Gladiators D-Line Showing some Success Despite Record
Marc Viquez
Thursday June 7, 2001
Dawyne Sabb and Otis Moore have been playing nemesis on opposing teams’ offense, and after holding Buffalo to just 17-points in the 1st half of last weeks’ game, there was reason to smile going into the locker room. Sabb, Moore, and the rest of their entourage recovered two fumbles and took away an easy touchdown drive for Buffalo as well. “Our front standouts were Dwayne Sabb and Otis Moore. Unfortunately we lost the game, but if we won that game, Sabb gets the game ball because he was really teeing it up. Otis stood out also. He was pushing the pocket and he was heads up on two fumble recoveries”, said Gladiators’ coach Lary Kuharich.
Sabb, a Jersey City native, has been shining during his first year with the team this season, spending the winter playing nearby at Giants Stadium with the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the now defunct XFL. Sabb also has NFL experience as he played with New England from 1992-1996. He has so far made an impression on Kuharich, recording 2 sacks in a row against Buffalo. “He is very coach-able; very eager. He wants to succeed and he wants the team to succeed”, added Kuharich on his OL/DL star. Sabb recorded 1 tackle and 1 pass defended during the Buffalo game. The former University of New Hampshire product also recorded 1 tackle, a force fumble, and hurried Detroit’s Scott Semptimphelter three times for two sacks in the teams’ lone victory this season.
Otis Moore has been standing out just as well as his partner in crime Sabb with a busy night against Buffalo. The AFL veteran of 8 seasons, his first with the Gladiators, had one sack and two fumble recoveries. Moore has also served on the other side of the ball as he has 3 receptions for 30 yards this season. Moore had 9 receptions for 210-yards and 4 touchdowns last year as a member of the New Jersey Red Dogs. Moore came into the league with the Charlotte Rage in 1994, and has played for the New York Cityhawks and New England Sea*Wolves.
The team sacked Buffalo’s James Kubiak four times for a total of 26-yards loss, and look to do the same this weekend against a Charlotte team that has been averaging 53-points a season and stand at 4-3. If the offense and defense click together down in North Carolina you may see something like the Detroit game a distant memory ago. The Gladiators look for their 2nd win of the year and their first road win in franchise history.
A 1-8 record is not want anybody wants in New Jersey, but with Moore and Sabb around Charlotte will have earn a win.
A fan of the sport since 1990 Marc has covered both the New Jersey Gladiators and Cincinnati Swarm (Af2) for Arenafan Online. Marc now resides in Indianapolis after graduating with a Masters in Sports Management from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. When not at a Firebirds game Marc can be found traveling the Midwest covering sports for various Internet and print publications.
