Las Vegas Gladiators game notes
May 9, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
GLADIATORS VS. AVENGERS: THE FACTS
Date: Saturday, May 13 2006
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Pacific
Site: The Staples Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe, Umpire: Jeff Carr, Head Linesman: Rod Pearson, Line Judge: Gary Cavaletto, Back Judge: Keith Washington
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...
Log on to AFL.net for live play-by play of the game.
THE SERIES - GLADIATORS VS. AVENGERS
2-4
This will be the seventh meeting all-time between both franchises. In Week 10 the Gladiators jumped out to an early lead in route to a 63-49 victory at the Thomas and Mack Center. QB Jason Fife led the way completing 21-of-26 passes for 261 yards and five touchdowns, despite two interceptions.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Gladiators win, it would
- Give the Gladiators a 3-4 record versus Los Angeles
- Give Las Vegas a 6-10
- Give Las Vegas a 2-6 road record
- Give Las Vegas a 4-4 Western Division record
- + Utah Loss + Chicago Loss = Gladiators will secure playoff victory
GLADIATORS PREVIOUS GAME (Week 15)
Gladiators rattled by Arizona 75-28
Offensive Player of the Game Sherderick Bonner
ADT Defensive Player of the Game Wilson Thomas
Army Ironman of the Game Randy Gatewood
Friday, May 5, 2006 (Phoenix, AZ) - The Las Vegas Gladiators (5-10) fell to Western Division rival Arizona Rattlers (8-7) 75-28. The Gladiators have dropped five straight and are outside looking in for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Quarterback Jason Fife completed 25-of-52 attempts for 250 yards and four touchdowns despite three interceptions. FB/LB Marlion Jackson was a bright spot offensively grabbing five passes for 69 yards with one touchdown while adding 10 rushing yards.
Defensively the Gladiators were led by OL/DL Steve Konopka who recorded three tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. In the fourth quarter Konopka hauled in a screen pass from Jason Fife and scampered for a 43-yard touchdown.
Arizona improved to 6-2 all-time versus the Gladiators and clinched a playoff berth with the victory. Quarterback Sherdrick Bonner threw for 187 yards on 11-of-13 passing, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
Las Vegas will travel to Los Angeles for the regular season finale on Saturday, May 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (pacific) at the Staples Center. The game can be heard live on ESPN 920 with Andrew Siciliano handling play-by-play and Mike Pritchard with expert analysis.
THE COACHES
Mike Hold Second Season (0-13)
Mike Hold joins the Las Vegas Gladiators for his second season as offensive coordinator after being the head coach of the Macon Knights in af2 for the previous two seasons. He joined the Knights in October of 2003 after serving as head coach of the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League, during the 2003 season.
Hold brings more than 15 years of Arena Football experience to the Gladiators. He enjoyed a 12-season career in the AFL beginning in the League's inaugural season in 1987 with the Chicago Bruisers. In 2000, when Hold retired from the AFL as a player, he was the only player remaining from the League's inaugural season. His best campaign came in 1991 with the Denver Dynamite. Hold threw for 1,506 yards, 28 touchdowns and rushed for 13 touchdowns. He recorded four seasons with more than 1,000 yards passing and three seasons with more than 20 touchdown passes and a passer rating above 100. Hold participated in training camps with the Denver Broncos in 1986 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and 1988. Hold also played in three games with the Bucs during the 1987 season completing 8-of-24 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Hold began his coaching career with the Augusta Stallions of af2 in 2001. While in Augusta, Hold guided one of the most efficient offenses in the League. He took the expansion-Stallions to a 9-7 record in 2001 with an offense that ranked in the top 10 in scoring offense (48.5 points/game) and passer rating (98.8). In 2002, Hold and the Stallions finished with the best record in af2 at 13-3 and qualified for the playoffs. His team finished in the top 10 of the league in scoring (52.9 points/game), pass offense (237.2 yards/game) and passer rating (106.7). He finished his career with the Stallions with a 22-11 record.
Hold graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985 after playing two seasons. He led the Gamecocks to the only 10-win season in school history and was named the MVP of the Gator Bowl in 1984. Hold ranks seventh on the school's all-time passing list with 2,981 yards.
Born March 16, 1963, Hold is a native of Tempe, Ariz. Hold has worked as a color commentator for the Mountain West Conference and for ESPN's Arena Football League coverage in 2001. He has also appeared in blockbuster movies such as "The Waterboy," "Jerry Maguire," and "The Program." Hold played a small role in "The Waterboy" as the quarterback of Central Kentucky and was a stunt double in both "Jerry Maguire" and "The Program." He and his wife, Nicole, reside in Las Vegas with their Labradors, Phoenix and Macy.
Ed Hodgkiss (Fifth season 41-29)
Ed Hodgkiss, one of the brightest offensive masterminds in the Arena Football League, is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Avengers. He has advanced to the AFL Playoffs in each of his previous four seasons as a head coach.
Las season, Hodgkiss guided the Avengers to their first Western Division championship. The star-studded team, which finished with a 10-6 regular-season record featured "US Army Ironman of the Year" Kevin Ingram, "ADT Defensive Player of the Year" and "Lineman of the Year" Silas Demary and "Kicker of the Year" Remy Hamilton.
Born on Oct. 23, 1970, Hodgkiss is a native of Laurel,Md., where he attended St. Vincent Pallotti High School. He went on to graduate from Fairmont State College in 1992 with a degree in physical education and health. He was also a wide receiver for the Falcons and later began his coaching career with his alma mater. Hodgkiss and his wife Beth reside in Manhattan Beach, CA.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME 2006
Offensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ AUS John Fitzgerald (QB)
2 SAN Marcus Nash (OS)
3 @ COL Willis Marshall (WR/DB)
4 GEO Elliot Jamin (WR)
5 @ DAL Dialleo Burks (WR/LB)
6 PHI Jason Fife (QB)
7 GRR Jason Fife (QB)
8 ARI Darrell Jones (WR/DB)
9 @UTA Marlion Jackson (FB/LB)
10 LA Coco Blalock (FB/LB)
11 NSH Clint Stoerner (QB)
12 @SAN Mark Grieb (QB)
13 @CHI Bobby Sippio (OS)
14 UTA Andy Kelly (QB)
15 @ARI Sherderick Bonner (QB)
16 @LA
ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ AUS Damon Mason (DS)
2 SAN Wilky Bazile (DL)
3 @ COL Rashad Floyd (DS)
4 GEO Chris Brown (DS)
5 @ DAL Jermaine Jones (DS)
6 PHI Steve Konopka (FB/LB)
7 GRR *Anthony Arceneaux (WR/DB)*
8 ARI Erin Damond (DS)
9 @UTA TJ Hill (WR/DB)
10 LA Steve Konopka (OL/DL)
11 NSH Monty Montgomery (DS)
12 @SAN Clevan Thomas (DS)
13 @CHI Curtis Eason (OL/DL)
14 UTA Orshawante Bryant (DB)
15 @ARI Wilson Thomas (WR/LB)
16 @LA
Army Ironman of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 @ AUS Dane Krager (FB/LB)
2 SAN Marlion Jackson (FB/LB)
3 @ COL Willis Marshall (WR/DB)
4 GEO Robert Thomas (FB/LB)
5 @ DAL Will Pettus (WR/DB)
6 PHI Joe Douglass (WR/DB)
7 GRR Coco Blalock (WR/DB)
8 ARI Talib Wise ( WR/DB)
9 @UTA Aleric Clark (WR/DB)
10 LA Kevin Ingram (WR/DB)
11 NSH Frank Carter (FB/LB)
12 @SAN James Roe (LB/WR)
13 @CHI DeJuan Alfonzo (WR/DB)
14 UTA Tom Pace (WR/LB)
15 @ARI Randy Gatewood WR/DB
16 @LA
GLADIATORS' PREVIEW NOTES AND TRENDS
GAME PREVIEW
When the AFL released the 2006 schedule this Week-16 match-up had the makings of being a crucial Western Division battle but the 06' campaign for both hasn't gone as planned. In fact, Las Vegas and Los Angeles are in the cellar of the Western Division.
LAS VEGAS' PREVIOUS GAME
Las Vegas was flat-out beaten in Arizona 75-28.
Quarterback Jason Fife completed 25-of-52 attempts for 250 yards and four touchdowns despite three interceptions. FB/LB Marlion Jackson was a bright spot offensively grabbing five passes for 69 yards with one touchdown while adding 10 rushing yards.
LOS ANGELES' PREVIOUS GAME
The Avengers surprised the Nashville Kats 73-56 at the Staples Center. QB Sonnie Cumbie led the charge throwing for 240 yards and five touchdowns on 22-of-32 attempts despite one interception.
OFFENSIVE PREVIEW
The Gladiators have the 13th ranked scoring offense (49.5 points per game) and are 13th in total offense (279.2 yards per game). The "red and black" have the most potent rushing attack in the league (33.9 yards per game) and have 31 rushing touchdowns. Rookie QB Jason Fife has been serviceable completing 186-of-319 attempts for 2058 yards, 39 TD passes, despite 12 INT's and has added 11 rushing scores. OS Marcus Nash has been the go-to receiver with 116 catches for 1261 yards and 28 TD receptions. WR/LB Joe Douglass (61 receptions for 702 yards and 13 TD catches and 5 TD rushes), WR/DB Aleric Clark (17 receptions for 235 yards and 5TD's) and FB/LB Marlion Jackson (26 carries for 137 yards, 4 rushing TD's, 14 receptions for 230 yards and 4 TD's) add balance to the attack. The Avengers are ranked 8th in scoring offense (51.0 points per game) and 9th in total offense (285.9 yards per game). QB Sonnie Cumbie has been impressive in his first AFL season completing 251-of-422 passes for 3052 yards, 57 TD's and only 8 INT's). The Avengers have three players with over 70 receptions each. Ironman Kevin Ingram leads the bunch with 102 catches for 1264 yards and 31 TD's, OS Tony Locke (75 catches for 1128 yards and 16 TD's) and WR/LB Greg Hopkins (71 catches for 803 yards and 14 TD's) have also been outstanding this season.
DEFENSIVE PREVIEW
The Gladiators are ranked 17th scoring defense (56.7 points allowed per game) and are 18th in total defense (303.1 yards allowed per game). WR/DB Anthony Arceneaux is the teams leading active tackler with 26.5 tackles. OL/DL Steve Konopka and OL/DL Wilky Bazile lead the charge up front with 3.5 sacks a piece. Los Angeles has the 18th ranked scoring defense (58.6 points per game) and 11th in total defense (289.1 yards per game). DS Damen Wheeler leads the team with 64.0 total tackles, two picks and 18 pass breakups. Veteran WR/LB Grep Hopkins is a heady two-way player. Hopkins has 45.5 tackles one sack, two passes defended and two fumble recoveries on his resume this season. Look for 2005 AFL Lineman of the Year Silas Demary and Avenger vet Sean McNamera to provide the push upfront.
SPECIAL TEAMS PREVIEW
The Gladiators kickoff team has been spectacular this season. The return average of 19.4 yards per return is good for 2nd best in the league. K Eric Houle has turned it around after a rough start. Houle has nailed PAT's 85-of-95 PAT's and 6-of-13 field goals. Avenger K Remy Hamilton is one of the AFL greats at his position; this year is no exception, drilling 24-of-32 field goals (75%, 1st in AFL). Hamilton has hit 87-of-93 PAT's.
FAMILIAR FACES
Avenger DS Antuan Simmons and FB/LB Lavell Mann spent training camp with the Gladiators but were released prior to the season. DS Traco Rachal played seven games for the Avengers in 2005, recording 26.5 tackles and three INT's.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE AVENGERS
# 5 WR/DB - KEVIN INGRAM
This versatile two-way player has 102 grabs for 1264 yards and 31 TD's (all team-highs). Defensively Ingram has 45.5 tackles, five picks and six passes defended. Ingram was awarded the 2005 Army Ironman of the Year.
# 82 WR/LB - GREG HOPKINS
Recently selected to the AFL's "20 Greatest Players" list, Hopkins has been a staple in the Avenger lineup for five seasons. Hopkins has 71 receptions for 803 yards with 16 TD catches, adding one score on the ground. On the other side of the ball he has 45.5 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups.
# 90 - OL/DL SILAS DEMARY
Demary is as good as it gets in the AFL, when discussing interior lineman. In seven appearances the 2005 "Lineman of the Year" has racked up 14.5 tackles, one sack, one pass deflection and a forced fumble.
# 8 - OS TONY LOCKE
Locke has been solid for Los Angeles this season with 75 catches for 1128 yards with 16 TD's. Locke is a former walk-on from Ohio State University.
# 15 - QB SONNIE CUMBIE
The rookie from Texas Tech is off to a sensational start to his AFL career Cumbie has passed for 3052 yards on 251-of-422 passing, with 57 TD passes despite 8 INT's.
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