Las Vegas Struggles but Wins Finale
Scott Miller
Wednesday May 21, 2003
Since head coach Frank Haege once again replaced McDonagh with Hammel during a game, he was asked about the quarterback situation heading into the playoffs.
“I don’t know. Jay’s (McDonagh) got a thumb injury and that’s why he was throwing some of the balls he did. We knew it might be a problem in the game. I knew I would give him the first half and kind of reevaluate after I saw him. We will probably see how this week’s practice goes, see how his thumb goes and go from there.”
McDonagh’s injury had not previously been revealed.
Buffalo led 21-20 at halftime and had a 38-27 lead at the end of the third quarter. Las Vegas responded with 28 unanswered points to win the game. Haege commented on the comeback, “When you get teams at this level, both teams have enough talent (to win). All it takes is a play or two for momentum to go either way. That’s what you saw tonight.”
Haege was asked about playing Arizona in the first round after losing a close game to them earlier this year, “I mismanaged the clock at the end of that game. I am excited to get back down there and have another shot at them. Last year, we played them the last game of the regular season and we lost by one play, basically (sic). It’s been a good series even though we’re 0-2 the last two years.”
Las Vegas (11) will play the Rattlers (6) in Arizona on Sunday at 3PM EDT (the game will be broadcast on NBC). The Gladiators had clinched a playoff berth before the game while Buffalo had been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in week fifteen. If Las Vegas had lost, they would have faced the number five seed Dallas Desperados in Dallas.
Milestones
This final regular season game also saw two individual milestones. Las Vegas DB Damon Mason became the third player in AFL history to achieve 500 career tackles. Only Barry Wagner (602.5) and Darryl Hammond (554.5) are ahead of him.
Damon was delighted to achieve the mark at home, “(To do this) the last game, at home, in Las Vegas, with my family in town, it was a blessing.”
Buffalo DS Dwaine Carpenter set the Destroyers’ season tackles record with 81, only to be passed later in the game by DS JoJo Polk who finished the game with 86.5 tackles. Polk finished the season fifth in the league (Donvetis Franklin of the New York Dragons was number one with 93.5).
Scott Miller is a professional computer geek and talk show host in Las Vegas. His show is streamed live from klav120am.com on Fridays at 8PM. Archives of his show, The Usual Suspects can be found at his website.
