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AFL Cleveland Gladiators

Gladiators Fall Short in Philadelphia, 67-50

April 23, 2016 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Cleveland Gladiators News Release


PHILADELPHIA, PA - In their first road contest of the season, the Cleveland Gladiators started fast but ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Soul Saturday afternoon in front of 7,057 fans at Wells Fargo Center, 67-50. Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 315 yards and eight touchdowns while wide receiver Darius Reynolds hauled in ten passes for 114 yards and three scores. Wide receivers Thyron Lewis, Collin Taylor, and Quentin Sims each found the end zone in the Gladiators loss.

The Gladiators opened the scoring with a three-play 35 yard drive, capped off by a two-yard scoring draw from quarterback Dennis Havrilla. On the ensuing possession, Raudabaugh would answer for the Soul, finding wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku for a nine-yard touchdown to even the score, 7-7. On the following drive the Cleveland offense, set-up by a 27-yard catch and run from Phillipkeith Manley, pulled ahead 14-7 on another Havrilla touchdown run, this time from one-yard out to reclaim the lead 14-7.

Both teams continued to trade touchdowns to open the second quarter as Philadelphia marched eight-plays and 47 yards capped off by a two-yard touchdown from former Gladiator Jeramie Richardson. Kicker Pat Clarke's missed extra point kept Cleveland in front 14-13, with 11:27 remaining in the half. After Manley scored for the Gladiators on a four-yard rush to go up 21-13, defensive back Marvin Ross intercepted his first pass of his AFL career and returned it 30 yards to extend the Cleveland lead to 28-13 with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter.

Raudabaugh and the Soul offense would recover as wide receiver Ryan McDaniel was left all alone in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown catch. However, another missed extra point from Clarke kept it a two-score game, 28-19. After a Gladiators turnover on downs, Raudabaugh would find Reynolds in the back corner of the end zone for his first of three touchdowns, an 11-yarder, to close the gap to 28-26 at the end of the half.

The Soul received the second-half kick-off and only took two plays to get in the end zone, as Raudabaugh connected with Reynolds for a 13-yard score, his second of the game, to give Philadelphia its first lead of the game. A third missed extra point made the score 32-28. The lead didn't last long as Havrilla would hook up with Lewis for a 35-yard score, giving the Gladiators the lead once again, 35-32.

On the following drive, Reynolds would find pay dirt for the third time, a six-yarder from Raudabaugh, to give the lead back to the Soul, 39-35 with 6:05 left in the third quarter. After Havrilla was intercepted by jack linebacker Joe Goosby on the next drive, the Soul would score once again as Richardson would plunge into the end zone from two-yards out, his second score of the game, increasing their lead to 46-35 with 1:50 left in the third quarter.

With Havrilla leaving the game due to injury on the interception, jack linebacker Arvell Nelson stepped under center and hit Sims for his first catch and touchdown as a Gladiator, a 16-yarder. A successful two-point conversion from Nelson to Lewis closed the gap to 46-43 with 13:25 remaining in the game. The Soul responded on the next possession, with Raudabaugh tossing a six-yard touchdown pass to McDaniel to bump their lead to 53-43 with 10:29 left. Nelson would answer quickly, finding Taylor on the first play of the ensuing drive for a 35-yard touchdown. Kicker Adrian Trevino's extra point pulled Cleveland to within 53-50 with 9:02 remaining.

That was as close as the Gladiators would get as Raudabaugh would cap the scoring with touchdown throws of seven and 45 yards to Kauleinamoku and wide receiver Chris Duvalt, respectively, resulting in the 67-50 Philadelphia victory.

Up next for the Gladiators is a home date with the Orlando Predators next Friday at 7:00 p.m. for Cedar Point Youth Sports Night. The game can be heard live on 92.3 The Fan.

Post-Game awards:

Offensive Player of the Game: PHI, #7, Darius Reynolds (WR), 10 receptions, 114 yards, three touchdowns

Defensive Player of the Game: PHI, #8 Jake Metz (DL), four tackles

Playmaker: PHI, #5, Dan Raudabaugh (QB), 26/31 for 315 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception

Catch: PHI, #7, Darius Reynolds (WR), leaping touchdown catch over the wall in the third quarter

Highlight: PHI, #6, Joe Goosby (JLB), 7-yard interception return in the 3rd quarter

Tickets for every Gladiators home game start at just $9 and are on sale now! Full and partial season ticket memberships are also available and provide you with the best seat locations, custom member benefits and the lowest ticket prices. Group outing and birthday bash packages for 10 or more people are also on sale now. All tickets can be purchased by visiting ClevelandGladiators.com, calling (216) 420-0000, visiting The Q Box Office or any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart. Be sure to follow the Gladiators on Twitter @clegladiators and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandgladiators.

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