Game 6 Preview: Pittsburgh Power (3-2) at Cleveland Gladiators (5-0)

"Game Preview: Power at Gladiators
PITTSBURGH, PA (April 24, 2014) – The Pittsburgh Power travel to Cleveland, OH on Saturday April 26 to take on their undefeated division rivals, the Cleveland Gladiators. Kickoff from Quicken Loans Arena is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN3 and will also be broadcasted on TribLIVE Radio with Ken Laird and Mike Logan commentating.
THE GAME:
Pittsburgh Power (3-2) at Cleveland Gladiators (5-0)
Saturday, April 26 – 7:00 pm ET
Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, OH
TV: ESPN3
Radio: TribLIVE Radio
All-Time Series: Gladiators lead 4-3
LAST WEEK:
Week 7 arrives after the Power fell to the back-to-back ArenaBowl Champions Arizona Rattlers, 73-69. In a collision of two prolific offenses, the Power were able to break two franchise records in the loss. Quarterback Tommy Grady, who finished with 339 yards through the air, threw for a Power-record nine touchdowns. Six of those aerial strikes went to Aaron Lesue, who now has the most touchdown grabs in a game in Power history.
Cleveland sits atop the East Division with a record of 5-0 after staving off Spokane, 52-50. The Gladiators stayed perfect after quarterback Chris Dieker connected on a Hail Mary off the net as time expired. Backing Cleveland’s offensive attack is the Arena Football League’s best scoring defense. The Gladiators allow just 268.8 yards and 41.2 points per contest.
POWER TO WATCH | OFFENSE:
Tommy Grady continues to be an engine for the Power offense. Through five games, Grady has completed 56.3% of his passes for 1,192 yards and 29 touchdowns. Grady is just 55 yards away from moving into 14th all-time in Arena Football history for passing yards.
Aaron Lesue was named Week 6’s J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week after his performance in Arizona. On the season, Lesue has 50 receptions for 508 yards and 12 scores, leading all Power receivers. After going without a receiving touchdown in Week 5, Shaun Kauleinamoku responded in a big way against the Rattlers with seven receptions for 97 yards and three scores.
GLADIATORS TO WATCH | OFFENSE:
Leading the Gladiators wide receivers corps is AFL veteran Thyron Lewis. The 6-foot-3 target has 31 receptions for 475 yards and 10 touchdowns so far through the 2014 season. Lewis has caught a touchdown pass in each of Cleveland’s five games, including the game-winner last week against Spokane.
Whether Dieker or Week 5 Offensive Player of the Week Shane Austin will be under center, Cleveland has a strong artillery of weapons at receiver. Teaming up with Lewis are Dominick Goodman, Tyrone Collins and Collin Taylor, all of which hauled in a touchdown in their win over the Shock.
POWER TO WATCH | DEFENSE:
Defensive Back Virgil Gray leads the Power in most of the major defensive categories. He has 23.5 tackles, eight pass break ups and six interceptions, which is tied for best in the league. Last week against his former team, Gray recorded five tackles and defended one pass.
GLADIATORS TO WATCH | DEFENSE:
Marrio Norman is coming off of an impressive seven-tackle performance against Spokane. He’s currently second on the team with 31.5 tackles and leads the Glads with five picks. LaRoche Jackson is Cleveland’s leading tackler with 36.
Posted: April 24th, 2014 under news.
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