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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

March 30, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. RUSH: THE FACTS

Date: Sunday, April 4, 2004 Kickoff: 3:00 PM PT Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) Officials Referee: Bill Athan, Umpire: Rick DiBernardo, Head Linesman: Tim Podraza, Line Judge: Roger McMinn, Back Judge: Tom Lombardo

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD... On ESPN Radio 920 in Las Vegas with Andrew Siciliano handling play-by-play and Mike Pritchard with color commentary.

IN THE COMMUNITY

For the remainder of the season the Gladiators will partner with local non-profit organizations to collect donations and raise awareness for their various causes. Tonight's game features The Safety Station.org, which produces identification cards for children.

THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. RUSH

This will be the third regular season meeting between the Rush and the Gladiators. Chicago has won the previous two meetings, including a 68-48 victory over the Gladiators in Las Vegas last season.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Gladiators need a win to get back in the playoff hunt.

If the Gladiators win, it would... · Give Las Vegas a 1-2 regular season record against the Rush · Give Las Vegas a 4-5 overall record · Give Las Vegas a 3-1 home record

SCHEDULES

LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (3-5) Date Opponent Time Result Score Feb. 6 @ Colorado 6:00 L 42-43 Feb. 14 Los Angeles 12:00 L 55-62 Feb. 22 @ Grand Rapids 12:00 W 51-14 Feb. 29 New Orleans 12:00 W 50-30 March 7 @ Georgia 9:00 AM L 40-55 March 14 Arizona 3:00 W 65-64 (ot) March 20 @ San Jose 7:30 L 62-79 March 27 @ Orlando 4:30 L 43-60 April 4 Chicago 3:00 April 10 @ Arizona 7:00 BYE April 25 Detroit 12:00 May 2 Indiana 12:00 May 8 @ Philadelphia 4:30 May 16 San Jose 12:00 May 22 @ Los Angeles 7:30 May 30 Columbus 12:00 All times PST

CHICAGO RUSH (5-2) Date Opponent Time Result Score Feb. 8 Grand Rapids 2:00 W 50-30 Feb. 14 @ New York 2:00 W 56-54 Feb. 22 Colorado 2:00 W 65-35 Feb. 29 @ Indiana 2:00 W 49-46 March 7 @ Philadelphia 11:00 AM L 47-53 BYE March 21 Orlando 11:00 AM W 58-15 March 28 Detroit 2:00 L 71-72 April 4 @ Las Vegas 5:00 April 11 Tampa Bay 2:00 April 16 @ San Jose 9:30 April 25 Los Angeles 2:00 May 2 @ Detroit 2:00 May 8 @ Grand Rapids 6:30 May 16 Dallas 2:00 May 23 Indiana 2:00 May 30 @ Colorado 3:00 All times CST time

GLADIATORS VS. RUSH BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS RUSH Category (2004 Per Game) Rank Stat Rank Stat Scoring Offense 7 51.0 2 56.6 Scoring Defense 13 50.9 3 43.6 Total Offense 2 305.1 10 253.9 Total Defense 3 238.9 2 232.2 Pass Offense 1 293.8 16 215.1 Pass Defense 3 208.8 1 197.3 Rushing Offense 17 11.4 2 38.7 Rushing Defense 16 30.1 18 34.7 Pass Rating 6 115.0 2 128.7 Pass Defense Rating 10 114.1 1 91.5 Turnover Margin 13 -5 1 +12 Sacks By 8 6 2 13 Sacks Against 1t 2 1t 2 Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 5 86.0 3 92.7 Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 19 90.7 13 84.8

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

TURNOVERS REEK HAVOC ON GLADIATORS IN 60-43 LOSS TO ORLANDO

Orlando, Fla., March 27, 2004 – The Las Vegas Gladiators turned the ball over four times and were outscored 29-6 in the second quarter as they dropped an Arena Football League contest to the Orlando Predators 60-43 on Saturday in Orlando.

Predators' quarterback Connell Maynor, who started in place of the injured Joe Hamilton, completed 14-17 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns. For his efforts, Maynor was named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game.

With the score tied at seven in the second quarter, the Gladiators turned the ball over on two straight possessions, both fumbles, and the Predators capitalized by scoring two touchdowns to take the lead 21-7.

After a Gladiator touchdown got them within eight, Orlando rolled off 15 straight points, aided by a recovery of a kickoff of the bottom bar, to take a 36-13 halftime lead that Las Vegas could not recover from.

Gladiator quarterback Clint Dolezel and offensive specialist Marcus Nash continued their assault on the stat sheets and Dolezel completed 24-40 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns and Nash totaled nine receptions for 153 yards and three scores. Dolezel threw a late pick in the game, on a ball that was juggled out of his receivers hands and fell into the arms of defensive specialist Sam Young.

Army Ironman of the Game Cory Fleming led the Orlando receivers with six catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns, while Travis McGriff, making his season debut for the Predators, caught three passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

The Gladiators return home to the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, April 4, when theytake on the Chicago Rush in a 3 PM game. All the action can be heard on ESPN Radio 920 in Las Vegas with Andrew Siciliano and Mike Pritchard handling the call.

GLADIATORS NEXT WEEK

The Gladiators travel to Arizona to face the Rattlers on Saturday, April 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT.

THE COACHES

Frank Haege (Third Season 20-17 regular season, 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.

Mike Hohensee (11th Season, 4th with Chicago, 73-66 regular season, 5-7 playoffs)

Mike begins his fourth season as head coach of the Rush, his 11th as an Arena Football League head coach and his 16th as a member of an AFL coaching staff. He has a 68-64 regular-season record.

Became the sixth coach in league history to record 60 regular-season victories when the Rush defeated Dallas (58-52 in overtime) July 13, 2002, joining Tim Marcum, Danny White, Perry Moss, John Gregory and Michael Trigg.

Was hired as the first head coach in Chicago Rush history on September 26, 2000 ... joined the Rush after spending the previous two seasons as head coach and director of player personnel for the Arena Football League's New England Sea Wolves.

Has spent a total of 12 seasons coaching in the Arena Football League, including prior head coaching stints with the Washington Commandos (1990), the Albany Firebirds (1994-96), the Anaheim Piranhas (1997) and the New England Sea Wolves (1999-2000).

Began his coaching career as an assistant for the Chicago Bruisers in 1989 before becoming the youngest head coach in league history for the Washington Commandos in 1990.

GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS

Chi-Town's Finest

Gladiators' defensive coordinator Stan Davis, WR/DB Cornelius Bonner, DS Marvin Taylor, WR/LB Anthony Ladd and OL/DL Furnell Hankton take on their former team this week after helping lead the Rush into the playoffs last season. The Rush's wide recievers/defensive backs coach Brian Schwartze and WR/DB Andrae Harris return to Las Vegas for the first time since being a part of the Gladiators organization in 2003.

Hey Mr. Robinson

Dennison Robinson is competing in his third season with the Gladiators and reached 100 receptions for his career last week after catching five passes for 60 yards. In 2002, Robinson was the team's Ironman of the Year and caught 67 passes for 620 yards. Last season he caught 17 passes for 165 yards and he has 16 receptions for 191 yards this season.

Fantasy Phenomenon

For the first year on Sandbox.com the AFL has a fantasy game. In the last three weeks Marcus Nash has been tearing up the fantasy league by producing big numbers: vs. Arizona on 3/14, 16 receptions, 192 yards, 4 TDs (55 Fantasy Points), @ San Jose on 3/20, 12 receptions, 189 yards, 5 TDs (55 Fantasy Points) and @ Orlando on 3/27, 9 receptions, 153 yards, 3 TDs (41 Fantasy Points).

Zip...Zilch...Nada

Midway through the season the Red and Black have failed to comeback from a deficit out of halftime (0-4). They have also failed to come from behind after three quarters (0-4).

Down, But Not Out

The Gladiators are one of three teams in the league who have put up more points (408) than they have allowed (407) despite a losing record. (Indiana, 379-347), (Philadelphia, 363-360)

The Core of the Issue

The receiving core for Las Vegas has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the best trio in the league. Marcus Nash, Cornelius Bonner and Maurice Bryant have combined to lead the AFL in receptions (142), receiving yards (1,680) and are second in receiving TD's (35) to Dallas (38). All this without the team's projected offensive specialist Terrill Shaw, who went down in the fourth game of the season.

Back At The Mack

The Red and Black return home this week from a two game road trip and look to get back on track versus Chicago. After three home games this season, Las Vegas is 2-1 inside the Thomas & Mack Center and look to become 3-1 at home and 4-5 overall.

Take That

Facing the team who leads the AFL in take-aways/give-aways differential (+12) is going to be a tough battle. Chicago's defense has recorded 10 INT's and six fumbles and their offense has only turned the ball over four times (4 fumbles) all season. They have yet to throw an interception and are the only team to not throw one in eight games this season. Las Vegas is ranked 13th in the AFL and have turned the ball over a league leading 18 times and have caused only 13 take-aways.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 30, 2004


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