AFL Cleveland Gladiators

Philadelphia tops Cleveland on NFL network, 49-21

July 8, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Cleveland Gladiators News Release


PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia Soul jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, topping the Cleveland Gladiators 49-21 in front of 9,761 at the Wells Fargo Center Friday night. Cleveland falls to 9-7 in 2011, 3-2 in East division play, while the Soul improves to 6-11.

Philadelphia went up 14-0 to start when quarterback Ryan Vena hit wide receiver Larry Brackins for touchdown passes on each of their first two possessions. The Gladiators cut the deficit in half when quarterback Kurt Rocco found his main target Troy Bergeron for a 32-yard scoring toss, but Philly then went on a 22-0 scoring run to propel them to an advantage they would never lose.

Bergeron snared four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns on the night. His totals move to 1,043 yards and 28 receiving scores in only 15 games. Dominick Goodman nabbed eight catches for 61 yards, putting him at 1,026 yards on the year with a team-leading 96 catches. Both men join Robert Redd in giving the Gladiators three wide receivers over the 1,000 yard plateau in 2011.

Rocco threw for 201 yards and two scores, while also rushing for his team-leading 13th touchdown. Rocco currently has the second-most touchdowns on the ground in a single season in franchise history.

Anthony Hoke had two total tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in the contest. Hoke now has 7.5 sacks this year, surpassing his 2010 total (6.5). His blocked kick increases his number to five, good for both franchise single season and career records. Cleveland had only two total blocked kicks their previous two seasons in the AFL.

Levy Brown added 12 total tackles in the game, giving him 118.0 on the season. Brown came into the game with the second-most stops in the AFL this season. A third quarter interception by Demarcus Robinson increased his total to five, tying him with Mike Bragg for the team lead.

For the Soul, quarterback Ryan Vena threw for 245 yards on 21-of-31 passing for three touchdowns and one interception, adding 30 yards and two scores on the ground. Wide receiver Larry Brackins had nine grabs for 133 yards and three scores through the air, earning him Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game honors.

Brandon Perkins was named the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game by tallying three sacks and five total tackles. Mike Brown and James Sadler each had interceptions and Philadelphia had seven sacks as a team.

The Gladiators will return to The Q for a clash of East division rivals when they face the Pittsburgh Power on NFL Network on Friday, July 15th at 8:00 p.m. SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! For more information, visit www.clevelandgladiators.com or call 216.685.9000 today!



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