Grand Rapids Rampage game notes

Published on February 24, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


RAMPAGE QUICK FACTS
Grand Rapids Rampage (0-3) vs. San Jose SaberCats (2-0)
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2004
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. (EST)
Site: HP Pavilion at San Jose (14,041)
Officials: Referee: Perry Havener; Umpire: Tom Laverty; Head Linesman: Roger McMinn; Line Judge: David Meslow ; Back Judge: Dino Paganelli

Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson. Coverage begins at 10:10pm (EST)


2004 Rampage Schedule/Results
Feb. 8 at Chicago L 30-50 *
Feb. 14 COLORADO L 37-55
Feb. 22 LAS VEGAS L 14-51
Feb. 29 at San Jose 10:30
March 6 at Dallas 8:30
March 14 LOS ANGELES 12:00 *
--- BYE ---
March 26 at Indiana 7:30
April 4 ARIZONA 12:00
April 10 at Detroit 7:30
April 17 INDIANA 7:30
April 23 at Colorado 9:00
May 1 AUSTIN 7:30
May 8 CHICAGO 7:30
May 15 at Columbus 7:30
May 22 at Carolina 7:30
May 29 DETROIT 7:30

* indicates a game broadcast on NBC

All times are Eastern, in the PM and subject to change.


ON THE TELEVISION
The lone NBC game left for the Rampage is the March 14th battle against the LA Avengers.

ON YOUR RADIO DIAL
All Rampage games can be heard live on WBBL 1340 AM with Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan calling all the action. Pre-game starts twenty minutes before kickoff.

Join radio Analyst Tom Sullivan and Head Coach Bob Cortese for Rampage Roundup each Wednesday night from 6-7pm for all the news on the Rampage straight from the Coach.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The Grand Rapids Rampage also maintains a comprehensive website, featuring latest information on every Rampage related.

THIS WEEK'S GAME
The Rampage head to the West Coast to face the San Jose SaberCats for the sixth time and are looking for their first victory against the ArenaBowl XVI champions this Saturday evening. In fact, the Rampage have never won a game in the state of California (0-6 overall with a game in Los Angeles) Aside from the three expansion teams, the SaberCats are the lone active AFL team that the Rampage have not won against and the five-game skid is the longest versus any team. This will be the fourth game in San Jose for the Rampage. Two of the contests with the SaberCats have come down to a last-second field goal and the other three were 20+ point losses.

SERIES HISTORY – SaberCats lead 5-0
1998 SAN JOSE 49, Rampage 20
1999 San Jose 54, RAMPAGE 53
2000 SAN JOSE 68, Rampage 45
San Jose 52, RAMPAGE 32
2003 SAN JOSE 56, Rampage 55

ARENA TEAMS 0-3 TO REACH THE PLAYOFFS
Despite starting 0-3, the Rampage are attempting to be the 14th team in AFL history to start at least 0-3 and reach the playoffs. Most recently, the New York Dragons started 0-6 before finishing 8-8 and winning the Eastern Division and beating fellow 0-3 start Chicago Rush in the first round of the playoffs.

YEAR TEAM START FINAL RECORD
2003 NY Dragons 0-6 8-8 *
2003 Chicago Rush 0-3 8-8
2001 Orlando Predators 0-3 8-6
2000 Buffalo Destroyers 0-8 5-10
2000 Tampa Bay Storm 0-3 8-6 *
1998 San Jose SaberCats 0-3 7-7
2002 Tampa Bay Storm 0-3 6-8 *
1999 Milwaukee Mustangs 0-5 7-7
1994 Las Vegas Sting 0-3 5-7
1993 Miami Hooters 0-3 5-7
1992 Sacramento Attack 0-3 4-6
1989 Chicago Bruisers 0-3 1-3
1988 Los Angles Cobras 0-3 6-6

* denotes a win in the first round of the playoffs.

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS
Here's a closer look at the Rampage-SaberCats game when looking at the AFL's stats. Note – 19th means last in the AFL and the SaberCats have played just two games.

Statistical RAMPAGE SAN JOSE
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 19 27.0 12 59.5
Scoring Defense 15 52.0 12 49.0
Total Offense 19 153.0 18 189.5
Total Defense 15 273.7 10 256.5
Pass Offense 19 140.7 16 162.0
Pass Defense 19 251.7 3 249.5
Rushing Offense 15 12.3 6 27.5
Rushing Defense 12 22.0 2 7.0
Kick Returns-Avg. 1 24.0 2 32.3
Turnover Margin 19 -6 6 +2
Field Goal % 13 28.6 5T 50.0
First Downs 19 40 5T 31
Opp. First Downs 11T 57 19 47
3rd Down Efficiency 16 41.7 5T 54.5
4th Down Efficiency 13 40.0 1T 1/1




THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT – SAN JOSE SABERCATS
With the addition of Arena Football's ultimate Ironman Barry Wagner in 2000, the San Jose SaberCats have become on the of the most dominate teams in the AFL, winning more games than any other team in the league since that moment. That culminated in 2002, when the SaberCats posted a 13-1 regular season mark and would go on to win ArenaBowl XVI. Last season, they again posted the best record in the regular season, but lost in the playoffs. This year they look like their right where they left off with a 2-0 start.

LAST WEEK – Gladiators 51, Rampage 14
The game opened with Rampage DS Cecil Doggette being carted off with a neck strain and it just got worse from their as the team was shut out for the first 38 minutes of the contest before backup QB Anthony Buich ran in a sneak from a yard out. The 14 points scored are the lowest in franchise history in the regular season.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE GLADIATORS GAME
· The one passing TD tied a franchise low (7/20/00 at Oklahoma vs. Cortese)
· The Rampage got their first interception of the season when Raphael Ball picked off former QB Clint Dolezel in the endzone.
· Jason Gamble recovered his first fumble in his career.
· Both defensive takeaways resulted in zero points for the Rampage.
· The Rampage were shut out of the first half for the first time in team history.
· Steve Smith had five kick returns for 155 yards, including a 44-yard return that set up the Rampage's first score of the game.
· Smith also totaled 192 all-purpose yards.
· Thomas Bailey's 27-yard catch was the team's longest offensive play of the season.
· The Rampage led in time of possession for the third time this year.
· For the first time all year, the Rampage offense did not give up a defensive touchdown.
· Anthony Buich made his first AFL appearance and rushed for a TD and passed for one.
· Both Rampage FB/LBs (avery & Perry) suffered ankle injuries in the contest. Jason Gamble replaced them on both offense and defense.
· The Rampage line was credited with seven QB hurries and one pass batted down, but did not record any sacks.
· The Rampage tossed two interceptions for the third straight game.
· The Rampage outscored the Gladiators 7-6 in the fourth quarter.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK – at Dallas Desperados (3/6)
The Rampage are back on the road, this time to "Big D" to take on the Desperados. 2003 All-AFL QB Jim Kubiak suffered a season-ending injury in training camp and it showed in their 67-41 loss to Carolina in week 1. However, his replacement Glenn Gauntt has stepped in and helped Dallas beat Philly and New York thanks to 14 TDs to just one interception.

BUICH ONLY QB ON ROSTER
With the release of Robert Hall on Tuesday morning and Jeff Loots being on injured reserve, the Rampage have just one QB on their active roster – Anthony Buich. Last week, Buich entered for a slumping Hall and immediately drove Grand Rapids down for a touchdown. He finished with 59 yards on 9-of-18 passing with a touchdown on the ground and in the air – he also tossed an interception.

NOT JUST A ROOKIE
If Buich is named the starter this Saturday night, it will be his first in the AFL, but not his first in Arena Football. He started three seasons in arenafootball2 tossing for nearly 10,000 yards and 186 touchdowns. The game will also mark a sort of a homecoming for Buich who went to St. Ignatius in San Francisco where NFL Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts prepped at.

YEAR TEAM YDS TD INT RATING
2001 Iowa 3,021 58 12 114.60
2002 Tulsa 3,004 64 11 116.52
2003 Wichita 3,454 64 17 94.61
af2 Totals 9,479 186 40 110.27

YEAR TEAM Rushes YDS TD
2001 Iowa 49 94 12
2002 Tulsa 23 82 6
2003 Wichita 19 18 3
af2 Totals 91 194 21

FORMER HEISMAN TROPHY RUNNER-UP BROUGHT IN
On Tuesday, the Rampage brought in 1998 Davey O'Brien National QB winner Michael Bishop to help their offense. He signed a two-day waiver and after Wednesday's practice might be signed to a contract. He led the 1998 Wildcats to the second-best season in Kansas State history with a 10-1 record. Bishop finished second in voting for the Associated Press National Player of the Year, the Heisman, Maxwell and Johnny Unitas awards. He was a first-team All-American pick by Football News and The Sporting News and was a first-team All-Big 12 pick. Bishop led the Big 12 in total offense and in passing efficiency. He is expected to compete with Anthony Buich for the starting QB position.

SMITH FIRST THREE GAMES – ALL CAREER HIGHS
In the first three games of 2004, Steve Smith has posted the top three career games in terms of all-purpose and kickoff return yardage.

GAME AP Yards Kick Return Yards
2/14 vs. COL 238 168
2/08 at CHI 193 168
2/22 vs. LVG 192 155

SMITH NEARLY DOUBLES TOTALS IN KICK RETURNS
In just three games, Steve Smith has nearly doubled his career totals in kick returns and yardage compared to his first 27 AFL games.

Stats This Season 2002-03
Games 3 27
Returns 19 24
Yards 491 612
Average 25.8 25.5
TDs 2 3

SMITH ALL-TIME LEADER IN KICK RETURN TDs
With his two kickoff returns for scores in the first two weeks, Rampage OS Steve Smith has passed Ricky Ross for the team's all-time record for career kick returns for touchdowns with five.

RAMPAGE KICKOFF RETURN TDs – TEAM HISTORY
Steve Smith 5
Ricky Ross 4
Thomas Bailey 3
Willis Marshall 2
Six with 1

SMITH AMONG AFL LEADERS
Through three games, Steve Smith leads the AFL or is tied in four categories, including kickoff returns, kickoff return yards and all-purpose yards.

KICKOFF RETURNS KICKOFF RETURN YARDS
Steve Smith, GRR 19 Steve Smith, GRR 491
M. Cooper, GEO 16 M. Cooper, GEO 364
A. Lawson, AZ 15 C. Johnson, NY 310
C. Johnson, NY 14 A. Lawson, AZ 277

KICKOFF RETURN TDs ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Steve Smith, GRR 2 Steve Smith, GRR 623
S, Robinson, CLB 2 M. Cooper, GEO 581
R. Davis, SJ 2 A. Bailey, NO 505

RAMPAGE INJURY REPORT
Player Position Injury Status
Hardy Mitchell OL/DL Knee Probable
Mark Ricks DS Knee Probable
Cecil Doggette DS Neck Probable
Steve Smith OS Low Back Probable
Ron Perry FB/LB Ankle Questionable
Chris Avery FB/LB Ankle Questionable

HAVING A BALL
Last Saturday, defensive specialist Raphael Ball made his first start since ArenaBowl XV and had a pretty good contest despite the loss. Ball posted 7.0 tackles (6 solo, 2 assists), three pass breakups and had an interception.

DOGGETTE NINTH ALL-TIME IN TACKLES
With 7.5 tackles against the Crush (2/14), Cecil Doggette became the ninth player in league annuals to record 400 career stops. He and Mark Ricks are the second pair of teammates in league history to have at least 400 career tackles each. The two of them have played in a combined 196 regular season AFL games, which also is the most by any active defensive specialist tandem.

STATS DOGGETTE RICKS
AFL Games Played 91 106
Tackles 408.0 (9th) 423.0 (7TH)
Interceptions 27 41 (4TH)
Pass Breakups 111 (3rd) 102 (4TH)

PLAYER TACKLES
Barry Wagner – SJ 624.0
Darryl Hammond – AUS 564.5
Damon Mason – CAR 526.0
Cedric Walker – AUS 483.0
Durwood Roquemore 462.5
Carlos James – TB 458.5
Mark Ricks – GR 423.0
Adrian Lunsford 415.0
Cecil Doggette – GR 407.0


MILESTONES IN REACH THIS WEEK (Rampage records)
Player MILESTONE NEEDS
Thomas Bailey 300 catches 4
Thomas Bailey 60 rec. TDs 1
Thomas Bailey Team record – TDs 6 (T. Shaw -76)
Steve Smith 60 rec. TDs 5

2004 RAMPAGE GAME AWARD WINNERS

Wk Offensive Defensive IRONMAN
1 R. Philyaw, CHI C. Sawyer, CHI L. Fleshman, CHI
2 J. Dutton, COL R. Floyd, COL K. McKenzie, COL
3 C. Dolezel, LVG TJ Hill, LVG D. Robinson, LVG
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2004 AFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Wk Offensive Defensive IRONMAN
1 M. Nagy, Car O. Smith, SJ W. Holder, NY
2 M. Cooper, Geo K. Ingram, LA K. McKenzie, COL
3 N. Browder, Phi J. Moyer, Chi R. Davis, SJ

San Jose – Darren Arbet, 6th season
55-19 (.743) reg. season; 61-22 (.735) overall
4-0 (1.000) career vs. Grand Rapids
Now in his sixth season at the helm of the SaberCats, Darren Arbet owns the highest regular season winning percentage (.740) in league history among coaches with at least 20 victories and his 61 career wins rank him 8th in league annals. Named AFL Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002, Arbet has guided the SaberCats to four straight double-digit win seasons – the longest current streak in league history – and his teams have compiled a 49-11 (.817) regular season record since the start of the 2000 campaign. Under his direction the SaberCats have set league records for most regular season wins (13 – 2002), most wins in a season (16- 2002), most consecutive wins in a regular season (12 – 2002), most wins to end a season (11 – 2000) and the longest regular season win streak (15 – 2000-01). Arbet's first career victory came at Grand Rapids on April 24, 1999.

Grand Rapids – Bob Cortese, 3rd season
12-19 (.387) reg. season; 13-20 (.394) overall
1-4 (.200) career vs. San Jose
Bob Cortese is in his first season as head coach of the Rampage and third overall in the AFL. Cortese currently owns a 12-19 (.387) regular season record after posting a 12-16 mark in two seasons (2000-01) as the Oklahoma Wranglers head coach. A veteran coach with over 30 years of experience, he amassed 244 wins at the high school and collegiate levels. An assistant with the Portland Forest Dragons with current SaberCats defensive coordinator Michael Church, Cortese moved with the team when it relocated to Oklahoma City in 2000. Cortese joined the af2's Wichita Stealth in 2002 as director of football operations and offensive coordinator. He became head coach prior to the 2003 season and went 4-3 before resigning for personal reasons. Cortese was the head coach of the Oklahoma Wranglers when the SaberCats defeated them 63-40 on Aug. 4, 2000 for their first ever postseason win.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 24, 2004


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