Friday night the Milwaukee Mustangs (4-11) put up an extraordinary effort against the American Conference East Division first place team the Cleveland Gladiators (9-6). There were twelve lead changes in this exciting battle that ended with the Gladiators on top 62-58.

 

Milwaukee has typically been a very slow starting team. It was a pleasant surprise to see the team not trying to dig themselves out of an early hole. Until the middle of the third quarter the teams exchanged touchdowns to bring the score to 35-28. Cleveland was never in control of this game and was just the team that was able to score last. The biggest lead that Cleveland ever had in this game was 14 points.

 

Newly acquired Arena Football League veteran quarterback Gino Guidugli made his second start with the Mustangs. Guidugli made some very good plays but also had two costly fumbles and one interception. All three turnovers led to Cleveland touchdowns.

 

Milwaukee’s special teams players must be commended on the turnaround that they have made this season. The Mustangs had two huge special teams plays that almost won them the game. Antoine Burns came up with a kickoff that bounced off the left goal post which put the Mustangs on their two yard line. “I told him [Garrett Lindholm] to hit the bar.” Coach Landsee recalled, “He [Lindholm] looked at me and said ’OK’.”

 

Later Landsee had this to say about the recovery “[Burns] was hustling out there. If he got there two yards later that kick would have been out of bounds and it would have been a dead ball.” 

 

The Gladiators came back and scored on the following drive only to have Dwayne Lefall block the field goal attempt which Brand Brinkley ran back for a two point conversion that brought Milwaukee within four points with 1:32 left in the game. 

 

It seemed that the officiating was sub-par. I have not spent much time commenting on the officiating but I feel that in this case I must. Two plays in particular. In one play Victor Williams had made a beautiful catch over the wall for a touchdown. The official claimed that he did not have possession. The replay clearly showed that he made the catch. 

 

Late in the game on a similar play the Gladiators had a second down and 15 yards to go at midfield Kurt Rocco threw pass to the sidelines and ended up over the wall.  The pass was dropped by Troy Bergeron and the official on that side of the field called the pass incomplete only to be overturned by the umpire, who was nowhere near the play, yet felt the need to declare fan interference. There was no fan near enough to the play to impact the catch.  

 

"I get frustrated.” Landsee stated at the risk of being fined by the league, “The umpire made the call and it was not his call to make. Officiating can not make an impact on the game, but tonight they did.” This gave the Gladiators a first and goal at the eight yard line. On the next play Rocco ran it in for the score. Making it 62-58 with three seconds left in the game.

 

 

Offense – C+   

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. On top of the turnovers Milwaukee seemed to have clock management issues. They missed an opportunity for a field goal before the half. On the positive side, Dwayne Eley Jr. had another four touchdown game, the offensive line gave Guidugli plenty of time in the pocket and the receivers made their catches.

 

Defense – B-   

The defense had pressure on Kurt Rocco all evening they recovered one fumble. Antonio Malone made an interception in the end zone that would have been better played if he knocked it away. Cleveland had a fourth and twelve near at Cleveland’s 17 yard line and instead of getting the ball there they got the ball at their own three yard line.

 

Special Teams – A    

What else needs to be said? A blocked field goal returned for 2 points and a kickoff recovered off the iron, that pretty much speaks for itself. 

 

Milwaukee will travel to New Orleans to take on the Voodoo (3-12) on July 8^th before their last home game on July 16^th against the Iowa Barnstormers (4-11).

Jeff Sawatzke began writing for ArenaFan.com in 2011. Jeff has lived in the Milwaukee area his entire life; he is currently living in Germantown, Wisconsin. Jeff works for a local dialysis provider as the Information Technology Director. Jeff is married to Melissa and has one daughter. Jeff has been a fan of the Milwaukee Mustangs and the Milwaukee Iron for many years.