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Detroit Fury Game Notes

April 15, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Detroit Fury News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Detroit Fury (0-0) at Grand Rapids Rampage (0-0)
Date: April 20, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Site: Van Andel Arena (10,454)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe
Umpire: Doug Wilson
Head Linesman: Royce Cooley
Line Judge: Gary Cavaletto
Back Judge: Joe Duncan
Radio: WDFN 1130 AM (Jamie Samuelsen)
TV: None
Series Record: 1-1
Last Meeting: Detroit defeated GR Streaks: None
Coaches: Mouse Davis (7-7, 2nd)
Mike Trigg (54-52, 9th)

THE STAKES: Both teams are looking to get out of the gate with a solid start. This divisional game has plenty of importance, as the next time these two clubs meet is not until the final week of the regular season. Each team has successfully defended their home turf in the two prior meetings.

THE SERIES: As previously stated, the teams split last seasons series 1-1. Grand Rapids won the first meeting 45-41 at Van Andel Arena on June 2. Four weeks later the Fury used their highest offensive output of the season to defeat GR 75-63.

THE IFs:
If DETROIT defeats GRAND RAPIDS, it would ...
* Give DETROIT 2-1 series record with GR
* Give DETROIT 1-1 record in Van Andel Arena
* Give Mouse Davis a 2-1 record against GR
* Give DETROIT a 1-0 record for 2002
* Give DETROIT a 2-0 winning streak against GR

HEAD COACHES: Mouse Davis returns to right the ship for Detroit. Davis led a first-year team to a 7-7 record last season, coupled with the 10th seed in the AFL playoffs. Davis vows that the Fury will compete for the ArenaBowl Championship this season and feels that he has many of the pieces to the puzzle to accomplish that. Mike Trigg had probably the best offseason versus any other coach in the AFL. First he finished the regular season with an impressive 11-3 record. Then he won AFL's Coach of the Year. And finally, he capped it all off with an ArenaBowl Championship. Trigg brings his 54-52 record into this game against rival Detroit in hopes of picking up where he left off.

DETROIT FURY (0-0)
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/20 @ Grand Rapids 7:30 -- 1-1
4/25 @ Toronto 7:00 -- --
5/4 BUFFALO 7:30 -- --
5/11 @ Buffalo 7:00 -- --
5/18 INDIANA 7:30
5/24 @ New York 7:00
6/1 GEORGIA 7:30
6/8 @ Chicago 8:00
6/14 @ Indiana 8:00
6/22 CHICAGO 7:30
6/29 NEW JERSEY 7:30
7/6 @ Dallas 8:30
7/13 TAMPA BAY 7:30
7/19 GRAND RAPIDS 7:30

2001 REVIEW: Detroit capped off a successful freshman season in the AFL in 2001. The Fury finished with a 7-7 record and the 10th seed in the ArenaBowl playoffs. Robert Gordon led the team in virtually every offensive category, finishing the year third in the AFL in scoring.

PRESEASON HISTORY: Detroit completed the 2002 preseason with a 47-37 loss to the Arizona Rattlers at The Palace on April 9. The Fury sank the Buffalo Destroyers on March 30 32-27, winning their first-ever preseason game. In the 2001 season, Detroit dropped both contests.

LAST SERIES MEETING: AUBURN HILLS, Mich.-Scott Semptimphelter led Detroit's best offensive effort of the season, completing 17-of-25 passes for 275 yards and seven touchdowns as the Fury overpowered Grand Rapids 75-63 Saturday night before a crowd of 8,444 at The Palace. Detroit won their fourth straight and improved to 6-5, while the Rampage fell to 8-3 on the season. Both clubs came out firing in the first with Detroit holding the three-point edge at the end of the quarter. The Fury opened the scoring on their first drive, as Chuck Levy made a one-handed grab in the back of the endzone at 13:07. Grand Rapids answered on their first possession, as Chris Avery charged in from the one-yard line at 9:03. Tommie Boyd hauled in a 39-yard bomb from Scott Semptimphelter at 6:22 to put Detroit back up by a touchdown. Clint Dolezel matched Semptimphelter on the next drive, as he hit Terrel Shaw for a 36-yard strike at 4:27 to even the score. J.R. Jenkins put Detroit back in front when he nailed a 52-yard field goal at 1:27 of the first. Detroit's defense dominated in the second, recording a safety and forcing two Dolezel interceptions. Grand Rapids grabbed the lead early in the quarter, as Dolezel found Michael Baker for a 17-yard touchdown at 14:52. The Fury retook the lead after Dolezel's first pick, as Andy Chilcote rumbled in for a two-yard score at 8:11. Dolezel connected with Ricky Ross for seven yards at 5:08 to put the Rampage up 28-24. Chuck Winters put Detroit back on top by running the kickoff back 53 yards at 4:19. Antoine Worthman intercepted Dolezel in the endzone on the next drive, setting up a 30-yard score from Semptimphelter to Boyd in the final minute of the half. Detroit added a safety on their next defensive stance, giving the Fury a 40-28 lead at halftime. Grand Rapids battled back in the third, scoring 21 points and taking a two-point edge to the fourth quarter. Baker and Dolezel connected for the second time for three yards at 10:19. After a Semptimphelter interception, Avery scored his second rushing touchdown at 8:33 to put Grand Rapids in front by two. Robert Gordon grabbed a 22-yard pass from Semptimphelter at 6:44, giving Detroit the lead again. Dolezel found Willis Marshall for a seven-yard score at 1:33, giving the Rampage a 49-47 advantage. In the fourth, Semptimphelter found Levy for a 34-yard score at 13:09 to make it 54-49. Dolezel and Shaw hooked up for a six-yard touchdown at 9:06 giving the Rampage the lead for the final time. Gordon caught a five-yard touchdown at 6:23, putting the Fury ahead for good. Grand Rapids fumbled their next possession and Voncellies Allen recovered and squirmed into the endzone at 5:39. Shaw and Dolezel connected one more time with 57 seconds remaining to bring the Rampage within a touchdown, but that's as close as they would get. Gordon snatched his third touchdown of the night with 45 ticks left, and Chuck Levy intercepted Dolezel's last effort to seal the win for Detroit. Dolezel completed 35-of-50 passes for 358 yards and seven touchdowns but threw three interceptions. Semptimphelter was named the game's MVP, while Chuck Levy earned the Ironman honors.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among the AFL's statistical leaders: DETROIT Player Rank Category Stat

DETROIT INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB Ty Grovesteen Hamstring Out
FB/LB Errick Herrin Hip Flexor Probable

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Mouse Davis on what to expect with GR: "They are definitely a good, solid football team. They have excellent players and are really good at quarterback and with the big kids."

Mouse Davis on Clint Dolezel: "He is noted as the top guy in the league. We need to have our big guys get at him and cause a disturbance there."

Chuck Winters on the Fury/Rampage rivalry: "First and foremost, it is an intense rivalry because they are in our division and because they are the defending champs, and that is where we want to be at seasons end. It's also a bit of a personal rivalry for me, because of my good friend Willis Marshall on that team. It's always fun to play against a buddy and even better when your team can beat his."

R-Kal Truluck on the Fury at this point: "We are on track to do something really special this year. The quicker the guys can mesh, the greater we will be."

MILESTONES:

RICKEY FOGGIE
* Needs 23 pass completions to reach 1,500
* Needs 336 yards to reach 16,000

ROBERT GORDON
* Needs 515 yards to reach 3,000
* Needs 39 TDs to hit 100
* Needs 14 receptions to reach 200

DETROIT NEXT WEEK: 4/25 @ Toronto The Fury have a short week to prepare for a Thursday matchup in Toronto. This will be the first and only meeting between these two clubs during the regular season.

FURY NOTES/TRENDS:

The Sack King : As if winning the AFL's Rookie of the Year wasn't enough, OL/DL R-Kal Truluck has vowed to wreck havoc on all opposing quarterbacks this season and to pick up where he left off. Last year, Truluck finished with 8.5 sacks, a number he promises will only increase this season.

Levy-ing his abilities: Everyone knows the main ingredients that WR/DB Chuck Levy brings to the Fury: Speed, speed and more speed. The former Arizona Cardinal/San Francisco 49er finished third on the team in scoring last season and is looked upon by the coaches to move up on the ladder in that category.

Road Kill: After posting a poor 2-5 record on the road last season, Detroit realizes that they need to change that around for 2002. And since three of the first four weeks are in enemy territory, now is a good time to start.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Fury QB Rickey Foggie: Foggie was selected by Mouse Davis to lead the Fury for the 2002 season at the most critical position in football. The six-year AFL vet showed poise and superior athletic ability when faced with heavy pressure from opposing linemen during the preseason. Foggie is going to have to bring his "A-game" tonight if the Fury are to knock off the defending ArenaBowl champs.

Fury OS Robert Gordon: Without a doubt, Robert Gordon is in the top two in the entire AFL at his position. Gordon finished third in the league in scoring and provided plenty of excitement to the home crowd. "Flash" will also need to pick up where he left off, as it is no secret that the Fury will rely heavily on the veteran OS this season.

Rampage QB Clint Dolezel: Clint Dolezel is considered by many to be the best passer NOT in the NFL. Dolezel was the main reason why the Rampage were able to enjoy a successful regular season at 11-3 and win the ArenaBowl in August. The key for Detroit is to get Dolezel off his game. If R-Kal Truluck, the AFL's Rookie of the Year, can get in Dolezel's face, it will be a long night for the veteran hurler.

Rampage K Brian Gowins: Quite possible the best clutch-kicker in the league...meaning this is the guy you want on your team when the game is on the line. Gowins was selected as the AFL's Kicker of the Year last season, as he booted 15-of-26 FGs and 96-of-100 PATs. Gowins already picked up where he left off, as he nailed a 52-yard field goal with just seconds left on the clock to defeat the Toronto Phantoms 47-46 in a preseason game.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 15, 2002


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