Las Vegas Gladiators Game Notes
May 13, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
GLADIATORS VS. DESTROYERS: THE FACTS
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 PM PT
Site: The Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
Television: Empire Sports Network, Buffalo, NY
Radio: ESPN Radio 920 (Las Vegas) â Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Mike Pritchard (color commentary)
Officials: Referee: Pat Garvey, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Roger McMinn, Line Judge: Art Lucky, Back Judge: David Cutaia
THE SERIES â GLADIATORS VS. DESTROYERS
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the Gladiators and the Destroyers (the teams met an additional four times when the Gladiators were known as the Red Dogs). The Destroyers hold a 4-1 record against the Gladiators (the Red Dogs were 3-1 against Buffalo). The teams met on March 23 in Buffalo where the Gladiators came away with a 50-32 victory. In that game, Mike Horacek had 14 receptions for 182 yards and three touchdowns to lead Las Vegas. The Gladiators defense forced three turnovers and recorded their first safety of the season in holding the Destroyers to under 200 yards in total offense. Frank Carter, who was named the Ironman of the Game, was a key in the defenses' success. Carter totaled two tackles, a ½-sack that lead to a Gladiators' safety in the second quarter, and a fumble recovery deep in Gladiators' territory as Buffalo was closing in on the endzone.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Las Vegas is currently in a dogfight with New York and Detroit to be named the Eastern Division Champions. With a victory and losses from both teams, Las Vegas will win the division and receive home field advantage during the first round of the playoffs.
If the Gladiators win, it would...
⢠Give Las Vegas a 2-4 record against the Destroyers
⢠Give Las Vegas an 8-8 record
⢠Give Las Vegas a 5-3 home record
GLADIATORS LAST WEEK
FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN SINKS GLADIATORS
Detroit, MI, May 11, 2003 â Detroit quarterback Andy Kelly threw for 310 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Detroit Fury to a 76-52 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators on Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. With the victory, the Fury claimed sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division.
Detroit outscored the Gladiators 28-3 in the fourth quarter, turning what was a see-saw game into a blowout. The Gladiators went into the fourth quarter with a 49-48 lead, but after a Kelly to John Kaiser pass to give the Fury the lead and Gladiator field goal by Steve Videtich, Detroit scored the final 21 points of the game to seal the victory.
The Gladiators defense, which struggled throughout, could not record one stop the entire game, as Detroit scored touchdowns on every possession. Kelly, who was named the games MVP, completed 25 of 40 passes and also rushed for another score.
The Gladiators were led by the game's Ironman, Sedrick Robinson, who continually gave Las Vegas good field position, returning 10 kickoffs for 256 yards. Robinson also rushed the ball twice for four yards and a touchdown, caught two balls for 22 yards, and recorded three total tackles on defense.
Gladiators' quarterback Jay McDonagh finished the game 18 out of 27 for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Mike Horacek led Las Vegas in receiving, catching eight balls for 92 yards and three touchdowns. In doing so, Horacek set a new Gladiators record for catches in a season with 122, and in scoring with 34 touchdowns for (204 points) with one regular season game remaining.
Kaiser led the Fury receivers, catching nine balls for 116 and two touchdowns. Marcus Nash, who returned to action as the Fury's offensive specialist, caught six passes for 73 yards and four touchdowns.
GLADIATORS NEXT WEEK
The Gladiators will be playing in the playoffs for the second consecutive year, but the day and opponent are yet to be determined.
THE COACHES
Frank Haege (Second Season 16-11, 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.
Ron Selesky (First Season, 5-10 record)
Ron Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division championship. The Conquest also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 Arena Cup playoffs. Selesky compiled an overall record of 19-13 in two seasons in the af2 during the regular season with a 1-1 playoff mark.
Selesky joined the Conquest after leading the expansion Louisville Fire to a 6-10 mark in 2001. Prior to his stint in Louisville, Selesky spent one season as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Carolina Cobras. He was the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. While Selesky was in Tampa Bay, the Storm compiled a 31-11 regular-season record and earned a berth in ArenaBowl XII in 1998.
Selesky played college football at North Central College (Division III) in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a four-year starter at left offensive tackle. Following his college career, he played in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 and attended NFL camps in San Diego (1988), Miami (1990) and Detroit (1992).
GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS
Half The Battle
The red and black have had problems winning games if they go into halftime down on the scoreboard. Their record is 0-6 trailing midway through the game.
The Hits Keep Coming
Currently in his seventh season in the AFL, DS Damon Mason has his eyes set on a milestone and a nose for the football. Mason is currently 11 tackles shy of breaking the 500 barrier. A standard met by only two players in arena football history (Barry Wagner of San Jose and Darryl Hammond of Georgia). Mason is second in the league in forced fumbles with five (EJ Burt of Orlando has seven).
Return This
The Gladiator offense has been setup for success all season behind the running of one man. WR/LB Sedrick Robinson has broken a numerous amount of Gladiator kickoff return records. For the season, Robinson has gone for 1,522 kickoff return yards and 1,631 total return yards. Last game against Detroit, Robinson exploded for 256 yards. The previous team-records were all set by Robinson (Kickoff return yards-957, total return yards-973 and kickoff return yards in a single game-208).
Ties
OL/DL Hardy Mitchell has been with the Gladiators for the past two games, but started the season with Buffalo and contributed in eight games with 10 tackles, two for losses, a sack and two QB hurries. With the Gladiators, Mitchell has totaled 1.5 tackles. Other Gladiators with connections with the Destroyers: OL/DL Jerry Crafts. Crafts played two seasons with Buffalo in 2001-2002 and currently still holds their team record for the longest interception return for a touchdown at 39 yards. QB Jay McDonagh began his AFL career with Buffalo, playing in just three games in 1999, but threw the ball for 179 yards and three touchdowns.OL/DL Wilky Bazile played for the Destroyers in the 2000 season and totaled 4.5 tackles and two sacks.
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