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Grand Rapids Rampage Game Notes

April 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage @ San Jose SaberCats
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2003.
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Site: HP Pavilion at San Jose (14,041).
Officials: Perry Havener (Referee), Roy Ellison (Umpire), Derrick Bowers (Head Linesman), Mike McCabe (Line Judge), Greg Steed (Back Judge).
TV: None
Series Record: San Jose leads 4-0.
Coaches: Grand Rapids, Michael Trigg (73-69 overall, 10th season). San Jose, Darren Arbet (55-21, 5th season).

THE STAKES: If Grand Rapids has any chance at earning a first round playoff bye, Saturday's game against San Jose is a must win. Currently seeded No. 6, the Rampage also need a win to snap its first losing streak of the season and to keep pace with the Dallas Desperados in the race for the Central Division crown. This game is also very important to the fourth-seeded SaberCats, as the defending champs are only one game ahead of three 8-5 teams, including the Rampage, that are vying for one of the top four playoff seeds.

THE SERIES: This will be the fifth overall contest and first meeting between these two franchises since June 29, 2000. San Jose has dominated the series, winning each of the four previous contests.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats San Jose it would... · Give the Rampage a 1-4 series record with the SaberCats. · Give the Rampage a 5-3 road record in 2003. · Give the Rampage a 9-5 overall record in 2003. · Give the Rampage a 5-3 record against the American Conference in 2003. · Give the Rampage a 2-2 record against the Western Division in 2003. · Clinch the team's fifth consecutive playoff berth.

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (73-69, 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.

Darren Arbet, San Jose SaberCats (55-21, 5th Season): Arbet became the eighth head coach in AFL history to win 50 games and the second fastest to reach the milestone with San Jose's win at Chicago on Mar. 9. Arbet reached 50 in his 69th game while Tim Marcum got win No. 50 in 63 games. Last season, Arbet guided the SaberCats to the best regular season record (13-1) ever in league history, the most victories in a season (16) and the franchise's first league title. Arbet has compiled a 49-19 (.721) career mark in regular season games and currently owns the third-best regular season winning percentage in AFL history among coaches with at least 10 victories. Named AFL Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002, Arbet's teams have gone 48-13 (.787) overall in the past four seasons. Spanning the 2000 and 2001 seasons, Arbet led the SaberCats to a league record 15-game regular season winning streak and twice in the last three years the SaberCats have had 12-game win streaks. RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: Grand Rapids 46, CHICAGO 54 (4-27-03) – For the first time this season, Grand Rapids dropped its second consecutive contest, falling, 54-46, to the Chicago Rush (6-7) in front of 13,050 fans at Allstate Arena.

After opening an early 7-0 lead, the Rampage never led again in the game. Grand Rapids' second straight loss, coupled with Dallas' second straight win, dropped the Rampage into a two-way tie for the Central Division lead.

Rush quarterback Billy Dicken earned game MVP honors, completing 20-of-24 passes for 235 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Cornelius Bonner, who was named Ironman of the Game, caught five passes for 80 yards and a touchdown on offense, and recorded four tackles on defense. Antonio Chatman led the Rush with eight catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

In defeat, Clint Dolezel completed 22-of-38 passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Terrill Shaw, Willis Marshall and Steve Smith each caught a touchdown apiece. Dolezel, Smith and Chris Avery scored the Rampage's other three touchdowns by way of the ground.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage return home to face the Indiana Firebirds on Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. Grand Rapids defeated Indiana, 56-49, earlier this season at Conseco Fieldhouse.

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:

· QB Clint Dolezel recently became the first quarterback to throw for 70 or more TDs in five different AFL seasons (4/27/03).

· OS Terrill Shaw recently became the Rampage's all-time single-season leader in TD receptions (34), moving past Thomas Bailey (33).

· 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:

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

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

· Shaw also needs only four TDs to break Bailey's single-season total TD record of 37 (1999).

· Shaw needs only 199 receiving yards to break Bailey's single-season receiving yards record of 1,578 (1999).

· Defensive specialist Mark Ricks needs only one interception to break 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 three 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: San Jose 52, GRAND RAPIDS 32 (6-29-00) – Mark Grieb passed for 255 yards and five TDs, four of them to Jerry Reese, as the San Jose SaberCats breezed past the Rampage, 52-32, at Van Andel Arena.

The first quarter saw only an 18-yard Chris Sailer field goal make its way into the scoring books. In the second quarter, Brian Gowins tied things up at 3-3 on a 51-yard field goal, before SJ's Reese and Barry Wagner would find the back of the end zone. Demo Odems scored for GR, while Reese closed out the scoring in the first half. The nine points scored by the Rampage set a record for fewest points scored in a first half. The previous low was 12, set during the 1998 season.

In the third quarter, Reese continued his dominance, scoring his final two TDs of the game. Gowins drilled a 33-yarder and Odems pulled in his second TD of the game before Joey Dozier's two-yard run would close out the scoring for the Cats. In the final quarter, Thomas Bailey found the end zone twice, sandwiched around a Steve Papin tally for San Jose.

Craig Kusick completed 14-of-29 attempts for 182 yards and three TDs, before leaving with a hand injury. Max Knake entered the game late, going one-for-two with one TD.

SERIES NOTABLES:

· Brian Gowins (GR): Connected on 4-of-5 field goals in two games against San Jose, including a long of 51 yards.

· Mark Grieb (SJ): Completed 40-of-52 passes for 459 yards, 11 TDs and one interception in two games against GR.

· Jerry Reese (SJ): Named game MVP and Ironman twice in his three games against GR...Recorded 17 catches for 176 yards and nine TDs...Also added six tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception on defense.

· Barry Wagner (SJ): Recorded eight catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in two games against GR...Also added a rushing score.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· SaberCats OL/DL Darrin Kenney and Rampage DS Cecil Doggette were teammates with the Arizona Rattlers from 1997-2000.

· Rampage OL/DL Madison Johnson and SaberCats WR/DB Kevin McKenzie were teammates with the Florida Bobcats in 2001.

· SaberCats K Daron Alcorn, OL/DL Chuck Reed, Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald and DS Mark Ricks were teammates with the Portland Forest Dragons (1998-99) and the Oklahoma Wranglers (2000).

CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS:

· QB Clint Dolezel has thrown at least one TD pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (45 consecutive games).

· WR/DB Willis Marshall has caught at least one pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (38 total games).

· OS/WR/DB Terrill Shaw has caught at least one TD in the Rampage's last 12 games.

TEAM NOTES: Battle of ArenaBowl Champs: Saturday night's game will pit the last two ArenaBowl champions against each other. Last season, San Jose followed up a 13-1 regular season with its first championship, while Grand Rapids, in very similar fashion, captured its first championship after a 13-3 regular season finish in 2001.

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 returned to the lineup last week against Chicago and FB/LB Chris Ryan, the team's all-time rushing leader, could return to practice as early as this week. Ross had been out since week six with a high ankle sprain, while Ryan has missed the past 11 weeks with a dislocated ankle, which he 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 (57) and second on the team in interceptions (4.0) and pass breakups (12). Ricks has played in only five games for the Rampage since being released by the Rattlers, but has already recorded a team-leading five interceptions, 23 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 14 picks through 13 games this season. Veteran defensive specialist Mark Ricks leads the way with five takeaways on the season.

Dynamite Duo: Through 13 games this season, Grand Rapids' duo of Terrill Shaw and Steve Smith have combined to catch an impressive 170 passes (2nd in AFL) for 2,259 yards (2nd in AFL) and 56 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 233 passes for 2,986 yards (1st in AFL) and 67 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 21-21 all-time regular season road record, which includes the team's 4-3 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, ranks third in the league in rushing yards (157) and second in yards per rush average (5.2). 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' loss at Chicago last weekend, coupled with Dallas' impressive win over Los Angeles, dropped the Rampage into a tie for the Central Division lead.

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.

RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Clint Dolezel: Arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the AFL, Dolezel has helped lead the Rampage to its Central Division-leading 8-5 record. In 13 games this season, the former East Texas State star has completed 297-of-441 passes (67%) for 3,563 yards and 72 TDs. Dolezel, who recently became the first QB to throw for 70 or more TDs in five different AFL seasons, currently ranks among the league leaders in attempts (4th), completions (4th), passing yards (3rd) and passing TDs (5th).

OS/WR/DB Terrill Shaw: Shaw looks as if he has regained the magic that earned him ArenaBowl XV MVP honors. Through 13 games this season, Shaw leads the Rampage in catches (93), receiving yards (1,380) and TDs (34). Shaw, who has caught a TD in the Rampage's last 12 games, currently ranks among the league leaders in scoring (4th), receptions (T-4th), receiving yards (3rd) and receiving TDs (4th).

OS/WR/LB Steve Smith: Smith, who caught a team-high 26 TDs in 2002, has picked up where he left off last season, recording 77 grabs for 879 yards and 22 TDs in 13 games. In addition, the 2002 Rampage MVP has added kickoff returns to his arsenal this season. He has returned three kickoffs for TDs (2/28, 3/9 & 4/19).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 28, 2003


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