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Grand Rapids defeats Detroit 49-45

April 20, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Detroit Fury News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.-The Fury came into Saturday's game with hopes of spoiling the defending ArenaBowl champion Rampage's celebration. Unfortunately for Detroit, Grand Rapids had different plans, as they held on to beat the Fury 49-45. Detroit drops to 0-1, while GR climbs to 1-0.

In the season's opening quarter for both clubs, GR got on the board first courtesy of a 39-yard bomb from Clint Dolezel to Willis Marshall at 13:13. Chuck Levy evened the score for Detroit when he pulled in a five-yard toss from Rickey Foggie at 8:51. The Rampage moved the ball down to the one-yard line, then handed the ball to big Chris Ryan for the TD scamper at 3:34. Robert Gordon caught a 45-yard pass and dove into the endzone with 1:44 remaining. J.R. Jenkins shanked the extra point attempt, giving GR a 14-13 lead after the first.

In the second frame, Marshall caught a 45-yard pass from Dolezel just seven seconds in. Levy answered back with a 34-yard catch of his own to pull the Fury within two (21-19). But the Rampage turned up the heat, scoring the final three TDs of the quarter. Steve Smith, Marshall and Terrill Shaw all found the back of the endzone.

The third quarter saw the Fury pull themselves together and get back into the game, as they scored the only two TDs of the stanza. Chuck Winters corralled a 22-yard pass from Foggie at 10:42 before Levy scored his third of the game at 4:14 off a 20-yard toss. Detroit trailed 42-33 at the end of the third.

Willie Latta scored his first TD as a member of the Fury, courtesy of a five-yard pass from Foggie, bringing the score to 42-39. The Fury then failed on the two-point conversion that would have pulled them within one. GR got back on the board minutes later, when lineman Rod Manuel collected a dish from Dolezel that gave the Rampage a 49-39 lead. Gordon scored his second of the game at 4:42 that brought Detroit within four, but the Rampage was able to hold on to the ball for the final four minutes of the game, clinching the win.

Detroit gets back into the swing of things rather quickly, as they travel to Toronto to take on the Phantoms on Thursday, April 25. The Fury will then play host to the Buffalo Destroyers on May 4 at 7:30 PM for the 2002 season home opener. Tickets are available by calling (248) 377-0100 or by logging onto www.detroitfury.com.

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