgerald posted the longest play from scrimmage, a 47-yard missle to WR James Robinson with 31 seconds left in the second quarter to give Kansas City a 28-14 lead before a turnover on downs by the SaberCats set up Peter Martinez's 31-yard field goal as time expired to give the Brigade a 17-point halftime cushion.

The defending Arena Bowl champion SaberCats made their bid for a rally with a 14-point third quarter to cut the gap to 38-28, as former all-af2 quarterback Scott Rislov hooked up with Darrell Jones on a 19-yard touchdown reception with 12:01 left in the third frame and replacement Brett Elliott swung a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cleann Saintil with 1:05 remaining.

Kansas City's Ceasar Manning posted two touchdown receptions in the fourth quarter to help put the game away, hauling in a 26-yard reception from QB Matt Kohn and a 27-yard bomb from D. Bryant as time expired for insurance points.

Manning led all receivers in the game with 74 yards receiving on four catches, while Jones led all SaberCats receivers with six catches and 69 yards for one touchdown. Three-time all-AFL quarterback and UC Davis product Mark Grieb started the game for San Jose and exited in the second quarter after throwing for 5-of-6 with 36 yards and no touchdowns.

Score by Quarters               1       2       3        4            Score
-----------------                  --       --      --       --            --                                 
Kansas City Brigade...         7       24      7       20     -     58         
San Jose SaberCats...         7       7       14      7       -     35        

Offensive Player of the Game: QB John Fitzgerald (Kansas City)
Defensive Player of the Game: DB Kahlil Carter (Kansas City)
Ironman of the Game:  DB Trestin George (San Jose)

Attendance: 2,555

Season tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.