April 17,2016
Cleveland -
The
LA KISS (2-1) emerged victorious in a back-and-fourth matchup against the
Cleveland Gladiators (1-2) in front of 12,243 fans at the Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday evening.
“Offensively we decided to execute today,” said
LA KISS Head Coach
Omarr Smith. “We played to our standard today and made big plays.”
LA KISS quarterback
Nathan Stanley led the offensive attack by completing 20 of 35 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns.
DJ Stephens was an offensive catalyst. He caught 12 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Brandon Collins tallied four receptions for 31 yards and scored a touchdown.
Donovan Morgan added three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring a rushing touchdown.
Cleveland Gladiators quarterback
Dennis Havrilla completed 24 of 39 passes for 236 yards, while throwing five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Collin Taylor led the Gladiators offense with 13 catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.
Dominick Goodman caught five passes for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game
Rayshaun Kizer led the
LA KISS
defense with seven and a half tackles, one interception, while adding
an interception return touchdown. Fredrick Obi recorded an interception
and five and a half tackles.
Brandon Stephens
led the Gladiators defense with nine total tackles and an interception.
His 49-yard interception return was the AFL Highlight of the Game.
After the
LA KISS
kicked off to the Gladiators to start the game, Kizer picked off a
Havrilla pass on the one-yard line and returned the interception 49
yards for a touchdown. After the
Kevin Goessling kick was successful, the
LA KISS led the Gladiators by a score of 7-0. On the following possession, Cleveland were unable to get on the scoreboard when
Adrian Trevino missed a field goal. At the end of the first quarter, the
LA KISS were beating the
Cleveland Gladiators by a score of 7-0.
Following the
LA KISS
turnover on downs to start the second quarter, Havrilla found Taylor
for a nine-yard touchdown. The Trevino point after was good, evening the
score at 7 with 11:15 left in the quarter. Stanley connected with
Morgan for a 14-yard touchdowns pass. Goessling was unable to connect on
the point after and the score was 13-7 with 8:23 left on the clock. On
the ensuing kickoff, Obi covered the Goessling bar-ball giving the
LA KISS the possession. Then Morgan scored a one-yard touchdown rust extending the
LA KISS lead to 13. Taylor caught a 14-yard touchdown reception from Havrilla cutting the
LA KISS lead to six with one minute left in the half. After the
LA KISS
recovered the Gladiators onside kick attempt, Stanley’s first pass was
intercepted in the end zone. Cleveland took a 21-20 lead when Havrilla
found Brandel for an eight-yard touchdown.
Rory Nixon ran in a six-yard touchdown but Goessling missed the point after and the
LA KISS led by five points. The score at halftime was 26-21.
On the first possession of the second half, Stanley connected
with Stephens for a six-yard touchdown. Goessling’s kick was good and
the score was 33-21. Taylor caught a Havrilla pass for a four-yard
touchdown. After a successful Trevino kick, the score was 33-28, which
was the score at the end of the third quarter.
The Gladiators scored first in the fourth quarter when Havrilla
capped off a three-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run. After a
successful two point conversion, the Gladiators led by a score of 36-33.
The
LA KISS
retook the lead when, on fourth down, Stanley hit Collins on for an
11-yard touchdown. Following an Obi interception, Stephen made a 19-yard
touchdown reception. After a successful point after, the
LA KISS
led 47-36 with 3:06 remaining in the game. Cleveland cut the lead to
three when Havrilla found Goodman for a six-yard touchdown. Following an
unsuccessful onside kick by Cleveland, the
LA KISS were able to run out the clock. The final score,
LA KISS 47,
Cleveland Gladiators 42.
Next week, the
LA KISS
will travel to Orlando to take on the Predators on April 23rd at the
Amway Arena. Kickoff will be at 4:30 pm PT and the game will be
available online live via ESPN 3 and WatchESPN.
Postgame Awards:
Under Armour Player of the Game: LA - #10
Nathan Stanley
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: LA - #7
Rayshaun Kizer
J. Lewis Small Player of the Game: CLE - #17
Collin Taylor
Cutters Catch of the Game: CLE - #16
Dominick Goodman - 6-yard touchdown reception at the end of the 4th
AFL Highlight of the Game: CLE - #1
Brandon Stephens - 49-Yard Interception Return in the 2nd Quarter
