Brigade Look For Third-Straight Win Over Cleveland This Friday

Thursday June 15, 2017

 Carden, Talley look to stay hot in road matchup with Gladiators

The Brigade are on the road this weekend, taking on the Cleveland Gladiators on Fri., June 16 at 7 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena. Baltimore is coming off its third bye week of the season while Cleveland is looking to bounce back from a 59-49 loss to the league-leading Philadelphia Soul. Each of the Brigade’s two wins this season have come against Cleveland. Baltimore topped the Gladiators, 52-49, in Week 2 in Cleveland and again at home during Week 8, 63-60.

“We have been fortunate enough to win two games against a really good team,” said Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith. “Even though it was two wins, it could have gone either way. We have to play a lot better to win this time. They’re a really good team. They’re playing better. We have our work cut out. It’s going to come down to the last possession. When we play Cleveland, it comes down to the last possession.”

BRIGADE PLAYER TO WATCH: WR JULIAN TALLEY – Second-year WR Julian Talley and rookie QB Shane Carden have emerged as one of the league’s most prolific pairings this season. Carden, who has thrown for at least five touchdowns in every game since Week 2, has connected with Talley for 22 catches, 406 yards and nine touchdowns in the team’s last four outings. Talley is one of three receivers in the league to string together four-straight weeks with at least two touchdowns (Hills, TB; Reynolds, PHI). In the Brigade’s last matchup with Cleveland, Talley gathered five receptions for 81 yards and a pair of scores.

GLADIATORS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB ARVELL NELSON – The Cleveland offense, which has scored a league high 479 points, is led by QB Arvell Nelson, who ranks second in nearly every major passing statistic, leads the AFL in rushing yards and ranks third in total touchdowns.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: SPECIAL TEAMS – With each of the teams’ previous matchups decided by such small margins, special teams have a chance to serve as the difference-maker in Friday’s matchup. Cleveland leads the league with three kickoff return touchdowns this season and ranks second in yards per kickoff return. The Brigade rank second with two kickoff return touchdowns this season.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: Friday night’s game will be broadcast live on Monumental Sports Network and Twitter.