Gladiators Slay Grand Rapids, 70-42

Published on June 8, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


East Rutherford, N.J. - A disastrous first half by the Grand Rapids Rampage led to the team's largest margin of defeat since the final game of the 2000 season, as they fell 70-42 to the New Jersey Gladiators in their first-ever visit to the Garden State.

The Gladiators forced three first-half turnovers and intercepted Rampage quarterback Clint Dolezel three times on the night, leading to 21 New Jersey points. Dolezel, who entered Saturday's action as the AFL's leader in passing yardage, finished 21-of-30 for 302 yards and five touchdowns before yielding to Todd Hammel late in the fourth quarter.

The loss snapped Grand Rapids' four-game winning streak and dropped their record to 5-3 on the season. With Chicago's 53-17 victory over Detroit tonight, the Rampage and Rush are tied for first place in the Central Division. New Jersey also improved to 5-3 and moved into first place in the Eastern Division.

In the lone bright spot for the Rampage, WR/DB Willis Marshall tied a career high with three touchdowns and totaled 92 yards on six receptions. His efforts were unable to prevent a 28-point margin of defeat, the team's largest since a 59-17 loss at Oklahoma on July 20, 2000.

The Rampage and Gladiators traded quick touchdowns to begin the game. Grand Rapids needed just three plays to reach the end zone on the game's first drive, culminating in a 12-yard pass from Dolezel to Gary Compton. New Jersey answered with a four-play drive, scoring on a 37-yard pass from Jay McDonagh to former AFL Offensive Player of the Year Mike Horacek.

Rampage turnovers on their next two possessions allowed the Gladiators to earn just 20 yards to take a 21-7 advantage. A Compton fumble after a catch was returned by Sedrick Robinson to the Grand Rapids 7-yard line, and a four-yard rush by Robinson four plays later gave New Jersey the lead. The Rampage subsequently marched to the Gladiators' 15-yard line, but a Dolezel pass intended for Ricky Ross up the left side was intercepted by Damon Mason and returned all the way to the 13. After an incompletion, McDonagh once again hooked up with Horacek to give the home team a 14-point cushion.

The Rampage took three plays to pull within seven on a 33-yard strike to Steve Smith, but New Jersey began the second quarter with a 28-yard TD connection between McDonagh and 340-pound lineman Jamarr Ward for a 28-14 margin.

A string of near-fatal mistakes befell the Rampage on their next drive, which ultimately ended on downs at the Gladiators' four-yard line. Grand Rapids recovered two of its own fumbles and saw Dolezel sacked twice during the drive, which ended with an incompletion to Smith at the goal line.

The Rampage defense responded by forcing three consecutive incompletions, and a pooch kick by Steve Videtich was returned by Smith to the New Jersey 17-yard line. Dolezel hit Marshall twice, the second on a 15-yard catch and run to pay dirt, to cut the margin to 28-21.

McDonagh and Horacek combined for a third touchdown from 24 yards out with less than a minute left in the half, and the Gladiators quickly got the ball back on Mason's second interception of Dolezel. A 36-yard bomb to Dennison Robinson with 10 seconds left made it a 42-21 game at the half, as the clock ran out during the Rampage's final possession.

Things didn't get any better for the Rampage in the second half. New Jersey scored on the third play of its opening possession, as Frank Carter out-ran the Grand Rapids defense for a 18-yard score. Grand Rapids answered on a 20-yard pass to Marshall, but the Gladiators got a 20-yard pass of their own to Jeremy Wilkinson, making the score 56-28.

Dolezel's third interception of the game gave New Jersey the ball on the Rampage seven. Following an intentional grounding call, McDonagh again found Wilkinson, who made an acrobatic reception over a defender for a 12-yard score at the end of the third quarter.

Marshall caught a 34-yard pass for his third TD of the game, but Brian Gowins' extra point hit the left upright. A 28-yard pass to Carter gave New Jersey a 70-34 advantage, and Hammel hit Chris Ryan with a two-yard pass and followed with a conversion to Ross, making it a 70-42 final.

Reigning AFL Co-Offensive Player of the Month Smith was limited to 95 yards and one touchdown on six receptions, but still has garnered 46 receptions for 597 yards and 17 TDs in his last five games.

Western Michigan alumnus McDonagh finished 15-of-29 for 253 yards and eight touchdowns. Horacek earned MVP honors after catching four balls for 82 yards and three scores, while Carter was named Ironman of the Game with six rushes for 43 yards and one TD, two receptions for 28 yards and a score, and 3.5 tackles.

Following a 1-1 road swing, the Rampage will return to Van Andel Arena next Saturday, June 15 to battle the Los Angeles Avengers at 7:30 p.m. The contest, which begins a string of three home games in a span of four weeks for Grand Rapids, will be broadcast live on WXSP-TV and WBBL 1340 AM.

Game Notes:

-Grand Rapids scored on just three of eight possessions during the first half (two interceptions, one fumble, one turnover on downs, end of half) and six of 12 for the game.

-The Rampage set a team record by attempting just one rushing play (2 rushes, June 19, 1999 at Portland).

-New Jersey's 42 first-half points were the most allowed by the Rampage in any half this season. The 21 scored by Grand Rapids tied its lowest first-half output of the year.

-Rampage QB Clint Dolezel has thrown five or more TDs in six straight games. He completed 70% of his passes for the third straight game and the fifth time in eight contests this season, and enjoyed his second straight 300-yard passing night.

-Grand Rapids surrendered two sacks on their fifth drive, twice the total they allowed during their first seven games.

-The Rampage allowed 70 points for the second time this season (71-59 loss at Chicago on May 4).

-New Jersey QB Jay McDonagh's 31-yard run from scrimmage during third quarter was the longest in franchise history.

-Rampage coach Michael Trigg remains just one win away from 60 career regular season wins.

-Grand Rapids is now 2-2 on the road.

-Announced attendance at Continental Airlines Arena was 5,992.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 8, 2002


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