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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

May 3, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


Date: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 PM PT
Site: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
Officials Referee: Terry Brown, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Rusty Baynes, Line Judge: Gary Cavaletto
Back Judge: Scott Helverson


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 WEST (Cox Channel 49 in Las Vegas/DirecTV Channel 652) with Andrew Sicilliano and John Jackson on the call.

THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. DESPERADOS
Gladiators Lead Series 1-0
This will be the second all-time meeting between the two teams with the Gladiators taking the only meeting, 45-44, when the Gladiators were still in New Jersey in 2002.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Gladiators win, it would
• Give the Gladiators a 2-0 record vs. the Desperados
• Give Las Vegas a 8-6 overall record
• Give Las Vegas a 4-3 road record

SCHEDULES


LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (7-6)
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 W 56-49
BYE
May 1 @ Chicago 10:00 AM L 62-63
May 7 Dallas 7:00
May 14 @ Los Angeles 7:30
May 22 Arizona 12:00
All times PST


DALLAS DESPERADOS (7-5-1)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 30 Chicago 2:00 W 66-65
Feb. 6 @ New York 12:00 L 45-55
Feb. 13 Columbus 2:00 W 35-31
Feb. 17 Orlando 7:30 W 42-28
Feb. 27 @ Philadelphia 2:00 W 72-43
March 5 New Orleans 7:30 L 51-53
March 13 @ Austin 3:00 W 52-28
March 18 @ Los Angeles 9:30 W 72-50
March 25 Colorado 7:30 L 58-66
BYE
April 8 Nashville 7:30 T 41-41
April 15 @ San Jose 9:30 W 71-83
April 22 @ Columbus 6:00 W 55-33
April 29 New York 7:30 L 57-65
May 7 @ Las Vegas 9:00
May 14 @ Georgia 6:00
May 22 Philadelphia 2:00
All times CST

GLADIATORS VS. DESPERADOS
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS DESPERADOS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 13 48.5 3 55.2
Total Offense 2 313.2 10 277.1
Scoring Defense 6 48.5 9 49.3
Total Defense 2 253.2 1 249.2
Rushing Offense 7 21.2 3 32.8
Rushing Defense 8 19.8 13 24.8
Passing Offense 3 292.1 13 244.2
Passing Defense 2 232.5 1 224.5
Interceptions 8 13 6 15
Sacks By 7 15 10 14
Sacks Against 1 4 11 14
Turnover Margin 15 -9 4 +6
3rd Down Conversion % 8 47.9 13 44.6
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 2 41.8 5 44.0

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS GAMBLE COMES UP SHORT IN CHICAGO; LOSE 63-62

Rosemont, IL, May 1, 2005 – Las Vegas was unsuccessful on a two-point conversion with :17 seconds remaining in the game after Gladiators' quarterback Clint Dolezel connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Joe Douglass and lost 63-62 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.

The game was tied going into the last minute of the game until Rush quarterback Raymond Philyaw completed a 19-yard touchdown to WR/LB Jeremy McDaniel giving the Rush a 63-56 lead. Philyaw passed for 285 yards on 23-of-30 completions with six touchdowns.

Dolezel finished the game 28-for-36 for 355 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions with four touchdown passes to OS Marcus Nash. Nash caught 11 passes for 128 yards and WR/LB Coco Blalock caught seven passes for 100 yards with three scores.

Gladiators OL/DL Steve Konopka was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the second consecutive game after tallying 2.5 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one blocked extra-point. Konopka has blocked three extra-points for the season.

Chicago kicker Keith Gispert finished the game connecting on just 6-of-9 extra-points as Gladiators kicker Mark Lewis converted on 8-of-8 extra-points.

Las Vegas turned the ball over on downs one time in the first quarter and Gispert connected on a 43-yard field goal at the end of the first half to put the Rush up, 37-35 at halftime.

THE COACHES


Ron James (First Season, 7-6)

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.

Will McClay (2nd Season, 13-15-1)

Will McClay begins the 2005 AFL season with his feet firmly planted on the ground after being thrust into the role of head coach just three days before the kickoff of the 2004 season. McClay was named Desperados head coach on Feb. 5, 2004 after former head coach Joe Avezzano announced his resignation to return to the NFL. In McClay's second season at the helm of the Desperados, he will be looking to improve upon last season's 6-10 finish and restore Dallas to the successes the team enjoyed in their first two seasons in the league.

Before taking on the role of head coach, McClay spearheaded Dallas's defensive attack. He was hired as the team's inaugural defensive coordinator in 2002, and his work helped the club make two playoff appearances and win a division title in its first two years of existence. He remained the team's defensive coordinator after taking over as head coach and, for the first time in club history, enjoyed stability in the defensive backfield.

McClay's first two seasons leading Dallas's defensive charge were riddled with injuries and personnel movement, forcing him to piece together new defensive units on a regular basis. With a more stable defensive corps in 2004, the defense witnessed improvements in total yards per game allowed (288.7 in 2003 to 260.1 in 2004) and passing yards per game allowed (267.9 - 2003, 238.4 - 2004) while holding steady in rushing yards per game allowed (21.6 - 2003, 21.8 - 2004). The defense also saw an increase in sacks as they finished third in the league with 19. McClay's project for the 2004 season was to introduce former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Colston Weatherington to the rigors of the AFL. Under McClay's watch, Weatherington was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team, finishing eighth in the league in sacks (5.5), while leading the team with 7.5 tackles for losses, five blocked kicks and five quarterback pressures.

In 2003, the Desperados defense consistently came up big at key moments in games. McClay had to work defensive specialist Jermaine Jones into the lineup when he came off the exempt list four weeks into the season, and Jones responded with a team record 73.5 tackles to earn selection to the AFL All-Rookie team. Will Pettis also made his indoor debut and earned second-team All-Arena and All-Rookie honors for his two-way performance, while lineman Tom Briggs earned first-team All-Arena, All-Ironman and AFL Lineman of the Year honors after finishing with career-high numbers in sacks (10.5), tackles (43.5), forced fumbles (four) and pressures (eight).

Despite losing defensive specialist Hassan Shamsid-Deen for the last half of the 2002 season and having to patch together the secondary on a weekly basis, McClay was able to get the most out of his players. Dallas finished the season sixth in rush defense (10.4 yards-per-game) and eighth in interceptions (17), while holding three teams to 226 total offensive yards or less - including limiting Carolina to 166. In only eight games, Shamsid-Deen posted five interceptions and was named �ADT� Defensive Player of the Week twice, while lineman Shante Carver and defensive specialist Kareem Larrimore were named to the All-Rookie team.

In addition to his work with the Desperados, McClay also works in the Dallas Cowboys scouting department grading players on other NFL teams. Prior to joining the Desperados and Cowboys, McClay was the Assistant Director of Pro Scouting for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his one season with the team (2001), he was charged with scouting NFL teams Jacksonville did not play and advance scouting work.

Before joining the Jaguars, McClay served as the player personnel director of the XFL's Orlando Rage, as well as a consultant and scout, in the spring of 2001. The Rage finished the season 8-2 before falling in the first round of the playoffs.

Prior to moving into the personnel side of professional football, McClay spent 11 seasons in the AFL as a player and coach. He served as defensive coordinator and director of player personnel for the Grand Rapids Rampage in 1998. He added the title of assistant head coach in 1999, when the Rampage improved to an 8-6 record after posting a 3-11 campaign the previous season. In 1997, he was the defensive coordinator and director of player personnel for the Anaheim Piranhas after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 1995 and the Florida Bobcats in 1996. McClay was the secondary and special teams coach of the Detroit Drive in 1993, helping the team reach the ArenaBowl. From 1989-92, he was a wide receiver/defensive back for the Drive, helping lead them to three ArenaBowl titles in four appearances.

McClay was a four-year letterman and team captain as a defensive back at Rice (1985-88), starting every game of his collegiate career. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in political science. McClay was born Oct. 13, 1966 in Memphis, TN.

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 Damian Harrell (COL)
11 GR Clint Dolezel (LV)
12 PHI Clint Dolezel (LV)
13 BYE
14 CHI Raymond Philyaw (CHI)
15 DAL



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 Steve Konopka (LV)
13 BYE
14 CHI Steve Konopka (LV)
15 DAL




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 Cornelius Bonner (LV)
13 BYE
14 CHI Bob McMillan (CHI)
15 DAL





GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS


ONE - TWO PUNCH
Dallas and Las Vegas are ranked as the top two total defensive teams in the AFL. The Desperados are number one in the League (24.8 rushing, 224.5 passing) and the Gladiators are number two (19.8 rushing, 232.5 passing).

THE BEASTS OF THE EAST
The Gladiators have won all three games this season against Eastern Division opponents (vs. New York – 41-37, @ Columbus - 63-43 and @ Philadelphia – 56-49).

REUNITED
Clint Dolezel, Ricky Ross and Lucas Yarnell were members of the Grand Rapids Rampage with current Dallas Desperados' defensive coordinator and director of player personal Terry Gray. Gray was a scout for the Rampage from 2001-2003.

THE OLD DAYS
Current Desperados' offensive coordinator Rich Ingold was the defensive coordinator for the Gladiators in 2001.

THE CENTURY MARK
Last week against the Chicago Rush, Frank Carter rushed for 22 yards on three carries and surpassed the century mark for the second consecutive season. He has rushed the ball 32 times for 106 yards with five touchdowns. Last season, Carter ran the ball 36 times for 136 yards with 10 touchdowns.

THE DEUCE-DEUCE
Dolezel has thrown more touchdowns in the fourth quarter than any other quarterback in the League this season (22).

KICK IT TO ME
Steve Konopka blocked an extra-point last week against the Rush and currently leads the League in blocked kicks with three. He was also named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the second consecutive week.

WINNING WEIGHS
The Red and Black are 2-5 this season against teams with winning records. They have defeated Los Angeles and New York while losing to Chicago, Colorado, Georgia and San Jose twice.

STREET LIGHTS ARE ON
The Gladiators return home for the first time since defeating the Grand Rapids Rampage on Sunday, April 8, 56-28 at the Thomas & Mack Center. They have compiled a 3-3 record this season at home.

THE RETURN OF RICKIE
Dallas Desperados OL/DL Rickie Simpkins returns to Las Vegas this week for the first time since starting off with the Gladiators last season. Simpkins did not see any action with Las Vegas before being released on March 1, 2003.

WHAT IS THE POINT
Las Vegas lost their second game this season last week by one point (vs. Austin 41-42, @ Chicago 62-63).

TOUCHDOWN MACHINE
Dolezel has thrown more touchdowns in his last seven games than any other quarterback in the League (52). He has thrown five or more touchdown passes in each of his last seven games since being activated from the injured list.

THE LAST TIME
The last meeting between the Gladiators and Desperados came in 2002 when the Red and Black were still based out of New Jersey and won 45-44. The only players still on the Gladiators roster who played in that game are Frank Carter and Wilky Bazile. Dallas' only player who is still on the roster is Jason Shelley.

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