Gladiators top Detroit

Adam Candee

Monday, April 28, 2003 | 9:45 a.m.

Damon Mason lacked only the plaid flannel shirt and woolen hat.

His right arm stretched high over his head, Mason swung down his lumberjack's ax at the ball cradled by Detroit's Ron Carpenter on the game-opening kickoff return. Mason chopped the ball loose, recovered it and the Gladiators cashed in on a touchdown pass three plays later.

"I just wanted to go out there and do what I do best -- fly around and get things started," Mason said.

Consecutive blowout losses have a way of inspiring such intensity in a team. When the following kickoff sprang loose after bouncing off the net, Mason again pounced on the ball and the Gladiators found the end zone two plays later.

It would be that kind of star-kissed day for the Gladiators (7-6) en route to a 58-45 victory Sunday afternoon against division rival Detroit (6-7) that gave them sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division. The team announced paid attendance of 10,157 although it appeared no more than 3,000-3,500 fans were present at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"Everything went our way," Gladiators coach Frank Haege said. "Early in the game, we got so fortunate to get those balls off the net. That's the crazy thing of this game."

Mason said the team focused on using turnovers to start fast.

"Coach had been preaching that all week, that they hold the ball loose and we can cause some turnovers," Mason said. "Causing fumbles and making turnovers is something I've been doing since college."

Mason's special teams work spurred the Gladiators to a 20-0 edge in the first quarter, and they held a 55-22 lead early in the final period before Detroit made the score respectable.

"The guys were ready," Haege said. "I think we were a little embarrassed the last couple of weeks with getting beat. We came at home with our best game."

That best game included the finest performance of the season for embattled quarterback Jay McDonagh. Named the starter Wednesday despite being pulled the previous two games for backup Todd Hammel, McDonagh completed 20 of 29 passes for 248 yards, including six touchdowns and no interceptions.

McDonagh appeared more comfortable, spreading the ball to five receivers and making better decisions under the pass rush.

"He did a nice job, took care of the football and played smart," Haege said. "He forced a few things that got him in trouble, but overall, he didn't force a lot of things and threw to the open guy. It was a big improvement, so hopefully we can keep rolling in that direction for a while."

McDonagh has attempted to push the transient quarterback situation out of his mind as much as possible, and he put together a day that might end it for a while.

"If I worry about that or let it bother me too much, it's going to affect the way I play," McDonagh said.

Ranked 14th among 16 teams in turnover margin coming into the game, the Gladiators did not commit a turnover.

"We played a complete game until the fourth quarter," McDonagh said.

Bolstered by the return of standout cornerback Jeroid Johnson from injury, the Gladiators' defense made life difficult for Detroit quarterback Andy Kelly. Johnson picked off Kelly in the end zone in the opening quarter and the Fury quarterback appeared frustrated with both the opposing defense and his own teammates.

"We were getting after him early and keeping him uncomfortable in the pocket, so that was good," Haege said.

Kelly finished 25-of-42 for 252 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. Most of those numbers were compiled in fourth-quarter garbage time.

The Gladiators now control their fate in the division.

"You look at our division -- I don't want to talk about nobody, but we should be the best team in our division," Mason said.

Las Vegas hosts division mate New York Saturday night. The Gladiators defeated the Dragons, 46-45, in their earlier meeting on a McDonagh-to-Mike Horacek scoring pass with 22 seconds to play.