Middle linebacker Tim Cheatwood and lineman Anthony Hoke return fumbles for touchdowns as part of a 75-39 rout of the Utah Blaze.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — One of the Arena Football League's best passing offenses periodically sputtered Friday night.It did not matter because the Gladiators' defense was more than ready to compensate.
Middle linebacker Tim Cheatwood and lineman Anthony Hoke returned fumbles for touchdowns as part of a 75-39 rout of the Utah Blaze at The Q.
View full sizeGladiators coach Steve Thonn.Former Ohio State Buckeye and Benedictine grad Cheatwood, who started for Zach Ville, recovered three fumbles. The Blaze had six turnovers.
"We thought the game could go like that," Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said. "They had a lot of problems with fumbles and snaps their previous two games."
The Gladiators (4-5) snapped a two-game losing streak and generated a degree of momentum heading into a game at Milwaukee (6-2) on June 12.
Dazed and confused Utah (1-7) should turn in its AFL card immediately. It has lost four in a row by a combined 111 points. It is 0-1 under Ron James, who replaced Ernesto Purnsley as coach earlier this week. Purnsley and his entire staff were fired.
James watched his starting quarterback, Michael Affleck, underwhelm for two-plus quarters before replacing him with Mark Thorson. Thorson provided a burst, then began fumbling exchanges from center.
The Blaze's high-water mark occurred early in the first quarter. Defensive back Brandon Hampton intercepted 'John Dutton at the Utah goal line and returned it for a touchdown and 6-0 lead. Hampton stepped in front of Steve Sanders.
A 2-yard run by Russell Monk and a 15-yard reception by Ben Nelson enabled the Gladiators to build a 13-6 lead. Nelson's play capped a drive that sprung from a Blaze fumble at the Cleveland goal line.
Utah tied the score, 13-13, midway through the second quarter. It never threatened thereafter.
The Gladiators closed the half with 13 straight points and opened the third quarter with a flurry. They established a 40-13 cushion when T.J. Watkins caught an 8-yard pass from Dutton with 7:19 left in the third. Watkins, lined up at tight end, is listed at 6-5, 325.
Utah momentarily injected excitement into the proceedings by pulling within 40-27. But the Gladiators had minimal difficulty re-establishing supremacy. Cheatwood's 11-yard fumble return made it 54-27 at the end of three.
Dutton threw for 226 yards and five touchdowns.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com; 216-999-4664