Gladiators hope to bounce back from tough defeat
Duke City visits Law after dropping another close one
The Duke City Gladiators, coming off a stinging 30-28 loss to South Division-leading Amarillo last week, has hit the road again to face the Dodge City (Kan.) Law today in a Champions Indoor Football league game.
Last week’s defeat was the third for the Gladiators (4-4) against the Venom (7-1) this season, by a combined six points.
“We’re just those six points from being in first place and they’re six points from being in fourth,” said flustered Gladiators coach Dominic Bramante in a phone interview Thursday.
Bramante lauded the play of his defense, which held Amarillo QB Nate Davis to 9-for-27 passing for 82 yards and two interceptions. He had no TD throws to add to his league-leading total of 43.
Gladiators defensive back Jayson Serda had a team-best nine solo tackles and also a 39-yard score on an interception.
“I’ve been saying all along, he’s a beast,” Bramante said. “Every team we play is saying, ‘what are we going to do about Serda.’”
Now Bramante’s focus is on the Law (7-2), which beat the Gladiators in the season opener, 59-52, on a touchdown in the final minute. Last week, however, Dodge City was a 91-51 loser at Wichita (4-4).
“They’re a much different team on the road,” Bramante said of the Law.
In the CIF’s South Division standings, the Gladiators are tied for fifth with Wichita, a game behind Dallas (5-3) with four games to go. In net points, Duke City has outscored foes by 102 points, whereas the Marshals have a minus 18.
Although the Gladiators would need help to catch Amarillo, the Texas Revolution (6-2) and Dallas in the standings, if Duke City wins out, including a season-ending home game against Dodge City, the Gladiators would earn a postseason berth. They would hold the tiebreaker edge against the Law and Wichita.
NEXT HOME GAME: The Gladiators come back to Tingley Coliseum on May 27 when they play the Venom again. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m.