The 2011 Ohio Valley North Division Champions

Ranked #9 in

The GDFL

Ranked #20 Nationally at The End of The Regular Season #30 after the playoffs in

The Semi Pro BCS Series

Gladiators win 26-19 in the Midwest Bowl!!!!! Cyrus Norwood and Travis Byrdsong were named The 2011 Frontier Bowl MVP's.

Our season is not over with! Details about the MidWest Bowl Series can be  read by clicking The MidWest Bowl Series link. The next stop is for a National Championship in Deland, Florida during the weekend of January 14th - 15th, 2012. Details will be posted within the team's website as soon as we receive the information.

Please click the above picture for The 2011 Frontier Bowl's Game stats for more details.

Thank you for your support!

The Most Anticipated Re Match in RD 2 of The GDFL Playoffs

                   Vs 

                (9-0-1)                                 (10-0)                                                                          

Dating back to last year, the Columbus Gladiators wanted to mold themselves into something better than what they had endured from 2010.  Here we are at 2011, after a year of rebuilding and finding the right players to fulfill positions that we were lacking.  The Gladiators move one step closer to The 2011 GDFL Championship after defeating The Naptown Scorpions 15 – 14 during the 1^st Rd of the playoffs when they travel to Radcliff, Kentucky to take on the Hardin County Wolverines Saturday night in a match up between two Conference undefeated Champions for the 2^nd Rd of the playoffs.

Last year’s 1^st game was a game that saw the Gladiators come from behind and make something out of it  after being down 28 – 0 at halftime and the final score being in favor of the Wolverines 35 – 18.  Travelling to Wolverine Country, sitting on the cusp of the playoffs and shorthanded with approximately 18 players, the Gladiators took one of their worst losses ever and were knocked out of the playoffs due to the amount of points given up to the Wolverines prior to the playoffs starting.  This left a sour taste in the Gladiators mouths because they knew that they were a better team and thought that they deserved more than what they had to settle for.

Let’s fast forward and pick up the pieces and see what this year’s team has to offer.  The Gladiators take their talents and undefeated record into Radcliff, Kentucky  Saturday with six 2011 All Star Selections in Donald Douglas ATH, Jayson, McDade CB, Matt Ritchie C, LaJuane Hall OL, Karlonte’ Hagens OL/DL, Manny Webb LB and a host of Veteran players from last year’s team along with a bunch of new faces that are soon to be future GDFL All Stars.

This year’s team stuck together through hard work and dedication with a relentless effort for establishing a polished name for themselves within The GDFL. The Gladiators have peeked within the Top 10 of The GDFL ending the regular season Ranked at the #9 spot. Their stellar defense has been outstanding all year long, not only shutting it’s opponents down, but causing an array of turnovers with forced fumbles and interceptions that have been returned for TD’s by various players through out this season.  Offensively, they are finally getting it together just in time for the playoffs to become an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.   Saturday will tell the tail of the tape for them as they enter into Round 2 of the playoffs.  A Gladiator win will have them at home the following week against either The Derby City Thunder or The Shenango Valley Storm. Let’s go Gladiators and prove to The City of Columbus and The GDFL that we are here to stay and that we are contenders for being Champions!

Gladiators win 1st Rd Playoff Thriller 15 - 14

The 1^st Rd of The GDFL playoffs kicked off Saturday, August 27, 2011 at World Harvest Prep with The Naptown Scorpions travelling from Indianapolis to take on the Columbus Gladiators. This was a test for The Columbus Gladiators with playing a game out of their conference and a chance to move closer towards their quest at The GDFL Championship.  This game would tell the character of what the Columbus Gladiators were built of.  Starting the game, the Scorpions elected to receive the ball to start the game to show and prove that their season was no fluke by entering into the playoffs.  They candidly moved the ball down the field on the Gladiators during their 1^st possession and scored with on a TD run and missing the extra point making the score 6 – 0 in favor of The Scorpions..  This had only been the 3^rd time all season long that The Gladiators had allowed a team to move the ball down the field during an opening possession and score.

The battle begins to ensue for the Gladiators in which, offensively they started off out of sync and turned the ball over on downs.  This continued thru out the 1^st half of the game for The Gladiators with overthrown passes to open WR’s. This allowed The Gladiator defense to hold the Scorpions pretty much in check during this time prior to the half ending with interceptions by CB Darrell Solis and 2 Time GDFL All Star CB Jayson McDade. The start of the 3^rd quarter was no different for the Gladiators with basically just holding the Scorpions in check until late within the quarter when Jayson McDade intercepted his 2nd pass in the end zone and returned it 60 yards within Scorpion territory. 

Going into the 4^th quarter with the season on the brinks for The Gladiators, they finally seemed to have put together an effective offensive drive that would seem to give them light for continuing their run at The GDFL Championship.  FB/LB Manny Webb, stepped up big for The Gladiators scoring on a 4 yard TD run with ATH Donald Douglas kicking the extra point making the score 7 – 6 in favor of The Gladiators.  On the Scorpions next possession, they seemed to have been stalled by The Gladiator defense and forced to punt when they decided to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a fake punt and converting keeping their drive alive for what seemed to have been in desperation for their season.  The defensive battle begins to ensue for the Gladiators. During the Scorpion drive, in which seemed to have The Gladiators backs on the wall, LB Manny Webb intercepted a Scorpion pass and returned it 42 yards for a Gladiator TD.  The Gladiators then converted on a 2 point conversion run by Webb as well making the score 15 – 6 Gladiators.  With the season on the line for The Scorpions and the clock ticking, they elected not to go out without putting up a fight.  They put together a nice drive with an array of runs and passes converting on a 40 yard TD pass down the right sidelines with less than 3 minutes to go within the ball game.  They converted on their 2 point conversion making the score 15 – 14 in favor of The Gladiators.  The Scorpions elected to kick an onside kick that went out of bounds which penalized them.  The Gladiators tried to run the clock out, but the Scorpion defense seemed to have held The Gladiators in check with forcing them to punt and time on the clock for them to win the ball game. A roughing the punter penalty was costly for the Scorpions and allowed the Gladiators to run the clock out and keep the Victory in favor to them with the final score being 15 – 14.  The Gladiators travel to Radcliff, Kentucky next week to take on The Hardin County Wolverines in a game that will be a real test for them.  This will be a game of redemption for The Gladiators because The Wolverines beat them in the last regular season’s game by a large margin of points which knocked the Gladiators off of the cusp for 2010 The Playoffs.

Gladiators Finish the Regular Season Undefeated and Win The Ohio Valley North Division

In the season's finale the Gladiators gave their fans a game to remember.  Pickerington strikes on their 1^st possession to take control of the game.  Gladiator signal caller Cyrus Norwood hits Veteran WR Travis Byrdsong in the endzone with a sideline toe tapping TD catch to make it a 7 – 6 ball game in Pickerington’s favor ending the 1^st qtr.  The 2^nd qtr was a defensive battle between both teams with interceptions by Jayson McDade and Stanley Dickerson looking to give hope and an edge for the Gladiators to score more points before halftime, but the Gladiators sputtered offensively and couldn’t capitalize on Pickerington’s mistakes prior to the half ending and Pickerington holding onto a 7-6 halftime lead.

The momentum of the defensive battle between both teams carried on into the 3^rd qtr until the Gladiators were able to move into position and Veteran ATH Robert McCarroll booted a 19 yard field goal to put the Gladiators ahead going into the 4^th qtr giving the Gladiators the slight edge with the score being 9 – 7 in Gladiator country.  It must have been that field goal that woke the Gladiators up because the momentum of the team seemed to have shifted with their sights set on something unforeseen since the Gladiators came into existence last year.  The Gladiators finally got it together just when it mattered the most scoring fashionably starting with a 3 yard QB keeper by Cyrus Norwood, a 21 yard run by Manny Webb, and they seemed to have picked it up defensively as well with a 21 yard Interception return for a TD by Jonathan Rivera, and then sealing the game as time expired with a forced fumble and fumble recovery that was picked up and returned for a 29 yard TD by Maurice Adams.

The Gladiators finish the regular season undefeated with an (8-0-1) record and sole winners of The Ohio Valley North Division as Champions. It is now win or go home as the playoffs start August 27^th as they battle against the Naptown Scorpions out of Indianapolis in the 1^st RD of the playoffs with home field advantage.

Gladiators Move to Make a Statement

The Columbus Gladiators traveled to Canton, Ohio to take on the Buckeye State Splash in a game that showed that they are here to stay and move forward with progress to make a playoff run towards the 2011 GDFL Championship. The game started off with the Gladiators scoring on the ground with a 5 yard run by Veteran 2 Time GDFL All Star Donald Douglas.  The offense seemed to have jelled with accummulating a  total of 4 touchdown passes for the game and the defense stifled the Splash’s offense all game long with an array of different blitzes and sacks coming from Rookie Linebacker Manny Webb, 2 Time Veteran All Star ATH Donald Douglas, Veteran OLB/DE Drew Greene, 2 Time Veteran All Star Cornerback Jayson McDade, and Rookie Defensive end Allen Ritchie who also had 2 Interceptions with one being returned for a 8 yard TD.  Ritchie has stepped up and has played like a veteran within the last 2 games to give the Gladiators that inferior rush on the end that they had been seeking on the left side of the ball all season long. Defensively, the Gladiators played a sound football game with interceptions by Veteran Safety Stanley Dickerson and Rookie LB Manny Webb who returned his for a 37 yard gain before the Gladiator's offense took over.

Robert McCarroll had a great game carrying the ball for the Gladiators totaling 106 yards rushing along with throwing 2 touchdown passes to Travis Byrdsong for 32 and 16 yards and catching a 6 yard touchdown pass from first year Gladiator Cyrus Norwood.  Norwood also connected on a 20 yard TD pass to Veteran Slot Receiver Nathan Sheets in the 4^th qtr making the final score in favor of the Gladiators 38 - 0.

In next week’s action, the Pickerington Wildcats travel to the Gladiators home field for the season finale in which this game could be the determining factor for the Gladiators with being the sole Champions of The Ohio Valley North Division of The GDFL. Pickerington will be looking to make this game a rivalry game with something to play for to keep themselves over the .500 mark for the season and a possible wild card spot in the playoffs.

Gladiators Keep Their Winning Streak Alive at 5

The Columbus Gladiators endured a tough, hard heated battle against the Buckeye State Splash with Victory #5 on the season.  They knew what they were up against and came out on defense during the 1^st offensive possession for the Splash by setting the tone of the game with a fumble caused by Veteran Nose Tackle Corey Sturgill and taking possession early.  Upon receiving the ball on the Gladiators 1^st possession, All Star Athlete Donald Douglas found Travis Byrdsong streaking down the left sidelines of the field for a 32 yard TD strike. During the Splash’s next possession, The Gladiator defense seemed to be attempting to hold them in check, but allowed a nice run along the sidelines for the Splash’s running back to make it seem as though the game was going to be something hard earned. Unfortunately, The Gladiators defense held them in check and forced a turnover on downs.  The Gladiators offense didn’t quite seem to get it together until in the middle of the 2^nd quarter when Donald Douglas scored on a TD run of 7 yards The 2 point conversion pass was completed from Donald Douglas to Toussaint King making the score 14 – 0.  Minutes before halftime, Veteran OLB Drew Greene caused another one of his many jaw dropping hits on the Splash’s QB causing him to fumble the ball with the ball being picked up by Gladiator Rookie OL/DL Karlonte’ Hagens who then raced down the field 52 yards for what seemed to have been another Gladiator touchdown, but unfortunately, the TD was negated with a block in the back penalty on the Gladiators. The Gladiators then downed the ball going into halftime with the score 14 – 0.

Starting the 3^rd quarter the Gladiators offense seemed to have started off a little sluggish and turned the ball over on downs.   Within the Splash’s 1^st offensive possession, Rookie Safety Shannon Isom intercepted his 1^st pass of the season and returned it 34 yards for a Gladiator touchdown.  The Gladiators converted on a 2 point conversion with a run by Travis Byrdsong making the score 22 – 0 going into the 4^th qtr. Starting the 4^th qtr both teams seemed be suffering a defensive struggle, but unfortunately, The Gladiators strike again on a 3 yard run by Veteran QB/SS Robert McCarroll making the score 28-0.  Later in the 4^th qtr, Rookie RB/LB Eli Pugh sees his 1^st action at the RB spot and scores on a 52 yard gallop streaking down the left sidelines for what seemed to have been another Gladiator touchdown, but a holding call on the offense negated the TD with the final score in favor of the Gladiators ending the game 28 – 0.

Gladiators Defeat Pickerington Wildcats 26 - 19 in This Week’s GDFL Rival

During the Rivalry week of the GDFL, The Columbus Gladiators travelled to World Harvest to take on the Pickerington Wildcats in a game that was deemed to be a rivalry with many more to come in the future.  Pickerington came out of their holsters and was gunning for an early score with hitting an open receiver down the sidelines who seemed to have caught the Gladiator defense off balance.  Had it not been for that receiver stepping out of bounds after the catch, he may have taken it all the way.  Pickerington strikes 1^st on their opening drive along with making the extra point on a field goal.  The Gladiators weren't so fortunate starting the game going 3 and out on their 1^st possession.  Pickerington however, looked to strike again within Gladiator territory vying for a field goal that was eventually blocked by Stanley Dickerson and Corey Sturgill.  Gladiator All Star WR/Cornerback Travis Byrdsong then picked the ball up and raced 71 yards for a Gladiator touchdown.  A missed extra point by the Gladiators left the score at 7 – 6 with Pickerington leading the way.  During the 2^nd quarter, The Gladiators started coming alive with a 3 yard touchdown reception by Toussaint King who leads all Gladiator receivers with a total of 4 touchdowns on the season.  Travis Byrdsong then ignited the crowd once again during the 2^nd quarter as well with a spectacular 12 yard catch and run for 70 yards splitting and shredding the Wildcat defense by knocking the air out of them leaving the game 18 – 7 going into halftime.

With the score being 18 – 7 at the start of the 2^nd half, the Gladiators seemed have started sputtering and could not put together an effective offensive drive which resulted in them having to punt the ball away to the Wildcats. The Gladiators had a little miscommunication between the punter and center which turned out to be costly for them resulting with the snap and punt being muffed and downed deep within scoring territory for the Wildcats with Pickerington scoring on their next offensive drive making the score 13 – 18.  The Gladiators offense just could not get it together and turned the ball over on downs punting it away to Pickerington.  It looked as if the Gladiator defense was going to hold Pickerington to the same result, but a roughing the punter call gave Pickerington a fresh set of downs and motivation for them to make a come back.  They eventually moved the ball down the field with a series of their passing and running game and scored on the Gladiators making the score 19 – 18 in their favor at the start of the 4^th quarter.

The 4^th quarter seemed to have been the tale of the tape with both teams trying to battle it out until the clock expired and read all zeros.  A defensive battle ensued with each team throwing interceptions but with the Gladiators coming out on top.  With just under a minute left to go in the game on 4th and 17, All Star Veteran ATHLETE Donald Douglas threw a 71 yard touchdown pass to Josh McCarrel putting the Gladiators up 24 – 19.  A two point conversion pass from Donald Douglas to Robert McCarroll left the game at 26 – 19.  Now, all the Gladiators had to do was hold the Wildcats  in check during the last 40 seconds of the ball game to seal the victory.  Veteran All Star Cornerback Jayson McDade seals the deal for the Gladiators with his 2^nd interception of the game as time expired almost scoring on the pick as well.  The Gladiators start the season off to a 4 – 0 record going into the break and look forward to the rest of the season with making it to The 2011 GDFL Championship.

 Columbus Gladiators vs. Shenango Valley Storm

The Shenango Valley Storm traveled to Gladiator country all the way from Pennsylvania ready to play and try to shut the Gladiators down.  The Gladiators started the game off by receiving the ball and looking like they were about to score when a pass to Josh McCarrel was fumbled and picked up by a Shenango Valley Storm player that raced down the sidelines 82 yards for a controversial 1^st score of the game.  The Storm converted on the extra point by going for two.  During the 1^st quarter it was a battle of the defenses with each team turning the ball over on downs.  During the 2^nd quarter The Gladiator defense seemed to allow the Storm to move the ball intermittingly down the field in which they allowed their  2^nd touchdown of the season thus far, making the game 16 – 0 in The Storm’s favor.

Minutes into the 2^nd quarter with the Storm leading 16 – 0 and looking to strike again on the Gladiators, Veteran Outside Line Backer, Drew Greene woke the team up with a bone jarring hit on The Storm’s Quarterback forcing him to fumble the ball which was scooped up by Rookie Outside Line Backer Eli Pugh who then raced down the field with a host of Gladiators leading the way for a 52 yard Gladiator defensive touchdown. The Gladiators then converted on their two point conversion with a run by Demetrius Williams at the Fullback position making the score for the game 16 – 8.  During the next possession for the Storm, their Quarterback seemed to have thought that he could pick the Gladiator defense apart when he found an open receiver in the flats who was then hammered with a hit by Veteran Gladiator Defensive Back Greg Barrett forcing the receiver to fumble the ball which was then picked up by Emmanuel Webb who then raced 48 yards for yet another Gladiator defensive touchdown.  The Gladiators, however didn’t convert on their extra point in which the score going into halftime was 16 – 14 with the Storm leading the way.

Starting the game back in the 3^rd quarter, a defensive battle between both teams ensued with neither of the opposition scoring.  Fours minutes remaining in the 4^th quarter, both teams seemed to look as if they were going to take over the game, but the Gladiators seemed to have more determination off of relentless effort and a stellar DEFENSIVE performance for not allowing defeat to happen within their domain.  With just a little over 4 minutes remaining in the game, a host of Gladiators players, that included Rookies Karlonte’ Hagens and Demetrius Williams along with Veteran Timothy Horton gang tackling a Storm ball carrier forcing him to fumble which was recovered by Gladiator Rookie Karlonte’ Hagens.  The Gladiator offense had to get moving and moving quick because time was ticking.  Veteran All Star QB Donald Douglas moved the ball deep into the Storm territory, but was then relieved by another up and coming All Star Athlete, Donald Douglas who then scored on a Quarterback keeper to put the Gladiators ahead with the score being 16 – 20 in favor of the home team Gladiators.  With just under 2 minutes remaining and the ball in possession of the Storm, the Gladiators defense had to put forth one more effort to keep the Victory at bay.  Once again, Veteran Outside Linebacker Drew Greene caused havoc for the Storm’s Quarterback chasing him and hitting him upon release of a pass that was intercepted by Veteran All Star Cornerback Jayson McDade who then raced 82 yards for the 3^rd defensive score for the Gladiators and sealing the game with an electrifying leap into the endzone with the Gladiators winning in VICTORY and the Final score being in favor of the home team 26 – 16.

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