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February 21, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. DESPERADOS : THE FACTS


Date: Saturday, February 25, 2006.
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. Pacific
Site: American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Officials: Referee: Riley Johnson, Umpire: Rick Podraza, Head Linesman: Julian Mapp, Line Judge: Paul Engleberts, Back Judge: Bud McCleskey.

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...
On ESPNRadio 920 in Las Vegas with Andrew Siciliano handling play-by-play and Mike Pritchard with color commentary.

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
On FSN with Brad Sham handling play-by-play and Gary Reasons with color commentary.

THE SERIES - GLADIATORS VS. DESPERADOS
Gladiators lead 2-0

This will be only the third meeting between the teams. The Gladiators are 2-0 at home (1-0 Vegas;1-0 New Jersey) and 0-0 on the road versus Dallas. In the last meeting between the two, Las Vegas bullied Dallas in week 14 of the 2005 season. The Gladiators jumped out to a 35-10 halftime lead and never looked back. Quarterback Clint Dolezel, connected on 19-33 attempts with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. The game was played in front of 10,028 at Thomas and Mack Center.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Gladiators win, it would
- Give the Gladiators a 2-0 overall record versus Dallas
- Give Las Vegas a 2-3 overall record
- Give Las Vegas a 1-2 road record

GLADIATORS PREVIOUS GAME (2006 Home Opener)

Turnovers prove costly as the Gladiators fall to the Georgia Force 54-34
Offensive Player of the Game Jamin Elliot
Defensive Player of the Game Chris Brown
Ironman of the Game Robert Thomas

February 17, 2006, (Las Vegas, NV) - In a sloppy contest that witnessed four turnovers by both teams, the Las Vegas Gladiators (1-2), fell to the visiting Georgia Force (2-2), 54-34.

Las Vegas quarterback Craig Whelihan was intercepted three times in the first half, all by Georgia's Chris Brown, who was the Defensive Player of the Game. Whelihan finished the night 25 for 48 with 323 yards and four touchdowns. The Gladiators had a balanced receiving attack, led by Marcus Nash who had eight catches for 101 yards and two scores. Coco Blalock, had eight grabs for 83 yards and Joe Douglass, hauled in 7 receptions for 100 yards, also contributed offensively.

The Gladiators never led in the contest, at halftime they were down 34-21, they did pull to within one score at the end of the third quarter, but Georgia's defense was too much. The crucial play of the game came when Gladiator's Matt Kinsinger, fumbled the ball on the Georgia two yard line as Las Vegas was going in for a fourth quarter score.

Georgia was led by quarterback Matt Nagy, who was 24-36 with six touchdowns, Nagy was also intercepted three times. Derek Lee lead Georgia, with a game high nine receptions for 84 yards. Georgia also coughed up the ball four times on the night.

The Las Vegas will go on the road next week to face Dallas Desperadoes next Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (pacific).

THE COACHES


Ron James (Second Season, 9-11)

Ron James is in his second season as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators. In his first year as head coach the Gladiator teams ranked #1 in total offense and #1 in total defense Arena Football League and finished with an 8-8 record.

Prior to becoming the head coach, James served as assistant head coach/line coach and special team's coordinator for the Gladiator organization from 2001-2004.

Coach James has nine years of AFL experience having served as the line coach and player personnel director with the Houston Thunderbears from 2000-2001 and as an assistant with the Albany Firebirds in 1990 and 1991.

In addition to coaching in the AFL, James has coached a combined total of 14 years on the collegiate level.

In 1998 and 1999 Coach James served as the Admissions Support officer and assistant football coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

From 1993 thru 1998 James coached at Kentucky Wesleyan College. While at KWC James served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 1993. The following season James was promoted the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator and coached the secondary. He remained in that position until 1998.

Among the other college stops were stints as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Hartwick College from 1992-1993. Prior to that, James was the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at St. Lawrence University from 1989-1992. Additionally James coached at Siena College from 1986-1989 as the linebacker coach and also served as JV Head Coach in 1989.

James was a four-year starter at Siena College where he achieved First-Team All N.C.F.A. All - America honors in 1985 and was named a first-team all conference selection twice. Upon completion of his college football career, James had brief NFL stops with the NY Giants, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. He earned a BA from Siena and a MPA from the State University of New York at Albany.

Born on April 28, 1964, James is a native of Albany, New York. He is married to wife, Lynn and has two children Brady and Alexis. They live in Henderson, NV. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Will McClay (Third Season, 17-18-1)
Will McClay begins his third season at the helm of the Dallas Desperados. McClay was named the Desperados head coach on Feb. 5, 2004 - just three days prior to kicking off the 2004 season - after former head coach Joe Avezzano announced his resignation to return to the NFL. In McClay's second season leading the Desperados, he improved the club's 6-10 finish in 2004 to 8-7-1 last season and will continue to work to bring the club the successes they had in their first two seasons in the league.
In addition to his head coaching responsibilities, McClay was the club's defensive coordinator. His defense finished the 2005 season with the league's stingiest defense in opponents completion percentage, allowing just 58.0% of opposing quarterbacks to complete passes. His defense finished second in the league in passing yards-per-game allowed (238.3) and third in the league in yards-per-game allowed (261.8).
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 twoway 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).
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. Since coming to Dallas McClay has become very active in the supporting the North Texas community. Under his initiative, the Desperados Impact Player Program was created in 2003 in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. As part of the program, players and coaches visit area Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the Arena Football season and serve as positive role models to students involved in the centers' after school programs. McClay serves as an annual guest speaker for both the Dallas Cowboys Let Us Play! Sports Camp for Girls - a three-day camp for inner-city at-risk girls served by local non-profits - and the Dallas Cowboys summer Coaches Clinic - a free instruction seminar for youth and middle school football coaches from Texas, surrounding states and Salvation Army corps across the country. In 2004, McClay helped organize a volunteer shift for Desperados players, coaches and mascot Kid Coyote at the Santa's Helpers Toy Drive in downtown Dallas at the WFAA-TV studios to help accept and unload toys donated for underprivileged children. As an avid supporter of youth fitness initiatives, McClay worked diligently with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 to bring new flag football programs to Dallas-Fort Worth area YMCAs.




2006 SEASON

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


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


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



AFL TOP 10: League Leaders after Week 4
GLADIATORS
Player Rank Category Stat
Craig Whelihan 4 Touchdown Passes 21
7 Pass Yards Per Game 285.5

Marcus Nash 5 Scoring 62
5 Touchdowns 10
7 Yards Per Game 107
4t Receptions 34

Marlion Jackson 1 Rushing Yards 84
1 Yards per carry 6.0

Defense Defense Defense
Coco Blalock 9t Average Kick Return Yards 19.4

TJ Hill 1t Solo Tackles 29
2t Total Tackles 30.5
Nick Davis 3t Special Teams Tackles 4

Wilky Bazile 4t Sacks 2
3 Combined Tackles for Loss 3.5

Dameon Porter 3t Passes Defended 10

MILESTONE WATCH

PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Wilky Bazile 20 Sacks 18.5 1.5
Wilky Bazile 150 Tackles 130 20
Coco Blalock 3000 Receiving Yards 2,882 118
Coco Blalock 50 Receiving Touchdowns 40 10
Coco Blalock 3000 Kick Return Yards 2,681 321
Joe Douglass 5,000 Receiving Yards 4,372 628
Joe Douglass 100 Receiving Touchdowns 98 2
Steve Konopka 20 Sacks 18 2
Steve Konopka 100 Tackles 77.5 22.5
Junior Lord 2,000 Receiving Yards 1,654 346
Marcus Nash 5,000 Receiving Yards 4,719 281
Marcus Nash 500 Receptions 387 113
Dameon Porter 30 Interceptios 28 2
Craig Whelihan 6,000 Passing Yards 5,015 985
Craig Whelihan 150 Touchdown Passes 102 48


GLADIATORS' PREVIEW, NOTES AND TRENDS


GAME PREVIEW
This much anticipated week-five match-up finds two division leading teams heading in opposite directions. At 1-3, the Gladiators have lost two in row and recently were dismantled by Georgia 54-34 last week at home. The Desperados, on the other hand, are 3-1, with their only loss coming to the league's sole undefeated team (Austin Wranglers 4-0). This will mark the third time in history these franchises have met, with the Gladiators holding a 2-0 all-time record (2005, Las Vegas 58 Dallas 38, at the Thomas and Mack Center, week 14; 2002 New Jersey 45 Dallas 44, Continental Airlines Arena, week 2). The game will showcase former Gladiator record holder quarterback, Clint Dolezel, who inked a deal with Dallas in the off-season, marking the biggest free-agent signing in Desperado history.

OFFENSIVE PREVIEW
Las Vegas fell off the radar with last weeks offensive performance. The red and black dropped from 7th in scoring to 14th (46.5 points per game). QB Craig Whelihan has struggled recently throwing a league leading eight interceptions. Whelihan, has connected on 84 of 147 attempts, for 1132 yards and 21 touchdowns. There are a few bright spots offensively, FB/LB Marlion Jackson, leads the league in rushing (84 yards) and is first in yards per carry (6.0). OS Marcus Nash, leads the team in receptions (33), yards (421), and touchdowns (10). Since coming off of injured reserve, WR/LB Joe Douglass has been spectacular in the past two games. Douglass has 13 receptions, 204 yards receiving, and five six pointers. Dallas enters the contest with the second rated passing offense in the league. Led by QB Clint Dolezel, (101-154-1, 25 TD's) and OS Terrill Shaw, (31 receptions, 437 yards, and 10 TD's).

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW
Las Vegas enters week five with the 10th rated total defense (288.8 yards allowed per game) and the ranked 14th in scoring defense (57.8 points allowed per game). The defense averages more than two takeaways per game (9 takeaways, tied for 8th in league). WR/DB TJ Hill leads the team in tackles with 30.5 stops (tied for second in AFL). DS Dameon Porter has been matched with the opposing team's number one receiver each week and responded with a team high 9 pass breakups (tied for third in league). OL/DL Wilky Bazile has recorded a team high two sacks on the year (tied for fourth in league). The Desperados defense is ranked 7th (286.8 yards allowed per game) and 9th in points allowed (47.8 points per game). WR/DB Will Pettis has a team leading four interceptions on the year. Dallas is led in tackles by DS Jermaine Jones. Jones has 28 total tackles to go along with five pass breakups.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff return specialist Coco Blalock, averages 19.4 yards per return (tied for ninth in league). Kicker Eric Houle has converted 19 of 24 PAT attempts and is last in field goal percentage (25%, 1-4). Dallas's Will Pettis averages 18.6 yards per return and has 409 total kick-off return yards (third in league). Dallas kicker Carlos Martinez is 29 of 30 on PAT's (first in league) and has made 2 of 4 field goal attempts.

HELLO SLINGER
The familiar #13 will be under center at the Gladiators game on Saturday against Dallas. This time though, the jersey will be blue and white rather than red and black. Clint Dolezel, the Gladiators starting quarterback for the past two seasons, signed with Dallas this offseason to be closer to his Houston, Tex. home. Dolezel led Las Vegas to two straight seasons at 8-8, missing the playoffs in both seasons.

PUT ANOTHER RECORD ON THE JUKEBOX
Dolezel holds nearly every passing record in the Gladiators record book. Dolezel holds three single-game passing records (passing yards in a game - 451,TD passes in a game - 11, total offense in a game - 451 yards); five regular-season records (pass completion percentage - 65.7 in 2004, pass attempts - 580 in 2004, pass completions - 381 in 2004, passing yards - 4,450 in 2004, TD passes - 93 in 2004); and four career Gladiators passing records (attempts - 1,047, completions - 684, yards passing - 7,776, TD passes - 171).

FAMILIAR FACES
Besides Dolezel, the Desparados have two other players who have worn the red & black in year's past. OS Terrill Shaw spent most of the 2004 season with Las Vegas, only playing in 5 games due to injury. OL/DL Rickie Simpkins was a member of Las Vegas for the 2004 training camp.

ZO AND THE ‘BOYS
Gladiators' DS Alonzo Spellman spent two years with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. During the 1999 and 2000 NFL seasons, "Zo" totaled 10 sacks, while not missing a game for the Cowboys.

GLADIATORS IN FIRST PLACE
With only one victory in the first four games, the Las Vegas Gladiators find themselves in a five-way first place tie with all Western Division rivals. The Gladiators and the Los Angeles Avengers are the only two squads with an undefeated division record (both 1-0). The first six games match-ups are against teams with an overall record of 16-8 after four weeks of play (Austin 4-0, San Jose 1-3, Colorado 3-1, Georgia 2-2, Dallas 3-1, and Philadelphia 3-1).

TACKLING TJ
The fourth year pro (all with Las Vegas) from Northeastern, has emerged as a defensive standout in the Gladiators secondary this year. After having the past two seasons cut short due to a knee injury, Hill has been a tackling force this year. Hill is currently tied for first in solo tackles (29) and is tied for second in total tackles with (30.5). TJ is the only player on the Gladiator roster to record an interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a pass defended in 2006.

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR DALLAS

# 13 QB CLINT DOLEZEL- This veteran signal caller has gotten off to a hot start, connecting on 101 of 154 passes (66%) with 25 touchdowns and only one interception. Dolezel, is ranked in the top three in four major statistical categories; total offensive (1250 yards), offensive touchdowns (26), passer rating (126.8), and fewest interceptions thrown (1).

# 3 WR/DB WILL PETTIS- In his 4th year with Dallas, Pettis has emerged as one of the top two-way players in the league. Defensively he has four interceptions (ranks second in AFL) and 11.5 tackles. On the offensive side of the ball, Pettis has 27 grabs for 332 yards and five touchdowns, he is the second leading receiver for the Desperados. In addition, he ranks third in the AFL, in kickoff return yards (409).

# 17 OS TERRILL SHAW- This seven year AFL pro leads the Desperados in catches (31, tied for sixth in the AFL), yards (437, fifth in AFL), and touchdown catches (10, tied for fourth in AFL).

# 7 DS JERMAINE JONES - In his fourth year from Northwestern State, Jones leads the Desperados in tackles (28) and passes defended (5).

# 45 FB/LB DUKE PETTIJOHN - Pettijohn, leads the team with 12 rushes for 18 yards and two scores. Defensively he has added 10.5 tackles on the year, one tackle for loss and a pass defended.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 21, 2006


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