New Jersey Faces Unknown Foe in T.O.
Marc Viquez
Saturday July 14, 2001
These two teams are completely different than the ones that met earlier in the season. The Gladiators lost to Toronto 28-25 at home on April 27. The Phantoms had been struggling, until Pat O’Hara went out with a foot injury and Chad Salisbury stepped in three weeks ago. Salisbury’s last two starts have been similar with three touchdowns in each of those wins. Salisbury has been doing his job with three wins over division rivals Carolina, New York, and Buffalo. Toronto is now tied for first place at 6-6 with those three teams. Can you say parity in the division?
Toronto’s offense has also been revitalized since the return of Charlie Davidson from a broken finger. He, along with Salisbury, are big reasons why this team came from 3-6 to a 6-6 record now. Damian Harrell had a nice game last week with 5-receptions, 85-yards, and 1-touchdown. Kerry Brown and Ty Law will round out the targets for Salisbury who has performed nicely for an injured Pat O’Hara.
The Gladiators are fresh off their upset win over Indiana in overtime (their first in almost two months). The team has been looking stronger and more impressive than what their 2-10 record says in the standings. Could the team be meshing together late in the season? “They’re getting to know each other better. They can see their peers and teammates have talent. They’re getting the confidence. We have a good nucleus here,” said Kuharich.
The team has a lot to be confident about after gutsy performances from QB Connell Maynor, WR/LB David Saunders, and WR/DB Coco Blalock. Kuharich says that his leaders on his team are the big guys on the line. “Otis Moore and [Dwayne] Sabb. You have to have a team where your leaders are the big boys, because that’s where it’s won and lost. They’ve done a really good job,” said Kuharich.
New Jersey will face an enigma of a team up in Toronto. The Phantoms are not following expansion rules and have been brutal to opponents lately. New Jersey has some juice now, playing with pride, determination, and without fear. Will the Gladiators be able to win their first road game of the season? “It’s certainly within our grasp. If we can keep doing and improve the things we didn’t do right before,” added Kuharich.
The Gladiators should be in good shape this Saturday night. They want nothing more to end Toronto’s three-game winning streak. New Jersey had won the first six games of this series when Toronto was in New York and Hartford. This well traveled team is on the verge of one of their better seasons and it will be the New Jersey Gladiators in their way of the playoff salvation.
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.
