Gladiators Win Fourth Straight, Beat Soul 63-49

(photo credit: Cleveland Gladiators/Twitter)

Cleveland needed to prove they were worthy to be the #2 team out "west" in the National Conference and tonight they showed why they are one of the hottest teams in the league. The Gladiators looked solid against a Soul team that many thought was the team to beat for the moment, and Cleveland passed the test with a impressive 63-49 win in front of 11,278 fans, only adding to the excitement of a city hungry for a title.

Arvell Nelson, who had been known to struggle in tight games, appeared as if he might be growing up in his own back yard. Nelson, a native to Cleveland, hit career highs in passing yards and passing touchdowns going 22/36 for 307 yards and 7 scores. Quentin Sims also joined the party with 114 yards and 3 scores receiving, all 3 scores in the first half and the team high for the game.  It was a big breakout game for him, while the leader of the team from the start of the season Collin Taylor almost seemed quiet with such a balanced attack. The six year vet still pulled in 5 catches for 78 yards and 2 scores, adding to his own franchise record which now stands at 25 straight games with at least one touchdown. Taylor, as he has done in the past, even came in for a couple plays on defense when Joe Powell needed a breather.

It was truly a balanced team effort all around. Even the "overtime closer" Marvin Ross added the nail in the Soul's coffin when he read the eyes of Raudabaugh perfectly and took it 19 yards for the "pick 6" as the cool kids call it, with 90 seconds to go in the game. It marked Ross' fourth interception of his rookie season.

Next week the Gladiators get another shot to prove just how good they really are when they face the Rattlers at the Q in their very last home game of the season before playing six ... yes six games on the road.  But the league wide bye week for the 4th of July will give them a break in the middle.  If they keep winning it might not be the last time the Gladiators have a home game this year though. Game time is set for 7 PM ET and can be seen on Fox Sports Ohio and ESPN3.