Box Score
April 24, 2004 Great Falls Gladiators vs. Glacier Knights

GREAT FALLS 21 GLACIER 0

COLUMBIA FALLS - In a game that will for a long time be billed as the "Sports Illustrated" game, the Great Falls Gladiators and Glacier Knights set new league marks in offensive futility. Sports Illustrated's writer, Josh Elliot and photographer Dale Spartus were on hand to observe (photograph and report on) a game that was marked by numerous fumbled snaps, exchanges and lost possessions and the Great Falls Gladiators were hit with a season league high 125 penalty yards on 15 penalties. The Gladiators, however, survived behind solid play from an athletic, aggressive defense, good quarterback play from Dee Jones (4-8-1-83-1, 4 rushes, 54 yards) and some solid running from a stable of running backs to drop the Glacier Knights 21-0 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd and the greatest national sports publication in the world.

The Gladiators, although victorious, fumbled and lost the ball on their first two straight offensive plays before a late first quarter drive culminated in a perfectly executed 34-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Clarence Cook (2 receptions, 61 yards). Penalties compounded the Gladiators offensive futility, including a 54-yard Eddie Hailey run that was depleted and a 30-yard Chris Nolan touchdown scamper that was nulified completely. Finally, Jones finished off a mid-second quarter drive with an exciting 15-yard touchdown run in which he broke the tackles of 5 or 6 Knights en route to the end zone.

The Knights, however, did play some stellar defense throughout, throwing Gladiator ball-carriers for a number of losses, including two sacks of Jones. The Knight offense did enjoy occasional success and even pushed the ball to the Gladiator 2-yard line as time ran out at the end of the first half.

The Gladiator defense, however, were the true "stars" of the game, particularly big were Charles Price (8-1/2 tackles, 1 sack), Sam Morgan (7 tackles, 3 sacks), Reggie Jennings (7 tackles), Mike Pease (6-1/2 tackles) and Brad Thurber (5 tackles). The Gladiator defense recorded the shutout coming off holding the defending champion, Idaho Falls Mustangs to 6 points in a home loss in the league opener.

Great Falls

Glacier

Scoring Summary:

First Quarter:

Great Falls: Cook 34-yard pass from D.Jones (Odums from Jones) 0:26

Second Quarter:

Great Falls: D.Jones 15-yard run (Ward kick) 5:43

Fourth Quarter:

Great Falls: Scott 2-yard run (kick failed) 13:06

	Great Falls	Glacier
First Downs	10	7
Rushes, Yards	42-156	28-37
Passes	4-8-1	8-19-2
Passing Yards	86	88
Sacked-Yds Lost	2-12	6-45
Total Net Yards	230	80
Punts, Average	2-30.5	4-23.0
Penalties, Yards	15-125	10-57
Fumbles, Lost	6-4	8-3

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: Great Falls - D.Jones 4-54, Nolan 15-35, Pinkney 2-28, Baxter 10-17, Scott 7-12, Hailey 2-9, Hodgkin 1-3, Pease 1-(-2). Glacier - Scherer 15-31, Athey 10-(-5), Kuehne 3-11.

Passing: Great Falls - D.Jones 4-8-1-86-1. Glacier - Kuehne 5-9-0-75-0, Fiedor 3-10-2-13-0.

Receiving: Great Falls - Cook 2-61, Harper 1-18, Rapp 1-7. Glacier - Zander 1-40, McCollum 2-28, Athey 2-11, Merrill 2-10, Scherer 1-(-1).

Tackles: Great Falls - Price 8.5 (1 sack), S.Morgan 7 (3 sacks), Jennings 7, Pease 6.5 (1/2 sack), Thurber 5, Nolan 4.5, Barton 3 (1-1/2 sacks), Jackson 2.5, Hodgkin 2, Pinkney 2, Barrey 1.5, Walter 1.5, Horton 1, Shannon 1, Rapp 1/2, Garcia 1/2. Glacier - Zielanski 6.5, Reid 5 (1-1/2 sacks), Doty 4, Merrill 3.5, Jason Herman 3.5, (1 sack), Wilson 2.5, McCollum 2 (1/2 sack), Guy Herman 2, Dutton 2, Carlson 1, Athey 1, Hansen 1/2, Kuehne 1/2, Latray 1/2..

Interceptions: Great Falls - Baxter, Pinkney. Glacier - Merrill.

Missed Field Goals: Great Falls - Ward 30-yards (wl).