The End of The Road...
CLEVELAND , OH —The Orlando Predators poured their collective hearts into Monday night’s match-up with the Cleveland Gladiators but fell just short when wide receiver T.T. Toliver fumbled inside the Glads 5-yard line and was unable to recover. Cleveland would go on to run out the clock on their final drive to seal a 69-66 victory at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Preds got off to a fast start as quarterback Shane Stafford found wide receiver Chas Gessner on 3 occasions in the first quarter to give Orlando a 20-14 lead heading into the second quarter.
“We just weren’t able to make the plays when we needed to make them late in the game,” Preds head coach Jay Gruden said. “My hat is off to the Gladiators they made the plays and deserve to move on in the playoffs.”
Those plays Gruden is referring to were 2 missed extra points by kicker Dan Frantz and another botched snap proved to be the 3-point difference in the game. Stafford also threw an interception to Glads defensive back Brandon Hefflin just 10 seconds before halftime. That mistake turned into a big swing when Glads kicker Jason Ball made a 25-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer.
Orlando recovered in the second half as Toliver scored 4 touchdowns, 3 of which came on deep post routes that Stafford delivered right on the money. Stafford added a 6-yard rushing touchdown that gave the Preds a 60-55 lead.
Toliver’s late turnover was too much to overcome but he finished the game with 11 receptions for 185 yards. The returning Gessner recorded 12 receptions for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The loss closes out the 2008 season for the Preds and the Cleveland Gladiators will face the Georgia Force Monday night on ESPN2.
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Also....
Rampage 48 Rattlers 41
PHOENIX (AP)—James MacPherson threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns and the Grand Rapids Rampage made four stops inside the 2 in the final minute to preserve a 48-41 victory against the Arizona Rattlers on Monday night in the wild-card round of the Arena Football League playoffs.
Kenny Higgins had 12 catches for a 177 yards and two touchdowns for the Rampage. MacPherson also ran for a touchdown.
The Rampage play at Chicago on Sunday.
Jeff Smoker was 17-for-24 for 233 yards with four touchdown passes an one interception. He also ran for a score, but was dropped for a loss by Rampage defensive back William Haith on fourth-and-goal with 4 seconds left in the game.
NEW YORK 77 DALLAS 63
DALLAS (Ticker)—Aaron Garcia tossed nine touchdowns to lead the sixth-seeded New York Dragons past the third-seeded Dallas Desperados, 77-63, in the opening round of the Arena Football League playoff game.
Garcia, who completed 28 of 39 passes for 303 yards, connected with wide receiver Kevin Swayne for four touchdowns for the Dragons (9-8), who advanced to face the top-seeded Philadelphia Soul next Saturday.
Terry Moss paced New York with 11 receptions for a game-high 145 yards and three scores, while Swayne caught for 77 yards.
Quarterback Clint Dolezel was 35-of-47 for 325 yards for the Desperados (12-5).
GAME AT A GLANCE
Orlando Predators (9-7) at Cleveland Gladiators (9-7)
Date: June 30, 2008
Toe-To-Leather Time: 7:00 p.m. (EST)
Site: Quicken Loans Arena
Television: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (Ari Wolfe & Shaun King)
Radio: 540 WFLA (Rob Craver & Jason Lucas)
Series Streak: Cleveland has won one in a row.
Series Record: Cleveland leads 1-0
Coaches: Orlando: Jay Gruden (9th season, 93-60-0, .613)
Cleveland: Mike Wilpolt (2nd season, 17-10-0, .629)
SERIES NOTES:
The Orlando Predators only meeting with the Cleveland Gladiators came on May 9th this season when the Preds traveled to Cleveland. The Gladiators had stellar play from quarterback Raymond Philyaw and wide receiver Otis Amey as they connected on 3 touchdown passes. Orlando struggled to move the ball in the game and took a 62-43 loss as they were without key defensive contributor’s defensive end Rob Schroeder and defensive back Jason Perry.
KEY MATCH UPS FOR MONDAY
Preds Offense vs. Gladiators Defense
The Predators offense has been spotty during the 2008 season and must find a way to have a consistent performance against the Gladiators on Sunday. Quarterback
Shane Stafford has led his team to just one playoff victory in his career and must step up for the Preds to have a chance. Stafford threw for 4,162 yards this season completing 67 percent of his passes and a team single-season record 81 touchdown tosses. All year long Stafford has found wide receiver T.T. Toliver when the team has needed it the most. Toliver is the league’s leader with 3,165 All-Purpose yards in 2008, including 1,645 receiving yards and 35 total touchdowns (31 receiving, 3 kick returns, and 1 rushing). The X-factor in the Preds offense is All-AFL Rookie team fullback Odie Armstrong who set a Preds record with 7 touchdown receptions from the fullback position this season. Armstrong finished the season with 20 receptions for 258 yards, adding 102 rushing yards on 39 attempts and 2 touchdowns on the ground.
That’s the good, the bad part is the Preds have lost 23 of 32 fumbles and their quarterbacks have thrown a combined 19 interceptions on the season—good for dead last in the league. If Orlando wants a chance against the Gladiators they must hold onto the football and make big plays on offense.
The Gladiators defense has been stifling in 2008 forcing 12 interceptions and recovering 15 fumbles on the year. Their sack leader is defensive lineman Joe Minucci with 6.5 sacks on the season, including one against Orlando in Week 11. Cleveland’s defensive backfield has been suspect at times this season giving up 100 receiving touchdowns which is second to last in the AFL. Defensive back Sakeen Wright leads the Glads with 5 interceptions on the season.
Preds Defense vs. Gladiators Offense
The Orlando Predators defense has not been exactly what the franchise has been used to in previous seasons. In fact, the Preds have given up 56.1 points-per-game in 2008 which is by far the most points given up in team history. After giving up 766 points in 2007 the Preds have given up 898 points this season. Kenny “The Glove” McEntyre leads the Predators with 8 interceptions this season and a league single-season record 4 returned for touchdown. In the last meeting with Cleveland the Preds were without defensive end Rob Schroeder and defensive back Jason Perry. The addition of these two should give the Predators a better chance at stopping Cleveland’s potent offense.
When you think of the craziest offensive mind in the AFL, only one name comes to mind. That being Glads’ offensive coordinator Brian Partlow. In the first meeting Partlow pulled out wacky formations and made the Preds defense just a step too slow to stop his offense.
Cleveland will use FB Marlion Jackson as a quarterback on some occasions and QB Raymond Philyaw as a receiver on others. Otis Amey and Robert Redd are Cleveland’s big guns at wide receiver and both scored three touchdowns through the air in the first meeting. The addition of former Preds wide receiver Ron Johnson gives the Glads’ just one more red zone threat.
FAST FACTS
PREDS IN THE HUNT:
OL/DL B. J. Cohen is in 3rd place for all-time sacks with 45. He’s just 14 behind Sam Hernandez who sits in first place with 59.0.
DB Kenny McEntyre reached the 81 career interceptions mark after picking off Arizona quarterback Matt Sauk twice in Week 14.
FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore logged two rushing touchdowns in Week 7 against the Rampage, bringing him to a grand total of 47, just 22 shy of Barry Wagner’s record. He is fourth in the league behind Tampa Bay’s Torrance Marshall with 13 rushing touchdowns and is second on the team for total touchdowns behind T. T. Toliver who has 35.
QB Shane Stafford has 446 career passing touchdowns, surpassing Jay Gruden’s career record. Stafford has 157 touchdown tosses with Orlando, also surpassing Jay Gruden’s old record of 117.
WR T. T. Toliver surpassed the 5,000 yard receiving mark in Week 5 against Georgia. For the season, Toliver has recorded 113 receptions for 1,616 yards and 31 touchdowns. He leads the league with all purpose yards, posting 3,165 which include one rushing touchdown, three touchdowns on returns on top of his 31 receiving touchdowns.
--Jason Lucas
© 2008