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Cleveland Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Arizona in Home Opener, 49-41

April 11, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Cleveland Gladiators News Release


Cleveland Gladiators vs. Arizona Rattlers
Cleveland Gladiators vs. Arizona Rattlers
(Cleveland Gladiators)

Arizona quarterback Nick Davila threw for 352 yards and seven touchdowns and wide receiver Rod Windsor caught 13 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns as the Rattlers (2-1) outlasted the Cleveland Gladiators (2-1), 49-41, in front of a home opener crowd of 12,776. For the Gladiators, quarterback Shane Austin threw for 230 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions, while wide receiver Dominick Goodman led the way receiving, catching nine passes for 66 yards and three touchdowns. The Gladiators are back on the road next Saturday when they take on the Philadelphia Soul at 6:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on 92.3 The Fan.

Arizona struck first after a Cleveland turnover when Davila threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kerry Reed. The Gladiator offense answered quickly however when it only took two plays before fullback Jeramie Richardson took a hand-off and walked into the end zone untouched for the score. A missed extra point made the score 7-6 Rattlers. Davila didn't waste time, finding veteran wide receiver Rod Windsor for a 34-yard score to put Arizona on top 14-6 with 8:07 left in the opening quarter.

On Cleveland's next drive Shane Austin guided the offense on a five-play drive that resulted in a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominick Goodman. Kicker Adrian Trevino's extra point pulled the Gladiators within one, 14-13. To open the second quarter, Davila and Windsor hooked up for a touchdown once again, a 12-yarder, to put the Rattlers up 21-13 with 10:51 remaining in the half.

After the Gladiators turned the ball over on downs, Davila tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Reed for his second score of the night. On the following drive, the Arizona defense came up with their second interception of the half as defensive back Jeremy Kellem picked off Shane Austin to end the Cleveland drive. With time winding down in the half and Arizona driving, defensive back Terrance Sanders picked off a Nick Davila pass and returned it 50 yards down the sideline for a much needed Gladiators touchdown. The extra point gave Arizona a 28-20 lead at the break.

To open the second half, Arizona marched down field on a six-play drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Davila to Windsor, Windsor's third touchdown reception of the night. The Gladiators offense responded when wide receiver Amarri Jackson caught a 19 yard touchdown pass from Austin to pull within 35-27 with 7:37 left in the third quarter.

After the two offenses swapped turnover's on downs, Arizona quarterback Nick Davila found Windsor once again for a 21-yard touchdown pass to cap off scoring in the third quarter. The touchdown catch was Windsor's fourth of the night to push the Rattlers lead to 42-27.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Gladiators offense used a nine-play drive capped off by a 5-yard pitch and catch touchdown from Austin to Goodman. However, a missed extra point put the Gladiators down nine, 42-33, with 10:02 remaining in the game. After a failed onside kick attempt, Arizona quarterback Nick Davila found wide receiver Kerry Reed on the first play of their drive for a 17-yard touchdown, putting Arizona on top 49-33. On the ensuing drive, Shane Austin was able to connect with Goodman for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The reception was Goodman's third touchdown of the night. A successful two point conversion made the score 49-41 with 5:06 remaining in the contest.

On Arizona's next drive, a field goal try on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line by kicker Jeremy Shelley missed right. The field goal would have put the Rattlers up by 11 with under a minute to go. However, Shane Austin was intercepted four plays later by defensive back Jeremy Kellem, his second interception of the night.

NOTES: The Rattlers are now 4-0 all-time against the Gladiators dating back to 2010... Wide receiver Dominick Goodman has now caught eight touchdown passes in the last two games, and has 10 total for the season... Wide receiver Amarri Jackson caught his fifth touchdown of the year in the third quarter... Fullback Jeramie Richardson picked up his second rushing touchdown of the season... Follow the Gladiators on Twitter @CLEGladiators and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandgladiators

Post-Game Awards

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: (ARZ) Nick Davila - 352 passing yards and seven touchdowns

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: (CLE) Dominic Jones - 14 tackles

J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: (ARZ) Rod Windsor - 13 catches, 168 yards, and four touchdowns

Cutters Catch of the Game: (ARZ) Rod Windsor - one-handed 34-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter

AFL Highlight of the Game: (CLE) Terrance Sanders - 50-yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half




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Cleveland Gladiators vs. Arizona Rattlers
Cleveland Gladiators vs. Arizona Rattlers
   

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