Arena Football: Cleveland Gladiators Crushed by Colorado

The Cleveland Gladiators returned home to Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night, taking on the Colorado Crush.  The Gladiators, fresh off a loss at Dallas, and riding a two game losing streak, really needed this home win, as the upcoming schedule was not easy to say the least. 

Downtown Cleveland was a flurry of activity.  The Indians also played the A’s next door at Progressive Field.  That meant Gladiators’ fans were treated to Major League Baseball parking prices as well as a double Cleveland loss.

The Gladiators dropped to 3-3 due to poor tackling and two interceptions in a row by Raymond Philyaw. Cleveland lost 69-66.   It was the team's first home loss of the season.  The Gladiators will go back on the road for two games starting next week. 

Recent acquisition Willis Marshall had a promising first game with Cleveland, although it seemed emerging star Robert Redd was left out of the game plan because of Marshall.

Looking back on the stats, Redd really wasn’t MIA.  He tallied nine catches for 100 yards to Marshall’s seven catches for 92 yards.  It just seemed he had disappeared from the offense for some reason.  

Cleveland opened the scoring on a 13-yard pass from Philyaw to Otis Amey.  They made it 14-0 on another 13-yard pass from Philyaw to Amey with 7:20 to go in the first quarter.  All told, Amey caught nine passes for 123 yards and six touchdowns.  He had a great game in the loss.  Philyaw threw for 316 yards and seven TDs.  It would have been a huge night for him but for the two costly interceptions.

Colorado bit back on a 23-yard strike from QB John Dutton to Willie Quinnie, reducing their deficit to 14-7.  The Gladiators kicked an 18-yard field goal after a Colorado defensive stop, and it was 17-7.

The opening of the second quarter did not take Colorado long to pull to within three on a 16-yarder from Dutton to Ben Nelson.  Cleveland came right back with Marlion Jackson capping a seven-play drive with a three-yard run, giving the Gladiators a 24-14 lead.

The Crush made it 24-21 after poor tackling allowed Thomas to rip off a 34-yard run to the Cleveland six. 

The Gladiators got the first interception of the evening, picking off Dutton after they were held and missed a field goal attempt.  Philyaw went to Amey for the score, making it 31-21.

Inexplicably, the Gladiators tried an onside kick with 1:16 left in the half.  Colorado recovered, and two plays later made it 31-28.  That left 51 seconds for the Gladiators to dive the length of the field.  I guess the Crush thought they owed Cleveland a favor, and they onside kicked it right back. 

t’s not like the last minute already lasts long enough in Arena Football, but both teams were trying to extend that time.  The Gladiators took one play on a pass in the back of the end-zone to Amey, putting themselves up 38-28.

The last half-minute was not wasted by Colorado.  The Crush drove down the field, coming up five yards short and settling for a field goal to end the half.  The Gladiators led 38-31.

The third quarter opened with a Colorado touchdown drive, culminating in a 38-38 tie. 

Cleveland drove right back down the field, putting themselves back up by seven on a two yard run by Jackson.  In a back-and-forth quarter, Colorado evened it up at 45. 

The Gladiators opened it up to 52-45, but the Crush tied it right back up 52-52.  The quarter actually ended without another score! 

The score-fest took an ugly turn for the Gladiators.  Philyaw threw into double coverage on a third and six.  The Crush picked it off just inside the end zone for a touchback.  That play might have been the game the way things were going.  If Colorado scored there, they’d have the upper hand.  They opened up their first lead of the night, 59-52.

The next offensive series yielded yet another interception by Philyaw.  It certainly looked like the Elway curse was alive and well in Cleveland.

The defense came up huge, stopping the Crush offense and holding them to a field goal.  With two minutes to go, it was a 62-52 lead by the Crush.  Cleveland took the kickoff to the four, giving them a long field.  Robert Redd made a great one handed grab and broke a tackle, racing 35 yards down to the 10.  Redd scored one play later, and with a minute to go the Gladiators were down by three. 

Amey earned player of the game honors for his five-touchdown performance.  The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Crush.  In Arena Fotball world, time stands still the last minute.  The defense needed a hold.   If they forced Colorado into a field goal, the Gladiators might have a chance to pull this one out from the throes of defeat.  No such luck.  The Crush scored, making it 69-59 and the crowd headed for the exits.

That wasn’t necessarily the right move.  Philyaw hooked up with Amey on the long ball.  Amey was tackled at the two yard line with 31.9 seconds left.  A quick score right back to Amey, and the Gladiators were once again down by three, 69-66. 

Obviously an onside kick was coming.  Once again, the Crush recovered.  The onside kick was lame all night; Cleveland had no chance of recovery. First and ten from the twelve was a rushing play, and the Gladiators used their last time out.  One more running play ended the game.  The Gladiators dropped to 3-3 on the season.   

Offensive player of the game – Otis Amey.

Defensive play of the game – Colorado’s Rashad Floyd. 

The game lasted two hours and 40 minutes.