Cleveland Gladiators Press Release
Dominick Goodman reeled in a season-high five touchdown catches as the Cleveland Gladiators (14-1) defeated the Portland Thunder (4-11) on the strength of a 20-point fourth quarter, winning the first-ever matchup between the two teams 61-40. Gladiators quarterback Shane Austin completed 16 of 23 passes for 221 yards and six touchdowns before a Quicken Loans Arena crowd of 9,840 Saturday night. Thyron Lewis also recorded a touchdown catch, while LaRoche Jackson finished the game with 173 kickoff return yards on six returns, which also included a 56-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter. The Gladiators can clinch first place in the American Conference with a win next Saturday in San Antonio.
Jason Jones plunged into the end zone 2:54 into the contest from a yard out to give the Gladiators an early 7-0 lead. After Portland tied the game later in the quarter on a one-yard score from quarterback Kyle Rowley, Goodman began his run of touchdown catches with just six seconds remaining in the first quarter when Austin found him for a seven-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown gave the Gladiators a 13-7 edge after one quarter, and Goodman notched at least one touchdown in each quarter of the game. Dominic Jones’ first quarter interception was instrumental in the Gladiators holding a lead after the first quarter; Jones’ interception was the first of four the Gladiators defense would register in the game.
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Each team scored just once in a penalty-filled second quarter. With 2:34 left in the frame, Portland’s Douglas McNeil III put the Thunder into the lead for the only time in the game with a four-yard touchdown grab that, after a converted extra point, secured a 14-13 lead for the Thunder. The lead would last just two minutes, as Goodman found the end zone on a two-yard touchdown pass from Austin with 34 seconds left in the second quarter. Goodman’s second receiving touchdown of the game put the Gladiators up 20-14, and another key interception by Jones kept the Gladiators on top as time expired on the first half. Jones finished the game with three interceptions, while Marrio Norman chipped in a team-leading 11th interception of the season. Scoring picked up in the third quarter, and Portland struck first in the second half when Jamar Howard found the end zone on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Rowley 2:50 into the frame. The two teams proceeded to alternate scores throughout the quarter, each having an answer for the other. With the game tied 20-20 following Howard’s touchdown, Goodman was back in the end zone with 10:19 left in the third on a 21-yard pass from Austin to put the Gladiators back in front 27-20. Lewis scored on a 26-yard strike from Austin with 4:15 left in the third, and special teams turned the game in the favor of the Gladiators in the final minute of the third quarter. With the game tied 34-34, Jackson took a kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown, giving the Gladiators a 41-34 lead through three quarters.
The Gladiators outscored Portland 20-6 in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the 61-40 victory. Goodman had touchdown grabs from eight and 11 yards, while Jason Jones had his second rushing touchdown of the game; a four-yarder with1:52 left. Jones finished the game as the Gladiators rushing leader, picking up 27 yards on three attempts, which included a long gain of 22 yards.
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