ATLANTA -- Former University of Delaware football standout defensive lineman Joe Minucci will lead his Cleveland Gladiators team against the Georgia Force in the Arena Football League Divisional Championships tonight, July 7, at the Georgia Dome.

The game will be played 8 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN 2. Should the Gladiators win, they will advance to play the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena League semifinals July 12 on ESPN. The Arena Bowl will be played July 27 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans.

Minucci, a first-year member of the squad after playing the previous three seasons as a member of the Nashville Kats, leads the Gladiators in sacks this season with 6.5 and has also posted 27.5 total tackles (20 solo) and scored three touchdowns as a receiver. Cleveland, which went 9-7 during the regular season, defeated the Orlando Predators 69-66 on June 30 in a wild card playoff game to advance to tonight’s matchup.

Minucci was one of two former Delaware players to compete in the Arena League this season, joining former UD teammate and AFL veteran quarterback Matt Nagy. Nagy, now in his sixth year in the league, threw for 4,450 yards and 74 touchdowns and scored six touchdowns rushing for the Columbus Destroyers this past season. Columbus went 3-13 and did not qualify for the post-season playoffs.

A native of Lindenhurst, NY, Minucci earned a spot on the AFL All-Rookie team in 2005 and the All-AFL second team in 2006 with Nashville. He played at Delaware in 1999-2002, earning All-Atlantic 10 honors and leading the Hens to the 2000 NCAA I-AA semifinals.

Nagy, the all-time Columbus career leader in several passing categories, threw for 75 touchdowns and led the team to the division title a berth in the Arena Bowl in 2007. He also led the Georgia Force to the Arena Bowl in 2005 when he was named second team All-Arena League.

He played at Delaware in 1997-2000 and set 20 school passing records, including career yards (8,214) and touchdowns (58). The Manheim, PA native earned third team All American honors as a senior in 2000 when he led Delaware to the NCAA I-AA semifinals.