Events Calendar
In This Section
WWII veteran honored through hospice program
Don't expect Zips' exhibition game to be pretty
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Needy may get break from Akron on sewer costs
Akron home prices rank best in college-town poll
Zips fit well together for a victory
Dyer: Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Most Read Stories
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Circle K on Brown Street robbed
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Bank helps more save their homes
Woman says clinic refused to help her get pregnant because she's not married
Blogs:
Pets:
Officials: NYer Had 20 Dead Dogs Buried in Yard
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Time for Kokinis, Browns to agree and part ways
Akron Zips:
Zips tip off tomorrow
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – November 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Walsh Jesuit’s Caponi commits to Duquesne
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Abortion Analogies
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
If Dragons lose today, first game will be at home
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Jun 22, 2008
CLEVELAND: The Gladiators didn't have to look any further than their practice squad to find the boost they needed to get into the Arena Football League playoffs in the team's first year in Cleveland.
Wide receiver Randy Hymes, who was promoted from the practice squad before Saturday's game, scored three first-half touchdowns in his AFL debut as the Gladiators (9-7) pushed past their in-state rival Columbus Destroyers 47-35 Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena and into the playoffs.
''We found the secret weapon in Randy,'' starting quarterback Raymond Philyaw said. ''He is going to be a weapon for us in the playoffs.''
Hymes' night included four catches for 78 yards, including two ''highlight-reel'' touchdown catches. His big first half opened up the field for teammate Otis Amey, who scored two touchdowns in the second half to set the franchise record for touchdowns in a season with 50.
Amey is one of just three players who were with the franchise last year in Las Vegas when the team completed a dismal 2-14 season.
''To come this far and make the playoffs feels great
now,'' Amey said. ''It won't really set in until tomorrow when I am thinking we are actually in the playoffs.''
The Gladiators could still earn a home playoff game if the New York Dragons lose to the top-seeded Philadelphia Soul today at Nassau Coliseum in New York. If the Dragons win, the Gladiators will play at New York in the first round. If they lose, the Gladiators will host the Orlando Predators at Quicken Loans Arena on June 30. The city has not hosted a professional football playoff game since 1994.
Neither the Destroyers nor the Gladiators seemed able to sustain a strong, consistent offense in what was a relatively low-scoring game by Arena League standards. Part of that could be traced to the hard-hitting Gladiators defense, which kept constant pressure on Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy.
Although the Gladiators only had one sack, they forced Nagy into errant throws, one time off the scoreboard hanging above the field, and rushed passes. A handful of dropped passes by his receivers didn't help his cause either.
''Tonight all eight guys out there, someone made a play,'' Gladiators coach Mike Wilpolt said, ''whether it was a lineman getting a sack, a linebacker tipping a pass or a DB obviously making an interception.''
The two teams kept the game close throughout the first half as they traded touchdowns before a hectic final minute. With 49 seconds remaining, Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy snaked through the Gladiators defense for a 2-yard touchdown run that tied the score at 21.
Gladiators' receiver Robert Redd fielded the ensuing kickoff and fumbled on the Gladiators' 15. It was recovered by former Ohio State quarterback and Massillon High School graduate Justin Zwick.
Three plays later, with 26 seconds left in the half, Gladiators defensive back Alphonso Hodge intercepted a Nagy pass in the end zone setting up another Philyaw to Hymes touchdown, their third of the game, three plays later.
The Hodge interception allowed the Gladiators to take a 28-21 halftime lead. Kicker Jason Ball stretched that lead to 10 by kicking an 18-yard field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter. It was a lead the Gladiators would never relinquish.
''Momentum-wise, that was a big play,'' Wilpolt said. ''They get no points out of it and we get that last possession, which was so important coming out in the second half; we had the possession too, so we actually gained a possession on them.''
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: The Gladiators didn't have to look any further than their practice squad to find the boost they needed to get into the Arena Football League playoffs in the team's first year in Cleveland.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
