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Gladiators are hungry for year three

JANESVILLE — The Rock County Gladiators got a taste of the Ironman Football League a year ago.

This season, the area semi-pro football team hopes to take a big bite out of the IFL.

The Gladiators finished 7-5 last season and start their 2009 run at 7 p.m. Saturday with a preseason game against the Northwest Wisconsin Wolverines. The game will be played at Monterey Stadium in Janesville, marking the first time the Gladiators have played in Janesville.

Rock County head coach and general manager Brian Worth is excited about the opportunity to play at storied Monterey Stadium.

"More than anything, it gives our team and our players more exposure," Worth said. "It's an opportunity for those folks that enjoy football but don't know much about us to come down here and see some excellent local talent on display.

"It's a great facility and expense-wise a place where we can save a little money because we don't have to provide our own bleachers and scoreboard like we do in Beloit. But Beloit has been good to us, and we still have four games there this season."

The Gladiators took a big step up in competition a year ago after finishing undefeated in the Northwest Indiana Football League in 2007. The Madison Mustangs, with several former University of Wisconsin players on the roster, won the IFL title a year ago. Madison defeated Rock County, 56-6, in the regular season.

"More than anything, it was a depth problem for us that game," Rock County offensive coordinator Dennis Brunner said. "We were missing 17 guys, nine of whom were starters. The game was close at half, but then they (the Mustangs) opened it up in the third quarter and really wore us down."

The IFL consists to two divisions, with six teams in each division. The Gladiators play in the American Conference, where the Roscoe (Ill.) Rush is the defending champion. Of the 11 other teams in the IFL, the Gladiators will play them all this season except the Muskego Hitmen.

Brunner anticipates a high-powered offense again this season. Former Milton High standout Danny Roberts is back at quarterback, with a pair of playmaking receivers in Janesville Parker graduate Jermar Ayers and Janesville Craig graduate Marchez Range.

Former Parker High players Tyrone Douglas and Nick Niles could start at tailback and fullback, respectively.

"Danny has been the heart and soul of the Gladiators from day one," Worth said. "And Ayers and Range can match speed and skill with any defensive back in our league. The offense is going to put some points on the board."

Defensively, linebacker Kyle Meinert, defensive lineman Todd Livingston and massive defensive tackle Jeff Hecht, who has played semi-pro football for the last 10 years, will lead the Gladiators. Hecht is 6-foot-2, 330 pounds.

"We've got more bodies on both sides of the ball this season, and that should make a big difference," Worth said. "Our defense is going to stop teams, and hopefully our offense can put enough points on the board for us to win a couple more games and make the playoffs."