Gladiators Top Las Vegas 63-44
Sunday June 7, 2015
CLEVELAND - Joe Phinisee returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the second half to help the Cleveland Gladiators (6-5) secure a 63-44 road win over the Las Vegas Outlaws (3-7) Sunday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Phinisee leads the Gladiators in interceptions with four on the season, as the Gladiators snapped a two-game losing skid. Quarterback Shane Austin accounted for six total touchdowns, five of which were through the air. Dominick Goodman had two receiving touchdowns, while Amarri Jackson, Thyron Lewis, and Collin Taylor posted one each. The Gladiators finish their two-game road trip on Friday with a game against the New Orleans VooDoo that begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and airs live on 92.3 The Fan.
Austin found Goodman on a six-yard touchdown pass and Lewis on an eight-yard touchdown pass to help the Gladiators to a 14-0 lead through one quarter. Las Vegas turned the tables in the second quarter as they were jumpstarted by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Sean Brackett to Jomo Wilson 1:39 into the second frame. Overall, the Outlaws outscored the Gladiators 31-15 in the second quarter, and thanks to a 30-yard field goal from Ernesto Lacayo as the first half expired, Las Vegas took a 31-29 lead into the halftime break. Two of the Gladiators biggest plays of the game, however, led to second quarter points. Defensive lineman Mike Alston sacked Brackett with 50 seconds left in the half for a Safety, and Amarri Jackson posted a 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the half. Overall, Jackson finished the game with 199 kickoff return yards.
The Gladiators took control of the game in the third quarter. Leading 36-31 after a five-yard, one-handed touchdown catch by Jackson, Phinisee intercepted a Brackett pass in the middle of the field and returned the turnover 13 yards for a touchdown, extending the Gladiators lead to 42-31. The Gladiators added three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by Phinisee with 21 seconds remaining to help the Gladiators to a 63-44 advantage.
The Gladiators visit New Orleans Friday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern; a game that airs live on 92.3 The Fan.
NOTES: The Gladiators and Outlaws meet just one time all season, and Sunday’s game was the first-ever meeting between the two teams… The Outlaws offense was 0-5 on third down and 0-3 on fourth down… The Gladiators were 6-7 scoring in the red zone… Fred Shaw led the Gladiators with five tackles in the game… The Gladiators possessed the ball for 33:55, and Las Vegas held the ball for 26:05… Follow the Gladiators on Twitter @CLEGladiators, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandgladiators, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/clevelandgladiators.
