|
at
|
|
March 27, 2015
TAMPA BAY -- The Cleveland Gladiators (1-0) defeated the Tampa Bay Storm (0-1), 60-44, in front of 9,727 fans at AMALIE Arena in Tampa on Friday night.
The defending American Conference champions took advantage of a handful of Tampa Bay mistakes to win their ninth straight regular season contest. Gladiators defensive back Joe Phinisee earned Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors after collecting a pair of fumble recoveries -- one for a touchdown --to go along with an interception, while fellow "No Fly Zone" member Dominic Jones led the team with a game-high 11 tackles and eight pass breakups. Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, Cleveland quarterback Shane Austin, finished the night with 221 passing yards and seven touchdowns through the air.
Cleveland wide receiver Dominick Goodman hauled in the first touchdown reception of the new season midway through the first quarter to give the Gladiators an early lead; however, the Storm responded with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive, as quarterback Jason Boltus found Jarvis Williams for a 19-yard score to even the game at seven. Turnovers would then prove costly for the Storm, as the Gladiators were able to capitalize on three Tampa Bay fumbles to pull ahead 25-7 early in the second quarter.
Tampa Bay began to settle down by the midway point of the second, scoring on back-to-back drives and cutting Cleveland's lead to four before a pair of Cleveland touchdowns in the final 19 second of the half put the Gladiators a comfortable distance ahead once again, heading into the locker room with a 39-21 lead.
A defensive struggle broke out in the third quarter, with both teams able to muster only a touchdown apiece. Former Storm wide receiver Amarri Jackson hauled in a 20-yard pass from Austin with five minutes to play in the period, while Tampa was able to answer with just more than a minute left in the quarter in the form of a T.T. Toliver 29-yard reception. Toliver, who garnered J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors, surpassed Arena Football Hall of Famer "Touchdown" Eddie Brown for fourth place in AFL history with 12,816 career receiving yards.
Each team scored twice in the final frame, with Amarri Jackson starting the action early on a 23-yard touchdown grab 30 seconds into the fourth. Boltus and the Storm countered by finding Toliver for a 25-yard touchdown pass, Toliver's third score of the night. The Glads found the end zone one last time on the night as Austin would find Collin Taylor for a four-yard touchdown. The catch was Taylor's second touchdown grab on the night. Tampa Bay capped off the scoring for the game when Boltus found Jarvis Williams for a three-yard score with 48 seconds left.
Boltus completed 30-of-55 passes for 383 yards and six touchdowns with one interception in Storm debut. Toliver finished the night with a game-high 12 catches for 161 yards and three scores, while Williams was right behind with 11 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
MEDIA AWARDS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Shane Austin Cleveland
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: Joe Phinisee, Cleveland
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: T.T. Toliver, Tampa Bay
Cutters Catch of the Game: Collin Taylor, Cleveland, one-handed two-point conversion (2nd)
AFL Highlight of the Game: Amarri Jackson, Cleveland, second touchdown catch (4th)
TAMPA BAY -- The Cleveland Gladiators (1-0) defeated the Tampa Bay Storm (0-1), 60-44, in front of 9,727 fans at AMALIE Arena in Tampa on Friday night.
The defending American Conference champions took advantage of a handful of Tampa Bay mistakes to win their ninth straight regular season contest. Gladiators defensive back Joe Phinisee earned Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors after collecting a pair of fumble recoveries -- one for a touchdown --to go along with an interception, while fellow "No Fly Zone" member Dominic Jones led the team with a game-high 11 tackles and eight pass breakups. Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, Cleveland quarterback Shane Austin, finished the night with 221 passing yards and seven touchdowns through the air.
Cleveland wide receiver Dominick Goodman hauled in the first touchdown reception of the new season midway through the first quarter to give the Gladiators an early lead; however, the Storm responded with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive, as quarterback Jason Boltus found Jarvis Williams for a 19-yard score to even the game at seven. Turnovers would then prove costly for the Storm, as the Gladiators were able to capitalize on three Tampa Bay fumbles to pull ahead 25-7 early in the second quarter.
Tampa Bay began to settle down by the midway point of the second, scoring on back-to-back drives and cutting Cleveland's lead to four before a pair of Cleveland touchdowns in the final 19 second of the half put the Gladiators a comfortable distance ahead once again, heading into the locker room with a 39-21 lead.
A defensive struggle broke out in the third quarter, with both teams able to muster only a touchdown apiece. Former Storm wide receiver Amarri Jackson hauled in a 20-yard pass from Austin with five minutes to play in the period, while Tampa was able to answer with just more than a minute left in the quarter in the form of a T.T. Toliver 29-yard reception. Toliver, who garnered J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors, surpassed Arena Football Hall of Famer "Touchdown" Eddie Brown for fourth place in AFL history with 12,816 career receiving yards.
Each team scored twice in the final frame, with Amarri Jackson starting the action early on a 23-yard touchdown grab 30 seconds into the fourth. Boltus and the Storm countered by finding Toliver for a 25-yard touchdown pass, Toliver's third score of the night. The Glads found the end zone one last time on the night as Austin would find Collin Taylor for a four-yard touchdown. The catch was Taylor's second touchdown grab on the night. Tampa Bay capped off the scoring for the game when Boltus found Jarvis Williams for a three-yard score with 48 seconds left.
Boltus completed 30-of-55 passes for 383 yards and six touchdowns with one interception in Storm debut. Toliver finished the night with a game-high 12 catches for 161 yards and three scores, while Williams was right behind with 11 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
MEDIA AWARDS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Shane Austin Cleveland
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: Joe Phinisee, Cleveland
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: T.T. Toliver, Tampa Bay
Cutters Catch of the Game: Collin Taylor, Cleveland, one-handed two-point conversion (2nd)
AFL Highlight of the Game: Amarri Jackson, Cleveland, second touchdown catch (4th)
No comments:
Post a Comment