Gladiators Upended by Dragons

Published on May 4, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


Las Vegas, NV, May 3, 2003 – Walter Church hit Todd Doxzon on a two-point conversion with :39 seconds remaining in the game to lift the New York Dragons to a 43-42 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Gladiators had a chance to win the game on the final play, but Steve Videtich's 36-yard field goal with :04 seconds remaining hit the right upright and bounced away. The loss drops the Gladiators (7-7) back into a first place tie with Detroit in the Eastern Division. New York (6-8) moves to within one game with two games remaining. The Dragons began their game winning possession with 1:58 remaining and Las Vegas leading 42-35. Church, who was making his first start of the year in place of injured Aaron Garcia, led New York on a four play, 40-yard drive, finally hitting Damien Grocer on a 12-yard touchdown pass to bring them within one and set up the game-winning two-point conversion attempt. Chris Anthony, who was named the games Ironman, led the Dragons on both sides of the ball, catching six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns and recording one interception. Las Vegas jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first 14 points of the game, but momentum shifted with less than :10 seconds to play in the first half. Following a Sedrick Robinson touchdown run to give the Gladiators a 28-14 lead, Duvets Franklin, who was named the game's MVP, took the kickoff off the net two yards deep in the end zone and raced 52 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to seven. It was the first time all season that the Gladiators have allowed kickoff return for a score. With the momentum and the ball to start the second half, the Dragons needed only three plays to pull within one as Church hit Grocer from eight yards out to make the score 28-27. The Gladiators answered on their first possession of the half as McDonagh led them on a nine-play, 45-yard touchdown drive to push the lead to eight. It would be the last score by either team in the quarter as each team turned the ball over on their next two possessions. The Gladiators picked off Church twice, once by Chris Pope and once by Damon Mason, but a fumble by Robinson and an Anthony's interception of McDonagh as the quarter ended allowed the Dragons to maintain their eight-point deficit. New York tied the game on their first fourth-quarter drive when Rodney Filer pushed the ball over from five yards out and Church hit Anthony on the two-point conversion. The Gladiators put together another long, nine-play drive, setting up McDonagh third rushing touchdown of the game for the go-ahead score with 1:58 left. McDonagh, who was under constant pressure by the New York defensive line, finished the game 22-30 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led Las Vegas on the ground, rushing for 27 yards and three scores. Mike Horacek led the Gladiators receivers with seven catches for 56 yards. Church completed 12-24 for 203 yards and four scores, but was picked off three times. The Gladiators hit the road for a crucial division game against the Detroit Fury on Sunday, May 11 in Auburn Hills, Mich. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. 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.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 4, 2003


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