Cleveland Gladiators: Shane Austin

Cleveland Gladiators quarterback Shane Austin yells a play against the Portland Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena in July. Austin has led five of Cleveland's six last-minute victories this season. (Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland (18-1) has the best record in Arena Football League history heading into Sunday's American Conference championship game against Orlando. The new Kardiac Kids of The Q have done it the hard way: Six times this season, Cleveland won games it trailed until the final play of the fourth quarter.

Here's how the Gladiators did it:

April 19 vs. Spokane Shock: Spokane took a 50-46 lead with 13 seconds left. After the kickoff, Cleveland was at its 8-yard line with four seconds remaining. Quarterback Chris Dierker completed a 13-yard pass to Dominick Goodman with two seconds to play. A Dierker-to-Thyron Lewis 29-yard TD pass as time expired won it, 52-50.

May 10 vs. Los Angles Kiss: Cleveland QB Shane Austin engineered a drive that began with 41 seconds remaining, and Aaron Pettrey's 16-yard field goal on the final play gave Cleveland a 45-42 victory.

May 23 vs. Philadelphia Soul: Cleveland overcame a 52-35 deficit with 1:27 remaining to beat Philadelphia, 54-52. Austin threw three touchdown passes, two to Lewis and one to Goodman. Twice Cleveland recovered Pettrey's onside kicks to extend the comeback. Austin's 11-yard touchdown pass to Lewis on the final play of regulation won the game.

June 21 at Philadelphia: Cleveland trailed, 62-50, until Austin threw touchdown passes to three receivers in the final minute. Collin Taylor's catch with 59 seconds left cut the margin to 62-57. Cleveland recovered Pettrey's onside kick and Austin's TD pass to Lewis put Cleveland ahead, 63-62. Philly answered with a TD pass and regained the lead, 68-63, with two seconds remaining. Standing in his own end zone, Austin threw a 47-yard, Hail Mary touchdown pass caught by Goodman as time expired for a textbook 69-68 win.

July 12 at San Antonio Talons: Cleveland was 14-1 and San Antonio 1-14, but the Gladiators were on the ropes. A field goal extended San Antonio's lead to 47-39 with 38 seconds left. Austin threw a five-yard TD pass to Goodman with no time remaining, and Thyron Lewis caught a two-point conversion pass to force overtime. Joe Phinisee's interception and 25-yard return to the San Antonio 1 set up Pettrey's 16-yard field goal for a 50-47 overtime victory.

Aug. 2 vs. Philadelphia: Cleveland trailed, 29-22, in a first-round playoff game at The Q until Austin's touchdown run and Pettrey's kick tied it, 29-29, with 2:30 to play. Cleveland took a 36-29 lead on another Austin TD run and a Pettrey kick with 42 seconds left. Philadelphia scored with 25 seconds left and converted a two-point conversion for a 37-36 lead. Austin's completions to Taylor and Lewis set up Pettrey's 36-yard field goal as time expired. Cleveland won, 39-37.