Gladiators Turn Ball Over Four Times; Lose to Force
Published on March 7, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
Duluth, Georgia, March 7, 2004 â ADT Defensive Player of the Game Morris Anderson picked off Clint Dolezel for the second time late in the fourth quarter and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown, sealing the victory for the Georgia Force 55-40 in front of 8,517 fans at the Gwinnett Center.
With the Gladiators looking to go above .500 for the first time this season, the Force would not be denied on their home turf and caused Las Vegas to turn the ball over four times including three interceptions and one fumble. The victory for Georgia was their first win at home in more than a year.
Georgia outscored the Gladiators 27-13 in the second quarter for a 34-20 halftime lead and thwarted every Gladiator attempt to close in on them.
Dolezel completed 24 of 41 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, but was harassed and hurried by Georgia's front three. They applied constant pressure on Dolezel and lead him into throwing a season-high three interceptions.
The Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game Leon Murray completed 21 of 31 passes for 233 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Gladiators looked sharp early, taking a 7-0 lead on a Dolezel to Marcus Nash touchdown strike in the corner of the endzone on the first drive of the game. The drive consumed 8:30 off the clock, yet the Force would respond by scoring six consecutive touchdowns and pushing their lead to 41-20 midway through the third quarter. Las Vegas came within eight points late in the fourth quarter, but that was the closest they would come for the remainder of the game.
The Gladiators, playing without offensive specialist Terrill Shaw, suffered another blow when defensive specialist T. J. Hill sustained a knee sprain during the second quarter and did not return.
The Gladiators return home next week to take on the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday, March 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Gladiators' 2004 season seats are on sale now. Fans interested in purchasing Gladiators' season seats can do so by calling the Gladiators office at 702-731-4977 or by calling 702-739-FANS.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 7, 2004
- Wranglers capture win over Cobras, 56-55 - Austin Wranglers
- Gladiators Turn Ball Over Four Times; Lose to Force - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Wranglers Steal Late Victory, 56-55 - Carolina Cobras
- Garcia Leads Dragons Over Unbeaten San Jose SaberCats - New York Dragons
- Rush suffers first defeat in Philly - Chicago Rush
- Storm fall to VooDoo, 55-43 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Dragons Defeat SaberCats 64-50 - San Jose SaberCats
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