Predators trounce Gladiators 69-34
Sunday April 29, 2007
LAS VEGAS, NV—Shane Stafford hit 17 of 20 passes for 255 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Orlando Predators to a 69-34 win over Las Vegas. The win, Orlando’s third straight, upped their record to 5-3 and moved them into third place in the National Conference playoff race.
“We didn’t finish like I wanted to, but we played great in the first three quarters,” Orlando Head Coach Jay Gruden said. “Our offense really played well tonight and we hit some things we thought would be open.”
Orlando dominated the first half, coming up with six defensive stops and building a 41-0 lead at the half. From there, Orlando would take leads of 48-7 and 62-13. Gruden took Stafford out of the game after the third quarter and let back-up Jake Eaton mop-up.
“It’s about time I had a game like this,” Stafford said. “Our offensive line was awesome, I really only got hit one time.” Stafford’s 85% completion percentage was the third best in Predators history. He hit 14 of his first 15 in the game.
Orlando needed little time to jump on top in the game. After recording a defensive stop on Las Vegas’ first offensive possession, Stafford went up top on Orlando’s first offensive play of the game and hit Clif Dell on a 45-yard touchdown pass to give the Predators a 7-0 lead at the 9:13 mark of the first quarter.
After a second missed field goal attempt, Stafford needed just two passes to make it a 14-0 – hitting Ron Johnson on a 13-yard completion before connecting with Javarus Dudley on a deep crossing route for a 28-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Orlando extended the lead to 21-0 at the 8:51 mark. The Predators defensive backs forced a turnover and fullback Marlon Moye-Moore capped a 39-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
Dell would then make it a 27-0 lead at the 1:00 mark on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stafford. Ryan Bowers set up the touchdown when he stripped Thabiti Davis of the ball after a completion and Lin-J Shell recovered for the Predators second turnover of the game.
The Predators came up with a fifth defensive stop of the first half – holding Las Vegas on downs. With 30 seconds remaining in the half, Stafford directed a short 18-yard touchdown drive that ended on Moye-Moore’s second rushing touchdown of the game to make it a 34-0 lead with just three seconds remaining.
Orlando piled on to the lead on their first possession of the second half. After an illegal defense gave Orlando a first down on its own 11, Stafford found Dudley on a 39-yard touchdown pass to make it 41-0 at the 13:33 mark of the third period.
Las Vegas finally got on the board at the 11:14 mark when Brian Jones hit former Predator Joe Douglass on a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it a 41-17 game. But on the ensuing on-sides kick attempt, an off-sides call set Orlando up on the nine-yard line. Stafford needed just one play to hit Johnson on a 9-yard slant for a 48-7 lead.
The Gladiators tacked on a second touchdown in the third when Jones hit former Predators wide receiver Thabiti Davis on a 3-yard scoring play on fourth down to make it 48-13.
Orlando’s offense converted a couple of third downs on its next possession, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dell to make it 55-13 at 1:23 left in the third.
For the game, Dell led all receivers with 113 yards and three touchdowns on six receptions. Newcomer Johnson had seven receptions for 59 yards and one score. Dudley had 83 yards and two touchdowns on four receptions.
