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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

April 5, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. RAMPAGE: THE FACTS

Date: Friday, April 8, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 PM PT
Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
Officials: Referee: David Lambros, Umpire: Rick Nelson, Head Linesman: Allen Baynes, Line Judge: Darrel Leftwitch, Back Judge: Rich Wilborn


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

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
On FOX Sports Net West/Detroit with Andrew Siciliano and John Jackson on the call.


THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. RAMPAGE
Gladiators Lead Series 3-1
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two teams. The last meeting took place in week three of the 2004 season as quarterback Clint Dolezel returned to Grand Rapids and lead Las Vegas to their first win of the season with a 51-14 triumph.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Gladiators win, it would
· Give the Gladiators a 4-1 record vs. the Rampage
· Give Las Vegas a 6-5 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 3-3 home record

SCHEDULES


LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (5-5)
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 63-43
March 19 @ Arizona 6:00 W 66-63
March 28 San Jose 7:00 L 81-75
April 3 @ Colorado 12:00 L 40-61
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


GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-8)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 28 Arizona 7:30 L 38-58
Feb. 5 @ Colorado 3:00 L 56-72
BYE
Feb. 19 Austin 7:30 L 61-73
Feb. 27 Columbus 3:00 W 66-57
March 6 @ Tampa Bay 12:00 L 50-70
March 13 Chicago 12:00 L 45-48
March 18 @ San Jose 10:30 L 48-72
March 27 @ Philadelphia 3:00 L 41-64
April 3 Nashville 3:00 L 27-40
April 8 @ Las Vegas 10:00
April 15 @ Georgia 7:30
April 23 New Orleans 7:30
April 30 Colorado 8:00
May 7 @ Nashville 8:30
May 15 @ Chicago 1:00
May 21 Los Angeles 7:30
All times EST

GLADIATORS VS. RAMPAGE
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS RAMPAGE
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 15 45.6 11 48.0
Total Offense 3 307.1 7 292.1
Scoring Defense 10 49.1 17 61.6
Total Defense 2 249.2 11 296.4
Rushing Offense 8 19.4 1 54.9
Rushing Defense 7 17.1 5 16.6
Passing Offense 4 287.7 15 237.2
Passing Defense 2 232.1 13 279.9
Pass Rating 14 99.4 13 101.1
Pass Defense Rating 6 104.9 17 126.1
Interceptions 6 10 17 5
Sacks By 3t 13 13t 6
Sacks Against 1 1 15 14
Turnover Margin 15t -10 15t -10
3rd Down Conversion % 13 41.9 17 36.5
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 13 48.4 4 42.3
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 16 70.0 9 79.7
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 7 79.0 17 89.5

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

COLORADO CRUSHES GLADIATORS 61-40

Denver, CO, April 3, 2005 – Colorado Crush quarterback John Dutton threw six touchdowns against Las Vegas to hold off the Gladiators 61-40 at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Sunday.

Las Vegas' defensive specialist Marvin Taylor picked off Dutton on the first drive of the game which led to a Marcus Nash two-yard touchdown run to put the Gladiators up 7-0 in the first quarter. The Crush would score 27 unanswered points before halftime and led 27-7 at the midway point. On the first touchdown for Colorado, Dutton found Offensive Player of the Game Damian Harrell in the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown to even the score at 7-7. Harrell's touchdown reception broke the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown reception with 42 games.

Harrell finished the game with five receptions for 58 yards and four touchdowns and Dutton completed 21-of-32 for 192 yards with six touchdowns.

Despite battling the flu, Gladiators' Marcus Nash led all receivers with nine receptions for 126 yards and four touchdowns.

Las Vegas' offense stumbled at times throwing three interceptions, fumbling the ball once and turning the ball over on downs once.

Clint Dolezel completed 25-of-45 for 321 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

THE COACHES


Ron James (First Season, 5-5)

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 MPA from Rockefeller College, which is a subsidiary of the State University of New York at Albany. Earle Bruce (Fourth Season, 19-24, 0-1 in playoffs)

Sparky McEwen (First Season 1-8)

McEwen became the Grand Rapids Rampage's fourth head coach in team history on August 13, 2004. He was the Rampage's offensive coordinator during the team's best three years on the field (2001-03), which included winning ArenaBowl XV in his first season. During those three years, the Rampage's offense scored more points and gained more yards and points than any other team in the AFL.

For 2004, McEwen was the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the Okalahoma City Yard Dawgz of arenafootball2. The Yard Dawgz (10-6) finished with the af2's second-best scoring team (56.8 points per game), the third-best offensive unit (276.8 yards per game) and third-ranked passing offense (260.8 yards per game) in the 25-team league. His starting quarterback, Craig Strickland, led the af2 in passing touchdowns (84) and finished fifth in passing yards.

All told, McEwen's offenses have scored more points and averaged more total offensive yards in the past four seasons than any other offensive coordinator in the AFL/af2.

McEwen was a quarterback on the Rampage's inaugural 1998 season. He appeared in five games and had a 2-1 record as starting quarterback with 477 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and six rushing scores. McEwen was the starting quarterback for Ferris State University in Big Rapids from 1987-90.

During his eight years as head coach of his high school alma mater (Creston), McEwen posted a 43-30 record, including a 42-10 record over the last five seasons. Creston won back-to-back City League titles in 2000 & 2001 and posted the teams first winning season since 1978 in 1999. The team posted winning seasons the last four years and made the state playoffs in each of those seasons. In all, he helped nearly 50 players receive collegiate football scholarships.

Following his playing days, McEwen started scouting for the NFL, XFL and the Big Ten Conference for the Rampage. He and his wife, Janelle, have three children: Charles ("Little Sparky"), A.J. and Ja'nae.

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 Nash & Dolezel(LV)
8 AZ Marcus Nash (LV)
9 SJ Marcus Nash (LV)
10 COL Damien Harrell (COL)
11 GR



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 Jeremy Unertl (LV)
9 SJ Tremain Mack (SJ)
10 COL Ahmed Hawkins (COL)
11 GR

U.S. 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)
8 AZ Coco Blalock (LV)
9 SJ Rashied Davis (SJ)
10 COL Willis Marshall (COL)
11 GR

AFL TOP 10: League Leaders after Week 10
GLADIATORS
Player Rank Category Stat
Clint Dolezel 1 Had Intercepted 12
Frank Carter 1 Sacks 9.0
1 Tackles for Loss 9.0
Rodney Filer 8 Rushing Yards 94
Mark Lewis 7 Field Goal % 50.0
8 PAT Attempts 60
10 PAT Made 47
Marcus Nash 1 Receiving Yards 1243
2 Receptions 86
7 Yards Per Catch 14.5
1 Receiving Yards Per Game 124..3
9 All Purpose Yards 1255
1 Receiving TDs 27
1 Scoring 174
Marvin Taylor 3t Interceptions 5
3 Interception Return Yards 55
Joe Douglass 7 Missed FG Return Yards 54
9 Missed FG Return Avg. 18.0
7 Missed FG Returns 3
10 Kick Return Avg. 20.8
Coco Blalock 7 Kick Returns 28
7 Kick Return Yards 561

MILESTONE WATCH

PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Frank Carter Single Season Sack Record (13.0) 9.0 4.5
Frank Carter 20 Career Sacks 16 4
Frank Carter 100 Career Tackles 93.0 7.0
Marcus Nash 100 Career Receiving Touchdowns 97 3
Junior Lord 2000 Career Receiving Yards 1,654 346


GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS


LEADER OF THE RED & BLACK
Clint Dolezel will face his former team the Grand Rapids Rampage for the first time in Las Vegas this week and second time since being traded to the Gladiators in 2004. He spent three seasons with the Grand Rapids Rampage and won an ArenaBowl championship in 2001 with them. Last season, he traveled to Grand Rapids in his first season with the Gladiators and beat his former team 51-14 while completing 17-of-26 for 222 yards and five touchdowns in only three quarters of action.

MARCUS MANIA
Marcus Nash has totaled more than 100-yards receiving in his past four games (@ Columbus - 133, @ Arizona – 160, vs. San Jose – 229 and @ Colorado – 126). He is currently ranked number one in the League in receiving yards (1,243) and points scored (174). Also, he is ranked number two in receptions (86) behind New Orleans VooDoo OS Aaron Bailey (89) and leads all receivers with 27 touchdown receptions. He has tallied 20 touchdown receptions in his last four games (@ Columbus - 5, @ Arizona – 5, vs. San Jose – 6 and @ Colorado – 4).

D-BOY
Former Gladiator Ironman of the Year, Dennison Robinson, will return to Las Vegas this week for the first time since being released after training camp. Robinson played for the Gladiators from 2002-04 and was the team's Ironman on the Year two out of three seasons (2002 and 2004).

THE HARDY WAY
OL/DL Hardy Mitchell will return to Las Vegas for the first time since being traded to the Rampage in 2004 with Sedrick Robinson and Paul LaQuerre for Clint Dolezel. Robinson and LaQuerre have moved on to new teams, but Mitchell has stayed in Grand Rapids and has become an iatrical part of the Rampage front line.

TAYLOR MADE
Last week against the Crush, Marvin Taylor had two interceptions and is now tied for third in the League with five total interceptions. The Georgia Force's Kevin Gaines and the New York Dragons' Corey Johnson each have six interceptions to lead the League.

YEARNING FOR YARNELL
OL/DL Lucas Yarnell played along with Clint Dolezel for the Rampage in 2001-02. He was a part of the Grand Rapids ArenaBowl championship team in 2001 and will face his former team for the first time as a member of the Gladiators this week.

MASON'S MISSION
DS Damon Mason comes back to Las Vegas this week as a member of the Grand Rapids Rampage. Mason spent two seasons with the Gladiators in 2002-03 and contributed with 117.5 total tackles, seven interceptions, five fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, 13 passes defended and six tackles for a loss.

TRIFECTA
The Red & Black have struggled at the Thomas & Mack Center this season losing their last three home games (Georgia 2/20, Austin 3/4 and San Jose 3/28). On the season, the Gladiators are 2-3 at the Mack.

SPREAD THE WEALTH
Nine different players have caught a touchdown pass this season for the Gladiators. The team record was set in 2002 when 10 different players caught touchdown passes.

STOP THE INSANITY
The Gladiators have allowed more than 60 points in their last three games (Arizona – 63, San Jose – 81 and Colorado – 61). The last time Las Vegas gave up more than 60 points in three consecutive games was last season in weeks six through eight (Arizona – 64, San Jose – 79 and Orlando – 60).

CLIMBING THE HILL
T.J. Hill returned to action last week for the first time since week five of the 2004 season. Hill was placed on injured reserve with a torn anterior cruciate ligament after getting his foot stuck in the turf during a kick return while facing the Georgia Force. Last week he returned one kick for 22-yards and had 2.5 total tackles.

T.G.I.F.
The Gladiators are 2-9 all-time on Friday games and are 1-1 this season. They defeated the New York Dragons in week three at the Thomas & Mack Center, 41-37 and lost to the Austin Wranglers in week six, 42-41.

CLINT VS. SPARKY
Grand Rapids Rampage head coach Sparky McEwen will be on the opposite side of the field from Clint Dolezel for the first time this week. McEwen was the offensive coordinator for the Rampage when Dolezel was the quarterback from 2001-03.

STEVIE WONDER
Steve Konopka got in the endzone for only the second time in his career last week and first time since his rookie season in 2000 while he was with the now defunct New England Sea Wolves.

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