Cobras Fall 51-41 To Las Vegas

Published on March 9, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release


CHARLOTTE ­ Despite a career-high 180 yards receiving and two touchdowns from Bernard Holmes, the Carolina Cobras fell to 0-6 on the season with a 51-41 loss to the Las Vegas Gladiators on Sunday. Carolina trailed by just three at the half, but could manage only three points in the third quarter as the Gladiators broke the game open.

Quarterback Todd Hammel led Las Vegas to two third quarter touchdowns as the Gladiators took a 41-27 lead entering the final quarter. Hammel finished the game 16-of-23 for 206 yards passing and three touchdowns. Game MVP Sean Riley caught 9 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Horacek added four receptions for 73 yards and one score. Frank Carter had two touchdowns on the ground for Las Vegas.

Ron Lopez completed 12-of-27 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns in his Cobras debut, before being replaced in the fourth quarter by Robert Hall. Hall threw two touchdown passes on 7-of-13 passing.

"We played a great game today," said Cobras head coach Mike Hold. "We made some mistakes, but we played hard. We did not take advantage of all our opportunities, however we played with heart and that is what I want to see out of these guys."

Las Vegas opened the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hammel to Riley on their first offensive play of the game. The Cobras responded with a 39-yard field goal by Matt George. After a six-yard touchdown run by Carter, Lopez put back-to-back touchdowns on the board for Carolina finding Jones and Ty Law. After the second score, Las Vegas¹ Sedrick Robinson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but Carolina answered back as Lopez threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 12-yard strike to rookie Chris Johnson. A two-yard touchdown by Carter with 13 seconds to play gave the Gladiators the 27-24 halftime lead.

Hammel put two touchdowns on the board for the Gladiators in the third quarter, sandwiched around a Cobras field goal by George. Backup quarterback Jay McDonagh rushed for a one-yard score to open the fourth quarter. The Cobras added two Hall-to-Holmes touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and the Gladiators used a late Steve Videtich field goal for the final margin.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 9, 2003


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