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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

March 15, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005
Kickoff: 6:00 PM PT
Site: America West Arena (Phoenix, AZ)
Officials: Referee: Wes Fritz, Umpire: Paul Frerking, Head Linesman: Greg Shields, Line Judge: Dave Chesney, Back Judge: James Cole

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 FOX Sports Net with Kent Derdivanis and Ron Wolfley on the call.


THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. RATTLERS
Rattlers Lead Series 4-1
The Rattlers have a four games to one lead in the overall series between the two teams. Each team won on their home field in 2004, with the Gladiators taking the first meeting 65-64 in Las Vegas in Week 6 and Arizona winning at America West 80-63 in Week 10.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Gladiators win, it would
· Give the Las Vegas a 2-4 record vs. the Rattlers
· Give Las Vegas a 4-3 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 3-1 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 W 63-34
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


ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-6)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 28 @ Grand Rapids 5:30 W 58-38
Feb. 3 Orlando 7:00 L 40-51
Feb. 12 @ Georgia 5:00 L 47-61
Feb. 19 Colorado 7:30 L 69-74
Feb. 27 @ New York 1:00 L 37-61
March 6 Los Angeles 6:00 L 29-33
March 13 @ Tampa Bay 10:00 AM L 56-59
March 19 Las Vegas 7:00
March 28 @ Nashville 6:30
April 3 @ San Jose 6:00
April 8 Columbus 7:00
BYE
April 22 Austin 7:00
April 30 @ Los Angeles 7:30
May 7 Chicago 7:00
May 14 San Jose 7:00
May 22 @ Las Vegas 12:00
All times AZ Time


GLADIATORS VS. RATTLERS
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS RATTLERS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 17 39.3 12 48.0
Total Offense 4 294.6 9 276.6
Scoring Defense 1 40.9 14 53.9
Total Defense 2 239.3 3 251.6
Rushing Offense 5 25.7 14 12.1
Rushing Defense 5 14.3 1 13.0
Passing Offense 6 268.9 8 264.4
Passing Defense 2 225.0 5 238.6
Pass Rating 14 96.9 16 88.7
Pass Defense Rating 5 98.0 11 108.6
Interceptions 11 6 14 4
Sacks By 1 12 4 10
Sacks Against 1 1 10 7
Turnover Margin 14 -7 17 -8
3rd Down Conversion % 15 35.9 8 47.1
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 8 43.1 6 40.4
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 17 65.7 14 73.0
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 7 74.4 9t 80

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS ROLL IN COLUMBUS, 63-34

Clint Dolezel returned to the lineup to lead the Las Vegas Gladiators to a convincing 63-34 victory over the Columbus Destroyers on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.

Marcus Nash was named Offensive Player of the Game, catching 10 passes for 133 yards and five touchdowns. He also added a two-yard touchdown on the ground.

The Destroyers were flagged 16 times for 106 yards including a defensive holding penalty after Dolezel fumbled a second quarter fourth-and-one snap as well as an offensive holding penalty after WR Cornelius White scored a touchdown, negating the score.

The Gladiators led at the half 26-21, but pulled away in the second half, scoring 37 points and only allowing the Destroyers to score 13.

Dolezel finished the game midway through the fourth quarter passing 21-for-29, racking up 273 yards and five touchdowns. Dolezel had missed the previous four weeks with a broken middle finger on his passing hand.

Defensive specialist Jeremy Unertl was named ADT Defensive Player of the game after recording four tackles, breaking up two passes and forcing a fumble.

Frank Carter picked up two more sacks on the evening and leads the AFL with nine on the season. Carter was named U.S. Army Iron Man of the Game and is just four sacks shy of the AFL season record of 13 held by Craig Walls who was a rookie for the Pittsburgh Gladiators in 1987. Carter also rushed for 10 yards and a touchdown on three attempts.

Rodney Filer led the Gladiators in rushing with 29 yards and a touchdown.

Destroyer quarterback Matt D'Orazio passed 23 times, completing 12 for 87 yards and a touchdown. Backup Matt Vena went 8-for-13 for 116 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Sedrick Robinson led the Destroyers offensively, catching 11 passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing for another score on an option pass.

Saturday's game marked the first time all season that the Gladiators did not turn the ball over.

THE COACHES


Ron James (First Season, 4-3)

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.

Todd Shell (Seventh Season, 47-42 regular season 1-4 Playoffs)

On August 5, 2004, the Arizona Rattlers named Todd Shell as the second Head Coach in franchise history. Shell began his Arena Football coaching career as the first Defensive Coordinator in Rattlers history, leading the Rattler defense from 1992 until 1994, winning the ArenaBowl title in his final season with the club.

Shell became the first Head Coach in San Jose SaberCats history in 1995, and led the expansion SaberCats to an 8-4 record and the Western Division Title, the first expansion team to ever win a Division Championship. In his four seasons as Head Coach, San Jose was 29-25, making three playoff appearances.

Shell returned to Arizona in 2003 as the Color Analyst on Rattlers TV broadcasts, but he appeared on only one telecast, leaving to join the New York Dragons after Week 4. The Dragons, off to an 0-4 start, fired Head Coach John Gregory and replaced him with Shell. New York went 8-4 under Shell, finishing the year 8-8 and as the Eastern Division Champs. Following New York's last-second win over Chicago in the Wild Card round of the AFL playoffs, Shell was named the Arena Football League's 2003 Coach of the Year.

Shell and the Dragons defended their 2003 Division Title, winning the East again in 2004 with a 9-7 record. New York lost a tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Avengers and did not qualify for the 2004 playoffs. In his two seasons in New York, Shell compiled a record of 17-11 with two Eastern Division Championships. He also garnered a 1-1 postseason record with the Dragons.

Shell was a standout college player at BYU, where he helped lead the Cougars to three straight WAC titles from 1981 to 1983. Shell finished his career with 205 tackles and 22 quarterback sacks. He led BYU in tackles his Junior and Senior seasons. A 1984 First Round Draft Pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Shell played linebacker for five seasons in San Francisco, earning a Super Bowl ring in 1984 and 1988.
Shell and his wife Kellie reside in Mesa, Arizona. The couple has two children, Tanner, who played basketball for Arizona State from 2000 through 2002, and Krystal. Krystal and her husband Jason Arnett have twins.

2005 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 Marcus Nash (LV)
8 AZ


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 Jeremy Unertl (LV)
8 AZ

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 Frank Carter (LV)
AZ


AFL TOP 10: League Leaders after Week 7
GLADIATORS
Player Rank Category Stat
Clint Dolezel 10 Had Intercepted 4
Frank Carter 5t Rushing Touchdowns 5
10 Rushing Attempts 22
1 Sacks 9.0
1 Tackles for Loss 9.0
Rodney Filer 7 Yards Per Rush 4.5
5 Rushing Yards 85
Mark Lewis 9 Field Goals Made 5
8 Field Goal Attempts 9
Marcus Nash 4 Receiving Yards 728
5 Receptions 53
4 Receiving Yards Per Game 104.0
10 All Purpose Yards 733
Cornelius Bonner 10 Tackles 37.5
Marvin Taylor 4t Interceptions 3
Joe Douglass 6 Missed FG Return Yards 50
7t Kick Return Avg. 21.1
Wilky Bazile 3 Tackles for Loss 5.0

MILESTONE WATCH

PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Clint Dolezel 600 Touchdown Passes 587 13
Clint Dolezel 30,000 Passing Yards 29,632 368
Clint Dolezel 2,500 Completions 2,498 2
Frank Carter Single Season Sack Record (13.0) 9.0 4.5
Frank Carter 20 Career Sacks 16 4
Frank Carter 100 Career Tackles 90.5 9.5
Coco Blalock 2000 Career Kick Return Yards 1,924 76
Marcus Nash 100 Career Receiving Touchdowns 82 18
Junior Lord 2000 Career Receiving Yards 1,639 361


GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS


RETURN OF THE KING
Clint Dolezel returned to the lineup last week and completed 21-of-29 passes for 273 yards with five touchdowns after missing the previous four games do to a broken middle finger. While he was out of the lineup, Las Vegas went 2-2 with two different quarterbacks running the offense. When Dolezel was placed on injured reserve it was the first time he missed a game since June 4, 1999, as a member of the now defunct Houston Thunderbears. He played 75 consecutive games before missing the game in Week 3 against the New York Dragons.

REBEL'S REVENGE
Former UNLV star Randy Gatewood will be playing against Las Vegas for the fifth time this week. Gatewood was an All-American honorable mention and first team all-conference selection his senior season in 1994. He also holds the UNLV record for most receptions in a season with 88. In a game against Idaho (9-17-94), Gatewood caught a UNLV record 23 receptions for 363 yards and one touchdown.

THE GLOVE
Former Gladiator Phil Glover will play against his former team this week for the first time since playing in Las Vegas last season. With the Gladiators he played in two games and recorded 3.5 tackles with one tackle for a loss. Glover is a Las Vegas native who attended Clark High School and was a two-time All-State and All-Conference selection. He led the team to the state title as a senior, earning conference Player of the Year honors.

THREE TIMES A CHARM
For the third time this season, the Gladiators were able to hold an opponent scoreless in the third quarter (New York 2/11, Nashville 2/26 and Columbus 3/12).

NOT THE FIRST TIME
Head coach Ron James will not be coaching his first game in Arizona this week. Last season, he led the Gladiators into America West Arena after Las Vegas' former head coach was suspended for a game.

DUAL IN THE DESERT
The Gladiators have traveled to Arizona three times and are winless at America West Arena.

SACK MACHINE
Frank Carter has started the 2005 season on pace to shatter the record for most sacks in a season. He currently has nine in seven games of action with the record being 13 in a season (Craig Walls, Pittsburgh Gladiators, 1987).

MILESTONE MAYHEM
Clint Dolezel is on the verge of surpassing some major milestones in his career. He is two completions shy of 2,500, 368 yards away from 30,000 yards passing and 13 touchdowns short of 600.

DOLEZEL VS. BONNER
Two of the Leagues best quarterbacks, Clint Dolezel and Sherdrick Bonner, will face each other for the eighth time this week. In there last meeting, Bonner led the Rattlers to victory over Dolezel's Gladiators in 2004, 80-63. He has also won five of the seven games they have faced one another.

SNAKE CHARMER
In Marcus Nash's last two games against the Rattlers he has compiled 31 receptions for 337 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns (3/14/2004 – 16-192-4, 4/10/2004 – 15-145-7).

DEFENSIVE JUGGERAUNT
The Red and Black are leading the League in points allowed with 40.9 points per game. They have also tallied a League leading 13 total sacks while allowing a League low of one.

MARCUS MANIA
Marcus Nash scored a 2005 season-high 36 points last week after scoring one touchdown on the ground, catching five more and converting a two-point conversion. It was also the first time since Week 3 he went for more than 100 yards receiving (133).

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