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Grand Rapids Rampage Game Notes

April 21, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage @ Chicago Rush
Date: Sunday, April 27, 2003.
Kickoff: 3 p.m. (ET).
Site: Allstate Arena (16,000).
Officials: William LeMonnier (Referee), Rick Lowe (Umpire), Rod Pearson (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), Scott Helverson (Back Judge).
TV: NBC (Channel 8), Eli Gold & Charles Davis.
Series Record: Rampage lead 3-2.
Overall Series Record: Rampage lead 4-2 (2001 playoff game included).
Coaches: Grand Rapids, Michael Trigg (73-68 overall, 10th season). Chicago, Mike Hohensee (70-69, 10th season).

THE STAKES: With only three games left in the regular season after this weekend's action, this is a must win for both Grand Rapids and Chicago. A win puts the Rampage in the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year and keeps the Rampage in contention for a first round bye. Chicago is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the 2003 playoffs. A win would help keep the Rush's playoff hopes alive.

THE SERIES: This will be the sixth regular season meeting and seventh overall meeting between these two franchises. Grand Rapids swept the season series in 2001, while Chicago returned the favor in 2002. The Rampage regained the regular season series lead with a 48-34 victory over the Rush earlier this season at Van Andel Arena.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats Chicago it would...
· Give the Rampage a 4-2 regular season series record with the Rush.
· Give the Rampage a 5-2 road record in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 9-4 overall record in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 5-2 record against the American Conference in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 4-0 record against the Central Division in 2003.
· Give the Rampage its first sweep of a Central Division opponent since 2001.
· Clinch the team's fifth consecutive playoff berth.

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (73-68, 10th Season): Trigg, the only coach in Rampage team history, is in his sixth season with the Rampage and tenth overall as a head coach in the AFL. Last season, Trigg led the Rampage to an 8-6 regular season mark and a fourth consecutive playoff berth. He also became just the fifth AFL coach to reach the 60-win plateau, making him the fifth winningest coach in AFL history. Trigg's history of achievement reached new heights on August 19, 2001 when the AFL's smallest market team won ArenaBowl XV in front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena and a national television audience. For his efforts, Trigg was named the 2001 AFL Coach of the Year.

Mike Hohensee, Chicago Rush (70-69, 10th Season): Hohensee is in his third season as the head coach of the Rush, his 10th as an Arena Football League head coach, and his 15th as a member of an AFL coaching staff. He became the sixth coach in AFL history to record 60 regular-season victories when the Rush defeated Dallas (58-52 overtime) July 13, 2002, joining Tim Marcum, Danny White, Perry Moss, John Gregory and Michael Trigg. During his nine seasons as a head coach, his teams have reached the playoffs six times, and he has coached against 37 different franchises. He was hired as the first head coach in Rush history on Sept. 26, 2000. Ironically, he began his coaching career as an assistant for the Chicago Bruisers in 1989, becoming the first former AFL player to join the league as a coach. RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: Arizona 82, GRAND RAPIDS 81 (4-19-03) – For a second consecutive week, the Arizona Rattlers pulled out a thrilling overtime victory, defeating the Grand Rapids Rampage, 82-81, in front of a sold out (10,594) Van Andel Arena crowd.

The second-highest scoring game in Arena Football League history finally came to an end in overtime when Rampage quarterback Clint Dolezel failed to get into the end zone on a two-point conversion, the team's third attempt due to consecutive Arizona penalties.

With the score knotted a 75-75 at the end of regulation, Grand Rapids won the coin toss and decided to defer to Arizona. Three plays later, Sherdrick Bonner hit Bo Kelly for a 27-yard touchdown, giving the Rattlers an 82-75 lead. Grand Rapids returned the favor with Dolezel's fourth touchdown pass of the night to Terrill Shaw, which cut Arizona's lead to 82-81. The Rampage elected to go for the win with the two-point conversion try, but the team's hopes of a fourth straight victory were denied when Arizona's defense stop Dolezel just short of the goal line.

Bonner was named the game's MVP, completing 26-of-43 passes for 358 yards and nine touchdowns. Randy Gatewood and Orshawante Bryant caught four touchdowns apiece, while Kelly and John Peaua each ran for a score.

In defeat, Dolezel completed 21-of-29 passes for 331 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Dolezel's favorite target on the night was Terrill Shaw, who caught eight passes for a game-high 173 yards and four touchdowns. Steve Smith earned game Ironman honors, recording eight catches for 97 yards and two scores, five kickoff returns for 120 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, and 2.5 tackles on defense.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage finish out their 2003 road schedule against the San Jose SaberCats next Saturday. The game, which kicks off at 3 p.m. (ET), is a matchup of the last two ArenaBowl champions.

2002 MILESTONES:

· Grand Rapids sets a new team record for regular season attendance with 69,341 total fans attending games during the 2002 season, which includes a team record three sellouts.

· Rampage coach Michael Trigg recorded career regular season victory number 60 against the Georgia Force (6/23). Only four other coaches (John Gregory, Tim Marcum, Perry Moss and Danny White) have reached the 60-win plateau.

· Rampage QB Clint Dolezel moved past Mike Perez for fifth place on the AFL's all-time charts in passing yards (19,995) and sixth place in pass attempts (2,609). In addition, Dolezel also passed John Kaleo for fifth place in completions (1,698) and former teammate Todd Hammel for fourth place in career passing touchdowns (393).

· Dolezel became the first quarterback in AFL history to throw for 70 or more TDs in four different seasons.

· Rampage FB/LB Chris Ryan broke his own team single-season rushing marks in yards (133) and touchdowns (12). He also broke Basil Proctor's four-year old attempts record (49).

· Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald broke the Rampage's single-season sack record with his 2.5 sack performance against the New York Dragons (7/13). McDonald, who finished with 5.5 sacks on season, moved past Corey Mayfield and Buster Stanley (4.5).

2003 MILESTONES:

· OS Steve Smith became the Rampage's all-time single-season leader in kickoff returns for TDs with his third of the season (4/19/03).

· Coach Michael Trigg became just the fifth AFL coach (John Gregory, Tim Marcum, Perry Moss and Danny White) to amass 70 career victories (3/16 @ Dallas).

· Trigg also passed Gregory as the AFL's fourth all-time winningest coach (4/13 vs. Las Vegas).

· FB/LB Chris Avery moved past Chris Ryan to become the Rampage's all-time single-season leader in rushing yards with 132 (3/29 vs. Chicago).

· K Brian Gowins moved past Thomas Bailey to become the Rampage's all-time scoring leader (3/16 @ Dallas).

· Gowins also moved past Remy Hamilton (current Avengers kicker) to become the Rampage's all-time leader in FG attempts (2/16 vs. NY).

· QB Clint Dolezel became just the fourth quarterback in AFL history to amass 400 career passing TDs (2/7 @ Colorado).

· Dolezel also moved past Fred McNair for fifth place on the AFL's career list in passing attempts and became just the fifth quarterback in AFL history to amass 20,000 career-passing yards (2/1 @ Buffalo).

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· QB Clint Dolezel needs only one TD toss to become the first quarterback to throw for 70 or more TDs in five different AFL seasons.

· OS Terrill Shaw needs 12 points to move past Thomas Bailey for second place on the Rampage's all-time scoring list.

· Shaw needs only five TDs to become the Rampage's all-time TD leader (Bailey – 71).

· Shaw also needs only one TD to break Bailey's single-season receiving TD record of 33 (1999) and five TDs to break Bailey's single-season total TD record of 37 (1999).

· Shaw needs only 293 receiving yards to break Bailey's single-season receiving yards record of 1,578 (1999).

· Defensive specialists Cecil Doggette and Mark Ricks each need only one interception to tie Grand Rapids' single-season record of five (Michael Baker –1999).

· WR/DB Willis Marshall will tie Bailey's consecutive regular season games with a reception record (37 straight games) if he is able to catch at least one pass in the team's final four games of the season.

· FB/LB Travis McDonald needs only a half sack to take over sole possession of second place on the Rampage's all-time sacks list. He is currently tied with Tony Bowick with eight.

LAST MEETING: Chicago 34, GRAND RAPIDS 48 (3-29-03) – The Grand Rapids Rampage used an impressive defensive performance to defeat the Chicago Rush, 48-34, at Van Andel Arena.

The team's third sellout crowd (10,594) of the season witnessed the Rampage defense tie a team record for interceptions with its four picks of Rush quarterback Billy Dicken. Game co-MVP and Rampage newcomer Mark Ricks led all defenders with six tackles and two interceptions, becoming only the second player in Rampage history to record multiple interceptions in a game (Darius Hadley – 7/8/00). Cecil Doggette and Willis Marshall added the other interceptions. Marshall, who was named the game's Ironman, also contributed on offense with three catches for 47 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Clint Dolezel, the game's other co-MVP, completed 22-of-30 passes for a season-high 317 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Terrill Shaw led all receivers with nine catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

In defeat, Dicken threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-38 passing. Antonio Chatman paced the Rush with eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned four kickoffs for 112 yards, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown.

SERIES NOTABLES:

· Clint Dolezel (GR): Completed 106-of-173 for 1,373 yards, 28 TDs and 3 INTs in five regular season games against the Rush. Named co-MVP twice (5/19/01 & 3/29/03) and game MVP once (7/7/01).

· Willis Marshall (GR): Recorded 19 catches for 180 yards and two TDs in five regular season contests against the Rush. Added 1.5 tackles and his first career interception against the Rush earlier this season, earning game Ironman honors.

· Mark Ricks (GR): Named co-MVP in his only contest (3/29/02) against the Rush in a Rampage uniform, recording a game-high six tackles and two interceptions.

· Terrill Shaw (GR): Recorded 31 catches for 493 yards and 10 TDs in four regular season games against the Rush.

· Steve Smith (GR): Registered 18 catches for 238 yards and six TDs in two regular season contests against the Rush.

· Cornelius Bonner (CHI): Recorded 18 catches for 333 yards and eight TDs in five regular season games against the Rampage. Named Ironman of the Game on May 19, 2001.

· Antonio Chatman (CHI): Registered 20 catches for 312 yards and eight TDs in three regular season contests against the Rampage. Added 11 kickoff returns for 315 yards, including two for TDs: 55 (5/4/02) and 54 yards (3/29/03). Named co-MVP in his first game and game MVP in his second contest against GR.

· Billy Dicken (CHI): Completed 94-of-159 passes for 1,303 yards, 29 TDs and 6 INTs in five regular season games against the Rampage. Named game co-MVP on May 4, 2002.

· Dameon Porter (CHI): Recorded 11 catches for 130 yards and two TDs in five regular season games against GR. Also added 8.5 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Named Ironman of the Game on May 4, 2002.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Rush OL/DL Tony Bowick was a two-time Rampage Lineman of the Year and won a championship during his four seasons in Grand Rapids (1998-2001).

· Rampage OL/DL Madison Johnson and Rush OL/DL John Moyer were teammates with the Florida Bobcats from 1999-2001.

· Rampage DS Cecil Doggette, Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen and Rush DS Cedric Walker were teammates with the Arizona Rattlers from 1997-2000.

· Rampage OL/DL Eric Gohlstin, Rampage DS Shea Showers and Rush WR/DB Dameon Porter were teammates with the Iowa Barnstormers from 1998-99.

· Rampage DS Mark Ricks and Rush OL/DL James Baron were teammates with the Nashville Kats during the 1997 season.

· Ricks, Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald, Rush WR/DB Barry Dillard and Rush OL/DL Furnell Hankton were teammates with the Portland Forest Dragons and Oklahoma Wranglers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

· Rampage WR/DB DeAuntae Brown, Rush OL/DL Frank Moore and Rush QB Chad Salisbury were teammates with the Toronto Phantoms during the 2002 season.

· Rush equipment manager Jeff "Hendo" Henderson spent four years (1998-2001) with the Rampage before taking a position in his home state of Illinois. While with the Rampage, the Pekin, Illinois native was named the AFL Equipment Manager of the Year (2000).

CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS:

· QB Clint Dolezel has thrown at least one TD pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (44 consecutive games).

· Dolezel has also thrown at least five TDs in the Rampage's last 11 games.

· WR/DB Willis Marshall has caught at least one pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (37 total games).

· OS/WR/DB Terrill Shaw has caught at least one TD in the Rampage's last 11 games.

· WR/LB Damon Hodge has caught at least one TD in the Rampage's last three games.

TEAM NOTES: Close Defeats: Two of the Rampage's four losses this season have been heartbreakers. Grand Rapids' first loss of the season came on a last second field goal by Tampa Bay's Ian Howfield, and the Rampage's latest loss came in overtime last week against the Arizona Rattlers. In the loss, Grand Rapids elected to go for two in overtime, but came up short on three attempts (due to Arizona penalties).

Injury Update: The Rampage recently lost linemen Israel Raybon (team leader in sacks) and Joe Wylie (one of four team captains) for the remainder of the season due to injury. Grand Rapids also placed DS Shea Showers on injured reserve due to an infection in his hamstring. Out of all that bad news, comes a little good. WR/LB Ricky Ross could go this week against Chicago and FB/LB Chris Ryan, the team's all-time rushing leader, could return to practice as early as next week. Ross has been out since week six with a high ankle sprain, while Ryan has missed the past 10 weeks due to a dislocated ankle suffered against New York (2/16).

DS Dividends: One man's garbage is another man's gold – an old phrase that fits the Rampage's defensive backfield well. Defensive specialists Cecil Doggette and Mark Ricks, arguably the best DS duo in Rampage history, were both released by the Arizona Rattlers. Since signing with Grand Rapids, the duo has played huge defensive dividends. Doggette, who signed before the start of the 2003 season, leads the Rampage in tackles (54.5) and is tied for the team lead in interceptions (4.0) and pass breakups (12). Ricks has played in only four games for the Rampage since being released by the Rattlers, but has already recorded four interceptions (tied with Doggette for team lead), 18 tackles, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Picks Become Plentiful Again: After recording a franchise-low six interceptions last season, Grand Rapids has recorded 13 picks through 12 games this season. Leading the way with four picks apiece are Doggette and Ricks.

Dynamite Duo: Through 12 games this season, Grand Rapids' duo of Terrill Shaw and Steve Smith have combined to catch an impressive 158 passes (1st in AFL) for 2,092 yards (2nd in AFL) and 54 TDs (3rd in AFL). The speedy receivers could become the first Rampage duo to catch 100 passes apiece since the "Killer B's" (Thomas Bailey – 133 & Michael Baker – 102) did it during the 1999 season.

Terrific Trio: In addition to having one of the best receiving duos, the Rampage's trio of Shaw, Smith and Willis Marshall is arguably the league's best. The trio has combined to catch a league-leading 215 passes for 2,729 yards (1st in AFL) and 64 TDs (T-2nd in AFL).

Mr. Clutch: Rampage kicker Brian Gowins has a knack for kicking game-winning field goals that dates back to his college days at Northwestern. In his fourth year with Grand Rapids, Gowins has kicked a total of six game-winners, including three this season (Colorado, New York & Dallas).

Road Warriors: In six AFL seasons, the Rampage have accumulated an impressive 21-20 all-time regular season road record, which includes the team's 4-2 record this season.

Running Man: Primarily used as a defensive weapon in his first two seasons, Rampage FB/LB Chris Avery has filled in quite nicely for the injured Chris Ryan, the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Avery, who has already passed Ryan as the team's all-time single-season rushing leader, is tied for the league-lead in yards per rush average (5.5) and ranks second in the league in rushing yards (155). Against Dallas a little over a month ago, Avery set new Rampage records for longest TD run (40 yards) and rushing yards in a game (71).

Division Breakdown: Grand Rapids' overtime loss against Arizona last week, coupled with Dallas' overtime win at Chicago, gives the Rampage a slim one-game lead in the Central Division.

Many More Happy Returns: In 15 total games last season, the Rampage only managed three returns (kickoff, missed FG, fumble or interception) for TDs. This season, Grand Rapids has nine returns for TDs:

· Rod Manuel returned an on-side kick 10 yards for a score in last week's overtime loss to Arizona.

· Ricky Ross has returned a missed field goal (2/1 @ Buffalo), a fumble (2/7 @ Colorado) and two kickoffs (2/16 vs. New York) for scores.

· Chris Ryan returned a Colorado Crush (2/16) fumble for the first defensive TD of his career.

· Steve Smith has three kickoff returns for TDs (2/28 vs. Carolina, 3/9 @ Georgia, 4/19 vs. Arizona).

Rookie Crop: Since the team's inception, the Rampage have had at least one rookie make the AFL's All-Rookie Team. This year's crop features WR/LB Damon Hodge and linemen Jason Gamble and Albert Reese. All three players have played significant roles for the Central Division leading Rampage.

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