Gladiators Top Destroyers in Regular Season Finale
May 18, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
Las Vegas, NV, May 18, 2003 â Game MVP Todd Hammel came off the bench to spark the Las Vegas Gladiators to a 55-38 victory over the Buffalo Destroyers Sunday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The win secures the Gladiators the 11th seed in the "Drive to ArenaBowl XVII Playoffs" and they will travel to Arizona to take on the #6 seeded Rattlers next weekend in the wild card round. Hammel replaced starter Jay McDonagh late in the third quarter and completed 11-14 passes for 138 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown as Las Vegas scored the final 28 points of the game. Trailing 38-34 in the fourth quarter, the Gladiators' defense stepped up and forced three fourth-quarter turnovers to turn a close game into a rout. Jeroid Johnson picked off Buffalo quarterback Bob Bees for the first turnover. It was Johnson's eighth interception of the season. Three plays later, Hammel hit Mike Horacek in the end zone as the Gladiators took their first lead since the first quarter, 41-38. On the Destroyers next possession, Gladiators DS TJ Hill stepped in front of a Bees pass in the end zone for his third interception of the year. Hammel then drove the Gladiators down the field and hit Sedrick Robinson for a touchdown to give the Gladiators a 48-38 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball took a crazy bounce off the net and Karl Bates of the Gladiators jumped on it at the one yard line. A quarterback sneak by Hammel gave Las Vegas their final points of the game. Gladiators' defensive specialist Damon Mason set a milestone in the game as he became only the third player in Arena Football League history to record 500 tackles. Mason also set a Gladiators' single season high with 12.5 tackles. Ironman of the Game Coco Blalock ran back his first kick of the season for a touchdown, led Las Vegas in receiving with seven catches for 58 yards and had one tackle on defense. Horacek had five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas, bringing his season total to 127 receptions, which topped the AFL for the second season in a row. For the Destroyers, Bees finished the game 20-37 for 232 yards and five touchdowns and two interceptions. Jarrail Jackson had 365 all-purpose yards to lead Buffalo. Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League kicked off its 17th season and the first on NBC on Sunday, February 2, 2003. NBC will provide the AFL with unprecedented exposure by televising up to 70 games, including playoff contests and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 18, 2003
- Gladiators Top Destroyers in Regular Season Finale - Las Vegas Gladiators
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- Rampage Drop Fifth Straight, Look to Playoffs - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Buffalo Breaks Records, Fall In Season Finale - Buffalo Destroyers
- Desperados Win Central Division, Host Force Next Sunday - Dallas Desperados
- Gispert hits 16-yarder to lift Rush into playoffs - Chicago Rush
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