GLADIATORS, SOUL ANGLE FOR POSTSEASON SEEDING

Sharks, Rattlers Face Off in Desert on CBS Sports Network
July 6,2016

LAS VEGAS (July 6,2016) – Old rivals – Cleveland Gladiators and Philadelphia Soul – are set to battle at PPL Center in Allentown, PA this Saturday, July 9 at 6 p.m. ET on WatchESPN. Led by 2015 Coach of the Year Clint Dolezel and AFL MVP QB Dan Raudabaugh (68.4 comp. %, 3,395 passing yards and 77 TDs), the Soul, who are currently the No. 3 seed, have already clinched a First Round Postseason home game, but look to take aim at the top spot with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Gladiators head coach Steve Thonn has QB Arvell Nelson (58.4 comp. %, 2,533 passing yards and 55 TDs) in his offense’s driver seat as they look to secure the final home game seed for the first round. Cleveland’s (7-6) dynamic duo of Collin Taylor and Quentin Sims have combined for 160 catches for 1,953 yards and 47 TDs, while Soul secondary of Tracy Belton, Dwayne Hollis and James Romain have combined for 19 INTs and 40 pass breakups.
Elsewhere, National Conference leader Arizona Rattlers (10-3) have clinched at least the No. 2 seed for the upcoming postseason tournament, while the Jacksonville Sharks (5-7) still have a shot at hosting. The two will face off at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday, July 9 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Offensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate QB Nick Davila continues to lead the AFL in passing yards (3,431) and touchdowns (88), while throwing to the All-Arena caliber trio of Rod Windsor, Maurice Purify and Chase Deadder (combined for 229 receptions for 2,787 yards and 76 touchdowns in 2016). Former AFL MVP Tommy Grady (67.9 comp. %, 3,424 passing yards and 68 TDs) guides the Sharks’ attack, while Offensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate WR Joe Hills (127 receptions for 1,593 yards and 43 TDs) continues his impressive League-leading pace.


Also, QB Bernard Morris (11 passing TDs in two starts in 2016) and the current No. 1 seed Orlando Predators head to the Pacific Northwest to take on QB Shane Austin (17 passing TDs in last three starts) and the Portland Steel at Moda Center on Saturday, July 9 at 10 p.m. ET on WatchESPN. MVP and Offensive Player of the Year candidate WR Brandon Thompkins has a shot to possibly break the League’s all-time single-season, all-purpose yards mark (P.J. Berry, 3,708 yards in 2011) and currently stands at 2,810 yards with three games remaining on the schedule. Portland WR Tom Gilson has already set career highs in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,057) and touchdowns (14), while DL Brandon Sesay is No. 2 in the AFL with 4.0 sacks.
The final game of the week, Los Angeles QB Pete Thomas (1,456 yards and 32 passing TDs) and the LA KISS (5-7) host WR T.T. Toliver and the Tampa Bay Storm at Honda Center on Monday, July 11 at 10 p.m. ET on WatchESPN and Univision Deportes (The Univision broadcast will be tape-delayed to Tuesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. ET). All-Arena candidate WR Donovan Morgan (77 catches, 1,056 yards and 33 TDs) has reached the 1,000-receiving yard plateau for the eighth time in his career. Tampa Bay’s Toliver has 21,030 all-purpose yards for his career, needing just 13 to surpass AFL Hall of Famer Barry Wagner (21,042) to become the League’s all-time leader. He is the League’s all-time leader in receptions (1,172) and receiving yards (15,379).
For complete official statistics, game notes and media guides, go to: www.afldigital.com.

WEEK 15 MATCHUPS Cleveland Gladiators (7-6) AT Philadelphia Soul (10-3)
Saturday, July 9 at 6 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)

	CLEVELAND	PHILADELPHIA
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER	Philadelphia leads 9-7
STREAKS	W2	W1
LAST WEEK	W 48-47 at Sharks	W 59-38 at Steel
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	5/28/16 Gladiators 63 vs. Soul 49
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	267.9 (4)	290.8 (3)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	302.1 (8)	249.1 (2)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	52.5 (4)	59.8 (2)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	46.5 (1)	55.4 (6)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	-3 (6)	+5 (4)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: GLADIATORS: Cleveland is looking to keep their two-game winning streak going after the League-wide bye week… QB Arvell Nelson has completed 195-of-334 passes for 2,533 yards, 55 TDs, and nine INTs… Nelson has also found success rushing the ball 47 times for 163 yards and eight TDs… The Texas Southern alum is 30-of-54 passes completed for 423 yards, nine TDs, and two INTs against the Soul in three earlier meetings this season…WR Collin Taylor continues to pick up where he left last season… In 13 games, Taylor has tallied 90 receptions for 1,167 yards and 27 TDs… The former Hoosier recorded his 100th career TD in Week 13’s 48-47 win over the Jacksonville Sharks… WR Quentin Sims is another receiving threat for the Gladiators… Sims has hauled in 70 catches for 786 yards and 20 TDs this season…In their Week 9 meeting against the Soul, Taylor and Sims combined for 15 receptions for 192 yards and five TDs… Cleveland’s defense is led by rookie DB Marvin Ross… Ross leads the team with 74.0 total tackles, 22 pass break-ups, 28 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and six INTs where he returned three of those for TDs… DB Demarcus Robinson has tallied 67.5 total tackles, 14 pass break-ups, 17 passes defended, and 3 INTs this season… SOUL: Philadelphia is currently one-game behind the Orlando Predators in the American Conference… 2015 AFL MVP QB Dan Raudabaugh has not lost his stride this season… Raudabaugh has completed 277-of-405 passes for 3,395 yards, 77 TDs, and 12 INTs… In his previous three meetings against the Gladiators this season, Raudabaugh went 72-of-108 for 890 yards, 22 TDs, and four INTS… Raudabaugh may have the top receiving trio in the AFL with WR Darius Reynolds, WR Shaun Kaleinamoku, and WR Ryan McDaniel… Reynolds has caught 96 receptions for 1,237 yards and 30 TDs in 2016… On the season, Kaleinamoku has hauled in 83 catches for 1,035 yards and 19 TDs… McDaniel is not far behind, tallying 77 receptions for 930 yards and 18 TDs… All three WRs have combined for 69 catches for 837 yards and 21 TDs in their previous three meetings against the Gladiators this season… The Soul defense is led by DB Tracy Belton and DB Dwayne Hollis… Belton has recorded 63.5 total tackles, 16 pass break-ups, 24 passes defended, one forced fumble, and a League leading eight INTs… Hollis has contributed 51.0 total tackles, eight pass break-ups, 15 passes defended, and is No. 2 in the League with 7 INTs.

Jacksonville Sharks (5-7) AT Arizona Rattlers (10-3)
Saturday, July 9 at 9:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Play-by- play: Brent Stover; Color: Sherdrick Bonner, Sideline: Tina Cervasio

	JACKSONVILLE	ARIZONA
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER	Arizona leads 6-0
STREAKS	L2	W4
LAST WEEK	L 48-47 vs. Gladiators	W 64-49 at KISS
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	4/23/16 Rattlers 75 at Sharks 68
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	306.8 (1)	292.2 (2)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	299.4 (7)	298.5 (6)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	51.2 (5)	66.8 (1)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	48.6 (4)	48.8 (5)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	+8 (3)	+13 (1)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SHARKS: 2012 AFL MVP Tommy Grady has put up solid numbers again this season…Grady has completed 300-of-442 passes for 3,424 yards, 68 TDs, and 6 INTS…The Utah alum is No. 2 in the League in passing yards (3,424) this season… Grady has the No.1 receiver in the AFL this season in WR Joe Hills… Hills has hauled in 127 receptions for 1,593 yards and a League-leading 43 TDs… WR Anthony “Tiger” Jones is another target for Grady’s passes… Jones has caught 77 passes for 895 yards and 13 TDs…Hills and Jones combined for 22 receptions for 246 yards and seven TDs in their Week 4 matchup against Arizona… On defense, the Sharks are led by 2015 Rookie of the Year DB Greg Reid… Reid continues a dominance performance on the defensive line tallying 74.5 total tackles, 21 pass break-ups, 29 passes defended, one forced fumble, and a League-leading eight INTs… DB LaRoche Jackson has aided the Sharks’ defense with 63.0 total tackles, 10 pass break-ups, 16 passes defended, and six INTs…In the Week 4 game against Arizona, Jackson intercepted Davila twice… RATTLERS: Arizona is looking to keep their four-game winning streak going into the final three games of the season (Arizona’s bye week is Week 18)… QB Nick Davila continues to captain his team from under-center… The 2014 AFL MVP has completed 282-of-420 passes for 3,431 yards, a League-leading 88 TDs, and nine INTs… Davila is No. 1 in the AFL in passing yards (3,431)… In Week 4 against Jacksonville, Davila went 35-of-50 while throwing for 390 yards, eight TDs, and two INTS… The Cincinnati alum has the receiving corps trio of WR Rod Windsor, WR Maurice Purify and WR Chase Deadder to target week in and week out… Windsor has hauled in 119 catches for 1,397 yards, and is No.2 in the League in reception TDs with 34… Purify has caught 64 receptions for 779 yards and 25 TDs in 10 games this season… Deadder has become another key target for Davila the last few weeks, hauling in 46 passes for 611 yards and 17 TDs in 2016… The Rattlers defense is led by DB Arkeith Brown… Brown has tallied 40.0 total tackles, 24 pass break-ups, 29 passes defended, and five INTs.
Orlando Predators (11-2) AT PORTLAND STEEL (1-11)
Saturday, July 9 at 10 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)

	ORLANDO	PORTLAND
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER	Orlando leads 2-0
STREAKS	W4	L3
LAST WEEK	W 56-33 vs. Storm	L 59-38 vs. Soul
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	4/19/16 Predators 53 vs. Steel 50
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	267.5 (5)	264.0 (6)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	268.6 (5)	265.3 (4)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	57.1 (3)	40.5 (7)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	47.0 (2)	62.1 (8)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	+12 (2)	-19 (8)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: PREDATORS: After an injury to Randy Hippeard, seventh-year QB Bernard Morris takes over under center for the Predators. Morris, an Orlando native who played at nearby Jones High School… Now in his third season with Orlando, Morris has registered a 13-6 overall record as a starter for the Predators, including leading the team to the American Conference Championship in 2014. Morris is 2-0 as a starter in 2016, leading Orlando to victories over the LA KISS in Week 10 and Tampa Bay Storm in Week 13… Morris’ main targets include WRs Brandon Thompkins and Greg Carr. The duo has played in all 13 games this season for the Predators and caught 180 passes for 2,261 yards and 57 TDs… Orlando boasts a turnover margin of +12 and the League’s No. 1 red-zone offense… DB Varmah Sonie leads the Predators in total tackles (79.5), INTs (6) and passes defended (22)… DLs Darryl Cato-Bishop and Willie McGinnis are tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks… WR Brandon Thompkins ranks No. 2 with 38 total TDs (31 receiving, 6 returning, 1 rushing), No. 2 with 230 points scored, No. 1 with 1,482 kickoff returns yards and 5 kickoff return TDs, and No. 1 with 2,810 all-purpose yards (1,525 kickoff return, 54 FG return, 1,228 receiving, 3 rushing) … Thompkins has been awarded AFL Playmaker of the Game eight times this season, all in Orlando victories… STEEL: Last week against Philadelphia, WR Rashaad Carter hauled in a season-high eight passes for 71 yards and caught the first-three Steel TDs of the game. Giving him six scores in his last two contests. He has reached six TDs in two games only once in his career, June 28 and July 12 with Spokane… WR Tom Gilson enters Week 15 in the Top 10 of nearly every AFL receiving category, No. 3 in the AFL with 9.0 receptions per game, No. 3 with 108 receptions and No. 7 in receiving yards per game with 88.1. He leads the team in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,057) and receiving TDs (14)… LB KC Obi has made his return to Portland after spending time in the Canadian Football League. Now in his third season in the AFL, his previous two seasons were spent in PDX. Playing in 27 games in 2014-15, he was a mainstay at mac linebacker tallying 62.5 tackles and 11.5 sacks… The stout Steel defensive front is really making it hard for opposing quarterbacks this season, as they have wrangled opposing QBs for a total of 9.0 sacks in the last seven weeks. Dexter Davis Jr. (2.0), Brandon Sesay (4.0), Robert Hayes (3.5) and Reggie Wilson (1.5) have all been able to get to the QB. The Steel defense has garnered 12.0 sacks total in 2016 is tied for No. 5 in the AFL.

Tampa Bay Storm (1-11) AT LOS ANGELES KISS (5-7)
Monday, July 11 at 10 p.m. ET (*Univision Deportes & WatchESPN)
Play-by- play: Jorge Perez-Navarro; Color: Ramses Sandoval
(*Univision Tape-Delayed to Tuesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. ET)

	TAMPA BAY	LOS ANGELES
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER	Series tied 1-1
STREAKS	L4	L1
LAST WEEK	L 56-33 at Predators	L 64-49 vs. Rattlers
LAST REG SEASON MEETING	6/18/16 KISS 54 at Strom 27
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)	251.6 (7)	251.5 (8)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)	245.2 (1)	264.2 (3)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)	35.0 (8)	45.6 (6)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)	55.8 (7)	47.7 (3)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)	-18 (7)	+2 (5)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: STORM: Toliver has 21,030 all-purpose yards for his career, needing just 13 to surpass AFL Hall of Famer Barry Wagner (21,042) to become the League’s all-time leader. He is the League’s all-time leader in receptions (1,172) and receiving yards (15,379).... Toliver leads the Storm in receptions (83), receiving yards (1,188) and TDs (17)… WR Prechae Rodriguez returned to the Storm on 6/24 vs. Orlando and reeled in 13 passes for 113 yards and three TDs on his way to earning AFL Playmaker of the Game... WR Phillip Barnett enters his second season with the Storm and is currently No. 2 on the team with 68 catches for 650 yards and 13 TDs… DB Cortez Stubbs leads the Storm in total tackles (59.0), INTs (3) passes defended (11) and fumble recoveries (2)… Storm QB Jason Boltus has connected on on 186-of-328 passes for 2,151 yards and 36 TDs in 2016… KISS: Head coach Omarr Smith played for the Storm and won an ArenaBowl Championship with the team in 2003... WR/KR Justin Wilson is ranked No. 2 in the AFL with 20.7 yards per kick return. Additionally, he is No. 7 in the League with 124.2 all-purpose yards per game… WR Donovan “Captain” Morgan currently leads the AFL, and is No. 9 all-time, in TDs per reception (.43) and is also No. 2 in the AFL with 18.0 points scored per game. He is also No. 7 in yards per catch and eight in receiving yards per game, with 13.7 and 88, respectively… Morgan has scored at least three TDs in each of the past five games… FB Rory Nixon is tied for No. 4 in the AFL with eight rushing TDs. He also boasts the tenth highest rushing yards (49)… DL Mike Lewis, in his four games with the LA KISS, ranks No. 4 in fumbles forced per game and No. 7 in fumbles recovered per game… LA KISS defense leads the National Conference in Red Zone defensive efficiency. Opponents have only scored on 74.5% of red zone possessions. The LA KISS also boast No. 3 best scoring defense in the AFL, allowing just 47.7 points per game.