Firebirds defeat Rampage 45-42
March 26, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
Clay Rush hit a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left to lift the Indiana Firebirds over the Grand Rapids Rampage in a thriller, 45-42.
Rush's game-winning field goal capped off a 5 play 29-yard drive in which Adrian McPherson (Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive MVP) completed 2-of-5 passes to give the Firebirds 4th and 2 from the Grand Rapids 21. Following a Grand Rapids timeout, Rush came out and calmly drilled the kick to give Indiana the lead.
Grand Rapids had one last chance to win as the ensuing kickoff went out of the back of the end zone for a touchback. However, Nick Gatto's 62-yard field goal attempt fell short, sealing the win for Indiana.
Grand Rapids sprinted out to an early 21-7 lead as QB Anthony Buich completed 11 of his first 12 passes, including three touchdowns. The Rampage defense also stood tall, limiting a Firebird offense that has racked up an average of 69 points in the past two games to only 13 first half points in taking a 21-13 lead into halftime.
However, the second half belonged to Indiana's blazing hot rookie tandem of McPherson and OS Anthony Hines. The pair hooked up seven times for 128 yards and a touchdown in the final two frames, none of which were more important than a clutch two-play drive in which Hines made both receptions for 38 yards touchdown to give the Birds their first lead of the game at 42-35.
While it was the rookies who lead the way to victory, it was the veterans who made the plays down the stretch. Brett Bech (2 catches, 23 yards, 1 TD), who had been quiet on the offensive side of the ball for the majority of the game came open when his defender slipped and made a wide-open touchdown grab in the back of the end zone to bring the Birds to within one point with ten minutes remaining. Coach Wilpolt then elected to go for two instead of taking the easy PAT and was rewarded handsomely for his decision as Bech created enough space between himself and his defender for McPherson to get him the ball in the end zone to tie the game at 35.
Grand Rapids would not go quietly into the rainy Indianapolis night however. Following the Hines touchdown reception, the Rampage drove down to the Indiana nine-yard line. Following a pair of incomplete passes, Anthony Buich found OL/DL Rickie Simpkins at the Indiana seven. Simpkins rumbled in behind his blockers to cap off a drive that ate five minutes off the clock, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
McPherson proved once again why he is widely considered to be one of the rising stars in the AFL, winning his second consecutive Offensive MVP award by completing 22-of-34 passes for 289 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for another score. The win gives new Indiana head coach Mike Wilpolt his third in a row while Grand Rapids remained winless on the season, falling for the seventh straight time.
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