Mistakes don’t get Gladiators down

Adam Candee

Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

The deflating turnovers are still there, as are many of the unnecessary penalties that trail this team like a lost kitten in a thunderstorm.

What is changing from the past two seasons, though, is that the Gladiators are finding ways to win in spite of those mistakes instead of losing because of them.

Another strong effort from the defense kept Las Vegas in the game long enough Friday night for backup quarterback Rod Robinson to dive into the end zone on a 3-yard scoring run with four seconds left, giving the Gladiators a 41-37 win against the New York Dragons.

The Gladiators (2-1) have hung by many thin threads in their two victories, but any kind of win is welcome after a 2004 season in which they lost in every imaginable way. Robinson tossed three interceptions against the Dragons (1-1) in his first Arena Football League start and Las Vegas committed six penalties, but as Gladiators receiver/cornerback Dameon Porter emphasized -- in writing -- after the game, the word "pretty" does not appear in the win column.

Gladiators linebacker/fullback Frank Carter, who set the defensive tenor for the game with three consecutive sacks of Dragons quarterback Aaron Garcia in the second quarter, notices a difference in the team in his fourth year with the franchise.

"It's team determination, team focus and the will to make plays," Carter said. "It's a wonderful thing, I'm going to be honest with you. The bond we have on this team this year is amazing."

It also apparently helps the team make big plays at big times. Buoyed by the defense's work to give him a second chance, Robinson completed a crucial fourth-down pass to offensive specialist Marcus Nash for 20 yards with 40 seconds left to keep the final drive going, then sprinted right and dove high into the end zone on the winning touchdown.

"The defense stepped up really good, even though I had three turnovers," Robinson said.

An announced crowd of 8,226 at the Thomas & Mack Center saw Robinson prove to be resilient in his first Arena Football League start, rebounding from three interceptions to lead the Gladiators to touchdowns on their final three drives. Starting in place of injured starter Clint Dolezel (broken right middle finger), Robinson accounted for all six Las Vegas touchdowns, throwing three and running for three.

He completed 26 of 37 passes for 262 yards, taking advantage of a game plan designed to keep the New York offense off the field with a ball-control scheme built on short passing. Nash caught 11 of those passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.

"We knew it was going to be up to the defense to rally a little bit and get pressure on Garcia," coach Ron James said. "We certainly got them out of their game plan with pressure. Pressure does a lot of things to an offensive system."

Garcia, who threw 91 touchdown passes last season, finished 20-of-32 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. New York kicker Rob Bironas also cost his team with two missed field goals and a missed extra point.

"(If) you can hold Aaron Garcia to 37 points, you've done your job," Porter said.