cleveland gladiators staff directory · cleveland gladiators note: depth chart is subject to...

Cleveland Gladiators Staff Directory

Ownership

Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Minority Owner/Vice Chairman Nate Forbes

Minority Owner/Vice Chairman Jeff Cohen

Executives

CEO, Cavaliers / Quicken Loans Arena Len Komoroski

President Kerry Bubolz

COO/Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations Mike Ostrowski

Communications/Digital

VP of Marketing/Communications Pam Frasco

Mgr. of Broadcast Services &

Team Communications/Play-by-Play Announcer Tony Brown

Communications Coordinator Jeff Elston

Digital Producers Spencer Lee

Josie Janavicius

Sales & Service

VP of Franchise Development Alan Mowrey

Director of Ticket Sales and Service Matt Kalister

Client Event & Member Benefits Manager Celena Zevnik

Manager of Membership Activation Kim Scercy

Membership Activation Representatives Ryan Caler

Kristen Krasinskas

Grace Ferut

Gladiators Group Event Specialist/Youth Football Specialist, Ticket Sales Joe Kummerl

Gladiators Group Event Specialist Gina Wall

Business Development Specialist, Ticket Sales Kent Petrunger

Manager, Youth Sports and Group Sales Dave Aitken

Group Event Specialists Jessica Kelly

Senior Premium Sales Executive Mike DeAngelo

Corporate Partnerships

Director of Corporate Partnership Sales and Service Greg Prymicz

Account Managers Mike Sedlak

Mike Sansone

Craig Frederick

Corporate Sales Development Bruce Burge

Corporate Partnership Activation Specialist Matt Sharp

Broadcast Services

VP, Broadcasting Dave Dombrowski

Producer/Editor Scott Smoot

Director of Engineering Joe Frietchen

Engineering Managers Ken Barski

Stacy Knox

Broadcast Manager/Traffic Ryan Banks

Marketing and Game Presentation

VP of Marketing & Communications Pam Frasco

Sr. Director of Game Presentation Matt Bettinger

Marketing/Community Relations Coordinator Ben Adams

Marketing/Advertising Coordinator Noah Volz

Manager of Video Graphics A.J. Johnson

Manager of Production Matt Eck

Production Coordinators Mark Zaremba

Coree Miracola

Senior Producer Paul Mazzoleni

Producers Chris Thomas

Alison Cole

Gameday and Metadata Manager Tim Long

Production Assistant Erik Shear

In-Arena Host/Special Projects Coordinator Ahmaad Crump

P.A. Announcer Ryan Pritt

Graphic Design

Graphic Designers Blaine Fridrick

Nick Prost

Medical Staff

Team Dentist D. Todd Russell, DDS

NEO Spine and Sport Dr. Tim Keyes

Center for Orthopedics, Medical Orthopedist Harkeet Sandhu, MD

Center for Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgeons Daniel J. Zanotti, MD

John K. Krebs, MD

Robert J. Berkowitz, MD

Robert M. Zanotti, MD

William B. Stanfield, MD

David G. Marsh Jr. MD

Team Physician Scott Singer, MD

Week Nineteen Schedule

Playoffs: First Round

Saturday, August 6th

Jacksonville at Orlando – 7:00 p.m.

Portland at Arizona – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 7th

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia – 6:00 p.m.

Cleveland at Los Angeles – 6:00 p.m.

2016 AFL STANDINGS

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Team W-L PF-PA PCT. Conference Home Away Philadelphia 13-3 983-776 .813 6-2 7-1 6-2

Orlando 12-4 893-781 .750 5-3 6-2 6-2

Jacksonville 7-9 835-774 .438 4-3 3-5 4-4

Tampa Bay 2-14 568-868 .125 0-8 2-6 0-8

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Team W-L PF-PA PCT. Conference Home Away Arizona 13-3 1068-766 .813 8-0 8-0 5-3

Los Angeles 7-9 736-748 .438 4-4 5-4 2-5

Cleveland 7-9 826-934 .438 2-4 4-4 3-5

Portland 3-13 670-932 .188 1-7 3-4 0-9

2016 CLEVELAND GLADIATORS

TEAM ROSTER- ALPHABETICAL

# POS NAME HT WT DOB COLLEGE HOMETOWN

10 WR Beavers, Larry 5’11 180 10/07/85 Wesley Annapolis, MD

69 OL Brandel, D.J. 6’5 305 03/15/91 Chapman Villa Park, CA

96 DL Colling, Randy 6’5 325 11/06/92 Gannon Arcade, NY

78 OL Jasperse, Chris 6’4 300 04/04/91 Marshall Greensboro, NC

22 DL Keoshian, Collin 6’3 260 04/10/91 Illinois State Santa Clarita, CA

11 DL Koroma, Abe 6’3 300 05/01/88 Western Illinois Hershey, PA

6 WR Lewis, Thyron 6'4 205 11/25/82 Howard Inglewood, CA

74 OL Madsen, Joe 6’3 315 09/01/89 West Virginia Chardon, OH

44 OL Manley, Phillip-Keith 6’4 340 05/07/90 Toledo Hamilton, OH

2 QB Nelson, Arvell 6’5 225 09/27/88 Texas Southern Cleveland, OH

15 QB Panasuk, Stephen 6’2 210 01/19/89 La Salle Jackson, NJ

20 DB Phinisee, Joe 5’10 190 01/06/86 Walsh Warren, OH

21 DB Powell, Joe 6’2 205 02/25/94 Globe Tech Portsmouth, VA

9 DB Rodgers, Kelvin 6’1 180 06/26/87 Minnesota State East St. Louis, IL

4 DB Ross, Marvin 5’11 180 05/11/90 Florida A&M Jacksonville, FL

99 DL Seither, Nick 6’3 275 03/02/93 Georgetown Hamilton, OH

18 WR Sims, Quentin 6’3 205 07/11/90 Tennessee-Martin Cincinnati, OH

66 OL Somsel, Jesse 6’4 315 06/25/91 Saginaw Valley State Rockford, MI

1 DB Stephens, Brandon 5’11 210 12/04/87 Miami, OH Strongsville, OH

72 OL Sterling, Aslam 6’4 315 08/20/92 Kansas Springfield Garden, WI

17 WR Taylor, Collin 6’1 195 02/28/87 Indiana Carmel, IN

19 K Trevino, Adrian 5’11 190 01/02/88 Missouri Valley Merced, CA

13 WR Wilson, Devin 6'2 205 10/13/90 Tennessee State Nashville, TN

93 DL Young, Curtis 6’1 270 01/08/87 Cincinnati Cleveland, OH

INACTIVE

33 MLB Brikowski, Brian 6’5 265 02/11/89 Monmouth Freehold, NJ

70 OL Burkland, Skyler 6’7 315 10/10/91 Michigan State Sunbury, OH

8 DL Dunning, Isiah 6'3 285 05/09/92 Grand Valley State Ravenna, MI

-- WR Holt, Josiah 5’9 170 07/10/92 Baldwin Wallace Elyria, OH

3 DB Robinson, Demarcus 6’2 200 06/03/86 Henderson State Tyler, TX

75 FB Schofield, Chad 6’4 315 12/19/87 Marshall Strongsville, OH

COACHING STAFF

Steve Thonn – Head Coach

Ron Selesky – Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Mike Smith – Head Line Coach

Dominic Jones – Defensive Backs Coach

Jeff Lambert-Shemo – Head Athletic Trainer

Aimee Cline – Assistant Athletic Trainer

Mike Buchanan – Head Equipment Manager

Giovanni DiSiena – Assistant Equipment Manager

Jordan Smith – Video Coordinator

Brent Overholt – Football Operations Assistant

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Chad SCHOFIELD (Sko-field)

Steve THONN (TUNN)

THYRON Lewis (THA-ron)

Collin KEOSHIAN (KEY-o-shee-in)


TEAM ROSTER- NUMERICAL

# POS NAME HT WT DOB COLLEGE HOMETOWN

1 DB Stephens, Brandon 5’11 210 12/04/87 Miami, OH Strongsville, OH

2 QB Nelson, Arvell 6’5 225 09/27/88 Texas Southern Cleveland, OH

4 DB Ross, Marvin 5’11 180 05/11/90 Florida A&M Jacksonville, FL

6 WR Lewis, Thyron 6'4 205 11/25/82 Howard Inglewood, CA

9 DB Rodgers, Kelvin 6’1 180 06/26/87 Minnesota State East St. Louis, IL

10 WR Beavers, Larry 5’11 180 10/07/85 Wesley Annapolis, MD

11 DL Koroma, Abe 6’3 300 05/01/88 Western Illinois Hershey, PA

13 WR Wilson, Devin 6'2 205 10/13/90 Tennessee State Nashville, TN

15 QB Panasuk, Stephen 6’2 210 01/19/89 La Salle Jackson, NJ

17 WR Taylor, Collin 6’1 195 02/28/87 Indiana Carmel, IN

18 WR Sims, Quentin 6’3 205 07/11/90 Tennessee-Martin Cincinnati, OH

19 K Trevino, Adrian 5’11 190 01/02/88 Missouri Valley Merced, CA

20 DB Phinisee, Joe 5’10 190 01/06/86 Walsh Warren, OH

21 DB Powell, Joe 6’2 205 02/25/94 Globe Tech Portsmouth, VA

22 DL Keoshian, Collin 6’3 260 04/10/91 Illinois State Santa Clarita, CA

44 OL Manley, Phillip-Keith 6’4 340 05/07/90 Toledo Hamilton, OH

66 OL Somsel, Jesse 6’4 315 06/25/91 Saginaw Valley State Rockford, MI

69 OL Brandel, D.J. 6’5 305 03/15/91 Chapman Villa Park, CA

72 OL Sterling, Aslam 6’4 315 08/20/92 Kansas Springfield Garden, WI

74 OL Madsen, Joe 6’3 315 09/01/89 West Virginia Chardon, OH

78 OL Jasperse, Chris 6’4 300 04/04/91 Marshall Greensboro, NC

93 DL Young, Curtis 6’1 270 01/08/87 Cincinnati Cleveland, OH

96 DL Colling, Randy 6’5 325 11/06/92 Gannon Arcade, NY

99 DL Seither, Nick 6’3 275 03/02/93 Georgetown Hamilton, OH

INACTIVE

3 DB Robinson, Demarcus 6’2 200 06/03/86 Henderson State Tyler, TX

8 DL Dunning, Isiah 6'3 285 05/09/92 Grand Valley State Ravenna, MI

33 MLB Brikowski, Brian 6’5 265 02/11/89 Monmouth Freehold, NJ

70 OL Burkland, Skyler 6’7 315 10/10/91 Michigan State Sunbury, OH

75 FB Schofield, Chad 6’4 315 12/19/87 Marshall Strongsville, OH

-- WR Holt, Josiah 5’9 170 07/10/92 Baldwin Wallace Elyria, OH

COACHING STAFF

Steve Thonn – Head Coach

Ron Selesky – Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Mike Smith – Head Line Coach

Dominic Jones – Defensive Backs Coach

Jeff Lambert-Shemo – Head Athletic Trainer

Aimee Cline – Assistant Athletic Trainer

Mike Buchanan – Head Equipment Manager

Giovanni DiSiena – Assistant Equipment Manager

Jordan Smith - Video Coordinator

Brent Overholt – Football Operations Assistant

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Chad SCHOFIELD (Sko-field)

Steve THONN (TUNN)

THYRON Lewis (THA-ron)

Collin KEOSHIAN (KEY-o-shee-in)

2016 TEAM DEPTH CHART

CLEVELAND GLADIATORS

Note: Depth chart is subject to change.

GLADIATORS OFFENSE

QB 2 NELSON 15 Panasuk

FB 44 MANLEY 78 Jasperse

WR 18 SIMS 13 Wilson

WR 17 TAYLOR 13 Wilson

WR 10 BEAVERS

OL 69 BRANDEL 72 Sterling

OL 74 MADSEN 78 Jasperse

OL 66 SOMSEL 72 Sterling

GLADIATORS SPECIAL TEAMS

K 19 TREVINO

H 2 NELSON

LS 74 MADSEN

KR 10 BEAVERS

GLADIATORS DEFENSE

DE 11 KOROMA 99 Seither

DE 22 KEOSHIAN 99 Seither

NG 96 COLLING 11 Koroma

MLB 93 DUNNING

JLB 20 PHINISEE

DB 4 ROSS 20 Phinisee

DB 21 POWELL

DB 9 RODGERS

GLADIATORS INJURED RESERVE (INACTIVE)

DB 3 Robinson

DL 8 Dunning

MLB 33 Brikowski

OL 70 Burkland

FB 75 Schofield

WR -- Holt

Combined Team Statistics

RECORD: OVERALL HOME AWAY NEUTRAL ALL GAMES (7-9) (4-4) (3-5) (0-0) CONFERENCE (2-3) (1-2) (1-1) (0-0) NON-CONFERENCE (5-6) (3-2) (2-4) (0-0)

DATE OPPONENT W/L SCORE ATTEND

------------ ------------------------ --- ----- ------

Apr 01, 2016 PHILADELPHIA SOUL L 41-69 12944

Apr 09, 2016 TAMPA BAY STORM W 41-29 11892

Apr 16, 2016 LA KISS L 42-47 12243

Apr 23, 2016 at Philadelphia Soul L 50-67 7057

Apr 29, 2016 ORLANDO PREDATORS L 56-76 13429

May 07, 2016 JACKSONVILLE SHARKS W 41-40 8056

May 16, 2016 PORTLAND STEEL W OT 55-48 6733

May 23, 2016 at Tampa Bay Storm W OT 70-63 9722

May 28, 2016 PHILADELPHIA SOUL W 63-49 11278

Jun 03, 2016 ARIZONA RATTLERS L 62-77 11797

Jun 11, 2016 at Orlando Predators L 56-59 11117

Jun 18, 2016 at Portland Steel W 58-49 4516

Jun 25, 2016 at Jacksonville Sharks W 48-47 10645

Jul 09, 2016 at Philadelphia Soul L 62-83 5593

July 16,2016 at LA KISS L 61-63 8069

Jul 24, 2016 at Arizona Rattlers L 20-68 12823

TEAM STATISTICS CLE OPP FIRST DOWNS 310 358 Rushing 37 38 Passing 226 261 Penalty 47 59 RUSHING YARDAGE 339 369 Rushing Attempts 101 109 Average Per Rush 3.4 3.4 Average Per Game 21.2 23.1 TDs Rushing 22 21 PASSING YARDAGE 4100 4534 Comp-Att-Int 336-572-20 389-593-19 Average Per Pass 7.2 7.6 Average Per Catch 12.2 11.7 Average Per Game 256.2 283.4 TDs Passing 85 104 TOTAL OFFENSE 4439 4903 Average Per Play 6.4 6.9 Average Per Game 277.4 306.4 KICK RETURNS: #-Yards 98-1519 96-1515 FG RETURNS: #-Yards 1-7 2-1 INT RETURNS: #-Yards 19-416 20-264 FUMBLES-LOST 19-14 12-6

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=cle0401



http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=phi0423




http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=tbs0523



http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=orl0611

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=pdx0618

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=jax0625

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=phi0709

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=lak0716

http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=stats&year=2016&report=ari0724

PENALTIES-Yards 122-777 134-917 TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 31:02 30:14 3RD-DOWN Conversions 45/105 51/94 4TH-DOWN Conversions 24/46 13/33

Score by quarters 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total

Cleveland Gladiators 173 264 152 223 14 826

Opponents 213 299 194 228 0 934

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

NELSON, Arvell 16 59 212 0 212 3.6 11 14 13.2

HAVRILLA, D. 4 7 36 0 36 5.1 3 21 9.0

MANLEY, Phillip-Keit 16 17 39 6 33 1.9 3 8 2.1

BEAVERS, Larry 16 8 27 1 26 3.2 4 13 1.6

DIEKER, C. 1 3 26 0 26 8.7 1 23 26.0

TAYLOR, Collin 16 5 13 9 4 0.8 0 8 0.2

WILSON, Devin 7 2 4 2 2 1.0 0 4 0.3

Total.......... 16 101 357 18 339 3.4 22 23 21.2

Opponents...... 16 109 376 7 369 3.4 21 23 23.1

PASSING GP Rating Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yards TD Long Avg/G

NELSON, Arvell 16 113.3 261-439-11 59.5 3425 70 49 214.1

HAVRILLA, D. 4 88.0 52-89-4 58.4 535 11 35 133.8

DIEKER, C. 1 45.4 19-35-4 54.3 196 2 33 196.0

Panasuk, Stephe 1 45.8 3-8-1 37.5 40 1 17 40.0

BEAVERS, Larry 16 127.1 1-1-0 100.0 5 1 5 0.3

TEAM 13 39.6 0-0-0 0.0 -101 0 0 -7.8

Total.......... 16 103.5 336-572-20 58.7 4100 85 49 256.2

Opponents...... 16 114.8 389-593-19 65.6 4534 104 46 283.4

RECEIVING GP No. Yards Avg TD Long Avg/G

TAYLOR, Collin 16 110 1437 13.1 32 43 89.8

SIMS, Quentin 12 92 1112 12.1 27 39 92.7

BEAVERS, Larry 16 50 703 14.1 8 49 43.9

LEWIS, Thyron 7 25 362 14.5 4 35 51.7

GOODMAN, D. 4 24 188 7.8 3 22 47.0

WILSON, Devin 7 21 262 12.5 9 25 37.4

MANLEY, Phillip-Keit 16 7 78 11.1 0 27 4.9

BRANDEL, DJ 15 5 36 7.2 2 11 2.4

SOMSEL, J 15 2 23 11.5 0 20 1.5

Total.......... 16 336 4201 12.5 85 49 262.6

Opponents...... 16 389 4589 11.8 104 46 286.8 FIELD GOALS Made-Att Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Long Blkd TREVINO, Adrian 1-4 25.0 0-0 1-2 0-2 0-0 0-0 22 1

PATs

SCORING TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass 2PT Saf Points

TAYLOR, Collin 32 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 192

SIMS, Quentin 27 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 162

TREVINO, Adrian 0 1-4 98-107 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 101

BEAVERS, Larry 13 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 78

NELSON, Arvell 11 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 1-3 0 0 68

WILSON, Devin 9 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 54

LEWIS, Thyron 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0-0 0 0 26

POWELL, Joe 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24

GOODMAN, D. 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0-0 0 0 20

MANLEY, Phillip-Keit 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18

HAVRILLA, D. 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1-3 0 0 18

ROSS, Marvin 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18

BRANDEL, DJ 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12

SEITHER, Nick 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6

BENDER, Jamie 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6

Total.......... 119 1-4 103-112 1-1 2 2-6 0 0 826

Opponents...... 135 2-3 116-134 0-1 0 0-0 0 1 934

INTERCEPTIONS No. Yards Avg TD Long

ROSS, Marvin 6 97 16.2 3 42

POWELL, Joe 5 160 32.0 3 52

ROBINSON, Demarcus 3 63 21.0 1 45

YOUNG, Curtis 1 5 5.0 0 5

BENDER, Jamie 1 32 32.0 1 32

NELSON, Arvell 1 8 8.0 0 8

RODGERS, Kelvin 1 2 2.0 0 2

STEPHENS, B. 1 49 49.0 0 49

Total.......... 19 416 21.9 8 52

Opponents...... 20 264 13.2 4 49

FG RETURNS No. Yards Avg TD Long

BEAVERS, Larry 1 7 7.0 0 7

Total.......... 1 7 7.0 0 7

Opponents...... 2 1 0.5 0 1

KICK RETURNS No. Yards Avg TD Long

BEAVERS, Larry 90 1488 16.5 1 58

LEWIS, Thyron 2 11 5.5 0 9

SIMS, Quentin 1 3 3.0 0 3

POWELL, Joe 1 5 5.0 1 5

GOODMAN, D. 1 4 4.0 0 4

ROBINSON, Demarcus 1 0 0.0 0 0

TAYLOR, Collin 1 8 8.0 0 8

PHINISEE, Joe 1 0 0.0 0 0

Total.......... 98 1519 15.5 2 58

Opponents...... 96 1515 15.8 3 56

ALL PURPOSE GP Rush Rcv FG KR IR Total Avg/G

BEAVERS, Larry 16 26 703 7 1488 0 2224 139.0

TAYLOR, Collin 16 4 1437 0 8 0 1449 90.6

SIMS, Quentin 12 0 1112 0 3 0 1115 92.9

LEWIS, Thyron 7 0 362 0 11 0 373 53.3

WILSON, Devin 7 2 262 0 0 0 264 37.7

Total.......... 16 339 4201 7 1519 416 6482 405.1

Opponents...... 16 369 4589 1 1515 264 6738 421.1

TOTAL OFFENSE GP Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G

NELSON, Arvell 16 498 212 3425 3637 227.3

HAVRILLA, D. 4 96 36 535 571 142.8

DIEKER, C. 1 38 26 196 222 222.0

Panasuk, Stephe 1 8 0 40 40 40.0

MANLEY, Phillip-Keit 16 17 33 0 33 2.1

Total.......... 16 673 339 4100 4439 277.4

Opponents...... 16 702 369 4534 4903 306.4 Tackles Sacks Pass Defense Fumbles Blkd DEFENSIVE LEADERS GP Solo Ast Total TFL-Yds No-Yds Int-Yds BU PD Qbh Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf 4 ROSS, Marvin 16 72 25 84.5 . . 6 - 97 24 30 . 1 - 0 2 . . 3 ROBINSON, Demarcus 14 63 25 75.5 . . 3 - 63 14 17 . . . . . 1 STEPHENS, B. 9 35 14 42.0 . . 1 - 49 7 8 . . 1 . . 21 POWELL, Joe 8 30 22 41.0 . . 5 - 160 6 11 . . . . . 20 PHINISEE, Joe 12 22 14 29.0 . . . 6 6 . 3 - 2 . . . Total.......... 16 374 208 478.0 14 - 59 11 - 55 19 - 416 70 89 30 6 - 22 9 1 . Opponents...... 16 346 196 444.0 31 - 111 24 - 101 20 - 264 60 80 27 14 - 26 16 3 1

Game Superlatives

INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS

Rushes 9 NELSON, Arvell at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

Yards Rushing 35 HAVRILLA, D. at Philadelphia Soul (Apr 23, 2016)

TD Rushes 3 NELSON, Arvell vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

Long Rush 23 DIEKER, C. vs Philadelphia Soul (Apr 01, 2016)

Pass attempts 44 NELSON, Arvell at Tampa Bay Storm (May 23, 2016)

Pass completions 32 NELSON, Arvell at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Yards Passing 404 NELSON, Arvell at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

TD Passes 8 NELSON, Arvell at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Long Pass 49 NELSON, Arvell vs Philadelphia Soul (May 28, 2016)

Receptions 13 TAYLOR, Collin vs LA KISS (Apr 16, 2016)

Yards Receiving 198 SIMS, Quentin at LA KISS (July 16,2016)

TD Receptions 5 SIMS, Quentin at LA KISS (July 16,2016)

Long Reception 49 BEAVERS, Larry vs Philadelphia Soul (May 28, 2016)

Field Goals 1 TREVINO, Adrian at Portland Steel (Jun 18, 2016)

Long Field Goal 22 TREVINO, Adrian at Portland Steel (Jun 18, 2016)

Long MFG Return 7 BEAVERS, Larry vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

Long Kickoff Return 58 BEAVERS, Larry vs Orlando Predators (Apr 29, 2016)

Tackles 13.5 ROSS, Marvin vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Sacks 1.0 KEOSHIAN, Collin vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

COLLING, Randy vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

KEOSHIAN, Collin vs LA KISS (Apr 16, 2016)

COLLING, Randy vs Philadelphia Soul (May 28, 2016)

COLLING, Randy vs Arizona Rattlers (Jun 03, 2016)

COLLING, Randy at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Brikowski, Brian at Portland Steel (Jun 18, 2016)

KOROMA, Alim at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

KOROMA, Alim at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

Tackles For Loss 2.0 COLLING, Randy vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

Brikowski, Brian at Portland Steel (Jun 18, 2016)

Interceptions 2 POWELL, Joe vs Philadelphia Soul (Apr 01, 2016)

POWELL, Joe vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

ROBINSON, Demarcus vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

TEAM GAME HIGHS

Rushes 10 at Portland Steel (Jun 18, 2016)

at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

Yards Rushing 53 at Philadelphia Soul (Apr 23, 2016)

Yards Per Rush 7.6 at Philadelphia Soul (Apr 23, 2016)

TD Rushes 3 at Philadelphia Soul (Apr 23, 2016)

vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

Pass attempts 45 at Tampa Bay Storm (May 23, 2016)

Pass completions 32 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Yards Passing 385 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Yards Per Pass 10.6 at LA KISS (July 16,2016)

TD Passes 8 at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Total Plays 52 at Tampa Bay Storm (May 23, 2016)

Total Offense 409 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Yards Per Play 9.1 at LA KISS (July 16,2016)

Points 70 at Tampa Bay Storm (May 23, 2016)

Sacks By 3 at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

First Downs 29 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Penalties 16 at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Penalty Yards 90 at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Turnovers 5 vs Philadelphia Soul (Apr 01, 2016)

Interceptions By 4 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Long MFG Return 7 vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

OPPONENT INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS

Rushes 10 RICHARDSON, Jer, at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Yards Rushing 48 ROSS, Derrick, vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

TD Rushes 3 RICHARDSON, Jer, at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Long Rush 23 ROSS, Derrick, vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

Pass attempts 56 AUSTIN, Shane, vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Pass completions 36 AUSTIN, Shane, vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Yards Passing 363 AUSTIN, Shane, vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

TD Passes 9 DAVILA, Nick, vs Arizona Rattlers (Jun 03, 2016)

Long Pass 46 RAUDABAUGH, Dan, at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Receptions 16 GILSON, Tom, vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Yards Receiving 160 GILSON, Tom, vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

TD Receptions 5 THOMPKINS, Bran, vs Orlando Predators (Apr 29, 2016)

HILLS, Joe, at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

WINDSOR, Rod, at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

Long Reception 46 KAULEINAMOKU, S, at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Field Goals 1 PETERSON, Craig, vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

LEWIS, Mark, at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Long Field Goal 25 PETERSON, Craig, vs Tampa Bay Storm (Apr 09, 2016)

Long MFG Return 1 THOMAS, Clevan, vs LA KISS (Apr 16, 2016)

Long Kickoff Return 56 THOMPKINS, Bran, vs Orlando Predators (Apr 29, 2016)

AMOS, Anthony, at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

Tackles 10.0 BELTON, Tracy, at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Sacks 2.0 FRITZ, Rodney, at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

GLASPER, Tyre, at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

Tackles For Loss 3.0 FRITZ, Rodney, at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

Interceptions 2 HOLLIS, Dwayne, vs Philadelphia Soul (Apr 01, 2016)

OPPONENT TEAM GAME HIGHS

Rushes 14 at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Yards Rushing 48 vs Jacksonville Sharks (May 07, 2016)

Yards Per Rush 6.0 at Jacksonville Sharks (Jun 25, 2016)

TD Rushes 4 at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Pass attempts 56 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Pass completions 36 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Yards Passing 363 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Yards Per Pass 16.0 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

TD Passes 9 vs Arizona Rattlers (Jun 03, 2016)

Total Plays 64 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Total Offense 401 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Yards Per Play 11.5 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Points 83 at Philadelphia Soul (Jul 09, 2016)

Sacks By 5 at Arizona Rattlers (Jul 24, 2016)

First Downs 31 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

at Orlando Predators (Jun 11, 2016)

Penalties 16 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Penalty Yards 126 at LA KISS (July 16,2016)

Turnovers 4 vs Portland Steel (May 16, 2016)

Interceptions By 4 vs Philadelphia Soul (Apr 01, 2016)

Long MFG Return 1 vs LA KISS (Apr 16, 2016)

2016 GLADIATORS SCHEDULE

WK Date Opponent Time/Result

1 April 1 PHILADELPHIA L, 69-41

2 April 9 TAMPA BAY W, 41-29

3 April 16 LOS ANGELES L, 47-42

4 April 23 at Philadelphia L, 67-50

5 April 29 ORLANDO L, 76-56

6 May 6 JACKSONVILLE W, 41-40

7 May 13 PORTLAND W, 55-48

8 May 23 at Tampa Bay W, 70-63

9 May 28 PHILADELPHIA W, 63-49

10 June 3 ARIZONA L, 77-62

11 June 11 at Orlando L, 59-56

12 June 18 at Portland W, 58-49

13 June 25 at Jacksonville W, 48-47

14 BYE WEEK

15 July 9 at Philadelphia L, 83-62

16 July 16 at Los Angeles L, 63-61

17 July 24 at Arizona L, 68-20

18 BYE WEEK

ALL TIMES EASTERN

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

TEAM W L T % PF PA

Arizona 13 3 0 .813 1068 766

Los Angeles 7 9 0 .438 736 748

CLEVELAND 7 9 0 .438 826 934

Portland 3 13 0 .188 670 932

COMMUNICATIONS CONTACTS

Cleveland Gladiators

Pam Frasco

Office: 216-420-2213

Cell: 216-310-6959

[email protected]

Los Angeles KISS

Will Proctor

Office: 714-587-2632

Cell:805-722-0075

[email protected]

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 1

Philadelphia Soul 69, Cleveland Gladiators 41

In the first of four meetings between the two teams, the Philadelphia Soul cruised to a 69-41 opening night victory over the

Cleveland Gladiators in front of 12,944 fans at Quicken Loans Arena. Philadelphia quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 233 yards

and seven touchdowns with wide receivers Darius Reynolds and Shaun Kauleinamoku hauling in three touchdowns apiece.

Gladiators defensive back Joe Powell returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the loss.

Philadelphia opened up the scoring as Raudabaugh found wide receivers Ryan McDaniel and Reynolds for two scores to put the Soul

up 14-0 early in the first quarter. The Soul would then capitalize on a Gladiators turnover as Raudabaugh found Kauleinamoku for his

first touchdown of the night, a five-yarder, as the visitors quickly built a 21-0 lead.

The Gladiator offense would respond as Dieker would find wide receiver Dominick Goodman for a six-yard score to close the gap to

21-7 at the close of the first quarter.

The Soul offense would strike back early in the second when Raudabaugh would again find Reynolds in the end zone for an 18-yard

touchdown. Kicker Tommy Frevert’s extra point would extend the Soul lead to 28-7. Philadelphia would hit pay dirt on the ensuing

two Cleveland drives when jack linebacker Joe Goosby and defensive back Dwayne Hollis would pick off Dieker passes and return

them for Soul touchdowns, increasing their lead to 42-7 with 7:25 remaining in the first half.

The Gladiators would build some momentum with a couple scores late in the second quarter as wide receiver Collin Taylor hauled in

his first touchdown of the season, a 18-yarder from Dieker. That, followed by the first interception return for a touchdown by

Powell, a 13-yarder, trimmed the Philadelphia lead to 42-21. The Soul would, however, close out the first half with two scores, a 32-

yard strike from Raudabaugh to Kauleinamoku, and a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Tracy Belton to

go into the half on top, 55-21.

The Cleveland offense got off to a fast start in the second half, as the Gladiators capped off a three-play, 22-yard drive with a four-

yard touchdown run on a sweep by wide receiver Larry Beavers. That was followed by Powell’s 45-yard interception return for a

touchdown, his second of the night, which shrank the deficit to 55-34 after kicker Adrian Trevino’s extra point.

The Soul would counter again as Kauleinamoku would catch his third touchdown of the game, a nine-yarder from Raudabaugh, to

cap off the scoring for the night and put the game out of reach for good, 69-41.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 2

Cleveland Gladiators 41, Tampa Bay Storm 29

In the first of two meetings between the teams, the Gladiators outlasted the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday night, 41-29, in front of 11,892 fans at

Quicken Loans Arena. The Gladiators were led by defensive back Joe Powell who, for the second time in as many games, intercepted two passes,

including the game-winner in which he returned 52 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Dennis Havrilla led the way on the offensive side of the

ball, throwing for 219 yards and five touchdowns in his debut with the Gladiators, while Thyron Lewis surpassed 5,000 career receiving yards in the

game, catching ten passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

After a Gladiators turnover on the opening kickoff, Tampa Bay used four plays to go 17 yards capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by

quarterback Adam Kennedy. A missed extra point by kicker Craig Peterson put Tampa Bay up 6-0 early. After another turnover on the ensuing

possession, the Storm marched 43 yards on eight plays finished off by an 18-yard strike from Kennedy to wide receiver Phillip Barnett. Peterson

would miss the extra point once again, making the score 12-0 Tampa Bay at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the momentum shift toward the direction of the Gladiators as Havrilla finished off a six-play, 42 yard drive by finding wide

receiver Thyron Lewis for a nine-yard score. On the next possession, jack linebacker Arvell Nelson picked off a Kennedy pass to set up first and goal

from the four. On the next play, Havrilla found wide receiver Collin Taylor for the score. Kicker Adrian Trevino’s extra point gave the Gladiators their

first lead of the game, 14-12.

On the next drive, Kennedy would be picked off by Powell, his first of two interceptions on the night. The Cleveland offense would give it right back

a few plays later when Havrilla was picked off by Tampa Bay defensive back Cortez Stubbs to close the first half of play.

The Storm would respond to open the second half as quarterback Jonathan Bane, filling in for the injured Kennedy, found wide receiver V’Keon

Lacey for an eight-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay back the lead, 19-14. The Gladiators would answer quickly as Havrilla hit a wide open Taylor

for his second touchdown of the game, a 19-yard to give Cleveland the lead once more, 21-19. Tampa Bay’s offense would counter again with Bane

finding Lacey for a three-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to put the Storm back in front, 26-21.

The lead exchanges would continue into the fourth quarter as Havrilla would hit Lewis for his second touchdown of the night, a 19-yarder, as the

Gladiators reclaimed the lead, 28-26. The Storm’s next drive would stall out at the Cleveland 10-yard line, leaving Peterson to boot a 25-yard field

goal to give Tampa Bay a 29-28 lead with 3:46 left to play.

On Cleveland’s next drive, Havrilla would hook up with Taylor for the third time in the game for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Gladiators another

lead, 34-29 with just under a minute left in the ball game. On Tampa Bay’s final drive, Bane’s desperation pass to the end zone with nine seconds

left was picked off again by Powell and returned for the game-sealing touchdown.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 3

Los Angeles KISS 47, Cleveland Gladiators 42

In front of 12,243 fans at Quicken Loans Arena, the Gladiators fell in the first of two meetings with the Los Angeles KISS by a score of 47-42,

dropping Cleveland’s record to 1-2. KISS quarterback Nathan Stanley threw for 191 yards and four touchdowns while wide receiver D.J. Stephens

caught 12 passes for 109 and two touchdowns. Gladiators wide receiver Collin Taylor racked up 13 receptions for 101 yards and three touchdowns

in the defeat.

The KISS got the scoring started when defensive back Rayshaun Kizer picked off a Dennis Havrilla pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown

putting Los Angeles on top 7-0 early in the first quarter. After Gladiators kicker Adrian Trevino missed a 31-yard field goal attempt on the next

drive, the KISS offense sputtered themselves, turning the ball over on downs and setting up the Gladiators offense on the KISS nine-yard line.

Havrilla capitalized on the very next play to start the second quarter, finding Taylor in the back of the end zone for his first of three scores to even

things up at 7.

The Los Angeles offense would respond, as Stanley would find wide receiver Donovan Morgan for a 14-yard hook up. Kicker Kevin Goessling’s

missed extra point made the score 13-7 in favor of the KISS. On the ensuing kickoff, Goessling booted the ball off the crossbar leading to a

fortuitous bounce and a Los Angeles recovery. Morgan would score again on a sweep from one-yard out to extend the KISS lead to 20-7 with 8:23

remaining in the second quarter. The Cleveland offense answered, marching 45 yards on six plays, capped by Havrilla finding Taylor for his second

touchdown of the night and trimming the deficit to 20-14. After a failed onside kick by the Gladiators, Stanley would be intercepted in the end zone

by defensive back Brandon Stephens and returned 49 yards to the KISS nine-yard line. The Gladiators would score on the next play, as Havrilla

found offensive lineman D.J. Brandel on a screen for the score. Trevino’s extra point gave the Gladiators the lead for the first time on the night, 21-

20. Once again, the KISS responded quickly as Stanley found Morgan for a 27-yard gain before fullback Rory Nixon scored from six yards out to

reclaim the lead for Los Angeles, 26-21, heading into halftime.

Los Angeles opened up the scoring in the second half when Stanley found Stephens for a six-yard strike, extending their lead to 33-21. On the next

drive, however, Taylor would find pay dirt for the third time on the night when Havrilla hit him for a quick four-yard score to pull within 33-28. After

the KISS turned the ball over on downs for the second time of the night, Havrilla plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give the Gladiators

the lead. A Havrilla to wide receiver Dominick Goodman two-point conversion made the score 36-33 in favor of the Gladiators with 12:31 remaining

in the game.

The KISS jumped back on top on their next drive as Stanley capped off an eight-play 44 yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown strike to wide

receiver Brandon Collins, making the score 40-36 with 6:16 remaining in the contest. On the ensuing possession for the Gladiators, Havrilla was

picked off by defensive back Fred Obi leading to a 19-yard throw and catch touchdown from Stanley to Stephens, extending the lead to 47-36 with

3:06 to play in the game. The Cleveland offense would cap off the scoring for the night on the next drive with a four-play, 40 yard drive capped off

by a Havrilla to Goodman six-yard touchdown making the final score 47-42.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 4


In their first road contest of the season, the Cleveland Gladiators started fast but ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Soul Saturday afternoon in front

of 7,057 fans at Wells Fargo Center, 67-50. Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 315 yards and eight touchdowns while wide receiver

Darius Reynolds hauled in ten passes for 114 yards and three scores. Wide receivers Thyron Lewis, Collin Taylor, and Quentin Sims each found the

end zone in the Gladiators loss.

The Gladiators opened the scoring with a three-play 35 yard drive, capped off by a two-yard scoring draw from quarterback Dennis Havrilla. On the

ensuing possession, Raudabaugh would answer for the Soul, finding wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku for a nine-yard touchdown to even the

score, 7-7. On the following drive the Cleveland offense, set-up by a 27-yard catch and run from Phillipkeith Manley, pulled ahead 14-7 on another

Havrilla touchdown run, this time from one-yard out to reclaim the lead 14-7.

Raudabaugh and the Soul offense would recover as wide receiver Ryan McDaniel was left all alone in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown catch.

However, another missed extra point from Clarke kept it a two-score game, 28-19. After a Gladiators turnover on downs, Raudabaugh would find

Reynolds in the back corner of the end zone for his first of three touchdowns, an 11-yarder, to close the gap to 28-26 at the end of the half.

The Soul received the second-half kick-off and only took two plays to get in the end zone, as Raudabaugh connected with Reynolds for a 13-yard

score, his second of the game, to give Philadelphia its first lead of the game. A third missed extra point made the score 32-28. The lead didn’t last

long as Havrilla would hook up with Lewis for a 35-yard score, giving the Gladiators the lead once again, 35-32.

On the following drive, Reynolds would find pay dirt for the third time, a six-yarder from Raudabaugh, to give the lead back to the Soul, 39-35 with

6:05 left in the third quarter. After Havrilla was intercepted by jack linebacker Joe Goosby on the next drive, the Soul would score once again as

Richardson would plunge into the end zone from two-yards out, his second score of the game, increasing their lead to 46-35 with 1:50 left in the

third quarter.

With Havrilla leaving the game due to injury on the interception, jack linebacker Arvell Nelson stepped under center and hit Sims for his first catch

and touchdown as a Gladiator, a 16-yarder. The Soul responded on the next possession, with Raudabaugh tossing a six-yard touchdown pass to

McDaniel to bump their lead to 53-43 with 10:29 left. Nelson would answer quickly, finding Taylor on the first play of the ensuing drive for a 35-

yard touchdown. Kicker Adrian Trevino’s extra point pulled Cleveland to within 53-50 with 9:02 remaining.

That was as close as the Gladiators would get as Raudabaugh would cap the scoring with touchdown throws of seven and 45 yards to

Kauleinamoku and wide receiver Chris Duvalt, respectively, resulting in the 67-50 Philadelphia victory.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 5

Orlando Predators 76, Cleveland Gladiators 56

In front of 13,429 fans, the team’s largest home crowd of the year, the Cleveland Gladiators were defeated by the undefeated Orlando Predators (5-0) on

Friday at The Q by a final score of 76-56. With the loss, the Gladiators fell to 1-4 on the season and remain alone in third place in the AFL’s National

Conference standings.

The Predators capped a three-play scoring drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Randy Hippeard to Brandon Thompkins early in the

opening quarter before the Gladiators tied the game on their next possession on a three-yard touchdown rush by Larry Beavers. Orlando re-claimed the

lead late in the first quarter with another Hipperad to Thompkins touchdown throw, but Beavers provided Cleveland with another response with just under

five minutes remaining in the quarter by returning the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for the Gladiators’ first kickoff-return touchdown of the season.

The Predators continued Friday’s see-saw first half with a 28-yard touchdown toss from Hippeard to Thompkins before Cleveland capped the quarter with a

30-yard touchdown connection from Northeast Ohio native Arvell Nelson to Collin Taylor, marking Taylor’s 21st-consecutive game with at least one

touchdown reception. Orlando reclaimed the lead late in the second quarter on a fumble return for a touchdown, before Nelson completed a four-yard

touchdown pass to Quentin Sims to again draw the Gladiators even on the scoreboard. With just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter,

Hippeard and Thompkins connected again to pull the Predators ahead by a score of 34-28, but Nelson found a familiar target in veteran wideout Dominick

Goodman with just under two minutes remaining in the half to put Cleveland in front 35-34 after a successful Adrian Trevino PAT.

The first half’s scoring was far from over, however, as a two-yard rushing touchdown from Thompkins put Orlando up 41-35 with just 34 seconds remaining

in the second quarter, but yet again, Nelson and the Gladiators punched back, as the Glenville native striped a touchdown pass into the hands of Sims to put

Cleveland up 42-41 with just 17 seconds left in the half. The Gladiators stayed hot to start the third quarter, as Nelson and Taylor hooked up for a 23-yard

TD pass to make it 49-41 before Thompkins registered his sixth TD of the game on a 56-yard touchdown return of the ensuing kickoff for Orlando just under

five minutes into the third to draw the Predators back within just one point at 49-48. After Nelson threw his first interception of the game in the GEICO Blue

Zone with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter, Hippeard completed a 45-yard touchdown strike, again to Thompkins, to give the Predators a 55-

49 advantage.

A lengthy Gladiators drive ensued, culminating in Nelson’s sixth touchdown throw of the night, and third to Taylor, in the third quarter’s final m inute to,

after another successful point after from Trevino, reclaim the edge for Cleveland at 56-55. A 40 yard passing play for the Predators set up a goal-line stand

for the Gladiators’ defense, but after pushing Orlando to third down, Kippeard connected with offensive lineman Jordan McCray on a one-yard shovel pass

for a Predators touchdown, making it 62-56 for the visitors. After a Gladiators fumble, the Predators extended their lead on a ten-yard Hippeard-to-

Thompkins touchdown toss, Thompkins’ seventh score of the game, to make it 69-56 Orlando with 4:20 remaining in the game. In the wake of another

Nelson interception, the Predators took over on the Gladiators’ 15 yard-line with 2:39 left in the game and, after the one-minute warning, punched home a

one-yard TD run from Hibbeard with 10.3 seconds left in the game to cap the scoring at 76-56 Predators.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 6

Cleveland Gladiators 41, Jacksonville Sharks 40

In front of 8,056 fans at Quicken Loans Arena, the Gladiators defense clamped down on Jacksonville in the second half and quarterback Arvell

Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor for the game-winning 26-yard touchdown to cap off 20 unanswered points and a 41-40 home victory over

the Sharks. Nelson threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for three more in the win. Taylor finished the game with six receptions

for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville wide receiver Joe Hills finished with 14 receptions for 131 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.

After a Gladiators turnover on downs, the Sharks opened up the scoring when quarterback Tommy Grady hooked up with Hills for an eight-yard

touchdown on Jacksonville’s opening drive. A missed extra point by kicker Marco Capozzoli gave the Sharks a 6-0 lead to start the game. Cleveland

answered on the next possession when Nelson plunged ahead from three-yards out to give the Gladiators the early lead, 7-6. Jacksonville

reclaimed the lead when fullback Derrick Ross took a hand-off and ran 23 yards untouched into the end zone, giving the Sharks a 13-7 lead at the

end of the first quarter.

On the first drive of the second quarter, Nelson would find pay dirt once again, capping a four-play, 45-yard drive with a sneak from one-yard out

to give the Gladiators the lead right back. The extra point from emergency kicker Jon Striefsky made the score 14-13. The Shark offense answered

quickly once again when Grady found Hills for his second score of the game, a 14-yarder that put Jacksonville back in front, 19-14. After the

Gladiators turned the ball over on downs for the second time of the game, Hills would catch his third touchdown of the game, this time a three-

yarder from Grady to extend the Sharks lead to 26-14 going into the half.

On the opening drive of the second half, Grady would find Hills for his fourth touchdown of the night, a 19-yarder to push the Sharks lead to 33-14.

The Cleveland offense countered with Nelson’s third rushing touchdown of the night, another three-yard scamper to close the deficit to 33-21 with

4:46 remaining in the third quarter. On Jacksonville’s ensuing possession, wide receiver Tiger Jones would catch his first touchdown of the night

from Grady, a six-yarder that capped off a three-play, 16-yard drive. Capozzoli’s extra point made the score 40-21 with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

Cleveland’s next drive saw Nelson find Taylor for a 32-yard touchdown, his 22nd

consecutive game with a touchdown, to pull the Gladiators to

within 40-28 as the game entered the fourth and final quarter.

Cleveland’s defense would step up and force a Jacksonville turnover on the next series when defensive back Marvin Ross stripped Hills of the ball

and pounced on it for the recovery. The Gladiators capitalized seven plays later as Nelson hit wide receiver Quentin Sims for an eight-yard score to

close the gap to 40-35 with 8:19 remaining in the game.

The Sharks would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession, setting up the Gladiators offense with a first ten at mid-field with 42

seconds remaining. On the next play, Nelson hit Taylor on the deep fade for a one-handed 24-yard score. A missed two-point conversion would put

Cleveland ahead 41-40 with 34 seconds remaining in the contest. Capozzoli’s game-winning field goal attempt clanked off the left upright as time

expired to secure the Gladiators victory.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 7

Cleveland Gladiators 55, Portland Steel 48 (OT)

The Steel began the scoring when former Gladiator quarterback Shane Austin led a five-play, 47-yard drive capped off with a touchdown to another

former Gladiator, wide receiver Tom Gilson for a 21-yard touchdown to put Portland on top 7-0 early. The Gladiators offense responded on the

following drive by marching 38 yards in six plays with Arvell Nelson finding wide receiver Quentin Sims for a six-yard score to even things up 7-7. On

the ensuing possession, Austin found Gilson once again for a 13-yard score to put the Steel in front 14-7, but a five-yard touchdown run from

Nelson saw the first quarter end with the score all tied up, 14-14. After defensive end Curtis Young intercepted Austin on a screen pass attempt on

the first drive of the second quarter, Nelson found Sims once again on the following play for a 23-yard score in the corner of the end zone to put

the Gladiators in front for the first time on the night, 21-14. The Steel righted the ship on the next drive when Austin found wide receiver Tyrone

Goard for a 12-yard score, knotting things up at 21 with 4:56 remaining in the first half.

The Gladiators struck again on the next series when Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor for a 35-yard touchdown. A missed extra point by

kicker Adrian Trevino made the score 27-21 in favor of Cleveland. The next drive for Portland saw an odd turn of events as 6’3”, 330 lb. offensive

lineman Deveric Gallington took a hand-off from Austin and rumbled to the two yard line before fumbling into the end zone, where fellow

offensive lineman John Collins pounced on it for the Steel touchdown after a wild scrum. The extra point by kicker Ernesto Lacayo put Portland

back in front, 28-27. Nelson followed that up with another rushing score, this time from eight yards out to put Cleveland on top once again, 34-28,

with a minute remaining in the half. The Gladiators defense stepped up on the next series as defensive back Demarcus Robinson intercepted

Austin, sending the squads into halftime with Cleveland ahead, 34-28.

Cleveland would open the second half with the ball but a Nelson fumble on the third play of the drive would give the ball back to the Steel.

Portland couldn’t capitalize, however, as the Steel offense turned the ball over on downs, leading to a 33-yard strike from Nelson to wide receiver

Thyron Lewis to extend the Gladiators lead to 41-28. Portland would turn it over again on the next drive as Austin would be picked off for the

second time by Robinson. Robinson would return the interception 45 yards for a Gladiators score, bumping the score to 48-28.

Austin and the Portland offense answered with a six-yard throw-and-catch touchdown to Goard to make the score 48-35 with ten minutes

remaining in the game. Nelson would be intercepted on the next two drives, with the first leading to an 11-yard touchdown from Austin to

defensive back Christian Wise to trim the Gladiators lead to 48-42. The second interception, made by Wise, led to the Steel offense getting the ball

back with under a minute to go. With 2.4 seconds left in the game, Austin would find Goard for a five-yard touchdown as time expired to tie the

game. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the ball back to the 12-yard line, making Lacayo’s extra point a 27-yard attempt. The

kick pushed wide left, sending the game into overtime.

Gladiators opened up the extra frame on offense. Six plays later, Nelson found Taylor for his second touchdown of the game, a 10-yard strike that

put Cleveland back on top 55-48. On Portland’s next drive, Austin would be picked off for the fourth time, this time by defensive back Marvin Ross,

to seal the 55-48 win.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 8

Cleveland Gladiators 70, Tampa Bay Storm 63 (OT)

The Storm opened the scoring when Boltus hooked up with veteran wide receiver T.T. Toliver for a 31-yard touchdown on Tampa Bay’s opening drive. Kicker Delbert Alvarado’s extra point gave the Storm an early 7-0 lead. The Gladiators answered right back on the next drive when wide receiver Larry Beavers took a reverse hand-off from Nelson and then, to the defense’s surprise, threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quentin Sims in the corner of the end zone to even things up at 7 with 9:27 remaining in the opening quarter. After Tampa Bay turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession, Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor on a quick hit for a six-yard score to give Cleveland their first lead of the night, 13-7 to end the first quarter. Boltus gave the lead back to the Storm on the first drive of the second quarter by finding wide receiver Phillip Barnett for a 20-yard touchdown, making the score 14-13. Tampa Bay looked to extend their lead after the Gladiators turned the ball over on downs but Boltus’ pass on 3

rd-and-10

would be picked off by rookie defensive back Jamie Bender and returned 30 yards for the defensive score, giving Cleveland a 20-14 edge. The Storm offense recovered on the next possession when Boltus found offensive lineman Anthony Parker for an 11-yard score, re-claiming the lead once again for Tampa Bay. Alvarado’s attempted onside kick on the ensuing kick-off backfired when defensive back Joe Powell recovered and stumbled five yards into the end zone for a Cleveland touchdown. The seesaw battle continued as the Storm struck again when Boltus found wide receiver Julius Gregory for a 13-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28. However, another failed onside kick attempt set up the Gladiators for a quick score when fullback Phillipkeith Manley took a hand-off from Nelson and scored from four yards out to give Cleveland a 35-28 lead. Sticking with the theme of the first half, Gregory would catch a two-yard touchdown from Boltus on the final play of the half to again even the score at 35 going into the break. The teams traded touchdowns to open the second half when Nelson tossed a 22-yard touchdown to Sims and Boltus finding Toliver for a 23-yard strike. Then, after Nelson scored again, this time on a run from three yards out, Boltus hit Toliver for his third touchdown of the night: this time, a 20-yarder to tie the game up at 49 with 11:29 remaining in the game. The following drive saw Cleveland’s offense turn it over for the first time when Nelson was picked off by defensive back Cortez Stubbs. Six plays later, Boltus plunged into the end zone from one-yard out to give Tampa Bay the lead, 56-49, with 4:34 remaining in the game. Nelson and the Gladiators offense responded, as Taylor snared a 30-yard touchdown reception at the wall despite being blanketed by coverage, his second of the game, to tie it up once again at 56 with 2:47 remaining in the contest. On the next drive, Boltus connected with Gregory for his third touchdown of the game, a 33-yarder, to give the Storm a 63-56 lead with 54 seconds remaining. Taylor came up big on the next drive, catching a 12-yard touchdown pass, his third of the game, to send the game into overtime tied at 63. On the first drive of overtime, Nelson connected with Beavers for a 24-yard score to give the Gladiators the lead, 70-63. On Tampa’s possession, defensive back Marvin Ross came through for the second time in as many weeks, intercepting Boltus to seal the game and the victory.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 9

Cleveland Gladiators 63, Philadelphia Soul 49

In front of 11,278 fans at Quicken Loans Arena for Military Salute Night, the Cleveland Gladiators defeated the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday night

63-49. The win improves Cleveland’s record to 5-4 as they sit in second place in the National Conference. Quarterback Arvell Nelson threw for 307

yards and seven touchdowns in the win while wide receiver Quentin Sims caught 10 passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns. For the third

game in a row Marvin Ross intercepted a pass, a 19-yarder, that he returned for a touchdown to essentially seal the win for the Gladiators.

Philadelphia’s quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 342 yards, seven touchdowns, and an interception in the loss.

After Raudabaugh found wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku on the first play of the game for a 40-yard gain to set up first-and-goal from the four

yard line, Cleveland’s defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs. Five plays later, Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor for a 10-yard

scoring strike as the Gladiators jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. The touchdown catch was Taylor’s 25th

game in a row hitting pay dirt. The Soul

responded on the next drive when Raudabaugh found wide receiver Ryan McDaniel in the corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown to even

things up, 7-7. On the ensuing possession, Nelson found wide receiver Larry Beavers on a quick slant for a 49-yard touchdown. Kicker Adrian

Trevino’s extra point gave the Gladiators the lead once again, 14-7. Philadelphia countered with two scores, a 29-yard throw-and-catch from

Raudabaugh to wide receiver Darius Reynolds, and an 11-yard throw-and-catch from Raudabaugh to Kauleinamoku after a Beavers fumble to give

the Soul their first lead, 21-14.

Cleveland struck again quickly on the next series when Nelson found Sims for an incredible 39-yard, one-handed touchdown grab along the wall to

even the score again at 21-21 early in the second quarter. After a Soul turnover on downs, Nelson found Sims once again on a jump ball in the

corner of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown, re-claiming the lead for the Gladiators 28-21 with 7:43 remaining in the first half. It didn’t take

long for the Soul to answer, though, as Raudabaugh hit Reynolds for his second touchdown of the night on the next possession, a 37-yarder to tie it

up once again, 28-28. But it was the Sims show in the second quarter, as Nelson converted on 4th

-and-9 and hit Sims for this third touchdown of the

game, a 14-yarder to push Cleveland ahead 35-28 at the break.

The Gladiators opened up the second half by driving 38 yards on three plays, capped off by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Beavers,

increasing the Cleveland lead to 42-28. Philadelphia quickly answered when Raudabaugh hit McDaniel on a 10-yard out to cut the Cleveland lead to

42-35 with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter. After a failed onside kick attempt from the Soul, the Gladiators scored two players later when

fullback Phillipkeith Manley rumbled into the end zone, extending the Cleveland lead to 49-35. After McDaniel caught his third touchdown of the

night on the next possession, Nelson would answer with a 16-yard strike of his own to Taylor, his second touchdown of the game, to again extend

the Cleveland lead to 56-42 at the end of three quarters.

Raudabaugh would keep the Soul within striking distance, hitting Reynolds for his third touchdown of the game on a four-yard connection cut into

the Gladiators lead, 56-49. After a Cleveland turnover on downs, the Soul offense took the field only to see Raudabaugh get sacked twice and then

throw an interception to Ross on 4th

-and-22. Ross returned the pick 19 yards for the score, driving the Gladiators lead back up to 63-49 with 1:30

remaining in the game. On 4th

-and-goal of the next series, Raudabaugh’s completion to Reynolds would be stopped short, sealing the win.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 10

Arizona Rattlers 77, Cleveland Gladiators 62

It was the Gladiators who got on the board first when Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard

touchdown pass, giving Cleveland the early 7-0 lead. The touchdown extended Taylor’s streak to 26 straight games hitting pay dirt. The former

Arena Football League MVP Davila answered on the next series, finding Windsor for a 22-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7. On the next drive,

Nelson capped off a 10-play, 45-yard drive that took up 7:55 of the first quarter, by connecting with Sims on an impressive one-handed, two-yard

touchdown catch up against the back wall, giving the Gladiators the lead once again, 14-7.

The Rattlers responded again on the first drive of the second quarter when Davila hooked up with wide receiver Maurice Purify for a 12-yard

scoring strike to even up the score once again, 14-14. Cleveland kept the score-trading trend going when Nelson found wide receiver Devin Wilson

for his first career catch, a 22-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10 to push the Gladiators back in front of Arizona, 21-14, with 6:46 remaining in the

half. Windsor caught his second touchdown pass of the game on the ensuing possession for Arizona, a 2-yard strike from Davila to once again knot

the score up at 21-21. After a failed onside kick attempt from kicker Alex Zendejas, Nelson hit Sims on the following play for an eight-yard

touchdown. Kicker Adrian Trevino’s extra point pushed Cleveland in front 28-21 with 1:50 left in the first half.

The Rattlers quickly answered as Davila hit wide receiver Chase Deadder on a 32-yard touchdown on the first play of their next series, evening

things up at 28. After another failed onside kick attempt from Zendejas, Nelson would connect with offensive lineman D.J. Brandel for a nine-yard

touchdown. A missed extra point from Trevino made the score 34-28 Gladiators. After another failed onside kick attempt from Trevino this time,

Davila and Windsor hooked up for Windsor’s third touchdown of the game giving Arizona their first lead of the game, 35-34 with 44 seconds

remaining in the half. However, yet another failed onside kick led to another Cleveland touchdown as Nelson completed a 12-yard pass to Sims,

leading to a score and a 41-35 Gladiators lead with 28 seconds left to play in the second quarter. Arizona concluded first-half scoring with a

touchdown pass from Davila to fullback Mykel Benson to give the Rattlers a 42-41 lead at the break.

Arizona started fast in second half when Davila threw a 19-yard touchdown strike to Purify, his second of the game to increase the Rattler lead to

49-41. After the teams traded turnovers on downs, Nelson found Taylor for his second touchdown of the game, a 23-yarder to close the gap to 49-

48 with 4:47 left in the third quarter. On the next series, a bubble screen from Davila saw Windsor scamper 16 yards into the end zone to extend

the Rattlers lead to 56-48.

Benson would tack on two more touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to distance themselves from the Gladiators, 70-48, with 11:20 remaining in

the contest. The Gladiators would end that run when wide receiver Larry Beavers scored on a reverse to close the Rattler lead to 70-55. The

Rattlers would tack on one final score when Davila found offensive lineman Michael Simons on fourth down for a 17-yard screen for a touchdown,

once again extending their lead to 77-55 with 2:30 remaining in the game. The Gladiators would add on one more touchdown when Nelson

plunged into the end zone from one-yard out to finish the scoring, 77-62.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 11

Orlando Predators 59, Cleveland Gladiators 56

In front of 11,117 fans at the Amway Center, the Cleveland Gladiators fell on Saturday night to the Orlando Predators on a late field goal, 59-56.

With the loss the Gladiators record drops to 5-6 on the season where they remain in second place in the National Conference. Quarterback Arvell

Nelson threw for 296 yards and eight touchdowns in the loss, with wide receiver Quentin Sims catching eight passes for 108 yards and

four touchdowns. Predators quarterback Randy Hippeard threw for 316 yards and four scores and ran in two more touchdowns in the win, with

wide receivers Brandon Thompkins and Greg Carr each catching two scores.

Orlando jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after a one-yard touchdown run from Hippeard. Then, following a Gladiators turnover, a 26-yard

touchdown pass from Hippeard to wide receiver Brandon Thompkins gave the Predators an early 14-0 advantage. Cleveland got on the board on

the first play of the next drive when Nelson found wide receiver Larry Beavers for a 37-yard touchdown to pull to 14-7. The Predators answered

right back, scoring on the first play of their next possession, a 32-yard strike from Hippeard to Thompkins, extending the Orlando lead to 21-7.

In the second quarter, Nelson connected with wide receiver Devin Wilson on fourth down for a 14-yard touchdown, closing the gap to 21-14. The

Predators answered when Hippeard rushed for his second touchdown of the night, a 11-yarder to push their lead to 28-14. Nelson and the

Gladiators followed suit when Nelson found wide receiver Quentin Sims for a six-yard touchdown, once again shrinking the Orlando lead to 28-21.

However, just before halftime, Hippeard would hit wide receiver Greg Carr for a two-yard touchdown, sending the Predators to a 35-21 lead at the

break.

The Gladiators offense got off to a fast start in the second half when Nelson found wide receiver Collin Taylor for a 33-yard touchdown, trimming

the Orlando lead to 35-28. After the Cleveland defense recovered an Orlando fumble, the Gladiators were able to capitalize with a four-yard

touchdown reception by Sims to tie the game at 35-35.

Similar to the previous quarter, Cleveland struck quickly when Nelson hit Sims on a 37-yard touchdown pass. Orlando responded when wide

receiver Greg Carr caught a touchdown from Hippeard, giving the Predators a 49-42 lead. Sims continued to light up the scoreboard, as Nelson

found him with a 30-yard touchdown pass to even the game with 3:44 remaining. The Predators regained the lead after Martinez punched in his

second 1-yard rushing touchdown to put Orlando ahead 56-49 in the final minute of play. After a failed onside kick by Orlando, the Gladiators

successfully knotted the game on a 4-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Larry Beavers with 25 seconds left. In the next possession,

Predators’ kicker Mark Lewis made a 23-yard field goal with just two seconds to go, as the Gladiators had one last chance to put points on the

board. However, Nelson’s Hail Mary attempt was batted away in the end zone to make the final score 59-56.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 12

Cleveland Gladiators 58, Portland Steel 49

Thanks to a seven-touchdown performance from quarterback Arvell Nelson, the Cleveland Gladiators defeated the Portland Steel in front of 4,516

fans at the Moda Center in Portland, OR on Saturday by a final score of 58-49. With the win, the Gladiators improved to 6-6 on the season and

remain alone in second place in the AFL’s National Conference standings. Nelson got the scoring started early for Cleveland as the Northeast Ohio

native connected with wide receiver Quentin Sims for a 35-yard touchdown early in the first quarter to make it 7-0 Gladiators. Portland responded

with a 3-yard TD toss from former Gladiator Shane Austin to wideout Rashaad Carter to tie the game at seven before Cleveland WR Larry Beavers

took a 23-yard Nelson pass to the house late in the opening quarter to help the Gladiators claim a 14-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Nelson hooked up with wideout Devin Wilson early in the second stanza for a 23-yard scoring strike to make it 21-7 Glads before a one-yard James

Shaw touchdown run for the Steel drew Portland within seven at 21-14. Later in the second quarter, Cleveland receiver Collin Taylor hauled in a

nine-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to make it 28-14 Gladiators before a two-yard strike from Nelson to Sims gave Cleveland its largest lead of

the game at 35-14 with just 18 seconds left in the first half. Portland’s Austin orchestrated a buzzer-beating drive late in the second quarter,

however, that culminated in a three-yard TD reception for Carter with no time left on the clock that drew the Steel within two scores at the half at

35-21.

In the third quarter, Portland started quickly with a 23-yard Austin-to-Shaw TD pass that drew the Steel within a touchdown at 35-28, but Nelson

and Taylor hooked up for a 15-yard TD strike shortly thereafter to put the Gladiators back up by 14 points. Portland’s Austin and Carter then

connected for the third time in the game to make it 42-35 Cleveland before the Gladiators closed out the third quarter with a 14-yard Nelson-to-

Devin connection that made it 48-35 Glads heading into the final frame.

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Gladiators DB Marvin Ross delivered the defensive play of the game when he returned an Austin

interception 42 yards to the house to claim a 55-35 lead for Cleveland. Portland hung tough though, as back-to-back touchdown passes from

Austin, to Shaw and Jared Perry respectively, drew the Steel within six points at 55-49 before another Austin pick paved the way for a 22-yard

Adrian Trevino field goal, the Gladiators kicker’s first field goal conversion of the season, that iced a 58-49 Gladiators victory with 1:19 remaining in

regulation.

Nelson completed 21 of 35 passes for 249 yards and seven touchdown passes while Taylor extended his franchise-record streak of now 28

consecutive games with at least one touchdown catch by virtue of 90 receiving yards on eight receptions with a pair of touchdown grabs to his

credit. Sims finished with eight catches of his own for 83 yards and two scores while Cleveland WR Devin Wilson hauled in two catches for 38 yards

and two scores. Additionally, Larry Beavers’ two receptions resulted in 32 yards and one touchdown for Cleveland as well.

On the defensive side of the ball, Kelvin Rodgers, Ross and DeMarcus Robinson each registered one interception, while Rodgers led the Gladiators

with seven tackles. With the win, Cleveland snapped a two-game losing streak and has now won five of the team’s last seven games.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 13

Cleveland Gladiators 48, Jacksonville Sharks 47

Thanks to six total touchdowns from QB Arvell Nelson, five combined touchdown receptions from WR’s Collin Taylor and Devin

Wilson and three turnovers forced by their defense, the Cleveland Gladiators defeated the Jacksonville Sharks by a final score of 48-

47 on Saturday in front of 10,645 fans at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL. With the win, the Gladiators

swept the Sharks in the two teams’ two-game season series, have won six of their past eight games, are now 7-6 on the year and

remain alone in second place in the AFL’s National Conference standings.

Nelson and Taylor opened the scoring by connecting on a seven-yard touchdown strike early in the first quarter before Jacksonville

QB Tommy Grady sailed a 42-yard TD pass into the hands of Sharks WR Joe Hills on the ensuing possession to tie the game at seven.

After a one-yard Nelson rush made it 13-7 Gladiators, the Sharks tied the game on a four-yard TD pass from Grady to Hills at the

start of the second quarter.

Cleveland DB Joe Phinisee returned a fumble by Grady for the Gladiators’ league-best ninth defensive score of the season on the

ensuing Jacksonville possession and led 20-13 before a 33-yard Nelson-to-Taylor scoring strike with 41 seconds remaining in the half

gave Cleveland their largest lead at 27-13. The catch was Taylor’s 400th career AFL grab and the Indiana native’s 100th career AFL TD

catch.

The Sharks proceeded to rattle off 27 straight points to take a 40-27 lead before Nelson and Devin Wilson hooked up for a 12-yard

score early in the fourth quarter to make it 40-34 until Jacksonville WR London Crawford found the end zone on a one-yard TD run

that made it 47-34 with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Nelson and

Wilson struck again, this time for a 25-yard bomb with less than six minutes left to draw within one score at 47-41.

Then, with just 47 seconds left in regulation, Nelson and Wilson combined for Wilson’s third TD grab of the game, a four -yard

connection, to put the Gladiators on top 48-47, but left former AFL MVP Grady and Jacksonville with plenty of time with which to

work. After the Sharks marched all the way to the Cleveland two-yard line on the ensuing possession, Phinisee iced the win with his

second fumble recovery of the game with just ten seconds left to play to deliver the Gladiators a one-point victory.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 14


Despite 404 passing yards and eight total touchdowns from QB Arvell Nelson, the Cleveland Gladiators fell to the Philadelphia Soul in a Week 15 road clash in front of 5,593 fans on Saturday at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. With the loss, the Gladiators are now 7-7 on the season and remain alone in second place in the AFL’s National Conference standings. Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh started the scoring with a two-yard TD pass to OL/TE Adam Smith mid-way through the first quarter before a missed Philly extra point gave way to Cleveland’s first score, a 10-yard Nelson to Collin Taylor hookup that extended Taylor’s franchise-record streak to 30 consecutive games with at least one touchdown catch. Philadelphia’s Jeramie Richardson capped the first-quarter scoring with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 13-7 Soul heading into the second. The Gladiators responded with a 34-yard bomb to start to second quarter from Nelson to WR Quentin Sims that, after an unsuccessful extra point try, left the game tied at 13 apiece. Another Richardson TD scamper made it 20-13 Philadelphia with just under 12 minutes left in the first half before Cleveland WR Devin Wilson hauled in a 24-yard scoring strike from Nelson to tie the game at 20. A 37-yard Soul TD pass from Raudubaugh to Darius Reynolds put Philly back in front with eight minutes left in the second before the Glads once again pulled even on a one-yard Larry Beavers TD run with less than five minutes to go in the half. After Philadelphia parlayed a successful onside kick attempt into 14 more first half points, the Soul scored their third unanswered TD on the first possession of the third quarter on a 10-yard Raudabaugh-to-Shaun Kauleinamoku connection that pushed the Soul edge to three scores at 48-27. A 12-yard TD grab from Taylor, courtesy of Nelson, cut the Philly advantage to 14 points with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, but the Soul rattled off two more unanswered touchdowns to claim their largest lead, a 28-point edge, at 62-34. In the fourth quarter, a 35-yard Nelson-to-Beavers bomb started things in the right direction for Cleveland to make it 62-41, before Raudabaugh connected with Reynolds for a five-yard score. The Gladiators benefitted from back-to-back eight-yard Nelson touchdown passes, to Wilson and Sims respectively, to get back to within two touchdowns at 69-55, but the Soul posted two of the game’s final three scores to claim victory by the final score of 83-62. With the win, Philadelphia claimed the four-game season series vs. the Gladiators three games to one, while Raudabaugh finished the game completing all but one of 21 pass attempts for 335 yards and eight touchdowns. Sims led the way for the Gladiators’ receiving corps with 128 receiving yards on 10 catches for two scores, barely outpacing another big performance from Taylor (10 catches, 101 yards, two TD’s).

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 15

Los Angeles KISS 63, Cleveland Gladiators 61

Despite eight total touchdowns from QB Arvell Nelson, the Cleveland Gladiators were defeated by the LA KISS on Saturday in front of 8,069 fans at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., by a final score of 63-61. With the loss, the Gladiators fell to 7-8 on the season and currently sit alone in third place in the AFL’s National Conference standings. Nelson started the scoring for the Gladiators with a 19-yard strike to WR Quentin Sims early in the first quarter before LA tied the game at seven thanks to a six-yard touchdown pass from QB Nathan Stanley to KISS WR Donovan Morgan shortly thereafter. Later in the frame, Nelson delivered a three-yard rushing TD before Stanley connected with Morgan once more to knot things up at 14 apiece. Cleveland WR Collin Taylor had the last opening-quarter laugh, however, as the Indiana native reeled in a 28-yard TD heave from Nelson as time expired in the first to extend his franchise-record streak to 31 straight games with at least one touchdown reception. In the second quarter, Stanley connected with OL/TE Colin Madison on a four-yard TD pass to tie the game at 21 before Nelson and Sims combined on a seven-yard pitch-and-catch to deliver the Gladiators a 28-21 advantage. However, LA once again rallied to tie the game as Stanley and wideout DJ Stephens hooked up for an 11-yard score with just seconds remaining in the half. In the third and early fourth quarters, LA rattled off 21 unanswered points before Nelson hit Sims for another passing TD, this one from 15 yards out, to start a Gladiators comeback at 49-34 midway through the final stanza. After a successful onside kick attempt, Nelson launched a 38-yard bomb, again to Sims, to continue the rally before an eight-yard passing score from LA’s Stanley to Morgan stopped the bleeding for the KISS and pushed LA’s edge to 56-41. The ensuing drive resulted in a one-yard Nelson QB sneak that made it 56-48 and led to another successful onside kick that was batted all the way inside the KISS 10-yard line before it was scooped up by Cleveland rookie DL Nick Seither, who took it to the house, hoisting the Glads to within a single score at 56-54 after an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. LA recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt though and benefitted from Stanley's eighth TD pass of the night with less than one minute remaining in the game, a seven-yard connection to Stephens, and, after a 19-yard Nelson to Sims hookup for Cleveland, the KISS held on for a dramatic 63-61 victory. Nelson finished with 21 completions on 31 pass attempts for 332 yards and eight total touchdowns (two rushing), while Sims paced the Gladiators’ receiving corps with 12 catches for 197 yards and five touchdowns and Taylor supplied four grabs for 81 yards and one score.

2016 GAME SUMMARIES

Game 16

Arizona Rattlers 68, Cleveland Gladiators 20

In the team’s final game of the 2016 AFL regular season, the Cleveland Gladiators were defeated by the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., by a final score of 68-20 in front of 12,823 fans. With the loss, the Gladiators finished the campaign at 7-9 to end the year in third place in the AFL’s National Conference standings. Cleveland will face the second-place LA KISS on the road in the first round of the AFL Postseason on August 6th with the time of the game currently TBD. After the Rattlers registered a safety on the Gladiators’ first play from scrimmage, Arizona’s Anthony Amos returned the ensu ing Cleveland kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown to give the Rattlers a 9-0 edge. Arizona pushed their lead to 15-0 less than five minutes into the game when Rattlers QB Nick Davila connected with WR Rod Windsor for an 11-yard touchdown strike. The Gladiators responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass from QB Arvell Nelson to WR Larry Beavers to make it a one-score game, but multiple Cleveland turnovers led to 20 unanswered Arizona points to make it 35-7 Rattlers late in the second quarter. With just over two minutes remaining before halftime, the Gladiators’ offense perked up and delivered a 16-yard Nelson touchdown toss to wideout Collin Taylor that extended Taylor’s franchise-record streak to 32 consecutive games with at least one touchdown reception. Arizona added a late second quarter Davila-to-Windsor score, however, to take a 42-14 lead into halftime. From the start of the third quarter into the early stages of the final frame, Arizona piled up three more unanswered scores to make it 61-14 before Taylor reeled in another Gladiators TD, this time from backup QB Stephen Panasuk, to make it 61-20. The touchdown pass was Panasuk’s first in his AFL career and it came with just 6:05 remaining in the game. A nine-yard TD pass from backup signal-caller Shane Boyd to Windsor with 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter was the cherry on top for Arizona in a 68-20 Rattlers victory. Nelson threw for 155 yards on 13-of-34 passing with two touchdowns, while Taylor led all Cleveland receivers with six receptions for 88 yards and two scores and Beavers caught five balls for 71 yards and one TD. On the other side, Davila turned in a 223-yard performance on 20-of-25 passing with six touchdowns and one interception, hauled in by Gladiators DB Joe Powell in the first half. Arizona’s Windsor reeled in seven catches for 75 yards and five scores while Amos led all Rattler receivers with 96 yards on six receptions. Arizona WR Maurice Purify was solid as well, catching five passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns.

2016 WEEKLY AWARDS

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

WK TEAM PLAYER

1 ORL #12 Randy Hippeard

2 JAX #81 Joe Hills

3 ARZ #10 Nick Davila

4 PHI #5 Dan Raudabaugh

5 ORL #15 Brandon Thompkins

6 ORL #12 Randy Hippeard


8 JAX #4 Tommy Grady

9 JAX #81 Joe Hills



12 CLE #2 Arvell Nelson

13 ORL #5 Bernard Morris

14



17 JAX #39 Derrick Ross


RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

WK TEAM PLAYER

1 ARZ #32 Damien Borel/#93 Luis Vazquez

2 CLE #21 Joe Powell

3 LAK #7 Rayshaun Kizer

4 ORL #10 Varmah Sonie

5 ARZ #96 Dimetrio Tyson

6 LAK #6 Josh Victorian

7 CLE #4 Marvin Ross

8 JAX #21 Greg Reid


10 POR #9 Sergio Gilliam

11 JAX #21 Greg Reid

12 ARZ #20 Jeremy Kellem

13 ARZ #20 Jeremy Kellem

14

15 ORL #3 Paul Stephens

16 PHI #8 Jake Metz

17 TB #94 James McClinton


J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYERMAKER OF THE WEEK

WK TEAM PLAYER

1 PHI #21 Shaun Kauleinamoku

2 ARZ #1 Rod Windsor

3 PHI #98 Teddy Jennings

4 ARZ #2 Maurice Purify

5 PHI #7 Darius Reynolds

6 CLE #2 Arvell Nelson

7 TB #50 James Gordon

8 CLE #17 Collin Taylor

9 LAK #1 Donovan Morgan



12 ORL #6 Greg Carr

13 PHI #21 Shaun Kauleinamoku

14


16 LAK #4 D.J. Stephens


18 JAX #81 Joe Hills

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK

WK TEAM PLAYER

1 LAK #1 Donovan Morgan

2 TB #11 Phillip Barnett

3 CLE #1 Brandon Stephens





8 ARZ #13 Joe Matthews

9 CLE #18 Quentin Sims

10 ORL #10 Varmah Sonie

11 ORL #6 Greg Carr


13 PHI #19 Ryan McDaniel

14

15 ORL #6 Greg Carr



18 ORL #1 Larry Brackins

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

WK TEAM PLAYER

1 CLE #21 Joe Powell

2 ORL #9 Kent Richardson



5 TB #17 Mike Washington

6 PHI #22 Dwayne Hollis

7 ORL #4 Greg Carr

8 PHI #23 LaRico Stevenson

9 TB #1 T.T. Toliver

10 JAX #1 Reggie Gray

11 TB #1 T.T. Toliver



14


16 POR #81 Nick Truesdell

17 TB #94 James McClinton



THE COACHES

STEVE THONN

Head Coach

Steve Thonn enters his seventh season with the Gladiators. Thonn was named head coach

and director of football operations of the Cleveland Gladiators on December 23, 2009 after

spending the 2008 AFL season as the head coach of the Grand Rapids Rampage.

The Gladiators finished the 2014 season with a 17-1 record under Thonn. Last season’s 17

wins set a new AFL record for wins in a regular season. Thonn’s Gladiators won the East

Division and American Conference en route to a berth in ArenaBowl XXVII, where they fell

to Arizona. Thonn was named AFL Coach of the Year following the season.

In his first year with the Gladiators, the team compiled a 7-9 overall record. Despite the

sub-.500 finish, the Gladiators outscored their opponents 938-906 on the year and had

receiver Ben Nelson and offensive lineman Adam Tadisch named to the AFL First Team and defensive lineman

Anthony Hoke was named to the AFL Second Team. Quarterback John Dutton finished the season with 5,104 passing

yards – second-best in the league.

In 2008, the Rampage’s 956 total points and 59.5 points-per-game average, both franchise records, were second best

in the AFL behind only the 13-3 Philadelphia Soul. In Thonn’s lone season, Grand Rapids posted the four highest

single-game point totals this season (92 in Week 4; 84 in Week 5; 84 in Week 15; 86 in Week 17) and became the first

team in AFL history to post four 80+ point games in a single season. Grand Rapids’ 92-point outburst at Kansas City

in Week 4 marked the highest total for a road team in AFL history and the second highest point total overall.

Prior to the Rampage, Thonn spent three seasons (2005-07) as the offensive coordinator for the Georgia Force, who

compiled a 33-15 regular-season record during that span, made two National Conference Championship appearances

and reached ArenaBowl XIX.

Meanwhile, quarterback Chris Greisen, who had thrown just 16 passes in his AFL career entering 2007, connected on

a league-record 117 touchdown passes, led the AFL and currently ranks third all-time with a 132.0 quarterback rating,

and amassed the second highest passing yards total (4,851) in AFL history.

Prior to joining the Force, Thonn served as the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Desperados from 2003-04, where

he helped introduced three-time AFL All-Ironman Team member and 2007 Ironman of the Year Will Pettis to the

league.

The Wheaton College graduate was named to the Division III All-America Team in football and played basketball and

baseball for the Crusaders from 1980-84, earning a spot in the school’s Hall of Honor. Thonn also served as an

assistant basketball coach for his alma mater and has coached for Wheaton North (Ill.) High School’s varsity football

team.

Thonn and his wife, Pam, have a daughter, Jaimee, and a son, Corey.

RON SELESKY

Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Ron Selesky enters his sixth season with the Gladiators, having served as assistant head

coach from 2013-2014, and as Director of Player Personnel in 2010 and 2011. Selesky

spent the 2015 season as a U.S. scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian

Football League.

Selesky was named the AFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 after helping lead the

Gladiators to a historic 17-1 regular season, an American Conference Championship and a

trip to ArenaBowl XXVII. During that run, Selesky commanded a defense, nicknamed the

"No Fly Zone," that allowed a mere 43.4 points per game, the third-fewest in the AFL that

season, and recovered a league-high 17 fumbles en route to the AFL’s third-best turnover

margin (+16).

Prior to joining Cleveland, Selesky was the Defensive Coordinator/Director of Player Personnel for the Grand Rapids

Rampage in 2008, helping the team advance to the American Conference Championship after a five year playoff

drought.. He boasts several years of Arena Football experience at both head coaching and assistant coaching

positions. He returned to the AFL in 2008 season after serving two years (2006-07) as head coach of arenafootball2’s

Alabama Steeldogs.

Selesky began his Arena Football coaching career as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the AFL’s

Tampa Bay Storm from 1997-99, helping to lead the team to a 31-11 regular-season record and a 1998 ArenaBowl

appearance. Selesky spent the 2000 season as director of player personnel/line coach for the expansion Carolina

Cobras.

He then took his first head coaching position with the af2’s Louisville Fire in 2001 and, the following year, earned af2

Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Albany Conquest to a 13-3 regular-season mark and a Northeast Division

title.

Selesky also spent several years as a lineman at both the collegiate and professional levels. He played his college ball

at North Central College, where he lined up against Wheaton College graduate and current Gladiators head

coach Steve Thonn.

Selesky went on to play in two games for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in 1987, and attended training camps with the

San Diego Chargers in 1988, the Miami Dolphins in 1990, and the Detroit Lions in 1992. He also spent three years

(1995-97) as a scout for ProQuest Management.

The New Brunswick, N.J., native and his wife, Michelle, have four children: Mallorie, 6; Erin, 12; Madelyn, 16; and

Brandt, 18, who will be a freshman football player at Southeast Missouri State University this fall.

Head Line Coach Mike Smith

Def. Backs Coach Dominic Jones

Head Trainer Jeff Lambert-Shemo

Equip. Mgr. Mike Buchanan

Asst. Equip. Mgr. Giovanni DiSiena

Video Coordinator Jordan Smith

Football Ops Asst Brent Overholt


THE TEAM

WR Larry Beavers #10

5’11 180 10/07/85 Wesley

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with Gladiators.

Spent three seasons with New Orleans Voodoo from 2013-2015.

Totaled 103 receptions for 1,321 yards and 19 touchdowns in his Voodoo career.

Totaled 93 kickoff returns, 1,929 yards and 7 touchdowns in his Voodoo career.

Played for the Iowa Barnstormers in 2011.

Totaled 12 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown with Iowa in 2011.

Totaled 31 kickoff returns and 500 yards in 2011.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL NOTES

Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2009.

Spent time with the New Orleans Saints in 2010.

Played with the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) in 2011.

COLLEGE/PERSONAL NOTES

3-Year Starter at Wesley College.

Received Div. III All-American honors his senior year with the Wolverines.

Was 3-Time All-Atlantic Central Conference as both a WR and KR.

Holds the NCAA all-division record with 10 career kick return touchdowns and

totaled 13 all-return touchdowns.

Finished career with 5,373 all-purpose yards and 44 touchdowns.

Received All-State honors in three sports at Annapolis High School in Annapolis,

Md.

OL D.J. Brandel #69

6’5 305 03/15/91 Chapman

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters second season as a Gladiator.


Played for Texas Revolution (CIF) in 2013-2014.


4-Year Starter at Chapman University.

2012 All-SIAC his senior year.

Prepped at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif.

MLB Brian Brikowski #33

6’4 255 02/11/89 Monmouth

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters fifth season with the Gladiators.

Recorded 6.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and a pass deflection in four games

with the Cleveland Gladiators in 2015.

Recorded 24.5 tackles and 4.5 sacks in seven games with the Cleveland

Gladiators in 2014.

Recorded 34.5 tackles and two sacks splitting time between the Cleveland

Gladiators and Chicago Rush in 2013.

Recorded 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks in five games as a rookie with the Cleveland

Gladiators in 2012.


Played for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (IFL) in 2011.

Signed with the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

COLLEGE/PERSONAL NOTES Played three years at Monmouth after spending a semester at Akron.

Totaled 63 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections and an interception as

a Hawk.

All-Shore and All-District selection at Freehold Township High School in

Freehold, N.J.

OL Skyler Burkland #70

6’7 315 10/10/91 Michigan State

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with the Gladiators as a rookie.

COLLEGE/PERSONAL NOTES Played 2 seasons at Michigan St.

Started 15 games for the Spartans.

SuperPrep All-American at Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio.

DL Randy Colling #96

6'5 325 11/06/92 Gannon

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters fourth season with the Cleveland Gladiators

Totaled 14.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in

2015.

Totaled 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2014.

Totaled 23 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble

recoveries in 2013.


Spent time in NFL Mini-Camps with the New York Jets in 2012.

Also spent time with the Green Bay Packers for 2012 Mini-Camp.


Played collegiately at Gannon.

Totaled 220 Tackles, 48 Tackles for Loss, and 25 Sacks in his career as a Golden

Knight

Division II All-American by D2Football.Com, Associated Press Little All-America,

and Daktronics Football in 2011

Gene Upshaw NCAA Division II Defensive Lineman of the Year finalist

Prepped at Pioneer High School in Arcade, NY.

DL Isiah Dunning #8

6’5 285 05/09/92 Grand Valley State

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with the Gladiators.


Attended Mini-Camp with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.


3-Year Starter at Grand Valley State.

Recorded 144 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his Laker career.

Earned All-GLIAC honors his senior year.

Prepped at Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Mich.

WR Josiah Holt

5’9 170 07/10/92 Baldwin Wallace

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters second season with the Cleveland Gladiators.

Caught two passes for 33 yards in 2015 as a rookie.


Played collegiately at Baldwin Wallace

Recorded 3,488 All-Purpose Yards and 20 touchdowns during his collegiate career.

Led team with 579 rushing yards as well during senior season.

Received 2nd Team All-OAC honors as a wide receiver as a senior in 2013.

Received 1st Team All-OAC honors as a wide receiver as a junior in 2012.

Received 1st Team All-OAC honors as a return specialist as a sophomore in 2011.

Received Div. III All-American honors as a sprinter for the Yellow Jacket track-and-

field team.

Prepped at Grafton Midview High School in Elyria, Ohio.

OL Chris Jasperse #78

6’4 305 04/04/91 Marshall

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters rookie season with the Gladiators.

Started 2016 AFL season with the Tampa Bay Storm.


Played in the 2015 preseason with the Cincinnati Bengals.


2-Time First Team All-Conference USA at Marshall University.

Started 53 straight games for the Thundering Herd, an FBS record.

Played for the 2007 N.C. State Championship at Page High School in Greensboro, N.C.

DL Collin Keoshian #22

6’3 260 04/10/91 Illinois State

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with the Cleveland Gladiators as a rookie.


Spent final two years of college at Illinois St., playing RB his junior year in 2013

and DL his senior year in 2014.

Earned MVIC All-District V Academic honors in 2014.

Totaled 65 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a team-high 9 sacks in 15 games in

2014.

Rushed for 204 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2013.

Played at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Calif., in 2012.

Rushed for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012.

Transferred to College of the Canyons from BYU in 2011 and played 10 games at

fullback.

Prepped at Santa Clarita Christian High School, an 8-man football program.

Rushed for 6,537 yards (2nd most in California 8-man history) and 102

touchdowns (most in California history)

in his 4-year career.

DL Abe Koroma #11

6’3 300 05/01/88 Western Illinois

AFL CAREER NOTES


Played for the Pittsburgh Power in 2011.


Worked out with the Buffalo Bills in 2014.

Signed with the Colorado Ice (IFL) in 2012.

Worked out with the New York Giants in 2010.


Played senior season at Western Illinois in 2009.

Recorded 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Leathernecks.

Played two seasons at Penn State in 2007-08.

Recorded 33 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 fumble rec. and 1.5 sacks as a Nittany Lion.

All-State Football selection at Milton Hershey High School in Hershey, Pa.

WR Thyron Lewis #6

6’4 205 11/25/82 Howard

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters sixth season with Gladiators.

Totaled 20 receptions for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2015.

Also made 8.5 tackles on defense in 2015.

Started the 2015 AFL season with the LA KISS before coming back to the

Gladiators in June.






Signed with the NFL's Washington Redskins practice squad in 2006.

Played for the Stockton Lightning and Tri-Cities Fever (AF2) in 2008.

Member of the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings (AF2) in 2009.

Signed with the Tri-Cities Fever (IFL) in 2010.


Played college football at Howard University.

Totaled 30 receptions for 513 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career with the Bison.

Prepped at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets in Inglewood, Calif.

OL Joe Madsen #74

6’3 315 09/01/89 West Virginia

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with the Cleveland Gladiators.

Spent two seasons with LA KISS in 2014-15.


Spent training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013.

Signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad in January, 2015.

Appeared in training camps with the Browns and Lions in 2015.


4-Year starter at West Virginia, starting 50 games.

Earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2012.

Prepped at Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio.

FB Phillipkeith Manley #44

6’4 340 05/06/86 Toledo

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enter second season with Gladiators.

Started nine games in 2015 on offensive line and as fullback.

Caught one pass for 15 yards and carried the ball 11 times for 22 yards and one

touchdown in 2015.


Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2012.

Spent Mini-camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2014.


Played collegiately at Toledo.

From Hamilton, Ohio.

QB Arvell Nelson #2

6’5 225 09/27/88 Texas Southern

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first year with the Gladiators.

Threw for 1,104 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 7 touchdowns at

quarterback for the

Spokane Shock in 2015.

Recorded 60 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 4 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles

and 1.5 sacks at

jack linebacker for the Pittsburgh Power in 2014.

Threw for 162 yards and 5 touchdowns and rushed for 4 touchdowns at

quarterback for the Spokane Shock in 2013.


Played for the Alabama Hammers (PIFL) in 2012.


2-Year starting quarterback for Texas Southern.

Threw for 4,164 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career with the Tigers.

Second Team All-KJCCC as a free safety for Fort Scott Community College in

2008.

Second Team All-State quarterback at Glenville High School in Cleveland.

QB Stephen Panasuk #15

6’2 215 01/19/89 La Salle

AFL CAREER NOTES



Played for the Wichita Force (CIF) in 2016.

Signed with the Trenton Freedom (PIFL) in 2014-2015.

Spent time with the Wyoming Cavalry (IFL) and the Kentucky Drillers (CIFL) in

2013.


Played freshman year at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pa., in 2007.

Threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2007.

Prepped at New Egypt High School in New Egypt, N.J.

DB Joe Phinisee #20

5’10 190 01/06/86 Walsh

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters seventh season with the Cleveland Gladiators as the franchise's all-time

leader with 401.5 tackles with team.

Totaled 63 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries, 5 pass breakups and 4 interceptions in

2015.

Recorded 63 tackles, four interceptions, and five fumble recoveries in 2014.

Recorded 92 total tackles and 4 interceptions splitting time between the

Gladiators and Chicago Rush during the 2013 season.

In 2012, tallied 77 tackles and more than doubled his career-high passes

defensed with 12.

Also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a career-high five passes for 71

yards and a touchdown.

89 total tackles, five passes blocked, four interceptions and two touchdowns

highlighted his sophomore season in the AFL with the Gladiators in 2011.

In his first season with the Cleveland Gladiators (2010), he recorded 59.5

tackles, two passes blocked, and an interception as a defensive back


Attended Walsh University in Ohio

Earned Second-Team NAIA All-East Region honors and honorable mention

All-American recognition in 2006.

Prepped at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio

DB Joe Powell #21

6’2 205 02/25/94 Globe Tech

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enter second season with Gladiators.


Played for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (PIFL) in 2015.

Earned Defensive Rookie of the Year when he collected 52.5 tackles and 11

interceptions.


Played one season at Globe Tech Junior College.

Totaled 53 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in 2013.

Prepped at Norcum High School in Portsmouth, Va.

DB Demarcus Robinson #3

6’2 200 06/03/86 Henderson State

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters second season with Gladiators, first since 2011.

Split time between the Jacksonville Sharks and Las Vegas Outlaws in 2015.

Recorded 56 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and an interception in 2015.

Spent three seasons with the New Orleans Voodoo from 2012-2014.

Totaled 205 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 forced fumbles, and 8 INT’s with the Voodoo.

Played his AFL rookie season with the Cleveland Gladiators in 2011.

Recorded 75.5 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 5 interceptions for the Gladiators in

2011.


All-American safety at Henderson State.

Recorded 116 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups and 2 INt’s in 2 years

with the Reddies.

Played first two years at Tyler Junior College.

Prepped at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas.

DB Kelvin Rodgers #9

6’1 180 06/26/87 Minnesota State-Mankato

AFL CAREER NOTES


Earned Second Team All-Arena honors in 2014.

Collected 83 tackles and 12 interceptions in 17 games with the San Antonio Talons.

Saw action in one game for San Antonio in 2013, recording 1 tackle. Played for six different teams in 2012.

Recorded 56 tackles, 5 pass breakups, and scoring 6 touchdowns on kick returns.

Led the Milwaukee Mustangs with 78.5 tackles and 6 interceptions as a rookie in

2011.


Spent time in Rookie Mini-Camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010.


Appeared in 45 games at Minnesota State-Mankato.

Recorded a career total of 126 tackles and 5 interceptions.

School's all-time career leader in kick returns (88), kick return yards (2,255) and

punt return yards (770).

Earned All-conference, All-Metro, All-State selections at East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Ill.

DB Marvin Ross #4

5’11 180 05/11/90 Florida A&M

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enter first season with Gladiators as a rookie.


Played for the Columbus Lions (PIFL) in 2013 and 2014.


2-Year starter at Florida A&M.

Totaled 113 tackles, 14 pass breakups, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles in his

career.

Prepped at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla.

FB Chad Schofield #75

6'4 315 12/19/87 Marshall

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters fourth season with the Cleveland Gladiators

Started eight games in 2015. Carried the ball 3 times for 8 yards.

Appeared in all 18 regular season games in 2014, starting in 17 of those as a

Gladiator.

Started 6 games for the Gladiators as a rookie in 2013.


Member of the Colorado Ice (IFL) in 2012.


Played collegiately at Marshall.

Second Team All-Conference USA in 2010.

Started in 30 games over three years at Center for the Thundering Herd.

Marshall Team Lifter of the Year in 2008.

Prepped at Strongsville High School in Strongsville, OH.

DL Nick Seither #99

6’3 270 03/02/93 Georgetown College

AFL CAREER NOTES



Spent Rookie Mini-camp with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.


NAIA All-American and MSC Player of the Year at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky.

All-Conference, All-County and All-Ohio Defensive Lineman at Stephen T. Badin High School in Hamilton, Ohio.

WR Quentin Sims #18

6’3 205 07/11/90 Tennessee-Martin

AFL CAREER NOTES


Played in one game with the Arizona Rattlers in 2015, catching 3 passes and 2

touchdowns in a Week 20 win vs. Portland.

Played in one game with the Orlando Predators in 2014.


Played four games in the preseason with the New England Patriots in 2013.


Finished college career at Tennessee-Martin from 2011-12.

Caught 140 passes for 1,804 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Skyhawks.

Started college career at Georgia Tech.

Prepped at Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

OL Jesse Somsel #66

6’4 315 06/25/91 Saginaw Valley State

AFL CAREER NOTES



Attended Mini-Camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.


4-Year Starter at Saginaw Valley State.

Prepped at Rockford High School in Rockford, Mich.

Was part of state champion football and wrestling teams.

DB Brandon Stephens #1

5’11 210 12/04/87 Miami (OH)

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters third season with the Cleveland Gladiators.

Recorded 33 tackles and five pass breakups in six games in 2015.

Recorded 8 tackles in two games 2014.


Appeared in training camp with the Cleveland Browns in 2015.

Spent time with the Detroit Lions in 2011.


Played collegiately at Miami (OH).

Four year letter winner in high school as a Defensive Back, Receiver, and

Returner.

Prepped at Strongsville High School in Strongsville, OH.

OL Aslam Sterling #72

6’4 315 08/20/92 Kansas

AFL CAREER NOTES



Spent Mini-Camp with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2014.


Finished college career at Kansas in 2012-13.

Started 20 games for the Jayhawks.

Started college career at Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y.

Earned All-Northeast Conference honors as freshman and sophomore in 2010-11.

Was All-Borough and All-City at Bayside High School in Queens, N.Y.

WR Collin Taylor #17

6’1 195 02/28/87 Indiana

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters third season with the Cleveland Gladiators.

Caught 144 passes for 1,597 yards and 43 touchdowns in 2015.

Recorded 15.5 tackles and an interception as a JLB in 2015.

Caught 80 passes for 976 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2014 as a Gladiator.

Recorded an interception as a JLB in 2014 as a Gladiator.

Caught 25 passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns during 2013 season with the

Iowa Barnstormers.

Caught 63 passes for 670 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2012 season with Iowa

Barnstormers.

Spent his 2010 rookie season with the Tulsa Talons.


Played collegiately at Indiana.

Played wide receiver for 3 seasons before switching to safety as a senior.

Prepped at Carmel High School in Indiana.

K Adrian Trevino #19

5’11 190 01/02/88 Missouri Valley

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters second season with Gladiators.

Made 7-of-8 field goals and 104-of-116 extra points in 2015.

Played five games for the Utah Blaze in 2013.

Made 25-of-28 extra points in 2013.


Played for the Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) in 2012 and 2014.


2-Year Starting kicker at Missouri Valley.

Earned NAIA All-American Honors as a senior.

Prepped at Golden Valley High School in Merced, Calif.

WR Devin Wilson #13

6’2 205 10/13/90 Tennessee State

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters first season with Gladiators as a rookie.


Played for the Richmond Raiders (PIFL) in 2015.

Totaled 40 receptions for 483 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Raiders in 2015.

Signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) in 2015.


4-Year starter at Tennessee State.

Totaled 102 receptions for 1,200 yards and 6 touchdowns in his career with the

Tigers.

Received All-Region honors his junior and senior year at Pope John Paul II High

School in Henderson, Tenn.

DL Curtis Young #93

6’1 270 01/08/87 Cincinnati

AFL CAREER NOTES

Enters third season with Gladiators.

Split time between Gladiators and the Soul in 2015, recording six tackles and a sack.

Logged 25.5 tackles and seven sacks in 18 starts for the Pittsburgh Power in 2014.

Collected 32 tackles and one sack in 15 games with the Pittsburgh Power in 2013.

Recorded seven tackles over four games as a rookie with the Gladiators in 2012.


Played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL) in 2010.

Made practice squad of the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 season.


Played three seasons at Cincinnati.

Recorded 90 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks as a Bearcat.

Two-time All-Conference selection at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Contact Info:

Pam Frasco

VP of Marketing and Communications

Office: (216)-420-2534

Cell: (216)-310-6959

Tony Brown

Manager, Broadcasting and Team Communications

Office: (216)-420-2534

Cell: (216)-571-9006

Jeff Elston

Communications Coordinator

Office: (216)-420-2504

Cell: (330)-307-6474

cleveland gladiators staff directory · cleveland gladiators note: depth chart is subject to...

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