Brigade Use Late Goal Line Stand to Top Gladiators, 63-60

May 27,2017 (Photo Credit: Baltimore Brigade)

Carden throws for six touchdowns as Baltimore notches first home win

BALTIMORE, MD.— The Baltimore Brigade (2-4) earned their first win in Royal Farms Arena with a 63-60 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators (1-6) on Saturday night. A back-and-forth final quarter that featured six lead changes ended on a last-play goal line stand by the Brigade, sealing the win.

"That's an arena football game at its finest,” said Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith. “The game is always going to come down to the last possession most likely. I'm really glad that we were able to get a win, at home, for the city of Baltimore.”

Cleveland took an early lead on their first possession of the game when QB Arvell Nelson found WR Quentin Sims for the first of his five touchdowns, a 15-yarder to put the Gladiators up 6-0. Just five minutes later, the Gladiators extended their lead when Sims found the end zone again, this time from seven yards out. In his first game for the Brigade, WR Milton Williams found the end zone early, putting Baltimore on the board with 1:55 remaining in the opening quarter. Sims notched his third score of the game with 13:10 left in the second quarter. The Gladiators’ third missed extra point attempt of the game left the score at 18-7. The Brigade answered, however, as QB Shane Carden and WR Julian Talley connected on a 39-yard touchdown with just under 12 minutes remaining in the half. Talley entered the game with three straight 100-yard, two-touchdown outings. A Carden dive from the one-yard line brought the Brigade within four points, trailing 32-28, at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Brigade FB Rory Nixon took a short pass and turned it into a 30-yard gain. Only a few plays later, Williams made a highlight reel catch as he managed to haul in Carden’s pass for a touchdown while falling over the end zone wall, giving Baltimore their first lead of the game, 34-32. The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Gladiators answered with a 29-yard Quentin Sims touchdown, his fourth of the night.

The fourth quarter featured six lead changes, including Sims fifth touchdown of the night, a 47-yard catch and run that gave the Gladiators a 47-41 lead early in the quarter. Brigade WR Paul Browning answered with a long touchdown catch of his own, a 42-yarder to put Baltimore back on top. Cleveland took a 50-56 lead with 0:47 remaining when they FB Jermaine Richardson punched it in from one yard out. Brigade WR Kendal Thompkins returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to give Baltimore a 63-60 lead with 0:39 left. Cleveland got the ball inside the Brigade 10-yard line, but Baltimore stuffed the Cleveland offense on consecutive passing plays with under 10 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

KEY STAT: The Brigade overcame a steep possession-time deficit in the final frame. Baltimore outscored Cleveland 29-21 in the fourth quarter despite the Gladiators holding the ball for 11:03 of the quarter’s 15 minutes.

KEY MOMENT: A frantic final minute featured a 54-yard kickoff return by WR Kendal Thompkins with 0:39 remaining in the game, giving the Brigade a 63-60 lead. On the following possession, Baltimore held Cleveland out of the end zone, despite two attempts from within the five-yard line with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game.

MVP: Baltimore QB Shane Carden – 21-30 passing, 272 yards and seven total TDs (six passing)



OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Cleveland WR Quentin Sims – 12 receptions, 188 yards and five TDs

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Cleveland DB Frederick Obi – nine total tackles, six solo tackles and one pass break-up

The Brigade hit the road next week for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Storm on Sat., June 3 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on   Monumental Sports Network.


IN QUOTES:

BRIGADE HEAD COACH OMARR SMITH

On the win:

"That's an arena football game at its finest. The game is always going to come down to the last possession most likely. I'm really glad that we were able to get a win, at home, for the city of Baltimore. It's really important to us to have some success at home. It was a very entertaining game from the fan perspective I'm sure."

On the home crowd being loud and supportive:

"Arena football is here in Baltimore, and it's a good show. It's entertaining, it's a good night out for the family, and my thought is that if we keep winning, more people will come."

BRIGADE QUARTERBACK SHANE CARDEN

On the win:

"We needed it. We needed it desperately tonight. We kept fighting, we've been in dogfights before and have never finished, so our whole thing this week was 'you have to finish'. The offense was expecting to go back on the field and finish the game. We got a great return from Kendall (Thompkins) and I was kind of like 'alright defense, this is your turn, this is your time' and they came up big for us."

On his ability to make plays outside the pocket:

"That's always kind of been a part of my game. I'm just kind of growing and understanding when to do that, when to not. It's very tight, you can't really get away too far from the defensive lineman, so I'm getting more comfortable with getting that in my game in the arena."

Gladiators drop nail-biter to Brigade, 63-60

May 27,2017 (Photo Credit: Baltimore Brigade)

Cleveland falls to 1-6 on the season despite 188 receiving yards, five scores from Sims.

BALTIMORE – The Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators, proudly presented by Unique Home Solutions, were defeated by the Baltimore Brigade in Week 8 of the 2017 AFL season on Saturday at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD by a final score of 63-60. With the loss, the Gladiators fell to 1-6 overall this season and currently remain alone in fifth place in the AFL standings.

The Gladiators claimed a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when QB  Arvell Nelson connected on a 15-yard scoring strike with WR  Quentin Sims before Nelson and Sims combined again, this time from seven yards out, to make it 12-0 Cleveland thanks to a pair of botched extra-point attempts for the Gladiators. Baltimore put themselves on the scoreboard late in the opening quarter when Brigade QB Shane Carden connected with WR Milton Williams from 11 yards out to, after a successful Brigade extra point try, make it 12-7 Gladiators.

In the second quarter, Cleveland picked up right where they left off as a 21-yard strike from Nelson to Sims extended the Glads’ lead to 18-7 after another missed extra point for K  Jed Solomon. After Baltimore’s Carden connected with WR Julian Talley on a 39-yard touchdown pass to make it 18-14, the Gladiators faced a fourth-and-eight situation from the Brigade nine yard line late in the second quarter and, thanks to a nine-yard connection between Nelson and WR  Collin Taylor, pushed the Cleveland advantage to 25-14. The Brigade battled back and drew within four points at 25-21 following a three-yard Rory Nixon touchdown run with just 2:05 remaining in the opening half. Then, in the final minute of the second quarter, Nelson pushed Cleveland’s edge to 32-21 with a seven-yard rushing touchdown before his counterpart for Baltimore, Carden, responded with a one-yard scoring scamper of his own with just one second remaining to make it 32-28 Gladiators at the half.

In the third quarter, the Brigade started quickly with a 12-yard strike from Carden to Williams to push Baltimore in front for the first time by a score of 34-32. The Gladiators’ response was quick in coming, however, as Nelson and Sims connected on a touchdown pass and catch for the fourth time just seconds after Baltimore’s score, this time from 29 yards out, to reclaim the edge for Cleveland at 39-34.

With just under nine minutes remaining in regulation, the Brigade picked up the fourth quarter’s first score when Carden found Talley in the end zone from 13 yards out to reclaim the lead for the home team at 41-39 following a Nelson interception. Cleveland orchestrated a near-instantaneous response, however, as Nelson connected with Sims for the fifth time on the visitors’ next play from scrimmage, a 47-yard strike that pushed the Gladiators back in front by a score of 46-41 with 7:33 to go in the game. Carden found Browning shortly thereafter for a 42-yard touchdown to make it 49-46 Baltimore, but Nelson and Taylor hooked up for the second time, this time from 31 yards out, on the Glads’ ensuing possession to grab the lead back at 53-49. Baltimore responded with a seven-yard Carden-to-Williams touchdown toss to pull ahead 56-53 though, only to see a one-yard Jeramie Richardson touchdown run pull the visitors back in front 59-56. The Brigade ultimately had the last laugh, however, as a 54-yard Kendel Thompkins kick return touchdown was the difference in a 63-60 Baltimore win.

Next up for the Gladiators, it’s a Saturday road clash vs. the Washington Valor in Week 9 with full coverage, live from Verizon Center in Washington, DC, underway at 7:00 pm on 92.3 The Fan and CBS Sports Network.

NOTES : Nelson finished with 310 yards through the air on 22/32 passing for seven touchdowns and one interception and added seven rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on eight carries…Sims led the Gladiators’ receiving corps with 12 catches for 188 yards and five touchdowns…Taylor caught four passes for 61 yards and two scores while WR  Michael Prestonhauled in six balls for 61 yards…Richardson carried the ball five times for ten yards and a score…On the defensive side of the ball, DB  Fred Obi led the way with six solo tackles and three assists, along with one pass defended while JLB  Terence Moore and DB  Rayshawn Kizer each provided one interception in defeat.

POST-GAME AWARDS :

Offensive Player of the Game: CLE WR  Quentin Sims – 12 rec., 188 rec. yards, five touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Game: CLE DB  Fred Obi – six solo tackles, three assists, one pass defended.

MVP of the Game: BAL QB  Shane Carden – 272 yards on 21/30 passing, six touchdowns, two interceptions, four carries, nine rushing yards, one rushing touchdown.

Tickets for every Gladiators home game start at just $10 and are on sale now! Full and partial season ticket memberships are also available and provide you with the best seat locations, custom member benefits and the lowest ticket prices. All tickets can be purchased by visiting ClevelandGladiators.com, calling (216) 420-0000, visiting The Q Box Office or any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart. Be sure to follow the Gladiators on Twitter  @clegladiators, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandgladiators.

AFL Game Status Report (Week 8): Gladiators at Brigade

May 27,2017

Saturday Game Status Report: Week 8

  LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2017) – The following is the Active Player Game Status Report for Saturday, May 27, 2017.  This report only refers to players on the active roster and their level of participation for today’s game

 

CLEVELAND @ BALTIMORE (Saturday, May 27 at 7p.m. ET)

	CLEVELAND	BALTIMORE
OUT	Jordan Holland Michael Preston	Dexter Davis Varmah Sonie
QUESTIONABLE	Rayshaun Kizer Kent Richardson	Calvin Fance KC Obi Brandon Stephens
PROBABLE	Terrance Moore Fred Obi	Trey Wolfe
INACTIVE RESERVE	N/A	N/A
INJURED RESERVE	Phillip Barnett Drew Basil Jaylen Hunter Tanner Marsh Alstevis Squirewell	Reggie Gray Derrell Johnson Quinton Pointer Lavasier Tuinei Laquan Williams

 

About the AFL

The Arena Football League will enter its 30 ^th Anniversary Season in 2017.  Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country.  Teams slated for 2017 include: Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C.  CBS Sports Network nationally broadcasts AFL games each week during the regular season.  ArenaBowl XXX is slated for Saturday, August 26.

Valor Lose Heartbreaker to Soul

May 27,2017 (Photo Credit: Washington Valor)

The Washington Valor (1-5) took the Philadelphia Soul (7-0) to the wire in a narrow but inspired, 48-47, defeat at Verizon Center. In his Valor debut, QB Sean Brackett led a late Washington charge throwing for 231 yards and five touchdowns in the place of the injured QB Erik Meyer. 

In his fifth career, Brackett’s standout effort included a career-high 26 completions on 44 attempts. He has tossed for at least five touchdowns in three career games.

Brackett and WR Greg Carr were the story of the first half, connecting for three touchdowns including a 20-yard strike on the first possession of the game. Carr finished the game with 12 receptions for 131 yards and four touchdowns, all season highs.

A 28-28 stalemate at half, Philadelphia came out with the first two scores in the third quarter, the first on a Mykell Benson one-yard dive. Shortly after, Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh hit WR Darius Reynolds on a 28-yard slant to make the score 42-28. Raudabaugh finished 10-for-22 for 148 yards and five touchdowns.

The Valor charged back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Soul, 19-6, to pull the game within one point on multiple occasions. Washington had the opportunity to tie the game on two occasions but were unable to convert on the extra-point attempts.

The Valor attempted a late onside kick but the Soul recovered and were able to runout the clock.

Next up for the Valor is the Cleveland Gladiators at Verizon Center on  June 3. Kickoff is set for  7 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

KEY STAT: Valor QB Sean Brackett made his first AFL start since August 8, 2015, a span of 658 days. Brackett's last start was with the Las Vegas Outlaws, facing the Spokane Shock. 

KEY MOMENT: With 41.5 seconds remaining in the game, WR Charles McClain scored a Valor rushing touchdown on a reverse to give Washington the opportunity to tie the game (48-47). 

Offensive Player of the Game: Washington QB Sean Brackett

Defensive Player of the Game: Philadelphia LB Joe Goosby

MVP of the Game: Philadelphia QB Dan Raudabaugh

Soul Defeat Valor, 48-47

May 27,2017 (Photo Credit: Washington Valor)

Undefeated Season Continues with Second Win Over Washington

  PHILADELPHIA— The Philadelphia Soul (7-0) defeated the Washington Valor (1-5), with the final score 48-47 in front of 9,873 fans at the Verizon Center on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s hard to win a game in arena football, but we’ll take them any way we can,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel.  “We are definitely happy with 7-0 and looking forward to this bye week to get healed up and ready to finish the second half of the season.”

Soul WR Ryan McDaniel led the receivers with four receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns.  WR Darius Reynolds added three receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns and WR Shaun Kauleinamoku tallied three receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown.  Washington WR Greg Carr led the receivers with 12 receptions for 131 yards and four touchdowns.

Philadelphia QB Dan Raudabaugh completed 10-of-22 passes for 148 yards and five touchdowns.  Washington QB Sean Brackett completed 26-of-44 passes for 231 yards and five touchdowns. 

The Soul won the coin toss and elected to kick off to the Valor. Brackett connected with Greg Carr for 27 yards and the first Valor touchdown of the afternoon.  Kick was good and with 9:52 to go in the first quarter, the Soul trailed 7-0.  The Valor’s lead was short lived as Raudabaugh found McDaniel for a 5-yard touchdown and his 100 ^th career touchdown.  Trevino’s kick was good and the score was tied 7-7.  The Valor were unable to complete the first down and the Soul took over possession.  Raudabaugh completed a 14-yd pass to Kauleinamoku for another Soul touchdown and with the made extra point the Soul stretched the lead 14-7 to end the first quarter.  

A turnover on downs by the Valor started off the second quarter.  McDaniel caught his second touchdown on a 7-yard pass and the Soul remained in the lead 21-7.  Brackett found Carr for a 7-yard Valor touchdown.  Kick was good and with 4:49 to play in the half, the Soul led 21-14.  Josh Reese recovered a bar ball kick and the Valor tied up the game 21-21.  Carr caught his third touchdown of the night with an 18-yd pass from Brackett.  Kick was good and with 19 seconds left in the half, the Soul trailed for the first time, 28-21.  In the final 12 seconds of the first half, Chris Duvalt returned the kick-off for a 58-yd touchdown and the Soul tied the game, 28-28.

The Soul started off the second half with a 1-yd touchdown by Mykel Benson to put the Soul up 35-28.  Another turnover on downs by the Valor gave the Soul possession once again and Raudabaugh passed to Reynolds for a 28-yd touchdown. Kick was good and at the end of the third quarter, the Soul kept the lead 42-28. 

Carr caught his fourth touchdown for the Valor on a 9-yd pass from Brackett.  Kick was good and with 10:51 to play in the game, the Valor closed the gap. 42-35.  The Soul were unable to complete a first down and the Valor took over once again.  Brackett took advantage and connected with Reese for a 13-yd touchdown and the Valor brought the game to one point, trailing 42-41.  With a minute to go, Raudabaugh found Reynolds for an 11-yd touchdown, bringing the score to 48-41, after a missed two-point conversion.  In a final attempt to win the game, McClain ran the ball in for a two-yard Valor touchdown but the extra point was fumbled, leaving the score 48-47 and giving the Soul their seventh win this season.

Offensive Player of the Game: Washington QB Sean Brackett

Defensive Player of the Game: Philadelphia LB Joe Goosby

MVP of the Game:  Philadelphia QB Dan Raudabaugh


 ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SOUL             

The 2016 World Champion Philadelphia Soul are in their 12th season in the Arena Football League.  In the first 11 seasons, the Soul have won four Division Championships, four Conference Championships and two World Championships.  Since the inaugural season in 2004, the Soul are the winningest professional sports team in Philadelphia.  Season memberships and Group tickets for the Soul’s upcoming 2017 season are on sale now.  For tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a Soul representative by filling out the form on  www.philadelphiasoul.com. Follow the Soul on Facebook at facebook.com/soul and Twitter at twitter.com/soulfootball.

AFL Game Status Report (Week 8): Soul at Valor

May 27,2017

Saturday Game Status Report: Week 8
LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2017) – The following is the Active Player Game Status Report for Saturday, May 27, 2017.  This report only refers to players on the active roster and their level of participation for today’s game

PHILADELPHIA @ WASHINGTON (Saturday, May 27 at 1 p.m. ET)

	PHILADELPHIA	WASHINGTON
OUT	Teddy Jennings Poppy Livers Bryce Peila	Will Corbin Adam Shead TT Toliver
QUESTIONABLE		N/A
PROBABLE		James Atoe Jake Payne David Wang
INACTIVE RESERVE	N/A	Mike Washington
INJURED RESERVE	Torez Jones John Sheehy Michael Simons Larico Stevenson	Zack Bullock JR Collins Johnnie Farms Kenyon Haughton Erik Meyer Jarien Moreland Reggie Wilson

   

About the AFL

The Arena Football League will enter its 30 ^th Anniversary Season in 2017.  Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country.  Teams slated for 2017 include: Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C.  CBS Sports Network nationally broadcasts AFL games each week during the regular season.  ArenaBowl XXX is slated for Saturday, August 26.

AFL's Inside the Numbers: Week 8

By: Adam Markowitz, May 26,2017

Raudabaugh On Verge of 30,000-Yard Club – Dan Raudabaugh is within range of the 30,000-yard mark in his career. Only nine have done it in the past, but the Philadelphia Soul quarterback is sitting on 29,698 heading into this week's game with the Washington Valor. Raudabaugh hasn't thrown for 300+ yards in a game this season, but will need 302 to reach the coveted 30,000-yard mark this week.

Toliver 50 Yards Shy of 16,000 – Last week, Valor receiver T.T. Toliver became the fifth man in AFL history to reach 2,000 career points. This week, he's got a shot at becoming the first to ever amass 16,000 receiving yards in AFL history. Toliver needs 50 yards against the Soul on Saturday afternoon to reach said feat.

A 7-0 Sweet 16? – There have only been 15 teams in the history of the AFL start off a season at 7-0. The Soul are primed to do so in 2017, and they'll hope to finish off their first half of their season in perfect form when they travel to Washington on Saturday. Philadelphia has started 7-0 or better twice before in its history, most recently in 2015.

Benson's Push to 100 TDs – Mykel Benson already has 56 carries on the season for the Soul, nine of which have gone for touchdowns. He's a goal-line threat every time he has the ball in his hands, and if he can reach the end zone four times this week, he'll reach the 100-touchdown mark in his career on the ground. Just four others have done so in AFL history.

6K for SK – Shaun Kauleinamoku has evolved into one of the most consistent receivers in the AFL, and he's been a superstar for the Soul for the past three seasons. He enters Week 8 with 5,960 career receiving yards, and with 40 more, he'll become one of the six active players in the league to hit the 6,000-yard mark.

Feelin' 100  – One of Raudabaugh's other top targets, Ryan McDaniel, can make a little bit of personal history himself on Saturday afternoon. McDaniel has 99 career receiving touchdowns, and he's got a great chance of getting to 100 this weekend. There are nine other active receivers who have reached the triple-digit mark in touchdown receptions in their careers.

Washington's No Fly Zone – There have only been a total of 17 men in the history of the AFL that have picked off 39 passes or more, and the Valor happen to have two of them in their secondary. Cameron McGlenn is one INT away from 40 career interceptions, while Tracy Belton is a pick away from becoming the seventh in AFL history to intercept 50 balls.

A New Return – New Baltimore Brigade acquisition, Brandon Thompkins has been one of the masters at kick returns over the course of the last several seasons. Last week, he returned a kick for a TD as a member of the Cleveland Gladiators. Now, he can return the favor to his old club after being traded to the Brigade this week. Thompkins has 17 career kick returns for touchdowns, tied for the eighth most in AFL history. He also needs 170 return yards to become the 26th man to ever hit the 5,000-yard mark in kick returns for his career.


A Close Encounter – The Valor and Brigade are both at home in Week 8, and their games are separated by just six hours. More importantly, the site of the AFL's first game of the week, the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., and its second game, Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore are separated by just 37.4 miles. There is only one time that there were two AFL games played on the same day closer than that, that being on June 19, 1998. That day, the New Jersey Red Dogs beat the Florida Bobcats, while the New York CityHawks were beaten by the Grand Rapids Rampage. The two arenas were separated by a total of just 8.7 miles. The only other time in AFL history there have been games played between teams separated by fewer than 40 miles were when the New York Dragons and New Jersey Gladiators were separated by just 38.3 miles in 2001 and 2002. Those two teams both played home games on the same day four times.

Week 8 AFL Matchups: Doubleheader Weekend in the Beltway; Valor and Brigade Host Games Saturday

May 26,2017

Valor host Soul in a matinee kickoff and the Gladiators visit the Brigade in the nightcap

LAS VEGAS – The Cleveland Gladiators (1-5) will make their first-trip to the Baltimore Brigade (1-4) on  Saturday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Royal Farms Arena live on CBS Sports Network. After notching early season wins, both the Gladiators and Brigade are looking to turn the tide on their 2017 seasons’. During the week, the Gladiators traded WR Brandon Thompkins and QB Shane Boyd to Baltimore for future considerations. The addition of Thompkins gives Brigade rookie quarterback Shane Carden another option as Julian Talley and Paul Browning try to fill the void vacated by injured receiver Reggie Gray. The Gladiators suffered many injuries to begin the 2017 campaign and one bright spot has been the play of quarterback Arvell Nelson. Nelson leads the league’s number one ranked offense into Baltimore.

The Washington Valor (1-4) will play host to the streaking Philadelphia Soul (6-0) on  Saturday, May 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET at Verizon Center streaming live on ArenaFootball.com. The Soul won the first matchup of the season between the two teams, 49-31, back on April 22. Dating back to last season the Soul have won 12 consecutive games including ArenaBowl XXIX. The Valor find themselves on a streak of their own losing their last four games after opening the season with a victory. Turning towards the Verizon Center crowd for some “home cooking”, the Valor have lost their last two contests by an average of seven points and will look to receivers Greg Carr and T.T. Toliver to supply the scoring. Last week, Toliver surpassed the 2,000-point mark for his AFL career with a touchdown over the Tampa Bay Storm.

For complete official statistics, game notes and media guides, go to:  www.afldigital.com .

Valor Host Undefeated Soul Saturday

May 26,2017

Military Appreciation Day set for afternoon matchup with Philadelphia

The Valor (1-4) are back at Verizon Center this weekend hosting the defending champion Philadelphia Soul (5-0) on Sat., May 27 at 1 p.m. The team will host Military Appreciation Day, presented by Leidos, to honor veterans as well as those currently serving in the Armed Forces.  In addition to the in-game recognitions, the team will provide members of the military and their families with complimentary tickets to the game.

VALOR PLAYER TO WATCH:  WR ROGER JACKSON – Coming off his third consecutive game with at least one touchdown, Jackson looks to stay hot this weekend against the Soul. The third-year AFL vet is coming off a nine-catch, 137-yard and two-touchdown game at Tampa Bay that earned him Offensive Player of the Game honors.

SOUL PLAYER TO WATCH:  QB DAN RAUDABAUGH – Raudabaugh spearheads a Soul offense that leads the AFL in points per game. Raudabaugh threw for eight touchdowns last week and is tied for the league lead with 39 on the season. He ranks second in completion percentage, total passing yards and passer rating.

MATCHUP TO WATCH:  WAS WRs vs. PHI DB JAMES ROMAIN – Valor WRs Roger Jackson and T.T. Toliver have each found the end zone in three straight outings. Jackson, noted above, earned Offensive Player of the Game honors last weekend in Tampa Bay. In the same game, T.T. Toliver became the fifth player in AFL history to eclipse 2,000 career points with a touchdown late in the second quarter.  Each will face a sturdy challenge when lined up against Soul DB James Romain who leads the AFL with 33.5 total tackles this season, including 2.5 for loss, and is tied for second in the league with two interceptions.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on  Monumental Sports Network .

Brigade Return to Action at Home Against Gladiators

May 26,2017

Baltimore hosts Cleveland in team’s second-ever home game

The Baltimore Brigade (1-4) are set to host the Cleveland Gladiators (1-5) this Sat., May 27 at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. The Brigade are coming off their second bye week of the season while the Gladiators are looking to bounce back from a 64-46 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Soul. The Brigade notched their first win of the season in the teams’ first meeting on Sun., April 16 in Cleveland, topping the Gladiators 52-49. Rookie QB Shane Carden completed 20-31 passes and threw for six touchdowns. DL Dexter Davis led the way on the defensive side of the ball for the Brigade, recording 4.5 tackles, three sacks (an AFL single-game high this season), two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

“You can watch the film and look at some stuff,” Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith said of the team’s earlier meeting, “but it has very little bearing on the outcome of what’s going to happen on Saturday. It’s about our execution and our focus – being able to make plays when we need to.”

BRIGADE PLAYER TO WATCH:  QB SHANE CARDEN – The rookie and leader of the Brigade offense ranks third in the league in completion percentage, yards per game and touchdowns per game. In the Brigade’s Week 6 outing in Philadelphia, Carden threw for 291 yards and five touchdowns, including long-distance scores of 49, 44 and 43 yards. He also scored twice on the ground against the Soul, marking the second time this season he has scored multiple rushing touchdowns in a game.

GLADIATORS PLAYER TO WATCH:  QB ARVELL NELSON – Nelson has thrown for at least six touchdowns in three of the last four games, including last weekend against the Soul, when he completed 25-40 passes for 282 yards and six scores. Nelson also poses a threat on the ground, leading all AFL quarterbacks with six rushing touchdowns.

MATCHUP TO WATCH:  BAL WRs vs. CLE DB TERENCE MOORE – Brigade WRs Julian Talley and Paul Browning have provided consistent threats for QB Shane Carden this season, while newly signed WR Kendal Thompkins, who made his debut in Week 6, has provided even more explosiveness.  Talley enters this week with three straight games of 100+ yards and 2+ touchdowns, leading the Brigade in receiving each of those games. Gladiators DB Terence Moore ranks fourth in the league with 28 total tackles, including a team-leading four last weekend against the Soul.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.

Cleveland Gladiators Announce New "Tailgate Zone" For All Remaining Home Games

May 25,2017

Fans can purchase tickets in the new field-level club that debuts on June 16^th featuring an all-inclusive package of tailgate fare, beer, wine and soda

CLEVELAND – Quicken Loans Arena will have a bit of a different look for fans attending any of the Cleveland Gladiators’ remaining home games during the 2017 season. The team announced today the addition of a new end zone club called the ‘Gladiators Tailgate Zone,’ an all-inclusive experience that puts fans right in the middle of the action.

The south end of The Q will feature an exclusive space that will accommodate hundreds of fans as they enjoy the opportunity to eat, drink and interact with AFL players like never before. Included with admission to the Gladiators Tailgate Zone is access to an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring concessions favorites like popcorn, a nacho bar and Sugardale hot dogs, plus beer, wine and ice-cold Pepsi products all available from the time doors open until the end of the 3rd quarter.

 

The Gladiators Tailgate Zone will debut on Friday, June 16th when the Gladiators host the Baltimore Brigade at Quicken Loans Arena for a “Summer Picnic at The Q.” The first 10,000 fans to arrive will receive a Gladiators Tumbler presented by Phantom Fireworks.  Additionally, there will be two other opportunities for fans to experience the Tailgate Zone during the remaining home games of the 2017 regular season as the team hosts “Go Pink Night” on Saturday, June 24th and “Fan Salute Night Presented by The Brew Kettle” on Saturday, July 8th.

 

Fans can purchase all-inclusive Tailgate Zone tickets for only $49 while supplies last by visiting www.clevelandgladiators.com/tailgatezone or by calling (216) 420-2222.

 

The Cleveland Gladiators are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League playing at Quicken Loans Arena, as well as the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League playing in nearby Canton, Ohio at the Canton Civic Center.

Brackett to Start for Valor

May 25,2017

Hamstring injury sustained against Tampa Bay will sideline Meyer

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  The Washington Valor have announced that the team has activated QB Sean Brackett, who will start for the team this Saturday against the Philadelphia Soul, and has been assigned QB Josh Portis, who will serve as backup. QB Erik Meyer has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury sustained during the fourth quarter of last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Storm.

Brackett has two seasons of AFL experience. He spent the 2015 season with the Las Vegas Outlaws, throwing for 1,109 yards and 22 touchdowns in eight games. During the 2016 season, he appeared in three games for the Jacksonville Sharks and also spent time with the Qingdao Clipper of the CAFL. Brackett played four seasons at Columbia University, his last coming in 2012. Over the course of his collegiate career, he threw for 6,273 yards and 46 touchdowns and ran for another 11 scores. He was named first-team All-Ivy League in 2010 after throwing for 2,072 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine games.

Signing with Washington marks Portis’ first taste of arena football, though his professional football resume includes stints with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks (2011-12, 2013) and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts (2013) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2014-15).

Meyer, the 2013 AFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, is playing in his seventh AFL season, and has accumulated over 13,000 yards and 300 touchdowns through the air over the course of his career. Meyer started all five games for the Valor this season, throwing for 1,132 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The team has also announced the following transactions: DB James Harrell and OL Joe Madsen have been placed on the refuse to report list. QB Bernard Morris has been placed on league suspension. OL John Collins and DL James McClinton have been placed on reassignment.

The Valor (1-4) are back at Verizon Center this weekend hosting the defending champion Philadelphia Soul (5-0) on Sat., May 27 at 1 p.m. Media interested in covering this weekend’s game or any future Valor game can request credentials via email at  aflcredentials@monumentalsports.com.

The Washington Valor are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. The company also owns and operates the AFL’s Baltimore Brigade, NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, WNBA’s Washington Mystics and Verizon Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. MSE also oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex– the training facility for the Washington Capitals and EagleBank Arena at George Mason University. Monumental Sports Network, a digital platform that covers the region’s sports and entertainment news, is also owned by MSE. Visit  www.washingtonvalor.com for more information. 

Fresh Air, Family, and Football

By: Carson A. Merk, May 25,2017 (Photo Credit: Washington Valor)

“No such thing as a life that’s better than yours.” That’s part of the chorus to J. Cole’s song Love Yourz. Along with Kendrick Lamar, Cole is a favorite artist of Washington Valor defensive tackle Everett Dawkins. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native Dawkins absolutely loves his life, especially his country upbringing.“The best part of growing up in the country was the freedom,” reflects Dawkins. “Just being able to go outside, having the space, the woods. You had the space to do whatever you want. We used to fish a lot, dig up our own worms.” It was during those early years that he learned some of life’s most important lessons from his grandparents. In addition to always being yourself, he shares, “They taught me the basis of having respect for other people, and to treat people the way you want to be treated.” His grandfather imparted the importance of a strong work ethic, without needing to say a word. “I saw him everyday, go to work, third shift, come back, sleep all day, then go back to work,” Dawkins recalls. “The bills were always paid, my grandma and everyone were taken care of, so that’s kind of the mentality I have.”

Everett  would become an All-State defensive lineman at James F. Byrnes High School, winning a state championship in 2007. On the other side of the ball that year, the team had sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore. He would go on to be a superstar at the University of South Carolina, but severe knee injuries in college did not allow him to see the field in the NFL. “Everyone knows how great he was coming out of college, and even in high school. It’s a big disappointment, because of the talent the kid had,” Dawkins comments on Lattimore. “He was always a head down, work first kind of guy. He always did what the coaches asked of him. He’s coaching now, so I know he has a bright future ahead of him still.” Lattimore is the head coach of Heathwood Hall, a prep school in South Carolina.

After his own college career as a Florida State Seminole ended, Dawkins signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He never saw game action, but he was also signed by the Cowboys, Buccaneers and Giants before joining the Arena Football League. He had his best AFL year so far with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2015. He had 22 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. He played another season for the Storm, then was assigned to the expansion Valor this offseason. He has six assisted tackles and two fumble recoveries in the early stages of his Washington career.

On the field, he prefers to lead by example.Whether that’s working hard in practice, or showcasing his skills during the game, “If you knock me down, I’m going to get right back up and try to knock you down,” said the Valor defensive lineman. He’s able to flip his calm, country demeanor to explosive and aggressive when the time comes on gameday. He details the process, “I just have to get into my zone. Sometimes music to get hyped up, but just get into my zone.” Dawkins admits it’s always a challenge and something that, no matter how well he’s playing, he has to improve.

You can see Everett Dawkins and the Washington Valor take on the undefeated Philadelphia Soul this Saturday at the Verizon Center. The game will kickoff at 1 pm Eastern Time, and will be streamed live on ArenaFootball.com 

2017 Conference Schedule and Results

Baltimore Brigade (2-4) .333

Date		Opponent	Result	Score	W-L	+/-	Net Pts	Att
Apr 7	*	@ Washington Valor	Loss	38-51	0-1	-13	-13	15,579
Apr 16	*	@ Cleveland Gladiators	Win	52-49	1-1	3	-10	5,758
Apr 29	*	@ Philadelphia Soul	Loss	34-69	1-2	-35	-45	11,833
May 7	*	Tampa Bay Storm	Loss	55-62	1-3	-7	-52	5,915
May 13	*	@ Philadelphia Soul	Loss	56-61	1-4	-5	-57	9,857
May 27	*	Cleveland Gladiators	Win	63-60	2-4	3	-54	5,190

Cleveland Gladiators (1-6) .143

Date		Opponent	Result	Score	W-L	+/-	Net Pts	Att
Apr 8	*	Tampa Bay Storm	Loss	40-46	0-1	-6	-6	12,865
Apr 16	*	Baltimore Brigade	Loss	49-52	0-2	-3	-9	5,758
Apr 22	*	@ Tampa Bay Storm	Loss	61-62	0-3	-1	-10	9,119
Apr 28	*	Washington Valor	Win	48-34	1-3	14	4	9,223
May 6	*	Philadelphia Soul	Loss	67-69	1-4	-2	2	10,389
May 20	*	@ Philadelphia Soul	Loss	46-64	1-5	-18	-16	7,667
May 27	*	@ Baltimore Brigade	Loss	60-63	1-6	-3	-19	5,190

Philadelphia Soul (7-0) 1.000

Date		Opponent	Result	Score	W-L	+/-	Net Pts	Att
Apr 15	*	@ Tampa Bay Storm	Win	56-52	1-0	4	4	9,071
Apr 22	*	@ Washington Valor	Win	49-31	2-0	18	22	12,122
Apr 29	*	Baltimore Brigade	Win	69-34	3-0	35	57	11,833
May 6	*	@ Cleveland Gladiators	Win	69-67	4-0	2	59	10,389
May 13	*	Baltimore Brigade	Win	61-56	5-0	5	64	9,857
May 20	*	Cleveland Gladiators	Win	64-46	6-0	18	82	7,667
May 27	*	@ Washington Valor	Win	48-47	7-0	1	83	9,873

Tampa Bay Storm (5-1) .833

Date		Opponent	Result	Score	W-L	+/-	Net Pts	Att
Apr 8	*	@ Cleveland Gladiators	Win	46-40	1-0	6	6	12,865
Apr 15	*	Philadelphia Soul	Loss	52-56	1-1	-4	2	9,071
Apr 22	*	Cleveland Gladiators	Win	62-61	2-1	1	3	9,119
May 7	*	@ Baltimore Brigade	Win	62-55	3-1	7	10	5,915
May 13	*	@ Washington Valor	Win	41-33	4-1	8	18	8,420
May 20	*	Washington Valor	Win	53-47	5-1	6	24	9,275

Washington Valor (1-5) .167

Date		Opponent	Result	Score	W-L	+/-	Net Pts	Att
Apr 7	*	Baltimore Brigade	Win	51-38	1-0	13	13	15,579
Apr 22	*	Philadelphia Soul	Loss	31-49	1-1	-18	-5	12,122
Apr 28	*	@ Cleveland Gladiators	Loss	34-48	1-2	-14	-19	9,223
May 13	*	Tampa Bay Storm	Loss	33-41	1-3	-8	-27	8,420
May 20	*	@ Tampa Bay Storm	Loss	47-53	1-4	-6	-33	9,275
May 27	*	Philadelphia Soul	Loss	47-48	1-5	-1	-34	9,873

As of May 28,2017 at 12:43 AM CT

Overall AFL Standings as of the games of May 27,2017 from ARENAFOOTBALL.COM

Overall Standings as of May 28, 2017

	OVERALL						AVG PER GAME			HOME			ROAD
	W	L	%	PF	PA	+/-	PF	PA	+/-	W	L	%	W	L	%	STRK
Philadelphia Soul	7	0	1.000	416	333	83	59.4	47.6	11.9	3	0	1.000	4	0	1.000	W 7
Tampa Bay Storm	5	1	0.833	316	292	24	52.7	48.7	4.0	2	1	0.667	3	0	1.000	W 4
Baltimore Brigade	2	4	0.333	298	352	-54	49.7	58.7	- 9.0	1	1	0.500	1	3	0.250	W 1
Washington Valor	1	5	0.167	243	277	-34	40.5	46.2	- 5.7	1	3	0.250	0	2	0.000	L 5
Cleveland Gladiators	1	6	0.143	371	390	-19	53.0	55.7	- 2.7	1	3	0.250	0	3	0.000	L 3

Brigade Acquire Thompkins and Boyd from Gladiators

May 23,2017

Baltimore sends future considerations and claim position to Cleveland

BALTIMORE, MD  – The Baltimore Brigade announced today the acquisition of WR/KR Brandon Thompkins and QB Shane Boyd from the Cleveland Gladiators in exchange for future considerations and a claim order position.

Thompkins, the AFL’s 2016 Playmaker of the Year and First Team All-Arena wide receiver and kick returner, joins the Brigade in his seventh season of professional play. The Arkansas State alum played briefly in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions before joining the AFL, where he has spent time with the Spokane Shock, Utah Blaze, Los Angeles KISS, Orlando Predators and Cleveland Gladiators, amassing 515 receptions, 6,398 receiving yards and 131 touchdowns. The 5’10” wideout has also tallied 13 career rushing touchdowns and 17 career special teams touchdowns. Thompkins has appeared in four games this season, registering 24 receptions, 282 yards and four touchdowns.

Boyd is playing in his sixth AFL season and has appeared in one game for the Gladiators in 2017. The veteran QB has accumulated 3,718 passing yards and 65 touchdowns in stops with five different teams. Boyd played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he appeared in 36 games over the course of four years. Boyd has made additional stops in the National Football League, where he played briefly for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans – and the Canadian Football League, playing briefly in 2009 for the Montreal Alouettes.

The Baltimore Brigade is owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. The company also owns and operates the AFL’s Washington Valor, NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, WNBA’s Washington Mystics and Verizon Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. MSE also oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex– the training facility for the Washington Capitals and EagleBank Arena at George Mason University. Monumental Sports Network, a digital platform that covers the region’s sports and entertainment news, is also owned by MSE. 

AFL Awards Week 7 Players of the Week

May 23,2017

Hills catches Storm game winner, Goosby has a huge night on the defensive side of the ball

LAS VEGAS – The Arena Football League has announced that Tampa Bay Storm wide receiver Joe Hills and Philadelphia Soul linebacker Joe Goosby have been named the offensive and defensive players of the week for Week 7 respectively.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Hills (6’4”, 220, Tennessee State), the sure handed receiver helped the Storm to a 53-47 victory over the Washington Valor in Week 7. Hills led with a game-high 11 receptions for 123 yards and three receiving touchdowns, including the game winner with three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The three-touchdown performance marks the 43rd time he has caught three or more touchdowns in a game in his five-plus year career.  Hills becomes the first back-to-back AFL Player of the Week in 2017.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Goosby (6’1”, 235, Tulane) had quite the stat line in the 64-46 Philadelphia Soul victory over the Cleveland Gladiators last week. Playing in his 101st AFL game, the linebacker made three tackles, intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, returned a failed two-point conversion for a two-point score and recovered a pair of onside kicks.

PREVIOUS WINNERS WEEK 1 – Washington’s Mike Washington (Offensive) and Tampa Bay’s Ceasar Rayford (Defensive)
WEEK 2 – Philadelphia’s Darius Reynolds (Offensive) and Baltimore’s Dexter Davis Jr. (Defensive)
WEEK 3 – Tampa Bay’s Randy Hippeard (Offensive) and Alvin Ray Jackson (Defensive)
WEEK 4 – Philadelphia’s Ryan McDaniel (Offensive) and Dwayne Hollis (Defensive)
WEEK 5 – Tampa Bay’s Randy Hippeard (Offensive) and Paul Stephens (Defensive)
WEEK 6 – Tampa Bay’s Joe Hills (Offensive) and Philadelphia’s Sean Daniels (Defensive)

ABOUT THE AFLThe Arena Football League is now in its 30 ^th Anniversary Season in 2017. Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. Teams slated for 2017 include: Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C.  CBS Sports Network nationally broadcasts AFL games each week during the regular season. ArenaBowl XXX is slated for Saturday, August 26. For all the latest news and discussion on the Arena Football League, follow the AFL on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aflarenaball).

Gladiators fall to Soul, 64-46

May 21,2017

WR Larry Brackins hauls in four touchdowns on four catches in road defeat

PHILADELPHIA – The Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators, proudly presented by Unique Home Solutions, dropped a road contest to the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday night in front of 7,667 fans at the Wells Fargo Center, 64-46. With the loss, the Gladiators drop to 1-5 on the season and currently remain in fifth place in the AFL standings.

The Soul got the scoring started early when quarterback Dan Raudabaugh hit wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku with a one-yard scoring strike. Following a Cleveland turnover, Raudabaugh found wide receiver Ryan McDaniel for a 19-yard score to quickly put Philadelphia in front 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Gladiators quarterback Arvell Nelson got Cleveland on the board in the second quarter when he found wide receiver Larry Brackins streaking down the field for a 21-yard touchdown, trimming the Soul lead to 14-7. Raudabaugh and the Philadelphia offense quickly responded when the veteran quarterback hooked up with wide receiver Darius Reynolds for nine yards and another Soul touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Cleveland wide receiver Brandon Thompkins took the kick-off and bolted 51 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Gladiators to within a touchdown.

It was Philadelphia’s offense, however, who capped off a strong opening half when Raudabaugh and Reynolds paired up for two more Soul touchdowns, to lead the home team into the break with a 34-13 lead.

After jack linebacker Joe Goosby’s second interception of the game opened the second half, Kauleinamoku found pay dirt for the second time on the night, this time a 25-yarder from Raudabaugh to increase the Soul lead to 41-13. Cleveland answered on their next drive when Nelson hit Brackins for his second touchdown of the game, a three-yard score to trim the Philadelphia lead to 41-20, but the Soul quickly bumped the lead back up to 28 when Raudabaugh found offensive lineman Neal Tivis for an eight-yard screen, extending the lead once again to 48-20.

The Gladiators followed that up with two quick scores of their own as Nelson found Brackins for his third touchdown of the night, then hit wide receiver Quentin Sims for a 29-yard scoring strike, cutting the Soul lead down to 48-32. A failed onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, however, led to a swift answer from the Soul as fullback Mykel Benson plunged into the end zone from one yard out to pad the Philadelphia lead, 55-32, with 8:55 remaining in the game.

The Nelson-Brackins duo struck for a fourth time on Cleveland’s next series, a 13-yarder this time, to cut the score to 55-40 with 6:02 left in the game. Raudabaugh and the Soul offense pulled away for good when Kauleinamoku caught his third touchdown of the game, a 12-yarder to push the lead to 62-40. The Gladiators capped the scoring when Nelson found Sims for a seven-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion would be returned by Philadelphia for two points, making the final score 64-46.

Next up for the Gladiators is a road match-up with the Baltimore Brigade next Saturday, May 27 ^that 7:00 pm. The game can be seen live on CBS Sports Network and heard on 92.3 The Fan.

Notes: Nelson completed 25 of 40 passes for 282 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.. Thompkins extended his streak of consecutive regular season games with a touchdown to 35 games.. OL Alex Land made his first career start on the offensive line.. DB Jordan Holland, K Jed Solomon and FB/DL Jeramie Richardson made their 2017 debuts.. DB Kent Richardson returned from injury and made 1.5 tackles.. DL Darryl Cato-Bishop posted a sack and a forced fumble.

POST-GAME AWARDS :

Offensive Player of the Game: Philadelphia WR Darius Reynolds – 7 receptions, 85 yards, and three touchdowns

Defensive Player of the Game: Philadelphia JLB Joe Goosby – three tackles, two INT’s, and a forced fumble

MVP of the Game: Philadelphia QB Dan Raudubaugh – 16/24 for 176 yards and eight touchdowns

Tickets for every Gladiators home game start at just $10 and are on sale now! Full and partial season ticket memberships are also available and provide you with the best seat locations, custom member benefits and the lowest ticket prices. All tickets can be purchased by visiting ClevelandGladiators.com, calling (216) 420-0000, visiting The Q Box Office or any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart. Be sure to follow the Gladiators on Twitter  @clegladiators, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandgladiators.

The Cleveland Gladiators are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League playing at Quicken Loans Arena and the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League playing in nearby Canton, Ohio at the Canton Civic Center.

Storm tarnishes Valor, 53-47

May 20,2017 (Photo Credit: Scott Audette/Tampa Bay Storm)

Hills catches winning touchdown with three seconds left in regulation

TAMPA, FL – Joe Hills caught a three yard pass with three seconds remaining as the Tampa Bay Storm (5-1) defeated the Washington Valor (1-4), 53-47, Saturday night in an Arena Football League game at AMALIE® Area.

The win was the second in a row over the Valor (1-4), after the Storm won, 41-33, in the Nation’s Capitol last week.

Clock management in the final minute of any game can make the difference and for the second time, the Storm did it well.

It was Hills third score of the game and he ended with a game high 11 catches for 122 yards. He also was named the MVP of the game.

Quarterback Erik Meyer of the Valor was replaced by backup Bernard Morris for the remainder of the game. He took a hard hit at 6:40 of the fourth quarter.

Hippeard threw for 96 yards in the first half, but he picked it up in the third quarter connecting four of five, including two scores. He ended the night completing 19-of-31, no for 233 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions


 

Score by Quarters         1          2          3        4         Total

Washington Valor             7          19        7        14       47

Tampa Bay Storm            7          13        13      20       53                   

 

1st Quarter

WSH – EriK Meyer 1 run. (T.C. Stevens kick) 7:20.

TAM – LaMark Brown 12 pass from Randy Hippeard (Mark Lewis kick) 2:56.

 

2nd Quarter

WSH – Anthony Parker 8 pass from Meyer (Stevens kick) 14:13.

TAM – Dexter Jackson 1 run (Lewis kick) 11:05.

WSH – Roger Jackson 37 pass from Meyer (kick blocked) 6:17.

WSH – T.T. Toliver 29 pass from Meyer (kick failed) 00:50.

TAM – Joe Hills 35 pass from Hippeard (kick failed) 00:22.

 

3rd Quarter

TAM – Kendrick Ings 5 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 13:23

WSH – Julius Gregory 10 pass from Meyer (Stevens kick) 10:37.

TAM – Ings 12 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 7:47.

 

4th Quarter  

WSH – Charles McClain 2 pass from Meyer (Stevens kick) 14:55.

TAM – Ings 33 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 12:22.

TAM – Hills 9 pass from Hippeard (Lewis kick) 2:50.

WSH – R. Jackson 2 pass from Bernard Morris (Stevens kick) 00:37

TAM – Hills 3 pass from Hippeard (kick failed) 00:03.

INDIVIDUAL STATS                                                                 

Passing (C-A-INT-Yds-TD) 

WAS – Erik Meyer (21-35-1-269-5), Bernard Morris (4-4-0-55-1).

TAM – Randy Hippeard (19-31-0-233-7)

Rushing: (Att-Yds-TD)

WAS – Erik Meyer (5-33-1),

TAM – Randy Hippeard (3(-5)-0), Dexter Jackson (1-1-1), LaMark Brown (1-7-0).

Receiving:  (Rec-Yds-TD)

WAS – Roger Jackson (9-137-2), Charles McClain (9-83-1), T.T. Toliver (2-34-1), Anthony Parker (1-8-1), Julius Gregory (1-10-1), Greg Carr (3-52-0).

TAM – Joe Hills (11-123-3), LaMark Brown (4-59-1), Leonardo Bates (1-1-0), Kendrick Ings (3-50-3).

KO Returns: (No.-Yds-TD)

WAS – Cameron McGlenn (6-63-0).

TAM – Kendrick Ings (2-68-0), Michael Lindsey (4-87-0).


Offensive Player of the Game: Roger Jackson, Washington WR

Defensive Player of the Game: Monte Lewis, Tampa Bay, DL

MVP OF THE GAME: Joe Hills, Tampa Bay WR

Washington Drops 53-47 Final to Tampa Bay

May 20,2017 (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Storm)

Toliver eclipses 2,000 career points as Valor fall to Storm

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Washington Valor, 53-47, in a back-and-forth contest Saturday night at Amalie Arena. Valor WR and Offensive Player of the Game Roger Jackson led the way for Washington with 137 yards and two touchdowns through the air while the game’s MVP, Storm WR Joe Hills, led the way for Tampa Bay with 123 receiving yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with just three seconds remaining.

“We’re growing,” Valor Head Coach Dean Cokinos said. “We’ve got to keep moving. That’s the game. This is arena ball. It so often comes down to the last possession and just have to learn and be able to win one of these games.”

On the game’s opening kickoff, Storm WR Kendrick Ings dodged his way through the Washington coverage team and broke free, but lost control of the ball inside the five-yard line just prior to scoring. The Valor recovered the ball and capitalized on the mishap, taking an early 7-0 lead when QB Erik Meyer took a one-yard run into the end zone on the ensuing possession. The Storm responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from QB Randy Hippeard to WR Lamark Brown, tying the game at seven. The score remained tied after one quarter, with the Valor accumulating over 10 minutes of possession time in the opening frame.

Meyer found TE Anthony Parker on the second play of the second quarter, giving the Valor a 14-0 lead. The score marked the first points of the season for Parker. Tampa Bay again answered the bell, this time on a Dexter Jackson one-yard touchdown run with 11:05 remaining to tie the game at 14. With 6:17 remaining in the half, Meyer found Jackson for a 37-yard strike to give the Valor a 20-14 lead. The extra point attempt was blocked. The play was Jackson’s longest reception of the season and his third touchdown on the year.

History was made with 50 seconds remaining in the half as Valor WR T.T. Toliver found the end zone on a 29-yard pass from Meyer, giving the veteran receiver 2,002 career points. Only five players in league history have crossed the 2,000-point threshold. The score gave the Valor a 26-14 lead. Hippeard found Hills for a 35-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the half, cutting the Valor lead to 26-20.

After the Valor fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, the Storm tied the game at 26 on a five-yard pass from Hippeard to Ings. Washington answered on its next possession, however, as Meyer found WR Julius Gregory for a 10-yard touchdown, capping a drive highlighted by a 38-yard catch-and-run by Jackson. The Valor led 33-26 with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter. As they had all night, the Storm answered. On the ensuing possession, Hippeard found Ings for his second touchdown of the quarter, a 12-yarder to knot the game at 33. On the last play of the third quarter, Meyer scrambled on third-and-goal from the 12-yard-line, setting up a fourth down try from the two-yard line.  Meyer rolled out of the pocket and found WR Charles McClain for a two-yard touchdown, giving the Valor a 40-33 lead just five seconds into the fourth quarter.

Ings scored his third touchdown of the game on a 33-yard toss from Hippeard, tying the game once again, this time at 40. On the Valor next possession, Meyer lost control of the ball as he went down with a right hamstring injury with 6:40 left in the game. The Storm recovered and took a 47-40 lead on the following possession. In his first possession of the game, Valor QB Bernard Morris led Washington down the field and finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown to Jackson. The Storm answered yet again, this time sealing the game, with a three-yard touchdown pass from Hippeard to Hills with three seconds left in the contest.

KEY STAT: Valor WR T.T. Toliver became the fifth player in AFL history to record 2,000 career points when he gathered a 29-yard pass from QB Erik Meyer late in the second quarter.

KEY MOMENT: The Storm took a 53-47 lead on WR Joe Hills third touchdown of the game with just three seconds left in the game, sealing the Tampa Bay victory.

MVP: Tampa Bay WR Joe Hills – 123 receiving yards and three touchdowns

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Washington WR Roger Jackson – 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tampa Bay DL Monte Lewis – Three solo tackles for loss, resulting in 16 yards lost


The Valor return home next weekend, taking on the Philadelphia Soul on Sat., May 27 at 1 p.m. at Verizon Center.

IN QUOTES:

WASHINGTON VALOR HEAD COACH DEAN COKINOS

On WR T.T. Toliver becoming the fifth player to ever reach 2,000 career points:

It’s just phenomenal. He played a great game tonight. He’s a good leader of the young guys. He’s a competitor. We’re very happy for him. He’s been a great player throughout his entire career.

Soul Defeat Gladiators, 62-46

May 20,2017 (Photo Credit: Philadelphia Soul)

The Road to Repeat Continues with Second Win Over Gladiators

PHILADELPHIA— The Philadelphia Soul (6-0) defeated the Cleveland Gladiators (1-5), with the final score 64-46 in front of 7,667 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.

“I’m very happy with how the team played tonight,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel.  “Despite having some injured key players, we were able to adjust in order to defeat Cleveland for the second time this season.”

Soul WR Darius Reynolds led the receivers with seven receptions for 85 yards and three touchdowns.  WR Ryan McDaniel added four receptions for 35 yards and one touchdown and WR Shaun Kauleinamoku tallied three receptions for 38 yards and three touchdowns.  Cleveland WR Quentin Sims led the receivers with 10 receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. 

Philadelphia QB Dan Raudabaugh completed 16-of-24 passes for 176 yards and eight touchdowns.  Cleveland QB Arvell Nelson completed 25-of-40 passes for 282 yards and six touchdowns.  

To start off the game, the Gladiators won the coin toss and elected to kick-off.  Raudabaugh threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Kauleinamoku. Trevino’s kick was good and the Soul started the game with a 7-0 lead.  With 5:59 left in the first, Romain intercepted Nelson’s pass to give the Soul possession.  The Soul capitalized when Raudabaugh connected with McDaniel for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The Soul ended the first quarter with a 14-0 lead.

Nelson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Larry Brackins to put the Gladiators on the board in the second quarter.  The Soul still held the lead, 14-7 with 10:19 to play in the half. The Soul lit up the board again with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Raudabaugh to Reynolds. The kick was good and with 6:40 to play in the half, the Soul continued to hold the lead, 21-7. Thompkins ran the ball in on the kick-off return for a 51-yard Gladiator touchdown.  Solomon’s extra point was no good, the Soul led 21-13.  With 3:58 left in the half, Raudabaugh found Reynolds for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Trevino’s kick was no good, Soul led 27-13. Goosby intercepted Nelson’s pass to give the Soul the ball. Raudabaugh connected with Reynolds for a 6-yard touchdown. The Soul ended the first half with a 34-13 lead over the Gladiators.

To start off the second half, Goosby intercepted Nelson’s pass. Raudabaugh threw to Kauleinamoku for 25-yard touchdown pass. Trevino’s extra point was good, the Soul continued to hold the lead 41-13. With eight minutes to go in the third, Nelson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Brackins, making it 41-20, Soul lead. The Soul responded with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Raudabaugh to Tivis, which strengthened their lead to 48-20. Nelson found Brackins for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The kick was no good, and the Soul held the 48-26 lead.

The fourth quarter started with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Sims to make the score 48-32, Soul in the lead. Raudabaugh handed it off to Benson for a one-yard touchdown run. Trevino’s kick was good, the Soul lead 55-32. With 6:29 to go in the game, Nelson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brackins. The Gladiators’ two-point conversion was good, making the score 55-40, the Soul in the lead. Raudabaugh found Kauleinamoku for a 12-yard touchdown with four minutes to play. Soul held the lead, 62-40. With under a minute left to play, Hollis intercepted Nelson’s pass intended for Obi. On the next drive, Nelson threw to Sims for a 7-yard touchdown pass, keeping the Soul in the lead 62-46. Gladiators’ tried for a two-point conversion and fumbled. Goosby recovered the fumble and ran it in for two points. The Soul defeated the Gladiators 64-46.

 

Offensive Player of the Game: Soul WR Darius Reynolds

Defensive Player of the Game: Soul JLB Joe Goosby

MVP of the Game:  Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh

 

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SOUL             

The 2016 World Champion Philadelphia Soul are in their 12th season in the Arena Football League.  In the first 11 seasons, the Soul have won four Division Championships, four Conference Championships and two World Championships.  Since the inaugural season in 2004, the Soul are the winningest professional sports team in Philadelphia.  Season memberships and Group tickets for the Soul’s upcoming 2017 season are on sale now.  For tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a Soul representative by filling out the form on  www.philadelphiasoul.com. Follow the Soul on Facebook at facebook.com/soul and Twitter at twitter.com/soulfootball.