Las Vegas Gladiators game notes
April 11, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
GLADIATORS VS. SOUL: THE FACTS
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Kickoff: 10:00 AM PT
Site: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Officials: Referee: Perry Havener, Umpire: Tom Laverty, Head Linesman: Neil Brunner, Line Judge: David Meslow, Back Judge: Barry Anderson
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 KVBC-TV 3 in Las Vegas with Bob Papa, Ray Bentley and Via Sikahema on the call.
THE SERIES â GLADIATORS VS. SOUL
Gladiators Lead Series 1-0
This will be the second all-time meeting between the two teams. The only previous meeting took place in Week 14 of the 2004 season with the Gladiators taking a 63-35 win in Philadelphia. In that game, Cornelius Bonner picked off three passes, including one he took 50 yards for a touchdown to lead the Gladiators to victory.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Gladiators win, it would
· Give the Gladiators a 2-0 record vs. the Soul
· Give Las Vegas a 7-5 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 4-2 road record
SCHEDULES
LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (6-5)
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 W 56-28
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
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-6)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 30 @ Austin 12:00 W 66-35
Feb. 6 @Chicago 1:00 L 41-51
Feb. 13 Nashville 3:00 W 59-48
Feb. 20 @ New Orleans 12:00 L 47-61
Feb. 27 Dallas 3:00 L 43-72
March 6 New York 12:00 L 54-61
March 11 @ San Jose 10:30 L 26-52
March 20 Tampa Bay 12:00 W 69-63
March 26 Grand Rapids 7:00 W 64-41
April 3 @ Columbus 12:00 W 62-45
April 10 @ Colorado 1:00 L 56-77
April 17 Las Vegas 1:00
April 24 @ New York 1:00
May 1 Orlando 1:00
BYE
May 15 Columbus 1:00
May 22 @ Dallas 3:00
All times EST
GLADIATORS VS. SOUL
BY THE NUMBERS
Statistical GLADIATORS SOUL
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 14 46.5 5 54.3
Total Offense 4 302.4 10 278.5
Scoring Defense 6 47.2 15 55.1
Total Defense 1 249.2 12 299.4
Rushing Offense 8 19.5 13 12.2
Rushing Defense 8 19.5 17 36.7
Passing Offense 4 282.9 8 266.3
Passing Defense 2 229.7 8 262.2
Pass Rating 13 103.2 9 110.9
Pass Defense Rating 6 100.9 11 108.5
Interceptions 5t 12 8t 11
Sacks By 3t 13 6t 10
Sacks Against 1t 2 5t 6
Turnover Margin 14t -8 12t -3
3rd Down Conversion % 10 45.6 2 5.6
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 8 46.5 7 46.4
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 14 73.7 7 82.6
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 6 77.3 13 83.9
GLADIATORS LAST WEEK
GLADIATORS OVERPOWER RAMPAGE 56-28
Las Vegas, NV, April 8, 2005 â Gladiators quarterback Clint Dolezel threw five touchdowns to led Las Vegas to victory against the Grand Rapids Rampage 56-28 in front of 8,816 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Despite catching only two balls in the first half, offensive specialist Marcus Nash finished the game with 92 yards receiving on seven receptions with one touchdown.
The Gladiators took a 23-7 lead into halftime after ADT Defensive Player of the Game Cornelius Bonner picked off Grand Rapids quarterback Michael Bishop and took it 55-yard for a touchdown. Bonner also had 9.5 tackles and two pass breakups in the game.
Newly re-signed WR/LB Ricky Ross caught five passes for 48-yards and scored two touchdowns in his return to the Gladiators.
Coco Blalock earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Game after recording six receptions for 66-yards with two touchdowns. He also ran the Gladiators returned the only kickoff return of the evening for 17-yards.
The Gladiators had 254 yards of total offense while the Rampage had 249, but Grand Rapids turned the ball over three times and had 12 penalties for
51 yards.
Grand Rapids' FB/LB Chris Avery scored all four Rampage touchdowns on the ground. He had seven carries for 43-yards.
The Rampage failed to throw a touchdown reception in the first time in team history.
THE COACHES
Ron James (First Season, 6-5)
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)
James Fuller (First Season 3-3)
James Fuller was named head coach of the Philadelphia Soul on February 28. He joins the Soul after a stint as the head coach of the Bakersfield Blitz of af2. Fuller quickly established himself as one of the top coaches in Arena Football as he led the Oklahoma Wranglers to the top league ranking in total defense and pass defense in 2000 as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
Prior to joining the Wranglers in 2000, Fuller spent two years as an assistant defensive coach for the Portland Forest Dragons of the AFL where he played in 1998.
Fuller was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 8th round of the 1992 draft and went on to play for the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles before a knee injury ended his NFL career.
Born August 5, 1969, Fuller grew up in Tacoma, WA, where he attended Stadium High School. Fuller transferred to Portland State University from Washington State University and went on to earn his degree in Criminal Justice in 1994. Fuller resides in Portland, Oregon in the off season.
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 Marcus Nash (LV)/Clint Dolezel (LV)
9 SJ Marcus Nash (LV)
10 COL Damien Harrell (COL)
11 GR Clint Dolezel (LV)
12 PHI
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 Cornelius Bonner (LV)
12 PHI
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 Coco Blalock (LV)
12 PHI
AFL TOP 10: League Leaders after Week 11
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 101
Mark Lewis 6 Field Goal % 54.5
8 PAT Attempts 68
Marcus Nash 1 Receiving Yards 1335
1 Receptions 93
6 Yards Per Catch 14.4
1 Receiving Yards Per Game 121.4
9 All Purpose Yards 1347
2 Receiving TDs 28
2 Scoring 180
2 Touchdowns 30
Marvin Taylor 1t Interceptions 6
2t Interception Return Yards 61
8T Forced Fumbles 2
Cornelius Bonner 2t Interception Return TDs 1
10 Tackles 54.0
Joe Douglass 7 Missed FG Return Yards 54
7 Missed FG Return Avg. 18.0
8 Missed FG Returns 3
7 Kick Return Avg. 20.8
Coco Blalock 8 Kick Returns 29
7 Kick Return Yards 578
10 All Purpose Yards 1131
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 98 2
Junior Lord 2000 Career Receiving Yards 1,654 346
GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS
SPREAD THE WEALTH
Touchdown passes have been caught by 10 different Gladiators this season, tying a franchise record that was previously set in 2002.
HOLDING IT DOWN
The Gladiators defense held the Rampage to 28-points last week. It was the lowest amount of points Las Vegas has allowed since last season on February 22, when they traveled to Grand Rapids and the Rampage scored only 14 points.
WHAT PASSING GAME?
Las Vegas held the Rampage last week without a passing touchdown. It was the first time in franchise history a team has not scored through the air on a Gladiators defense.
TWO AND TWO; RIGHT BACK âATCHA
Steve Konopka has caught only two passes all season and both have been for touchdowns. He also got in the endzone in Week 10 against the Crush for the first time since his rookie season in 2000 while he was with the now defunct New England Sea Wolves.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
When the Gladiators face the Soul this week it will look like a former Grand Rapids Rampage reunion on the field. Current Gladiators Clint Dolezel, Ricky Ross and Lucas Yarnell played for the Rampage in 2001-2002 before Yarnell moved on and Dolezel and Ross stuck around for the 2003 season. Members of the Soul who played in Grand Rapids are Eric Gohlstin (2003), Chris Ryan (2000-2003), Terrill Shaw (2001-03) Steve Smith (2002-04) and Joseph Todd (2001-02).
YESTER-YEAR
Last season, Philadelphia Soul DS Eddie Moten played for current Gladiators special teams coach Gary Gussman with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados. Gussman was the head coach of the Dorados as Moten was named the team's Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
ROSS' RETURN
Ricky Ross re-joined the Gladiators last week and faced one of his two former teams. Against the Rampage, he caught five passes for 48-yards and two touchdowns. This week, he faces his other former team when the Gladiators travel to Philadelphia to face the Soul. Last season with the Soul, Ross played in 12 games and finished second on the team in receptions with 57 for 756 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also returned 30 kicks for 587-yards. On defense, he tallied 16 total tackles with two tackles for a loss.
MIRACULOUS MARVIN
With Marvin Taylor's sixth interception of the season last week coming against the Rampage, he is currently tied for the League lead in interceptions with Georgia Force DS Kevin Gaines and New York Dragons DS Corey Johnson.
FOR THE PICK'ENS
Cornelius Bonner set an Arena Football League record when took and interception back 55-yards for a touchdown last week against Grand Rapids. Bonner also had 9.5 tackles and two pass breakups, earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for the first time this season. Last season, he was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game three times, including the Gladiators victory over the Soul. Against the Soul, Bonner intercepted a Gladiators' franchise record three passes in the game and went on to be named the AFL's ADT Defensive Player of the Week.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
In Las Vegas' six victories this season they have given up and average of 40 points per game. In their five losses, the Red and Black are giving up an average of more than 56 points per game.
SOUL PURPOSE
Marlion Jackson will face his former team this week for the first time since being traded earlier this season. He played for the Soul in 2004 and half of 2005 before the Gladiators traded for him in week seven. Jackson has tallied two and a half tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup for Las Vegas since the trade. On offense, he has carried the ball seven times for five yards.
THE BIG EAST
The Red and Black are 2-0 against teams in the Eastern Division this season and 7-1 since the Gladiators moved to Las Vegas. In 2003, they lost to the New York Dragons (May 3rd â 42-43), but have won their last five since the loss.
DEFENSIVE STATE OF MIND
Ranked number one in the League in total defense, Las Vegas has given up an average of 249.2 yards (229.5 passing, 19.7 rushing).
REMEMBER THE SACKS
Despite not recording a sack in the last four games, Las Vegas has tallied 14 sacks this season and is second behind the Colorado Crush (15) and Orlando Predators (15).
SLAP ON THE WRIST
Las Vegas has been penalized a League high 723-yards this season.
REUNITED
Despite being on the injured reserve list for the Philadelphia Soul, lineman Cory Stone and Dwayne Sabb entered the 2003 season together with the Gladiators in Las Vegas before they were both released prior to the start of the season. Sabb played for the Gladiators from 2001-2002. Other players with ties to the Gladiators are Terrill Shaw who played six games in Las Vegas last season and Keita Crespina, who played for the Gladiators organization from 1999-2001.
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