Gladiators Remain Hot Even In the Bitter Cold
Will Burge
Sunday March 9, 2008
Unlike the opener, Cleveland surrendered the opening touchdown and found themselves trailing 7-0 only three minutes into the game. After Cleveland kicked a field goal on their first drive, Utah was in perfect position to take a comfortable lead early. Any thoughts of a 14-3 lead went right out the window, however, as Joe Germaine was sacked twice, the second of which resulted in a turnover on downs and a Gladiators possession starting on the 19 yard line.
Philyaw threw a beautiful pass to Robert Redd for a touchdown on the first play after the stop. That touchdown gave Cleveland back the lead 9-7 after a missed extra point. Redd finished with seven catches for 105 yards and 3 touchdowns and was voted Ironman of The Game by the media.
The teams traded easy scores as both quarterbacks settled in quite nicely. Germaine was in a groove and made some difficult touch passes for touchdowns in the second quarter.
The momentum swung Cleveland’s way with 3:30 left in the half. Joe Germaine threw an interception to Sakeen Wright, who had a perfect jump on the route, which was returned seven yards for a touchdown. After an extra point the Gladiators led 29-21.
“I was just where coach wanted me to be at on that play. I stepped into the passing lane and held onto it. I told the guys I was going to get (an interception).” Wright said with an ear to ear grin on his face.
The very next series Wright forced a fumble as he punched the ball out of Huey Whittaker’s hands and Cleveland recovered on the Utah 19 yard line. The drive stalled, however, when Otis Amey fumbled at the goal line and Utah recovered in the end zone.
Before the half Utah added a touchdown and two point conversion, and Cleveland made a field goal with time expiring. The score at halftime was 32-29.
Redd made an awesome one handed catch for a touchdown on Cleveland’s first drive in the second half. Jason Ball converted the extra point, which was not an easy task on this particular day, and they led 39-29.
The teams once again traded touchdowns but Gladiators kicker Jason Bell had the extra point blocked. He missed one extra point and had two others blocked, but he did make the pivotal field goal at the end of the first half which eventually was the difference.
Karon Riley picked off Germaine on the next drive and at the end of three quarters Cleveland led 45-36 with the ball at the Utah six yard line.
Philyaw hit Otis Amey, who finished the game with four receptions for 29 yards and 2 second-half touchdowns, on an out route in the end zone and the Gladiators had a 52-36 lead.
“I was kind of disappointed with the way I played in the first half. I’ve got to step up my game and I have to start playing right from the start of the game. I’m never satisfied no matter what happens.” Amey remarked about his slow starts in the first two games.
Later in the quarter, with Utah trailing 59-49, Blaze coach Danny White called for an onside kick. His team recovered and eventually scored, closing the gap to three points.
Utah then tried another onside kick but this time it was unsuccessful. In practice Wednesday the Gladiators spent a lot of time on recovering onside kicks. Apparently it was just enough.
A last second desperation pass from Germaine to Whittaker was stopped at midfield. The Blaze came up just short for a second week in a row and for a second week in a row the Gladiators did just enough.
Joe Germaine finished with 374 yards, eight touchdowns and two costly interceptions, surpassing the 10,000 yard mark for his career in the third quarter. Huey Whittaker had eight receptions for 116 yards and three touchdowns for the Blaze.
“It was a little higher scoring than we anticipated but the good thing is we came out and won the ball game in the end.” Gladiators coach Mike Wilpolt said after the game.
“The defense played a little hot and cold. We gave up some real easy drives and other times we were all over the quarterback and defensive backs were swarming the ball. We have got to get a little more consistent on our defense.”
The brand new franchise in Cleveland won its second game to start a perfect 2-0 in front of 14,675 screaming fans.
“To get two wins in our first two games is real big to us and plus we defended our house here in Cleveland.” Coach Wilpolt said of starting the season 2-0.
The Gladiators did defend their house on Sunday and next week they get a chance to defend their pride in the state of Ohio. They take on the defending National Conference Champion Columbus Destroyers Saturday in Columbus.
Will Burge is a journalism student in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently working at ESPN 850 WKNR which is the flagship station for The Cleveland Gladiators. Will also reports and writes articles for High School Sports in the Greater Cleveland Area. He has been an avid fan of Arena Football for the past four years.
