Kats scratch out victory in second half
April 3, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The Kats rallied from 13 points down at halftime and rolled off 26 unanswered points to claim a 40-27 win over the Grand Rapids Rampage, ending a franchise-worst seven-game losing streak.
Murray was 17-of-30 for 258 yards and five TD's, with two INTs in helping lead the Kats to their first win since the season's opening week. Three of his scores went to Offensive MVP Travis McGriff who had four catches for 138 yards. His TD receptions were of 34, 45 and 47 yards.
The Rampage stormed out to a 13-point halftime lead on a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Michael Bishop and a pair of TD passes by the rookie signalcaller.
The Kats got in the end zone in the first half on a five-yard TD pass from Leon Murray to Darryl Hammond on their first possession, and on a 34-yard scoring toss from Murray to Travis McGriff in the second period, but Nashville still trailed by two scores at the intermission.
Leon Murray was intercepted by Damon Mason in the end zone on the Kats' first drive of the second half, and things looked bleak for the Kats. But Hammond returned the favor a few plays later when he picked off Bishop. Nashville cashed in on the opportunity when Lindsay Fleshman scored on a six-yard run on the next possession to cut the lead to six points. It was the first of 26 unanswered points the team would run up in a juggernaut of a second half.
From there, the Kats forced another defensive stop and tied the game on a 47-yard TD strike from Murray to McGriff, then got another INT from Khalil Carter before Murray hit McGriff for a 45-yard score that gave Nashville its first lead. After Levelle Brown recovered a Bishop fumble on the next Rampage possession, he followed it up with a dazzling 27-yard TD reception in which he somersaulted into the end zone.
Bishop had a dismal day for the Rampage, completing 18-of-33 throws for two TD's and a pair of interceptions. After leading Grand Rapids to TD's on their first four possessions, Bishop could not lead the Rampage to a TD the rest of the game, going eight consecutive drives without reaching the end zone.
The Kats were able to get the 'W", even though Gary Kral has missed a pair of field goals and two PAT attempts.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 3, 2005
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- Rampage caged in second half, lose 40-27 - Grand Rapids Rampage
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- Soul win franchise-record third straight game - Philadelphia Soul
- Kats scratch out victory in second half - Nashville Kats
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