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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

March 7, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. DESTROYERS: THE FACTS

Date: Saturday, March 12, 2005
Kickoff: 4:00 PM PT
Site: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
Officials: Referee: David Lambros, Umpire: Rick Podraza, Head Linesman: Royce Cooly, Line Judge: Paul Engelberts, Back Judge: David Cutaia

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


THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
On AFLNET via the internet. Log onto arenafootball.com for more details.


THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. DESTROYERS
Destroyers Lead Series 4-3
The Columbus (formerly Buffalo) Destroyers have a four games to three lead in the overall series between the Gladiators and the Destroyers. The Destroyers won the first four meetings between the two teams, but the Gladiators have taken the last three, including a 64-51 victory in Las Vegas last season.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Gladiators win, it would
· Give the Las Vegas a 4-4 record vs. the Destroyers
· Give Las Vegas a 4-3 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 2-1 road record

SCHEDULES


LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (3-3)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 30 Los Angeles 12:00 W 46-37
Feb. 5 @ SanJose 6:00 L 31-66
Feb. 11 New York 7:00 W 41-37
Feb. 20 Georgia 3:00 L 13-38
Feb. 26 @ Nashville 5:30 W 40-32
March 4 Austin 7:00 L 41-42
March 12 @ Columbus 4:00
March 19 @ Arizona 6:00
March 28 San Jose 7:00
April 3 @ Colorado 12:00
April 8 Grand Rapids 7:00
April 17 @ Philadelphia 10:00 AM
BYE
May 1 @ Chicago 10:00 AM
May 7 Dallas 7:00
May 14 @ Los Angeles 7:30
May 22 Arizona 12:00
All times PST


COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-4)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 28 Nashville 7:00 L 38-47
BYE
Feb. 13 @ Dallas 3:00 L 31-35
Feb. 19 Chicago 7:00 W 52-39
Feb. 27 @ Grand Rapids 3:00 L 57-66
March 6 @ Georgia 12:00 L 48-55
March 12 Las Vegas 7:00
March 20 @ Colorado 3:00
March 26 New York 7:00
April 3 Philadelphia 12:00
April 8 @ Arizona 10:00
April 16 @ New Orleans 8:00
April 22 Dallas 7:00
April 30 Austin 7:00
May 7 @ New York 7:00
May 15 @ Philadelphia 1:00
May 22 Tampa Bay 3:00
All times EST

GLADIATORS VS. DESTROYERS
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS DESTROYERS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 17 35.2 14 45.4
Total Offense 6 287.2 16 243.2
Scoring Defense 1 42.0 8 48.4
Total Defense 2 242.7 5 260.0
Rushing Offense 6 23.2 9 19.6
Rushing Defense 3 12.8 16 35.4
Passing Offense 8 264.0 15 223.6
Passing Defense 4 229.8 2 224.6
Pass Rating 16 89.6 13 97.2
Pass Defense Rating 6 99.5 13 113.6
Interceptions 10 5 17 2
Sacks By 1t 11 7t 3
Sacks Against 1 1 8t 8
Turnover Margin 17 -9 17 -5
3rd Down Conversion % 16 33.3 12 39.0
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 9 44.2 17 60.0
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 17 60.0 16 68.2
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 6 74.4 15 90.9

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS FALL TO WRANGLERS ON FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME, 42-41

Las Vegas, NV, March 4, 2005 – Austin Wranglers quarterback John Fitzgerald found Kevin Nickerson on a 14-yard touchdown pass as time expired to lift the Austin Wranglers over the Las Vegas Gladiators 42-41 in front of 9,872 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Wranglers final drive covered 34 yards on seven plays.

Austin took its first lead of the game with 12:02 remaining in the fourth quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald to Offensive Player of the Game Darrin Chiaverini to go up 33-28.

Fitzgerald finished 29-of-41 for 264 yards with five passing touchdowns and one interception for the Wranglers while Craig Whelihan was 21-of-34 for 277 yards with five touchdowns for the Gladiators.

THE COACHES


Ron James (First Season, 3-3)

Ron James enters his first season as the head coach of the Gladiators. He spent the previous three seasons as assistant head coach/offensive defensive line/special teams coach.

James previously served as line coach for the Houston ThunderBears and Director of Player Personnel from 1999-2001. He is entering his seventh season in the Arena Football League.

Prior to his time in the AFL, James served as the Assistant Football coach, offensive line coach and Admissions Support Officer at Army in 1998 and 1999. Army captured two Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) rushing titles during his stint, averaging more than 257 yards per game.

James spent five seasons at Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he served as associate head coach for the final four years. James began his stay at Kentucky Wesleyan in 1993 as offensive coordinator in addition he managed the offensive line. In 1994, James was promoted to associate head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and added defensive coordinator/secondary coach to his repertoire.

James coached a combined fourteen years at the collegiate level. In 1992-93, he served as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Hartwick College. From 1989-1991, James was defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at St. Lawrence University. He began his coaching career in 1986 as a linebacker coach at Siena College (New York) and served as head coach of the junior varsity team.

James was a four-year starter at offensive tackle at Siena College. An N.C.F.A All-America First Team and two-time First-Team All-Conference selection, James also saw action at defensive tackle. He earned a BA from Siena and a MBA from Rockefeller College, which is a subsidiary of the State University of New York at Albany.

Chris Spielman (First Season, 1-4)

Chris Spielman begins his second season with the Destroyers and first as the club's Head Coach & General Manager. Spielman was named Columbus' second head coach in team history on August 4, 2004, succeeding legendary coach and current Destroyers VP of Football Operations, Earle Bruce.

Spielman was a standout on the football field, starring at The Ohio State University after a stellar high school career at Massillon Washington High School where he was even featured on a Wheaties cereal box.
Spielman was a two-time All-American (1986 & 1987), two-time Big Ten champion (1984 & 1986) and three-time All-Big Ten selection (1985, 1986 & 1987) at linebacker for the Buckeyes under Bruce. In 1987 he was named the "Top Defensive Player" of the Cotton Bowl with 11 tackles and a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 28-12 win against Texas A&M. He made 546 tackles in his OSU career (2nd most in school history), including a school record 283 solo stops. His best effort came in 1986 against the University of Michigan where he made an incredible 29 tackles. Spielman won the Lombardi award in 1987 as the nation's top linebacker and finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Spielman was the 29th overall selection (2nd round) in the 1988 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. During the following eight seasons, he earned Pro Bowl honors four times (1989, 1990, 1991 & 1994) and was the first player to lead the Lions in tackles seven straight seasons. In 1996, Spielman joined the Buffalo Bills where he eclipsed the 100 tackle plateau for third time in his career. But in 1997, Spielman suffered a broken neck to end his 114 consecutive game streak. He had surgery to fuse vertebrae in his neck, which put his football career in jeopardy.

But his football career was put on hold for a different reason. Prior to the 1998 season, Spielman's wife, Stefanie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. This dramatic event would change the Spielmans' lives forever.
Chris took off the 1998 season to help his wife with her fight. In addition to battling the cancer itself, the Spielmans threw themselves into the world of fundraising, helping use their public profile to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research. Stefanie won her battle and the Spielmans continue their effort through the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

The Canton, Ohio native returned to football with the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999. Spielman's comeback attempt ended during the preseason when he announced his retirement from the NFL. The neck injury suffered in 1997 would not allow him to continue to play the game he loved so much.

After retiring from the NFL, Spielman stepped into the broadcast booth. He currently hosts "Spielman on Sports" on 1460 The Fan in Columbus.

Chris and Stefanie reside in Upper Arlington with their children Maddie (10), Noah (8), Macy (4) and Audrey (2).

2004 SEASON


Offensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 LA Marcus Nash (LV)
2 SJ Calvin Schexnayder (SJ)
3 NY Marcus Nash (LV)
4 GEO Jim Kubiak (Geo)
5 NAS Craig Whelihan (LV)
6 AUS Darrin Chiaverini (Aus)
7 CLB



ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 LA Antuan Simmons (LA)
2 SJ Omarr Smith (SJ)
3 NY Billy Parker (NY)
4 GEO Kevin Gaines (Geo)
5 NAS Frank Carter (LV)
6 AUS Cedric Walker (Aus)
7 CLB

Army Ironman of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 LA Dameon Porter (LV)
2 SJ Matt Kinsinger (SJ)
3 NY Frank Carter (LV)
4 Geo Derek Lee (Geo)
5 NAS Coco Blalock (LV)
6 AUS Dane Krager (Aus)
7 CLB


AFL TOP 10: League Leaders after Week 5
GLADIATORS
Player Rank Category Stat
Clint Dolezel 10 Had Intercepted 4
Rod Robinson 3 Pass Completion % 69.2
2t Had Intercepted 6
Frank Carter 10t Rushing Touchdowns 4
8 Rushing Attempts 19
10t Rushing Yards 56
1 Sacks 7.0
1t Tackles for Loss 5.0
Rodney Filer 10 Yards Per Rush 3.7
10t Rushing Yards 56
Coco Blalock 9 Kick Return Yards 315
8 Kick Returns 18
Mark Lewis 7 Field Goals Made 5
8 Field Goal Attempts 9
Marcus Nash 3 Receiving Yards 595
6 Receptions 43
3 Receiving Yards Per Game 99.2
Cornelius Bonner 10 Tackles 33.5
Marvin Taylor 10t Interceptions 2
Dameon Porter 10t Interceptions 2
Joe Douglass 2 Missed FG Return AVG. 25.0
2 Missed FG Returns 2
4 Missed FG Return Yards 50
5 Kick Return Avg. 22.0
Wilky Bazile 1t Tackles for Loss 5.0

MILESTONE WATCH

PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Clint Dolezel 600 Touchdown Passes 582 18
Clint Dolezel 30,000 Passing Yards 29,359 641
Clint Dolezel 2500 Completions 2,477 23
Frank Carter 20 Career Sacks 14 6
Frank Carter 100 Career Tackles 88.5 11.5
Coco Blalock 2000 Career Kick Return Yards 1,916 84
Marcus Nash 100 Career Touchdowns 77 23
Junior Lord 2000 Career Receiving Yards 1,614 386


GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS


COLUMBUS GLADIATORS?
Former Gladiators Chris Janek, Chris Pope, Sedrick Robinson, Steve Videtich and Jamarr Ward will be facing their former team this week when the Gladiators travel to Columbus. Janek played for the Gladiators in 2002. Pope came into the AFL with the Gladiators and played five seasons for the team. Last season he moved on to the now defunct Carolina Cobras before signing with the Destroyers this off season. Robinson played two seasons for the Gladiators from 2002-03 before being traded to the Grand Rapids Rampage in a package deal that brought Clint Dolezel to Las Vegas. He was subsequently traded to the Destroyers prior to the 2004 season. Videtich was with the Gladiators organization for six out of his nine-year career. He was traded to Columbus last season. While with the Gladiators, he was named Kicker of the Year in 1997. Ward also played for the Gladiators from 2002-2003 before becoming a free-agent and playing for the Austin Wranglers last season.

WELCOME BACK
The Columbus Destroyers' 2004 Ironman of the Year, Wilky Bazile, and WR/LB Coco Blalock will return to Columbus for the first time since joining Las Vegas for the 2005 season. Bazile played for the Gladiators in the 2002-03 seasons before going on to play for the Destroyers last season. Blalock was waived by the Destroyers after playing 10 games for them and was acquired by the Gladiators prior to Week 11.

TOP NOTCH
Frank Carter and Wilky Bazile have punished opposing quarterbacks all season and are currently the top two players in the League in tackles for losses. Carter currently has seven sacks in six games. He is already within six of the AFL record of 13 sacks in a season (Craig Walls, Pittsburgh Gladiators, 1987). Bazile ranks second in the league with five tackles for losses. The Red and Black have combined to tally 21 tackles for losses as a team (11-sacks).

HOLDING IT DOWN
Through six games, the Gladiators have only allowed one sack and have dished out 11. The only sack they gave up came in Week 1 against Los Angeles when Silas Demary got to Clint Dolezel in the second quarter. Last season, Las Vegas allowed four sacks and tallied 15.

POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Las Vegas has given up a League low 42 point average per game.

PLAY LIKE MAYES; RUN LIKE HAYES
William Mayes galloped his way 21-yards for his first receiving touchdown last week against the Austin Wranglers. On the season, he has caught three passes for 41 yards.

50-50 CHANCE
The Gladiators have had three different quarterbacks starting two games each this season and each of them have gone 1-1. The season began with Clint Dolezel running the offense and he led the team to victory over Los Angeles and followed it up with a loss in San Jose. Following Dolezel's being placed on the injured list, Rod Robinson got the start against the Dragons in Week 3 and won, but lost the next game against Georgia. Craig Whelihan replaced Robinson in Week 5 on the road against Nashville and led Las Vegas to a win before coming home to fall to the Austin Wranglers in Week 6.

STARTING IT OFF
Since the Gladiators made the move to Las Vegas from New Jersey, the Red and Black have started 3-3 in each of the three seasons. In 2003, the first season in Las Vegas, the Gladiators began 3-3 before finishing 8-8 and in 2004 they started 3-3 before finishing 8-8.

FILER FOOTNOTE
Rodney Filer recently changed his playing number from 33 to 34. He has been number 34 his whole career in the AFL. He began playing Arena Football with the New York Dragon's organization in 1999 when they were based out of Iowa and known as the Barnstormers. He stayed with the organization five seasons before signing with Las Vegas at the start of the season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 7, 2005


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