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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

February 9, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


Date: Saturday, February 14, 2004

Kickoff: 12:00 PM PT

Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)

Officials: Referee: Bill LeMonnier, Umpire: Rick Podraza, Head Linesman: Allen Baynes, Line Judge: Dana McKenzie, Back Judge: Billy Beckett.

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...

On NBC Sports with Bob Papa and Ray Bentley handling the call and KVBC-TV's Mitch Roberts on the sidelines.

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...

On in Las Vegas with Andrew Siciliano handling play-by-play and Mike Pritchard with color commentary.

THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. AVENGERS

This will be the second meeting between the Gladiators and the Avengers. The Avengers took the only meeting between the two organizations in the opening game of the 2003 season. In that game, Tony Graziani threw for seven touchdowns and ran for one more as the Avengers topped the Gladiators 60-48.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

This will be the first-ever Western Division game for the Gladiators, who moved from the Eastern Division during the offseason. The Avengers have already played a Division game in 2004 as the opened up in week one against the Arizona Rattlers.

If the Gladiators win, it would...

• Give Las Vegas a 1-1 record against the Avengers

• Give Las Vegas an 1-1 overall record

• Give Las Vegas a 1-0 home record

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS FALL TO CRUSH IN SEASON OPENER

Denver, CO, February 6, 2004 – Damian Harrell caught two touchdown passes from John Dutton in the final :20 seconds as the Colorado Crush downed the Las Vegas Gladiators 43-42 on Friday night at Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. The Crush scored the final points on a 33-yard pass with :04 seconds remaining after recovering an onside kick.

The difference in the ballgame came on special teams where the Crush scored two touchdowns on recovered kicks off the net and successfully converted two onside kicks.

The Gladiators were led by quarterback Clint Dolezel, who went 22 for 31 for 206 yards and four touchdowns. For Colorado, Dutton was 18-31 for 204 yards and two touchdowns, both to Harrell in the final minute. Harrell, who caught four passes for 52 yards and the aforementioned touchdowns was named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game.

With the Gladiators holding a 21-17 lead at halftime, the Crush marched 41 yards on 12 plays, with FB Chad Dukes taking the ball the final yard to give the Crush the lead 24-21. On the ensuing kickoff, Crush WR/DB Willis Marshall knocked the ball from Gladiator DB Cornelius Bonner and raced into the end zone to put the Crush up by 10.

The Gladiators would score the next 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, building a 42-31 lead with :20 seconds to play before Dutton and Harrell began their heroics.

Marcus Nash, who was playing his first game in a Gladiator uniform, caught nine passes for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

Kevin McKenzie, who tallied eight catches for 96 yards was named the Army Ironman of the Game, and Ahmed Hawkins, who picked off a Dolezel pass in the fourth quarter, was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

GLADIATORS NEXT WEEK

The Gladiators will go on the road in week three as QB Clint Dolezel and OS Terrill Shaw make their return to Grand Rapids. Kickoff is slated for 12 PM PT on Sunday, February 22.

THE COACHES

Frank Haege (Third Season 17-14, 0-2 in playoffs)

The Las Vegas Gladiators third-year head coach can look back upon his first two seasons 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 in 2002.

The 2003 season was the first for the Gladiators in Las Vegas and Haege led them to a second consecutive playoff appearance and an 8-8 record.

In 2002 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.

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.

Previously, he spent two years as the head coach and director of football operations with the Quad City Steamwheelers (af2) in 2000 and 2001. Haege posted a remarkable 37-1 record, including an undefeated 2000 season.

Haege is in his tenth season in the Arena Football League.

Ed Hodgkiss (Third Season, 20-11, 0-2 in playoffs)

Hodgkiss, one of the brightest offensive masterminds in the Arena Football League, is in his third season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Avengers. In his first two seasons at the helm, he directed the Avengers to a 19-11 record. No head coach in AFL history has won more games in his first two seasons than Hodgkiss, who was the runner-up for the 2003 AFL "Coach of the Year" award. Last season, the Avengers won a franchise-best 11 games and earned a first-round bye in the AFL Playoffs. Hodgkiss oversaw the league's most efficient offense, which scored 122 touchdowns (most in the AFL) on only 619 total plays (least in the AFL). Particularly lethal through the air, the 2003 Avengers averaged a league-leading 13.8 yards per reception. Hodgkiss became the head coach of the Avengers on Oct. 5, 2001, and signed a five-year contract extension shortly after a 2002 season that saw him adroitly pilot the team to an 8-6 mark. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss had been with the Indiana Firebirds since 1997. He was the team's offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001). In each of those campaigns, Hodgkiss proved to be the architect of one of the AFL's most prolific offenses, ranking among the league leaders in most statistical categories.

GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS

BLING BLING

Valentine's Day at the Thomas & Mack will see one lucky lady win a $5,000 diamond ring provided by Palm Beach Tan. In addition, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive the Las Vegas Gladiators 2004 schedule magnet and the first 1,500 ladies will receive a Valentine's day carnation. The coup de' gras will come after halftime when the diamond ring, provided by Palm Beach Tan, will be up for grabs.

HOME SWEET HOME

After going 5-3 at the Thomas & Mack Center during the 2003 season, the Gladiators will make their 2004 home debut on Saturday. Last season's home opener was the Gladiators' most remarkable game of the season as they downed the eventual ArenaBowl Champion Tampa Bay Storm by erasing a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to win in overtime.

WILD WILD WEST

The Gladiators will play their first game as a member of the AFL's Western Division, considered to be the toughest in the league. All three other teams, Los Angeles, Arizona and San Jose made the playoffs last season, and the West has been represented in the ArenaBowl for the last two seasons.

TRIPS TO WIN

For the third season, the Red and Black will be trying to win their home opener. In 2002 as the New Jersey Gladiators, they went on to beat the Dallas Desperados 45-44 and last season began with a bang with a victory over Tampa Bay.

AVENGEING THE AVENGERS

OL/DL John DeWitt will be playing his former team for the first time on February 14th. DeWitt played for the Avengers from 2001-2003. During that time he played in 24 games and made 18.5 tackles, four interceptions, forced 10 fumbles and blocked one kick. In his first game of the season, DeWitt recorded two solo tackles.

DAZZLING DOLEZEL

Donning the Gladiator armor for the first time, QB Clint Dolezel scored touchdowns on his first three drives against the Colorado Crush. He went on to throw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth. Dolezel is 14 touchdowns shy of 500 for his career. He will be going for his first victory against Los Angeles. (Currently 0-2 vs. LA)

NASH-TY

WR/LB Marcus Nash had a career-high in receptions in his first game with the Gladiators last week, catching nine balls for 72 yards and three touchdowns. Nash had eight receptions in two different games while with the Detroit Fury last season. On the ground, he rushed the ball for the first time in his career for a gain of eight yards.

ONE SHY FOR SHAW

OS Terrill Shaw entered the 2004 season with at least one touchdown reception in 16 consecutive games, but was unable to catch a one against Colorado. The last time Shaw did not catch a touchdown pass was the first game of the 2003 season while with the Rampage.

HOT COE-COE

Los Angeles Avengers DS Cornelius Coe will be battling his former team this week. Coe went through training camp with the Gladiators in 2003 and played in the first game last year against the Avengers. He did not record any statistics, but came back and led the Avengers in tackles with 83 in 11 games of action.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 9, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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