"This was probably the most complete game we've played all season," Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Football coaches will take any victory, but the ones that bring the most satisfaction feature contributions from offense, defense and special teams.
Gladiators coach Steve Thonn presided over a three-phase special Saturday night in a 62-48 defeat of the Georgia Force at The Q. "This was probably the most complete game we've played all season," Thonn said. "It's great to see everybody contribute. We talked about itafterward."
The Gladiators (7-5) snapped a two-game losing streak, improving to 5-1 at home. Among those in attendance were Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, guard Baron Davis and swingman Christian Eyenga. Georgia slipped to 7-6.
The Gladiators had not surpassed 60 points since Week 3, when they defeated Tampa Bay, 66-26. Last week, they lost in Pittsburgh, 35-32.
Gladiators quarterback Kurt Rocco threw for 212 yards and six touchdowns and was not intercepted. Cleveland's defense intercepted three passes, including one returned for a score, and made a goal-line stand. Gladiators special teams chipped in with a kickoff return for a TD and a blocked extra point.
The game turned late in the third quarter. Georgia, trailing, 42-35, had a first-and-goal from the 2. On two runs, Force fullback Benji McDowell gained one yard. McDowell, listed at 6-3, 310 pounds, had scored three times on 1-yard runs in the first half.
On third down, quarterback Brett Elliott threw incomplete. On fourth down, Gladiators defensive back Mike Bragg picked a floater in the end zone.
"Basically, I was just reading the QB," Bragg said. "I baited him and made the play."
Later, Bragg gave the ball to his cousin, Davis, attending his first Gladiators game.
"He was excited," Bragg said.
The Gladiators converted the turnover into seven points when Rocco found Dominick Goodman from 11 yards early in the fourth quarter. Georgia spent the rest of the night chasing.
"With a goal-line stand like we had, you not only get the stop, you get the momentum change," Thonn said.
Rocco completed 23 of 29 attempts and looked sharp doing it. He was sacked once.
"Kurt made a lot of good decisions," Thonn said.
With the Gladiators ahead, 14-7, late in the first quarter, Elliott's pass intended for Maurice Purify popped into the air. As Purify argued for interference on Levy Brown, Gladiators defensive back Joe Phinisee intercepted and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
Later in the half, Brown sought out a camera and yelled into it that it would be a long day for "No. 2," who was Purify. Trash-talking, pushing and shoving by both teams went on throughout.
A 56-yard kickoff return by the Gladiators' Quorey Payne made it 27-14. The extra-point attempt was blocked. Georgia answered with McDowell's third 1-yard TD run.
The Force then strip-sacked Rocco and recovered inside the Cleveland 5. Elliott scrambled in for the score, meaning the AFL's third-leading pass offense had opened with four rushing TDs. Georgia's successful point-after gave it a 28-27 lead -- its first of the game.
Calvin Wilson caught a 4-yard pass from Rocco with one minute remaining. Phinisee intercepted Elliott on the final play of the half to protect the 35-28 lead.
On Twitter: @dmansworldpd
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/06/well-rounded_performance_fuels.html
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