FLASH RECAP:
In their final tuneup before the regular season starts, Oakland wallops Arizona before an announced crowd of 35,738 at Network Associates Coliseum on Aug. 29, 2002. The Raiders defense has five sacks and allows only 153 total yards. Oakland (2-2) scores 31 unanswered points after Bill Gramatica kicks a 48-yard field goal for Arizona (1-3). Marques Tuiasosopo and Rick Mirer each throw for a touchdown, while Madre Hill and Zack Crockett each rush for scores for the winners. Hill has 83 of Oakland's 209 rushing yards. Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon and Arizona counterpart Jack Plummer each play only one series.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rick Mirer - Leads Oakland on three touchdown drives in the second half. He completes 6 of 8 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown for a quarterback rating of 150.5.
DE Chris Copper - Leads a fierce Oakland pass rush against Arizona. "Little Howie" is credited with 1.5 sacks and a team-high four tackles.
RB Madre Hill - Rushes for 83 yards and one touchdown (16-yard run) on 12 carries.
CB Phillip Buchanon - Recovers an Arizona fumble to set up Oakland's go-ahead touchdown. He also returns a punt 55 yards.
MLB Greg Biekert - Makes tackles on Arizona's first two scrimmage plays. Biekert, who refused to take a pay cut earlier in the week, receives the loudest cheers during the pregame introductions.
SS Don Morgan - Contributes a team-high six solo tackles and a sack.
PK Bill Gramatica - His 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter gives the Cardinals a brief 3-0 lead.
DBs Justin Lucas & Coby Rhinehart - They each stop Oakland drives with interceptions inside the Arizona 10-yard line.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders outscore the Cardinals 21-0 and outgain them 238-29 in the second half.
TURNING POINT:
The Raiders' Phillip Buchanon returns a Marcel Ship fumble 4 yards to the Arizona 11. After Randy Jordan loses a yard on a running play, Marques Tuiasosopo throws a 12-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Barlow to break a 3-3 deadlock with 6:01 left in the first half.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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4: Touchdown drives engineered by QB Rick Mirer during Oakland's past two exhibition games.
83: Yards rushing by Oakland's Madre Hill.
153: Total yards by the Cardinals.
THEY SAID IT:
Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis
"If that had been a prize fight, they would have stopped it. The first half was a football game. The second half was a rope-a-dope."
"I feel just fortunate (team owner) Al Davis gave me a chance. "He told me, 'You're going in against Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley, you know. That's a tough hill to climb.' Well, I believe competition makes you better."
Raiders RB Madre Hill
DID YOU KNOW?:
With 13 penalties against the Cardinals, the Raiders have a whopping 49 penalties in their 2002 four-game exhibition season.
The Raiders' Rod Coleman sacks Cardinals QB Chris Greisen.
By Associated Press
