Rampage Comeback Attempt against SaberCats Falls Short, 66-58

Published on March 10, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A controversial call in the final minute of the game sealed Grand Rapids' fate, as the San Jose SaberCats earned a 66-58 victory over the Rampage at Van Andel Arena tonight. Down by eight points, Rampage quarterback Adrian McPherson (Bradenton, Fla.) scrambled from eight yards out and attempted to stretch the ball over the goal line. The referees ruled that he fumbled the ball prior to crossing the plane, however, ending Grand Rapids' chance at a late comeback.

Despite starting the game 0-for-4 on San Jose's first four offensive plays, SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb finished the night with a respectable 228 passing yards, six touchdown passes and no interceptions. Meanwhile, San Jose's dangerous receiving pair of James Roe and Rodney Wright finished the game with 16 combined catches for five touchdowns.

Grand Rapids began the game quickly, forcing a turnover on downs and converting immediately on a McPherson touchdown lob to Anthony Hines (West Palm Beach, Fla.). The Rampage then caught a lucky break when Brian Gowins' (Birmingham, Ala.) ensuing kickoff caromed off of the upright and into the waiting arms of a streaking Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.). Higgins impressed throughout the night, catching seven passes for 146 yards and four total scores.

Grieb returned to form on the next drive, finding an open Roe to narrow the Rampage lead to six points. San Jose defensive lineman Ron Jones then recovered a fumble by Grand Rapids tight end Fitu Tu'ua (Oceanside, Calif.) and raced 12 yards for the score, giving the visitors a 14-13 advantage at the end of one quarter.

The SaberCats extended their lead to eight points with a Phil Glover one-yard plunge. Following a spectacular one-handed 38-yard catch by Higgins, however, McPherson answered with a one-yard touchdown rush of his own. The Rampage quarterback finished the game with 41 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

Each team exchanged touchdowns heading into the final minute of the first half, as San Jose's Wright and McPherson each found the end zone. Grand Rapids failed to recover an onside kick attempt, leading to Glover's second touchdown rush of the game. Gowins nailed a 41-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the half, however, sending the Rampage to the locker room down, 35-30.

Grand Rapids retook the lead, 37-35, on the opening drive of the second half when McPherson found a wide-open Higgins over the middle with a 26-yard strike. But San Jose gave itself some breathing room thanks to back-to-back touchdown grabs from Wright and Roe.

Higgins continued his remarkable night, sandwiching a SaberCats field goal with touchdown grabs of 22 and 47 yards. After a Chris Pino six-yard catch gave San Jose restored his team's eight-point lead once again, Rampage defensive back Ahmad Hawkins (Hampton, Va.) answered right back with a 58-yard kickoff return touchdown.

Grieb's 27-yard pass to Wright with 6:42 remaining in the contest seemed to simply continue the back-and-forth affair. The touchdown proved to be the final score of the game, however, as a long Grand Rapids drive ended with McPherson's untimely goal line fumble.

The Rampage have little time to dwell on the loss, as they welcome the defending Central Division champion Chicago Rush Friday (March 14). Meanwhile, San Jose will play its first home game of the season this Saturday (March 15) against the Arizona Rattlers.

Score by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Final Record San Jose SaberCats 14 21 14 17 66 (1-1) Grand Rapids Rampage 13 17 14 14 58 (0-1)

LEADERS

PASSING: McPHERSON (GRA) 17-30-4-230; GRIEB, Mark (SJS) 22-36-6-228 RECEIVING: HIGGINS, Kenny (GRA) 7-143-3; ROE, James (SJS) 9-81-2

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Offensive: Mark Grieb (SJS) Defensive: Clevan Thomas (SJS) Ironman: Ahmad Hawkins (GRA)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 10, 2008


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