Finishing up strong
April 25, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
With the final month of the regular season about to begin, the Las Vegas Gladiators are posed for a run into the playoffs. In the final four games of the regular season, Las Vegas will face three teams in contention for a playoff spot. Their quest will begin on the road against one of the most dominate teams in the Arena Football League of late, the Chicago Rush. Chicago has been on a role winning five out of their last seven games including victories over division leaders San Jose, Colorado and New York. They are coming off a loss to Los Angeles this past weekend and are sitting in a three-way tie with the Avengers and Gladiators with a record of 7-5 for the third and fourth playoff spots.
Most of the Gladiators' coaches, players and fans have not forgotten what happen when Chicago met Las Vegas last season at the Thomas & Mack Center. In Week 9 of the 2004 season, the Red and Black fell to the Rush on the final play of the game when Rush quarterback Raymond Philyaw's 24-yard hail-mary catapulted off the net into the arms of WR/LB Etu Molden. The Rush won 57-55 as everyone left the building wondering what just happened.
When the Gladiators travel to Chicago, it will be the first time since the 2002 season the Gladiators have played in the Windy City and fourth time in franchise history the two teams will meet. The Rush have defeated the Gladiators the previous three times.
Current Gladiators WR/LB Joe Douglass, WR/DB Dameon Porter and DS's Marvin Taylor, Cornelius Bonner, Donald Malloy, along with Defensive Coordinator Stan Davis are familiar with the Rush from their days in Chicago. They were each with the Rush organization at some point from 2001-2003.
The memory of last season and all the ties these teams have with each other will be added motivation in a game that could decide both teams' playoff lives.
Following the match-up against the Rush, the Gladiators travel back to Las Vegas to take on the Dallas Desperados on Saturday, May 7th, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Dallas has proven to be one of the more impressive teams this season as they have been lead by rookie quarterback Clint Stoerner. Stoerner is an AFL Rookie of the Year candidate and has the Desperados in first place in the Eastern Division with a 6-4 record.
When the Desperados travel to Sin City, it will be the first time they have faced each other since the 2002 season when the Gladiators were based out of New Jersey and defeated Dallas, 45-44.
The long awaited rematch with the Avengers in Week 16 will then finally take place when the Gladiators head to Hollywood. The two teams went head-to-head in Week 1 as Las Vegas beat Los Angeles for the first time in franchise history, 46-37. Each team will be playing for a playoff spot in the American Conference as things dwindle down with five teams in contention for four spots (Chicago, Colorado, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Jose).
In the final week of the regular season, the Arizona Rattlers come to town to try and be playoff spoilers. With the Rattlers playoff hopes out of consideration for the first time in 12 years, they will try and keep Las Vegas out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Earlier this season, the Gladiators defeated Arizona when quarterback Clint Dolezel found OS Marcus Nash on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the final moments of the game to win 66-63 at America West Arena in Phoenix.
It is apparent that the playoff hunt is going to come down to the final four games of the season and the Red and Black are focused on making ArenaBowl XIX a home game come June 12th.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 25, 2005
- Orlando Predators game notes - Orlando Predators
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Chris Sanders stepped back to move forward - Orlando Predators
- Crush waive OL/DL Tank Reese - Colorado Crush
- Nashville Kats game notes - Nashville Kats
- Destroyers sign former NFL fullback to practice squad - Columbus Destroyers
- Finishing up strong - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers present Faith and Family Night at Nationwide Arena April 30 - Columbus Destroyers
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