Las Vegas Gladiators Game Notes
April 23, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
GLADIATORS VS. FURY: THE FACTS
Date: Sunday, April 27, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 PM PT
Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
Television: None
Radio: ESPN Radio 920 (Las Vegas) â Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Mike Pritchard (color commentary)
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe, Umpire: Doug Wilson, Head Linesman: Royce Cooley, Line Judge: Gary Cavaletto, Back Judge: Joe Duncan.
THE SERIES â GLADIATORS VS. FURY
This will be the third regular season meeting between the Gladiators and the Fury. The Gladiators hold a 2-0 edge over the Fury. The final score of last seasons meeting was 62-45 in favor of the Gladiators. They were led by Mike Horacek's five touchdowns to set a single-season team record for scoring receptions.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Las Vegas is currently tied with Detroit for first place in the Eastern Division and look to take sole possession with a victory.
If the Gladiators win, it would...
⢠Give Las Vegas a 3-0 record against the Fury
⢠Give Las Vegas an 7-6 record
⢠Give Las Vegas a 4-2 home record
GLADIATORS LAST WEEK
GLADIATORS BEATEN BY ORLANDO FOR SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS
Orlando, FL, April 20, 2003 âTwo goal-line stands in the second quarter and three first half turnovers by Las Vegas led the Orlando Predators to a 56-31 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators Sunday in front of 10,159 at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, FL.
Orlando quarterback Jay Gruden was 15 of 26 for 169 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in his second start since coming back from an injury.
The Gladiators had an inauspicious start as they turned the ball over on their first two offensive plays. Jay McDonagh's first pass was intercepted by the Predators' Glenn Davis. McDonagh was replaced on the Gladiators' second drive by Todd Hammel, who was promptly picked off by Kenny McEntyre on the first pass that he threw.
Despite the turnovers, the Gladiators and Predators were tied at 14 in the second quarter. That is where things started to unravel for Las Vegas. After an Orlando touchdown that gave the Predators a 21-14 lead, Hammel led the Gladiators down the field to inside the five yard line. The Orlando defense came up strong, stopping the Gladiators on four straight running plays, keeping Las Vegas out of the end zone.
After an Orlando turnover, the Gladiators had another chance to tie the game going into halftime. On their next possession, still trailing 21-14, they again moved the ball inside the Predators' five yard line. On fourth and goal from the two, with :10 seconds left in the half, McDonagh fumbled at the goal line and the ball was scooped up by McEntyre who returned it all the way to the Gladiators' eight yard line. A Las Vegas penalty on the play gave Orlando one more shot at the endzone, and Gruden found Lamont Moore to give the Predators a 14-point lead at halftime.
In the second half, Las Vegas could not get any closer than 11 points, as their defense could not stop the Predators' offense and McEntyre, who was named the game's MVP, picked off his second pass of the game.
Hammel finished the afternoon 14-24 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Horacek led the Gladiators with 49 receiving yards on four catches. Gruden spread the ball around, throwing to six different receivers, led by Antonio Stanley who caught seven passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
GLADIATORS NEXT WEEK
The Gladiators stay home to take on division rival New York at the Thomas & Mack on Saturday, May 3. Kickoff is schedule for 7:00 PM and can be heard on ESPN Radio 920 in Las Vegas.
THE COACHES
Frank Haege (Second Season 15-10, 0-1 in playoffs)
The Las Vegas Gladiators second-year head coach Frank Haege can look back upon his rookie year in the AFL and boast about his wide array of accomplishments. Haege led the Gladiators to the fourth-best record in the AFL and their first-ever playoff berth in franchise history. Haege believes that there is still a lot of work to do and will not rest until the job is complete. Haege also serves as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, and wide receivers coach. The Gladiators 9-5 record and first place finish in the Eastern Division of the National Conference was the biggest turnaround in AFL history. The Gladiators finished the 2002 regular season with seven more victories than the previous season. The Gladiators set franchise marks in almost all offensive categories and earned five road victories in seven tries. In all five victories, New Jersey came back to win after entering the fourth quarter either tied or trailing their opponent. In one of the wildest games of the season, the Gladiators scored 34 points against the New York Dragons in the fourth quarter to tie the game before winning in OT. Haege was named the second head coach of the New Jersey Gladiators on August 23, 2001. Haege brought with him six players and an assistant coach from the Steamwheelers. Haege earned a bachelor's degree in marketing education from UW-Stout in 1992, before completing his master's degree in physical education at Bemidji in 1995. Haege was born on Oct 11, 1968 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. He is married (Michele) and resides in Las Vegas.
Al Luginbill (First Season, 6-6 record)
Al Luginbill enters his first season as head coach and general manager of the Detroit Fury...first season coaching in the Arena Football League...brings over 33 years of football experience to the Fury...began coaching career at Pasadena City College...guided Pasadena City College to Jr. Rose Bowl Championship in final season as a head coach...moved on to Arizona State University and worked as an assistant coach from 1977-1984 with a one year stint at Wyoming...left ASU to pursue a job with the San Diego State University Athletic department...after three years on the administrative side, he was given the control over the slumping Aztec football program...served as head coach of SDSU for five years...only coach in SDSU to ever have five consecutive winning seasons...then he joined the NFL Europe (World League) to serve as head coach and director of football operations of Amsterdam Admirals (1995-2000)...moved back to States and took a job with up-start XFL...guided the Los Angeles Xtreme to XFL's first and only league championship... Luginbill is credited with finding and developing NFL stars such as Marshall Faulk (San Diego St. Player) and Kurt Warner (NFL Europe / Amsterdam Player).
GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS
Winter's World
WR/DB Chuck Winters is in his first season with the Gladiators after spending the past two years with the Fury. Winters was among the Fury's leaders in all receiving categories and kickoff return yards last season.
Let the Games Begin
With just four games remaining in the regular season, Las Vegas plays all of their final games against teams in their own division. Starting this week, Las Vegas will play back to back home games against Detroit and New York. The Gladiators will then hit the road for the last time as they travel to meet the Fury before closing out the season at home vs. Buffalo.
Out With the Old In With the New
OS Mike Horacek is on his way to breaking his own team records for receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and scoring in a season. Horacek set team records for these categories last season. With four games remaining in the season, Horacek needs just four more touchdowns, 18 more points scored and 21 more receiving yards to break all three records.
The Over/Under
Out of all the teams in the league at, or above the .500 mark, the Gladiators and the Fury are the only two teams who have given up more points then they have scored. The Gladiators have given up 619 points and have scored 549 while the Fury have given up 611 points and have scored 590.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 23, 2003
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