AFL Cleveland Gladiators

35-32 defeat puts Cleveland out of first place for first time since Week 3

Published on June 4, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Cleveland Gladiators News Release


PITTSBURGH, PA - The Cleveland Gladiators dropped their second straight game, 35-32, to the Pittsburgh Power in front of 9,066 at the CONSOL Energy Center on Saturday night. The loss puts Cleveland at 6-5 on the season and out of first place in the American East, a slot they had previously held since Week 3. The Power improved to 7-4 and at a full game advantage over the Gladiators.

Cleveland quarterback Kurt Rocco finished 28-of-43 for 261 yards passing with four touchdown tosses, one rushing score and one interception. Thryon Lewis led the way for the receiving corps with his second-straight game over the 100 yard mark; Lewis finished with nine catches for 104 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Robert Redd also had two receiving scores on the night.

Pittsburgh quarterback Bernard Morris earned Offensive Player of the Game honors by going 17-of-23 for 210 yards and three passing touchdowns. His main target on the night was Jason Willis, who was on the receiving end of five catches for 105 yards and two scores through the air, including a 40-yard bomb in the second quarter.

Defensively for Cleveland, Levy Brown continued to be a tackling force by notching 6.5 total tackles and recovering a fumble. The Power defense sacked Rocco twice and forced a crucial interception in their own end zone, the Gladiators only turnover in the contest, stopping a drive with 58 seconds left in the game and sealing the victory.

Cleveland turned the ball over on downs three times in the game and was unable to gain the advantage in the end despite having seven more first downs and controlling the clock for nearly 15 minutes more than Pittsburgh. The Gladiators were flagged 11 times for 75 yards, both game highs.

With the victory, Morris improved to 5-1 as a starter for the Power, while Pittsburgh has won four straight games. Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth quarter, making it the fifth time that Cleveland has been shut out in a period all season. The Gladiator defense was strong on the night, with their 35 points allowed being the fourth time in 2011 that they have held an opponent to 35 points or less. The Glads are 2-2 in those games.

The Gladiators will return to The Q on Saturday, June 11th when they host the Georgia Force at 7:00 p.m. for SCOUT NIGHT! The Great Lakes Science Center and NASA will be on hand with special concourse displays and activities for all Gladiator fans, along with the Boy and Girl Scout troops in attendance! SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! For more information, visit www.clevelandgladiators.com or call 216.685.9000 today!

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