Carolina expects War against Gladiators
Marc Viquez
Thursday May 9, 2002
“New Jersey has really turned it around already this year,” said Neu, whose team is also 2-1. The last time these two teams met was on June 8 of last season and the result was a 68-22 trouncing by Carolina. However, this year’s Gladiators have not been playing like last season’s 2-12 team.
“I am very happy with the results of the last two games and feel that we are making strides in the right direction,” said Gladiator Head coach Frank Haege, who is in his first year at the helm. “The only way we can be successful is by limiting the number of turnovers and penalties. We need to protect the football and be disciplined.”
The Gladiators have been hit with a lot of penalties during their first three games with 34 for 160 yards. Those three opponents have totaled just 15 penalties for 95 yards.
“We have made too many selfish penalties that we have to clean up,” said Haege who faces a Carolina team that had 17 penalties for 98 yards their first week, but knocked it down to just 4 penalties for 17 yards last week against Tampa Bay.
The Gladiators are on the heels of back-to-back 45-44 wins over Dallas and Orlando and with contributions from all over the field. QB Jay McDonagh was averaging 6-touchdown passes a game, but was limited to just one last weekend, yet still earning his second game MVP.
“Jay is a warrior on the football field and his leadership and determination is evident,” said Haege, who also has received tremendous contributions from another newcomer in WR/DB Dennison Robinson, who picked up back-to-back Ironman of the Game honors. These two men both served under Haege last season in the Arena Football 2 with the Quad City Steamwheelers.
“If it was not for last season in Arena 2 I could not have had adjusted to the Arena Football League,” said Robinson who has one touchdown and interception on the year.
All of the receivers for the Gladiators are very involved in the offense. OS Mike Horacek, OS Alvin Ashley, WR/DB George Williams, OS James Bowden, and Robinson have at least 137 yards receiving. Horacek leads the team with 27 receptions for 233 yards and 5 touchdowns. His transition back to the league after a year off seems to be quite smooth.
Carolina has won a few close games themselves and are led by former Gladiator QB Connell Maynor. Maynor also a strong receiving corps with Carl Bond, Cory Fleming, and Aaron Bailey. The Cobras knocked off the Tampa Bay Storm 46-36 last week and is averaging close to 48-points a game. Clarence Lawson, Bailey and Bond each have a touchdown on kick returns.
Carolina sits in first place in the Southern Division and is 2-0 lifetime against the Gladiators.
A Gladiators’ win would mark a 3-1 record and perhaps a one game lead over the Toronto Phantoms. If the team keeps the yellow flags from flying against them, there might be a large margin of victory.
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.
