Gladiators force Force out of AFL Playoffs

The upsets continue in the Arena Football League playoffs as the fourth-seeded Cleveland Gladiators defeated the Georgia Force 73 to 70 in front of 10,173 fans at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. This win gives the Cleveland Gladiators a ticket to Philadelphia, where they will play the top-seeded Soul in the National Conference Championship Game.

Gladiators QB Raymond Philyaw completed 20 of 29 passes for 295 yards and eight touchdowns, including the game-winner to Robert Redd with 1:19 left in regulation. Chris Greisen for the Force went 29-for-39 for 343 yards and eight touchdowns.

With one minute to go in the game, the Force trailed 73 to 63. Starting from their own 5-yard line, they advanced 35 yards to the Gladiator 10-yard line in twelve seconds, but needed forty more seconds to actually score a touchdown. The insuing onside kickoff was recovered by Otis Amey, who led his Gladiators squad in receiving yards, catching six Philyaw passes for 130 yards.

The National Championship Conference Game between the Gladiators and the Soul can be seen this Saturday at 1 PM EST on ESPN. In the American Championship Conference Game, the (6) Grand Rapids Rampage will play against the (2) San Jose Sabercats at HP Pavilion in San Jose later that day at 3:30 PM EST on the same channel.