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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

April 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. FIREBIRDS: THE FACTS

Date: Sunday, May 2, 2004
Kickoff: 12:00 PM PT
Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
Officials Referee: Bill McCabe, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Royce Cooley, Line Judge: R.G. Detillier,
Back Judge: Jimmy Buchanan

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...
On ESPN 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 The Shade Tree, a shelter for women and children will orchestrate a towel drive.

THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. FIREBIRDS

This will be the second meeting between the teams and the Gladiators lead the series 1-0. The last meeting between the teams was in 2001 when the Gladiators dropped the Firebirds in OT 62-61 in New Jersey.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

· If the Gladiators win, it would give the Gladiators a 2-0 record vs. the Firebirds
· Give Las Vegas a 5-7 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 4-2 home record

SCHEDULES


LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (4-7)
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 L 55-57
April 10 @ Arizona 7:00 L 63-80
BYE
April 25 Detroit 12:00 W 60-34
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


INDIANA FIREBIRDS (6-6)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Feb. 7 Columbus 7:00 L 48-54
Feb. 14 @ New Orleans 3:00 L 40-41
Feb. 23 @ Detroit 7:30 L 25-34
Feb. 29 Chicago 3:00 L 46-49
March 6 @ Orlando 7:30 L 38-50
March 14 @ Austin 3:00 W 64-41
March 20 Georgia 7:00 W 73-36
March 26 Grand Rapids 7:30 W 45-42
April 3 @ Colorado 3:00 W 45-42
April 11 Carolina 2:00 W 65-31
April 17 @ Grand Rapids 6:30 W 67-49
April 25 Arizona 2:00 L 43-46
May 2 @ Las Vegas 2:00
May 8 Detroit 7:00
May 16 Colorado 2:00
May 23 @ Chicago 2:00
BYE
All times Local Indiana time

GLADIATORS VS. FIREBIRDS
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS FIREBIRDS
Category (2004 Per Game) Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 4 53.3 9 49.9
Scoring Defense 14 52.5 2 42.9
Total Offense 2 297.7 11 256.5
Total Defense 3 248.9 13 268.8
Pass Offense 1 280.5 15 223.4
Pass Defense 2 221.0 13 245.4
Rushing Offense 13 16.6 2 33.5
Rushing Defense 16 27.5 13 22.9
Pass Rating 3 121.4 11 111.5
Pass Defense Rating 11 111.2 7 106.5
Turnover Margin 12 -2 2 +14
Sacks By 10 9 15 8
Sacks Against 1t 3 6T 9
3rd Down Conversion % 1 60.9 10 48.4
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 11 50.0 8 47.8
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 5 87.7 13 81.6
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 18 89.8 13 83.9

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS SNAP FOUR-GAME SKID WITH WIN OVER FURY

Las Vegas, NV, April 25, 2004 – Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game Marcus Nash caught four touchdown passes from Clint Dolezel as the Las Vegas Gladiators snapped a four-game losing streak with a 60-34 win over the Detroit Fury at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Coco Blalock, acquired this week off waivers, took the first kickoff of the game 56 yards for a Gladiator score. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown for the Gladiators this season. Blalock returned four kicks for 140 yards to go along with three receptions for 43 yards with one touchdown en route to being named Army Ironman of the Game.

The Gladiator defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by ADT Defensive Player of the Game Marvin Taylor.

Dolezel finished the night 13-of-22 passes for 162 yards and five touchdowns. Nash had seven receptions for 90 yards.

Detroit was led by Thabiti Davis, who totaled 11 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Billy Dicken, who replaced Andy Kelly in the second quarter, finished the night 15-25 for 172 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

THE COACHES



Frank Haege (Third Season 21-20 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 Wilpolt (First Season, 6-1 record)
Mike Wilpolt was named Head Coach of the Indiana Firebirds on March 10, 2004. Wilpolt entered his fifth season with the Firebirds and fourth as the team's Defensive Coordinator, prior to the promotion. In addition to his duties as the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Wilpolt coaches the Defensive Backs.
In his first season with the Firebirds, Mike coached Special Teams and helped lead the Firebirds to the 1999 ArenaBowl Championship. The 2002 season was a breakthrough year for the Firebird defense. They led the league in Red Zone defense (74.4%) and were 2nd in the league in points allowed (46.1) and interceptions (21).
No stranger to the Arena Football League, Wilpolt played for four years in the league with the Charlotte Rage (1992), the Las Vegas Sting (1994-95) and the Anaheim Piranhas (1996). During his stint with Anaheim, Wilpolt held a then league record for tackles with 16 in one game.
Wilpolt was a two-sport athlete at Division II Mesa St. College where he played football and wrestling. A three-year starter, Wilpolt was twice named All-Conference and was an All-American in his senior season, Wilpolt was also named Scholar Athlete of the Year in his senior year. Mike originally went to Mesa St. on a wrestling scholarship. Wilpolt wrestled for two years and was a National Qualifier both years. Wilpolt began his coaching career at his alma mater as the Defensive Backs Coach.
Mike is married to Deseree Becker and the couple resides in Indianapolis, IN.




2004 SEASON

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ CO Damian Harrell (COL)
2 LA Tony Graziani (LA)
3 @ GR Clint Dolezel (LV)
4 NO Clint Dolezel (LV)
5 @ GEO Leon Murray (GEO)
6 ARI Marcus Nash (LV)
7 @ SJ Marcus Nash (LV)
8 @ ORL Connell Maynor (ORL)
9 CHI Etu Molden (CHI)
10 @ ARI Sherdrick Bonner (AZ)
11 BYE
12 DET Marcus Nash (LV)


ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ CO Ahmed Hawkins (COL)
2 LA Kevin Ingram (LA)
3 @ GR TJ Hill (LV)
4 NO Marvin Taylor (LV)
5 @ GEO Morris Anderson (GEO)
6 ARI Chameion Sutton (LV)
7 @ SJ Omarr Smith (SJ)
8 @ ORL Doug Miller (ORL)
9 CHI John Moyer (CHI)
10 @ AZ Hunkie Cooper (AZ)
11 BYE
12 DET Marvin Taylor (LV)

Army Ironman of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ CO Kevin McKenzie (COL)
2 LA Kevin Ingram (LA)
3 @ GR Dennison Robinson (LV)
4 NO Cornelius Bonner (LV)
5 @GEO Dameon Porter (GEO)
6 ARI Maurice Bryant (LV)
7 @ SJ Rashied Davis (SJ)
8 @ ORL Cory Fleming (ORL)
9 CHI Dennison Robinson (LV)
10 @ AZ Wendall Gaines (AZ)
11 BYE
12 DET Coco Blalock (LV)

MILESTONE WATCH

PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Terrill Shaw 300 receptions 298 2
100 receiving TDs 87 13


GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS


Mentioned Honorably
Weekly honors follow the Gladiators when they come up victorious. In three of the four Gladiator wins this season, AFL Player of the Week honors have been bestowed on a Gladiator by the league. The only win that did not garner individual honors for a Gladiator was the first win of the season at Grand Rapids. The Gladiators week-four win over New Orleans earned quarterback Clint Dolezel Offensive Player of the Week. The team's victory against Arizona in week six garnered accolades as Co-Offensive Player of the Week for Marcus Nash, and last week's victory over Detroit earned Ironman of the Week for Coco Blalock.

Taylor Made
Marvin Taylor had two interceptions last week against the Detroit Fury and has made his mark with five interceptions on the season. He is ranked second in the league behind Kenny McEntyre (Orlando) and Omarr Smith (San Jose), who have six interceptions each. He is also currently leading the team in total tackles with 45.5.

Coco Comeback
After leaving Las Vegas via free agency and spending the first 10 games of the season playing for the Columbus Destroyers, Coco Blalock returned to the Gladiators and announced his presence with authority. On the first play of the game against the Fury, Blalock returned a kick 56-yards for a touchdown. He was named the Army Ironman of the Week after compiling 140 yards on four kick returns, 43 yards from three receptions with one touchdown and tallied four total tackles on defense. Blalock is currently the league leader in missed field goal returns with three for 87 yards and one touchdown.

Turn Of The Tide
On the season the Red and Black have gone 4-2 in games when they have won the turnover differential. Vegas capitalized against the Fury last week with four turnovers. Marvin Taylor led the way with two interceptions and Dennison Robinson had one of his own. Also, Cornelius Bonner recovered a fumble.

Take It Away Now
Vegas will be facing the league leader in takeaways this week when they play the Firebirds. They have a differential of +14 (26-takeaways; 12 giveaways) to the Gladiators –2(18-takeaways; 20 giveaways).

Above And Beyond
Marcus Nash surpassed 100 receptions on the season (104) and is currently the league leader. It is the first time in his career he has reached the 100 reception plateau and is making a run at the league record of 138 receptions set by Eddie Brown in 1999 for the Firebirds. Nash needs to average seven receptions per game over the final five games to reach the mark. Nash is also leading the league in total points scored (204) and is 10 points shy of breaking the Gladiator single-season record set last season by current Indiana Firebird Mike Horacek (214).

Comeback
Indiana Firebirds OS Mike Horacek will be headed back to Las Vegas for the first time since playing for the Gladiators the past two seasons. He currently holds Gladiator records in pass receptions (127), receiving yards (1,585), most points (214) and TD's in a season (36). The Firebirds also have OL/DL Chris Janek who played for the Gladiators in 2002 and recorded 2.5 tackles.

Stung
Indiana Firebirds head coach Mike Wilpolt will be returning to Las Vegas for the first time since playing for the Las Vegas Sting during the 1994-1995 seasons. Wilpolt played for four years in the league and while he was with Las Vegas he recorded 37 total tackles in 1994 and 55.5 in 1995.

Represent'n The West
The Firebirds will face there second opponent in a row from the Western Division. Last week the Arizona Rattlers came away with the victory over Indiana (46-43) to snap a Firebird six-game win streak. Indiana has not beaten a Western Division team since July 14, 2002 (Los Angeles 56-53).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2004


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