Time slips away from Gladiators in 2nd loss

Adam Candee

Monday, Feb. 10, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

PHOENIX -- 0-and-2?

More like, oh-and-so-close -- but still 2, as in losses for the Las Vegas Gladiators after Sunday's painful 46-42 defeat at Arizona in front of 11,826 at America West Arena.

Rattlers defensive specialist Mark Ricks intercepted a tipped Jay McDonagh pass in the end zone on the wild final play of the game to seal the Gladiators' demise. However, the Gladiators gave away the chance to extend their final drive after blowing a number of opportunities to control the game, and then squandering a chance to steal it late.

Yes, even after five more painful turnovers and seven numbing penalties, the Gladiators somehow still found themselves with a sterling opportunity on the game's final drive.

Coach Frank Haege said the blame for Las Vegas' failure to convert falls on his shoulders, as the Gladiators mismanaged the clock in the final 23 seconds.

"I totally screwed up at the end of the game, obviously," Haege said. "I totally deserve the credit or discredit. I blew it at the end."

Starting with a minute to play and Las Vegas trailing 46-42, the Gladiators moved 12 yards on three plays to the Arizona 6-yard line, using two runs to force the Rattlers to use two timeouts in the hope of getting the ball back. With 23 seconds to play, the game -- and the clock -- unraveled for the Gladiators.

Frank Carter carried up the middle for a yard, keeping the clock moving. Haege said he thought Arizona would attempt to use its final timeout, and he was right -- Arizona coach Danny White said he signaled his players to stop the clock with 14 seconds left.

However, the officials did not grant Arizona a stoppage, and Las Vegas failed to call a timeout of its own until just 4 seconds remained, with time left for just one more play. Haege hopped halfway down the field in disgust when the Gladiators finally used the timeout.

"I was a little bit surprised they didn't call it sooner," White said.

The Gladiators looked to throw on their final play, one which offensive specialist Mike Horacek simply described as "just an everybody get-open type play."

McDonagh was flushed right, and eventually lobbed a ball toward the corner of the end zone under pressure. Horacek appeared to be settled under the ball halfway into the end zone, but wideout George Williams flashed across the goal line and and got his hands on it.

An Arizona defender knocked the ball out of Williams' hands and into the arms of Ricks, putting a wrenching exclamation point on a game Las Vegas led by 12 points after scoring on three consecutive offensive plays late in the first half.

"Jay put it in the right spot, and they played pretty good defense," Williams said.

McDonagh completed 18-of-33 passes for 211 yards and 5 TDs, but his 4 INTs haunted the Gladiators. With nine turnovers in their first two games, the Gladiators have continually slashed gaping holes in their own ship.

"You take those turnovers away, and we run away with it," said Horacek, who caught six balls for 88 yards and 3 TDs.

"The offense had five turnovers, and if you have five turnovers, you're never going to win a game," McDonagh said.

Starting in place of injured all-AFL signal caller Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona quarterback Chris Hixson struggled through the first half, but rebounded after the break to earn game MVP honors. Hixson finished 18-of-26 for 168 yards, 3 TDs and an INT.

Hixson capped a 45-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard TD pass to former UNLV star Randy Gatewood -- the game's Ironman winner -- with 1:46 to play to put the Rattlers ahead to stay.

Gatewood gashed the Gladiators just seven plays into the game, picking off McDonagh at the Arizona 3 and returning it all the way to give the Rattlers the game's first score. Gatewood also picked off McDonagh on Las Vegas' next drive.

"I wanted to come out early and make a statement," Gatewood said. "I had some other interests on my mind while I was playing."

The Las Vegas defense also looked much improved from giving up 60 points to Los Angeles, holding the Rattlers to 181 yards and applying consistent pressure to Hixson. Haege did credit his defense, but also pointed to Arizona's personnel.

"The defense played better, but obviously, their offense was hampered without its starting quarterback," Haege said. "It could have been ugly if Bonner was in there."

The Gladiators open their home schedule next Monday at the Thomas and Mack, when they host the Tampa Bay Storm.