Gladiators clinch berth in playoffs


June 22, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Gladiators clinch berth in playoffs

CLEVELAND (AP) — Raymond Philyaw threw six touchdown passes, leading the Cleveland Gladiators into the playoffs with a 47-35 victory over the Columbus Destroyers on Saturday night.

Rookie Randy Hymes had four catches for 78 yards and three touchdowns, and Otis Amey added three catches for 71 yards and two scores for the Gladiators (9-7), who clinched a berth in the National Conference playoffs.

Matt Nagy threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns, and C.J. Johnson had 11 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown for the Destroyers (3-13).

Youngstown boxer Kelly Pavlik, the WBO and WBC middleweight world champion, was the honorary coin toss captain for the game at Quicken Loans Arena. Joining him for the ceremony was Gladiators CEO Bernie Kosar, a graduate of Boardman High School.