The Cleveland Gladiators hope to get the better of the league-leading Spokane Shock for the second time this season as they desperately try to stay in playoff contention. The game starts at 7 PM ET, Saturday, July 10 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

The Gladiators shocked the Shock in their first meeting of the season. Spokane had scored to take the lead with just 8.2 seconds left before the Gladiators returned the kickoff 56 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Since that game, the Spokane Shock (10-2) have been deadly going 8-0. The players credit the loss with helping them focus on their flaws as a team and turning the season around.

The Shock are coming off of a close one against Arizona that they barely won by a final score of 37-36. Spokane held the league’s leading receiver to just 92 yards in the game.

The Cleveland Gladiators (6-7) deadly passing attack isn’t likely to be derailed by shutting down just one receiver. They boast incredible depth at that position with three 1000-yard receivers and QB John Dutton leads the AFL with 4,270 yards passing.

The passing attack was on full display last week when Dutton threw for 411 yards and 10 touchdowns leading the Gladiators to a 77-70 win over Orlando in overtime.

The Gladiators are winners of five of their last eight, but a slow start means they trail the Milwaukee Iron by two games for the final playoff spot. They only have three games left including a game against the Iron, but they will need more than just that win to make the playoffs.

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