An errant pitchout in the first quarter by Nate Davis led to a fumble, recovered by Tulsa. It led to a field goal, cutting the Gladiators’ early lead to 7-3. (Herron photo)

 

 

The tone was set early Saturday evening in the Rio Rancho Events Center, where the Duke City Gladiators never trailed nor were tied after scoring a touchdown on their first possession.

By game’s end, the Gladiators (2-1) had trounced the Tulsa Oilers 57-36.

The Oilers (0-2), a newcomer in the Indoor Football League this season, took the opening kickoff and were stopped on a fourth down play at the Duke City 6.

Five plays later, quarterback Nate Davis completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Amey, and Ernesto Lacayo’s point-after made it 7-0.

Tulsa came back with a field goal, and Davis hooked up with Eriq Swiftwater on a 5-yard TD pass, with Lacayo’s PAT making it 14-3, which is how the first quarter ended.

Each team scored 12 points in the second period, making it 26-15 at halftime. Duke City’s TDs came on passes from Davis to Gary Brown and Amey.

The Gladiators’ double-digit lead extended into the fourth quarter, 40-28, on short TD receptions by Omauri Hampton and Brown.

There would be no letdown for the Gladiators in the fourth quarter, who led by as many as 23 points before settling for the final 21-point margin of victory. James Dalton and Anthony Segura had rushing TDs in the final period for the Gladiators, and Lacayo added a field goal and a two-point rouge.

Davis was sacked just once, and was 17 of 22 passing for six TDs, with one interception.

The Gladiators are on the road three of the next four weeks, with a bye week added in.

They play at Arizona (1-2) Saturday, at Las Vegas April 22 and at Frisco on May6, and are off between the games in Las Vegas and Frisco.

Their next home game is May 13 vs. the Tucson Sugar Skulls.