IFL Duke City Gladiators

Duke City Gladiators Face off against the Bay Area Panthers

Published on April 9, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Duke City Gladiators News Release


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Duke City Gladiators will face off with the Bay Area Panthers for the first time this season. The Gladiators will take the field against the Panthers with kickoff at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Rio Rancho Events Center; pre-game festivities start at 3 p.m. Tickets available at dukecitygladiators.com.

"This is going to be a great matchup," said Gladiators' owner Gina Prieskorn-Thomas. "Quarterback Ramone Atkins will start as quarterback and former New Mexico prep standout Ronnie Daniels will make his professional debut with the Gladiators."

Daniels joined the team last year after a chance meeting with Prieskorn-Thomas at an Albuquerque gas station. The brief meeting launched Daniels, a former star running back at La Cueva, back to football.

"We started to talk because he saw the bumper sticker on my car for Texas Tech," Prieskorn-Thomas said. "Ronnie was part of the Texas Tech team briefly after graduating from La Cueva. He has been able to turn his life around. This team believes in second chances, and I am glad that I took that chance on Ronnie. I am excited to have him back on the field in a Duke City Gladiator uniform as a professional football player."

From the chance meeting in July, Daniels, who was once homeless, has been able to practice with the team, get back into football shape, buy a vehicle, and lives in a home.

Daniels played one season at Texas Tech following his graduation from La Cueva High School. He is the state's record holder with 7,068 career yards and 96 career rushing touchdowns.

Following that fortuitous meeting Daniels said, "I am going to utilize this opportunity to get to the next level - which has been my dream for years. Yes, I have records, but there is more to me. This has been a huge blessing."

Daniels and the Gladiators are looking to get back to the win column after starting the season 0-3. The Panthers come into the contest 1-2, with a victory against San Diego Strike Force, and defeats from Northern Arizona Wranglers and Vegas Knight Hawks.

Gladiators' games are streamed online on the Indoor Football Team channel on YouTube and on KRQE.

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