Events Calendar
In This Section
Portage County hospital extending it's reach
Hundreds in Canton for Tea Party
UA program draws science professionals into teaching
Progress reported at troubled landfill
Five years after attack, woman finds her way
High-tech 'heart burn' helps cardiac patients
Most Read Stories
Blogs:
Pets:
Sunburn in canines and felines
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook, New "90210" on DVD
Patrick McManamon:
Another NBA free agent goes to a Cavs competitor
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Wedge assured of job through season
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Free agency: Another One Bites the Dust
All Da King's Men:
The Obligatory Palin Post
Blog of Mass Destruction:
The "Limbaugh Babies"
Akron Law Café:
The Veil and the Burqa – Constitutional to Ban or Restrict?
Varsity Letters:
Highland senior receives honor
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
ID My Bug
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jennifer inquires about a bus tour to Atlantic City
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
Morscruethal Behaviors or Just Lip Service?
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
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
