Duke City pulls off dramatic playoff victory

A TD and extra point as time expires results in 34-33 win over Iowa

In Des Moines, Iowa, the Duke City Gladiators scored a gametying touchdown as time expired, added the decisive extra point and defeated the Iowa Barnstormers, 34-33 Saturday night in a firstround Indoor Football League playoff game.

The Gladiators, 7-7 during the regular season and seeded fifth in the playoffs, now advance to the second round.

They’ll travel to Phoenix to play the top-seeded Arizona Rattlers (13-2) on Sunday.

The kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. MDT.

The Rattlers are coming off a 69-42 victory Sunday over the eighth-seeded Sioux Falls Storm.

Duke City led Saturday’s seesaw contest 27-26 after three quarters, but Iowa went ahead 33-27 on a 28-yard Daquan Nealto-Kentrez Bell pass with 10:23 left in the game.

After Iowa failed to convert a pass interception into points, missing a field goal, the Gladiators got the winning score from the Barnstormers’ 1-yard line. On a flanker-around pass, wide receiver Dello Davis hit fellow WR Jared Elmore for the tying touchdown.

The Gladiators incurred an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play, forcing kicker Kevin Goessling to attempt the crucial PAT from long distance. But his kick was true, giving Duke City the victory.

Gladiators quarterback Nate Davis ran for a touchdown and hit Dello Davis for a score in the first half.

Running back Raymond Taylor had a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and scored from the same distance in the third quarter.