Grand Rapids' Slide Continues Against Indiana

Published on May 11, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage made a valiant fourth quarter comeback, but were unable to overcome a 25-point deficit as the Indiana Firebirds kept their playoff hopes alive with a 71-68 victory in front of 8,488 at Van Andel Arena. The defeat leaves the Rampage with their first four-game losing streak since the 2000 season.

Game MVP Raymond Philyaw led the Firebirds to a 65-40 lead after three quarters, before Indiana had to withstand four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter by Clint Dolezel to hold on for the narrow victory. Grand Rapids outscored Indiana 28-6 in the final frame, but a failed onsides kick with 16 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Firebirds.

The loss dropped Grand Rapids to 8-7 on the year and one game behind Dallas, who took a one-game lead in the Central Division following their 56-55 victory over the Georgia Force on Saturday night. Grand Rapids will square off with the Dallas Desperados to complete the regular season on Sunday, May 18 in a game that will decide the division title.

Philyaw completed 15-of-31 passes for 189 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception to lead the Firebirds. Jeremy McDaniel led the receiving corps with six receptions for 89 yards and two scores, while Jay Jones added three TD catches. Shawn Foreman garnered Ironman of the Game honors after catching a 16-yard TD to go along with four tackles and two interceptions on defense.

Dolezel led the Rampage, completing 29-of-45 pass attempts for 381 yards and seven touchdowns. The Texas native also threw three interceptions, all coming in the third stanza when Grand Rapids was outscored 21-0. Steve Smith reeled in eight catches for 82 yards and three TDs, and Terrill Shaw recorded seven receptions for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The first quarter began with the team's trading mid-range field goals before Philyaw found Foreman for Indiana's first trip to the end zone. A botched extra-point left the game at 9-3 midway through the first frame. Following a 1-yard TD run by Travis McDonald, Philyaw connected with Jones for a 19-yard TD strike to give the Firebirds a 16-9 lead entering the second quarter.

The second quarter saw plenty of fireworks as the teams combined for 59 points, with Indiana holding a 44-40 lead heading into the locker room.

Dolezel and Philyaw each completed three touchdown passes in the quarter, while Leroy Thompson and Ricky Ross added short TD runs. A 35-yard field goal by Brian Gowins completed a hectic first-half in which both teams were able to put points on the board at the end of each offensive possession. Indiana took control of the game in the third quarter as they snuffed out three straight Rampage drives with interceptions and capitalized with 21 consecutive points to build their lead to 65-40. The 25-point margin is the largest deficit Grand Rapids has faced in 2003.

Grand Rapids made things interesting in the fourth quarter, but the deficit proved to be too large in the end. Dolezel found Smith for a 7-yard TD with 19 seconds remaining, but the Rampage were unable to recover the resulting onsides kick and the Firebirds ran out the final seconds to seal the win. The Rampage complete the 2003 regular season next Sunday against the Desperados in a main event that will be broadcast nationwide on NBC.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (ET).

GAME NOTES

-Grand Rapids is 4-3 at home this season.

-Grand Rapids is 3-2 vs. Central Division opponents this season.

-Grand Rapids' lost OL/DL Corey Mayfield to a severe knee injury in the second quarter of action. Mayfield will undergo a MRI on Monday and his status for the rest of the season remains uncertain.

-Terrill Shaw caught two touchdown passes on the night to break the Rampage single-season record for touchdowns scored with 39. (Thomas Bailey, 37 - 1999). Shaw also became just the third receiver in team history to catch at least 100 passes in a season (105).

-Shaw has now caught a TD pass in 14 consecutive games.

-Three of the Rampage's four losses during their current streak have come by a margin of three points or less.

-Clint Dolezel broke his own single-season record for TD passes thrown (86). His previous record of 80 was set last season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 11, 2003


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