Gladiators’ fate lies in another ‘must-win’

Adam Candee

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 9:37 a.m.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m., T.D. Waterhouse Centre TV: None. Radio: ESPN 920-AM

The thought nagged at Clint Dolezel like a whiny 4-year-old child as he stood in the huddle during Gladiators' practice this week: Another must-win game is here.

"Here we go again," said Dolezel, the Gladiators' quarterback. "We don't want to get that two-game separation, as far as losses. Our backs are against the wall."

Dolezel understands that at 3-4, Las Vegas is in danger of falling badly behind in the Arena Football League playoff race if it cannot win Saturday night in Orlando (2-4).

Of course, needing a win to stay in the postseason hunt is nothing new for the Gladiators, even if it is only the halfway point of the season. After losing its opening two games, Las Vegas had to win at Grand Rapids and did so. Three weeks later, the Gladiators survived an overtime game with Arizona to avoid falling to 2-4.

Now, with an eye toward a softer second half of the schedule that features five games against teams that have losing records, the Gladiators are focused on evening their record against an underachieving, but dangerous, Predators squad.

Gladiators coach Frank Haege admits that it is frustrating for his team to face yet another must-win game, but he will not let his team dwell on it.

"It's tough, but it is what it is," Haege said. "We've answered the bell before so we need to do it again."

More than a few Gladiators will not be there to answer the bell, as injuries continue to mount at key positions. Already without receiver Terrill Shaw (strained gluteus), cornerback T.J. Hill (torn ACL) and linebacker Jeremy Wilkinson (low back sprain), Las Vegas lost starting center/defensive lineman Joe Burch to a fractured eye socket suffered in last week's 79-62 loss at San Jose.

In addition to those four who are out, Las Vegas has seven other players on the injury report, including leading receivers Marcus Nash (knee inflammation) and Maurice Bryant (strained quad).

"You (want to) get in that rhythm, but yet we're getting guys dinged up all the time, so you've kind of got to start over a little bit," Haege said. "It's obviously a challenge, but most teams are in that same situation."

Dolezel said in the preseason that right now is when good teams begin to play their best, but the injuries are hindering that goal.

"You can't hit that rhythm unless you have your same players out there and we haven't had the same players out there," Dolezel said.

That goes for coaches as well. Haege received a two-game league suspension this week for his post-ejection tirade in the Mar. 14 win over Arizona. While that suspension is likely to be cut to one game after Haege meets with AFL commissioner David Baker, there will still be some adjustment necessary in the coming weeks.

"I'm definitely starting to work with coach James and coach Davis a little bit more, just with strategy and personnel and rotation, that kind of thing," Haege said.