Gladiators Have to Key on Garcia to Secure Victory
Marc Viquez
Friday June 29, 2001
"They go as Aaron goes. It’s that simple. So we have our work cut out because I believe he is the best quarterback in the league and we have to control him and match him early," said Gladiators coach Lary Kuharich. In other words, the team can’t hand out quick 21-points like they did in their last game against Florida.
New Jersey played their best game the last time out, but that was just one game and who knows what will happen against a New York team. The Dragons have not won on the road this whole season, but the Meadowland`s crowds have been far from intimidating for opposing teams. There also could be a hard-core fanbase from Long Island making the hour and change trip to watch the game. They key, however, is to not let New York light up the scoreboard early in the game.
“The team is working very hard and getting better individually in a lot of ways. As a team collectively, the Florida game showed that we made improvement. I am encouraged that we can get on the winning edge this week and go down the stretch and get some victories,” said Kuharich.
He has reason to be a little more positive towards this meeting as New York has dropped three in a row and his Gladiators team should be healthy and rested off the bye week. The Gladiators had been playing opossum in most of their games this season, but showed true grit coming back to almost pull off victory against Florida.
This time the focus will not be Rickey Foggie, but another former New Jersey quarterback: Garcia. He is on pace to throw over 100 touchdowns in a season and break the league’s single season mark of 92 that Garcia set last season.
I feel Aaron Garcia is the best quarterback in this league. Garcia had six touchdown notches and for 300-yards against Orlando two weeks ago. A 33-point Orlando fourth quarter diminished the chance of a Dragons’ victory and New York collapsed last week versus Toronto. The Gladiators had a similar game when they scored late. The ironic thing is that New York has been able to put points on the board, but not the wins.
“They lost three in a row and at times in those games he wasn’t as sharp as he has been and as a result their defense had to pay the dividends and they lost the game,” said Kuharich. Garcia had eight touchdowns the last time these two teams met and New York had 49-points by the half.
Kevin Swayne will also have to be maintained as he has already grabbed 26 touchdowns for 1250-yards. The Gladiators defense will have to sharpen their blades to stick to a still tempest Dragon team. The Gladiators cannot be put in a situation to let New York back to their winning ways.
Bragging rights will be on the line and a win against such a foe would taste just a bit sweeter. New York is coming off a lost against Toronto, who New Jersey faces next on the schedule, and has been stalled at 4-6. New York is still not out of the playoffs, so there is still something for them to fight for the season. The Gladiators are mired at 1-9, and out of the playoff race, but would love to catch up with their cross-state rivals in the standings come season end. If they want anything like that to happen, it will have to begin Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
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.
