Miscues lead to Gladiators’ demise

Christine Troyke

Monday, March 8, 2004 | 10:22 a.m.

DULUTH, Ga. -- Turnovers doomed the Las Vegas Gladiators in a 55-40 road loss to the Georgia Force on Sunday.

A slow start, which has been Georgia's M.O. all season, also played a part in snapping the Gladiators' two-game winning streak. Though Las Vegas (2-3) scored first, the Force stormed back, outpacing the Gladiators by two touchdowns in the second quarter and gaining an insurmountable lead.

"First of all, I don't think we came out ready to play," Las Vegas head coach Frank Haege said. "Our guys were just not aggressive, energetic. Georgia was. That with four turnovers and we pretty much didnEt have a chance."

The Gladiators got as close as eight points in the fourth quarter before Morris Anderson snagged a bobbled Las Vegas pass and returned it 41 yards for a back-breaking touchdown.

"The guys showed some heart," Haege said. "They got back in striking distance. We were driving basically to tie it up and threw another pick.

"We did regroup at halftime and the guys pretty much answered the challenge and got back in the game. It was the turnovers.

"It's always the turnovers."

Georgia's defense in general was solid and though Las Vegas quarterback Clint Dolezel threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns, the Force snapped a six-game home losing streak.

"We preached since Day 1 trying to get the pressure and those DBs back there getting on the same page," Force head coach Marty Lowe said. "But I don't care who you put back there, we could put three Deion Sanders back there, and if (Dolezel) has all day to throw, then good gracious it's going to be tough. You've got to get to him."

Las Vegas cut its deficit to 20-17 on a 43-yard pass from Dolezel to Cornelius Bonner with time running out in the first half.

Then came a fateful call by the Gladiators. They attempted an onside kick with 52 seconds left in the period and the Force receiving to start the second half. Georgia pounced on the ball at the Vegas 15, setting up Robert Thomas' 7-yard scamper that put Georgia ahead 27-17.

Dameon Porter proceeded to picked off a Dolezel pass that quarterback Leon Murray turned into a 34-17 Force lead. Murray found a wide-open Dialleo Burks in the end zone on a first-and-goal from the Vegas 19, overcoming an offensive pass interference penalty in the drive.

Brian Gowins hit a 55-yard field goal (a league season record) with two ticks left to bring Las Vegas within 34-20, but Georgia wasn't done making the Gladiators pay.

The Force took the opening third-quarter series 45 yards for a 41-26 advantage. Though Las Vegas scored back-to-back touchdowns in the third, the Gladiators couldn't overcome their beginning.

"It was just the whole game," said receiver Marcus Nash, who had nine catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. "We came in with no energy. None whatsoever. We didn't come to play."

Las Vegas returns home for a 3 p.m. game on Sunday against Arizona.