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The 2015 Duke City Gladiators season was the team's first season as a professional indoor football franchise, first as the "Duke City Gladiators", and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The Venom were led by head coach Dominic Bramante. One of nine teams in the CIF for the 2015 season, the Gladiators played their home games at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Season summary

The CIF's announced schedule for the 2015 season was disrupted when the New Mexico Stars abruptly postponed their entry into the league on February 21, just one week before the season began. On March 3, the Albuquerque-based Duke City Gladiators were announced as a late entry into the league, partially replacing the Stars in the CIF schedule with a plan to play 11 games in 2015. The Gladiators' schedule was a mix of league games and non-league games because of prior scheduling maneuvers and arena availability.

Although hastily assembled, the Gladiators were able to pick up many key personnel from the unexpected temporary shutdown of the New Mexico Stars. This experience allowed them amass a 5–4 record during their unexpectedly shortened debut season. Originally scheduled for just 9 league games, the Gladiators' final home game was won by forfeit after the Sailna Bombers were ejected from the CIF on May 28. Of their four losses, only the season opener against the Texas Revolution was a blowout. The other three losses were by just 4 points, 3 points, and 5 points, respectively. Duke City also played a pair of non-league exhibition games, winning both.

Off-field moves

The team opened training camp on March 15. Their first indoor practice session was March 24. Regular season promotions included Hispanic Heritage Night on March 28 and Public Service Day on April 26.

The team averaged about 1,000 fans per home game with a peak of 1,200 during the home season finale on April 26.

Awards and honors

Each week of the regular season, the CIF names league-wide Players of the Week in offensive, defensive, and special teams categories. For Week 12, the CIF named quarterback Kasey Peters as the Offensive Player of the Week. For Week 13, the CIF named defensive back Jayson Serda as the Defensive Player of the Week.

Schedule

Key:   Win   Tie   Loss   Bye

Regular season

Exhibition game against non-league opponent.
Won by forfeit; game ended by officials after fight just before halftime.
Duke City alternate home site as Tingley Coliseum was unavailable in June
Game cancelled after Salina Bombers ejected from league on May 28, 2015.

Roster

Standings

x = clinched playoffs, y = clinched home playoffs, z = clinched top seed

Playoffs

References

1. Krieger, Dan (September 22, 2014). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
2. Christ, Bob (February 22, 2015). "NM Stars owners pull plug on season". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
3. Jones, Darlene (February 22, 2015). "New Mexico Stars will not play the CIF 2015 season". Champions Indoor Football. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
4. Christ, Bob (May 23, 2015). "Arena of the absurd: Local indoor football has had funny bounces". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
5. ^ "CIF Enjoys Relief and Balance with Replacement Team in New Mexico". Champions Indoor Football. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
6. ^ Christ, Bob (March 3, 2015). "Gladiators will compete in Champions League". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
7. ^ Christ, Bob (June 5, 2015). "Gladiators GM: 'We're here to stay'". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
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10. ^ Tate, Van (March 25, 2015). "Gladiators ready for home opener". Albuquerque, NM: KRQE-TV. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
11. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 12". Champions Indoor Football. May 20, 2015. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
12. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 13". Champions Indoor Football. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
13. "Duke City Gladiators @ Texas Revolution - Mar 20th @ 7:05 pm". Champions Indoor Football. March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015 – via ScoreStream.
14. "Revs annihilate Gladiators, roll to second straight victory". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
15. Christ, Bob (March 9, 2015). "Indoor football: Gladiators hard at work as season nears". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
16. Christ, Bob (March 20, 2015). "New indoor pro team debuts today". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
17. ^ Christ, Bob (March 29, 2015). "Gladiators' opener ends after 1st-half fight". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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20. Christ, Bob (April 5, 2015). "Gladiators earn first victory". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
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22. Christ, Bob (April 4, 2015). "Gladiators look to rebound from brawl". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
23. Curtis, John (April 12, 2015). "Law hold off Gladiators' rally". Dodge City Daily Globe. Dodge City, KS: GateHouse Media. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
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25. Chester, Jared (April 11, 2015). "Gladiators lose their first home game". Albuquerque, NM: KRQE-TV. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
26. Christ, Bob (April 11, 2015). "Duke City set to host powerhouse Law". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
27. Steed, Kale (April 19, 2015). "Venom tumble to Duke City, 45-38". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
28. "Gladiators spit out Venom at Tingley". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
29. Steed, Kale (April 17, 2015). "Venom to face Duke City". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
30. Christ, Bob (April 18, 2015). "Gladiators get 2 aggressive DEs". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
31. Naranjo, Christian (April 26, 2015). "Duke City Gladiators Crush Texas Stealth 76-12". Albuquerque, NM: Duke City Gladiators. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
32. "Bandits edged by last-second field goal". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, TX: E.W. Scripps. May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
33. "San Angelo Bandits capsule, 5/2/15". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, TX: E.W. Scripps. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
34. Steed, Kale (May 17, 2015). "Venom win a shootout". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
35. Steed, Kale (May 15, 2015). "Venom return from bye, host Duke City". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
36. Christ, Bob (May 16, 2015). "Duke City controls its destiny for No. 1 seed". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
37. "Bandits' offense inept in loss". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, TX: E. W. Scripps Company. May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
38. ^ Christ, Bob (May 25, 2015). "Gladiators have tough road ahead of them". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
39. "Duke City Gladiators @ Texas Revolution - May 29, 2015 @ 7:00pm". Champions Indoor Football. May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015 – via ScoreStream.
40. Grant, Ethan (May 29, 2015). "Revs cap regular season with win". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
41. "Texas rallies in second half, ends Duke City playoff hopes". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. May 30, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
42. Grant, Ethan (June 1, 2015). "Revs wrap up playoff spot; outlining CIF postseason scenarios". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
43. Christ, Bob (May 29, 2015). "Gladiators face 'elimination game' tonight". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
44. Zucco, Erica (March 28, 2015). "Duke City Gladiators game starts strong, ends in fight". Albuquerque, NM: KOB-TV. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
45. Copp, Jake (May 28, 2015). "Salina Bombers dissolving football team". Salina, KS: KWCH-DT. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
46. "Salina Bombers Suspended from CIF". Champions Indoor Football. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
47. Davidson, Bob (May 29, 2015). "Bombs Away". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved June 1, 2015.

External links

• Duke City Gladiators official website
• Duke City Gladiators at Our Sports Central

• 2015 Champions Indoor Football season
• 2015 in sports in New Mexico
• American football in New Mexico
• Sports competitions in Albuquerque, New Mexico