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Rampage Ride Record QB Performance to 84-65 Win over Crush

June 7, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - The Grand Rapids Rampage scored the second most points in team history thanks to a team record 10 touchdown passes by James MacPherson (Tucson, Ariz.) en route to a 84-65 win over the Colorado Crush tonight. With the win, the Rampage jump back into the playoff picture in the Arena Football League's American Conference, while the Crush momentarily have fallen out.

MacPherson spread the ball around throughout the night, as three different receivers amassed over 100 receiving yards. The Wake Forest University product's 388 passing yards were the second most in Rampage single-game history. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Donovan Arp (Murray, Utah) even got into the offensive act, catching his first career touchdown and earning Ironman of the Game honors.

Grand Rapids scored the game's first points when Chris Johnson (Americus, Ga.) executed a perfect corner route for a 22-yard touchdown reception. The Rampage defense followed with an important third down stop in its own red zone, holding the Crush to a field goal on their opening drive.

Colorado earned its first defensive stop of the evening when a MacPherson pass intended for Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.) bounded off of the nets behind the end zone and into the hands of Crush defensive back Rashad Floyd. A 24-yard touchdown pass to Willie Quinnie gave the visitors a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Rampage receiver Cole Magner (Palmer, Alaska) returned the lead to Grand Rapids, using a double move to find open space for an 11-yard touchdown catch. But Quinnie answered with his second touchdown of the night, giving the Crush a 17-14 edge.

Higgins put the Rampage back on top when he escaped behind the Crush defense for a wide open 28-yard reception in the end zone. Arp then turned the game's momentum, pushing Colorado center Kyle Moore-Brown back into quarterback John Dutton, forcing the Crush signal caller to take an intentional grounding penalty in his own end zone. Following the resulting safety, Grand Rapids extended its lead to 13 with a MacPherson one-yard quarterback keeper.

The Crush sliced the Rampage lead with a third Quinnie touchdown catch. But Arp continued his strong night, catching a four-yard touchdown pass and then recovering a Dutton fumbled snap. Johnson's second touchdown catch of the night sent Grand Rapids to the locker room with a 44-24 halftime lead.

Each team traded punches in the third quarter, as Colorado cashed in on scores by Dutton, Nelson and Chad Owens and the Rampage took advantage of a pair of touchdowns by Higgins and a sure-handed grab by Magner.

Grand Rapids collected the first turnover of the half in unfortunate circumstances, when Owens, Colorado's kickoff return man, suffered a leg injury causing him to fumble the ball into the arms of Johnson. Brian Gowins' (Birmingham, Ala.) 38-yard field goal gave the Rampage their largest lead of the night, 67-43, at the end of the third quarter.

Colorado gained new life at the start of the fourth quarter, sandwiching a defensive stop with a pair of Nelson touchdowns to draw within eight points. Higgins' third touchdown catch of the night halted the streak, however, and a Crush turnover on downs allowed Gowins to nail his second field goal of the night, sending Grand Rapids to a three score advantage, 77-59.

Quinnie's fourth touchdown of the night with less than a minute remaining kept Colorado's hopes alive. But MacPherson's 10th touchdown pass of the night and third to Magner sealed the deal and vaulted Grand Rapids back into the playoff picture.

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