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Gowins' Game-Winning Kick Sends Rampage to 58-56 Win over Crush

May 26, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - With enough time for one final play, the Grand Rapids Rampage and kicker Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.) stood at the Colorado 20-yard line down by one point in front of a raucous Van Andel Arena crowd. The man nicknamed "Iceman" cooled the Crush's two-game winning streak, sending the 35-yard try through the uprights to give the home team an incredible 58-56 victory.

The night featured the chess match that often is Arena Football League action, as each team appeared in charge on several occasions in the game's final minutes. Both teams' stars came to play as well, as Crush receiver Damian Harrell and Rampage receiver and return specialist Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) showed why they are two of the AFL's best.

Gowins' start to the game was almost as impressive as his finish. Colorado won the coin toss and elected to receive in an effort to jump on top of Grand Rapids early. The Rampage kicker immediately hit the right upright, however, and the ball bounded right to Grand Rapids defensive back Chuck Wesley (East Orange, N.J.) who walked untouched into the end zone.

Colorado tied the game at 7-7 with a one-yard scoring rush by defensive back Jason Harmon. But Grand Rapids continued its good fortune on kickoffs. Crush kicker Jason Ball managed to hit the iron as well, but Marshall chased down the loose ball. The league's leader in all-purpose yards proceeded to elude three tackles and race 50-yards for his Rampage record sixth kickoff return touchdown of the season.

The Crush took their first lead of the night, 16-14, thanks to a Ball field goal and a one-handed touchdown reception by Harrell. But Grand Rapids' offense responded by scoring its first points of the night on a five-yard touchdown catch by Cornelius Bonner (Gaffney, S.C.)

Each team traded red-zone touchdowns late in the first half. Robert Redd gave Colorado a brief 23-21 edge with a short five-yard reception. But Marshall's touchdown catch with just eight seconds left in the half sent Grand Rapids to the locker room with a 28-23 lead. Marshall earned Ironman of the Game honors after accumulating 201 all-purpose yards and scoring his AFL record-tying ninth return touchdown of the season.

Rampage quarterback Chad Salisbury (Perryopolis, Pa.), who threw for just 61 yards in the first half, let loose the reins to start the third quarter. He hit Bonner for a 21-yard touchdown on a flag route, giving Grand Rapids a 35-23 edge. Then, following a Wesley interception, Salisbury found a streaking Bonner up the boards on a beautiful bomb for a 37-yard score.

Colorado answered back with 21 straight points of its own thanks to three Harrell touchdown grabs. Offensive Player of the Game Bonner helped the Rampage stop the bleeding, however, breaking a tackle and racing 31 yards into the end zone to give Grand Rapids a 49-44 advantage. The newly-acquired receiver, who was playing in just his second game with the Rampage, made eight catches for 131 yards and four touchdowns.

The game built to its climactic finish in the game's final minutes. Colorado slowly marched down the field on its next drive, eating up over five minutes of the clock before scoring on a one-yard John Peaua rush. With less than a minute remaining in the game, the Crush attempted an onside kick in the hopes that Grand Rapids would score quickly and allow the visitors a final possession. The Rampage scored faster than expected, however, when fullback Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.) picked up the bouncing kick and scrambled eight yards into the end zone. Ryan failed to break the goal line on a two-point conversion rush attempt, however, keeping the score 55-50.

With their opponents down to two timeouts, the Crush took over at their own five yard line. Dutton immediately struck a wide open Willie Quinnie for a 42-yard completion, taking the ball down to Grand Rapids' three-yard line. Colorado attempted to milk as much time off of the clock as possible, but scored on Harrell's fifth touchdown reception with 20 seconds remaining. A devastating tackle by Ryan kept the Crush from converting on a two-point try, holding Colorado's lead to one.

Grand Rapids began its game-winning drive from its own 12-yard line with 17 seconds remaining and no timeouts. On the very first play, Salisbury connected with Clarence Coleman (Miami, Fla.) over the middle. The second year receiver, who had only four catches for 58 yards in his AFL career, finished the night with 55 receiving yards on six grabs, none more important than his last. With just three seconds remaining in the game, Gowins lined up, stepped up, and sent the Rampage to the victory.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2007


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