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Rampage Contain The Cobras, 64-45

May 17, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Raleigh, NC - Steve Smith caught a career-high five touchdowns and Clint Dolezel threw six touchdowns as the Grand Rapids Rampage won its second straight game with a 64-45 victory over the Carolina Cobras on Friday night at the Entertainment & Sports Arena.

Smith, who for the second week in a row earned MVP honors, caught a game-high 11 passes for 134 yards. His five touchdowns tied a franchise record held by Terrill Shaw and Thomas Bailey. Also for the second straight week, FB/LB Travis McDonald was named Ironman of the Game. McDonald led the team with 31 rushing yards and added a touchdown. He also contributed a tackle and a quarterback sack on defense.

In one of his best outing of the season, Clint Dolezel completed 21 of 34 passes for 252 yards and six touchdowns. He also threw one interception.

Grand Rapids took an early 7-0 lead three plays after the opening kickoff when Dolezel hit Curtis Ceaser for a 26-yard touchdown. Looking to one up the offense, the Rampage defense forced Carolina into a three-and-out opening drive and long field goal miss. After completing five straight passes to open the game, Dolezel and the Rampage stalled deep in Cobras' territory, giving way to Brian Gowins for a 22-yard field goal and a 10-0 early advantage. Carolina finally got on the board at the 2:21 mark of the first when Connell Maynor found Jamaal Garman for an 11-yard TD strike. One play after the ensuing kickoff, the Rampage got a rare long touchdown run from Travis McDonald, who rumbled 30 yards to put Grand Rapids up 16-7. After a missed Gowins' point after attempt, the score remained 16-7 at the end of one.

Carolina opened scoring in the second frame with a Brian Schmitz 24-yard field goal, cutting the Rampage lead to 16-10. Grand Rapids responded with a Dolezel to Steve Smith TD pass and catch to take a 23-10 lead with 8:31 left in the second quarter. The two teams would then trade a combination of rushing and passing touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to end the half. The Cobras got a pair of receiving TDs from Aaron Bailey and a rushing TD from Andre Bowden in the second, while Grand Rapids received touchdowns two and three from Smith and rushing touchdown number one from Michael Blair. At the end of two, Grand Rapids led 43-30.

The third quarter started with both teams' defensive units holding the other's offense scoreless. Grand Rapids' defense held Carolina to four plays and out after the second half kickoff, while the Cobras' defense denied the Rampage the endzone four straight times from the one-yard line. On their very next offensive play, Carolina took to the ground with Bowden, who rushed his way into the AFL record book with a 49-yard TD run. Defense remained the story to end the quarter as both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the frame. After three quarters of play, the Rampage clung to a 43-37 lead.

The fourth quarter of play belonged to the Rampage as Smith scored touchdowns four and five and Blair added TD number two. Grand Rapids' defense finished out the game by allowing only one Carolina score in the final frame, a John Fitzgerald rushing TD.

In the loss, Maynor completed 14 of 32 for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Maynor's favorite target on the night was Bailey, who caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rampage (3-2) return home to Van Andel Arena next Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. to take on Grand Rapids native Ray Bentley and the Buffalo Destroyers.

Game Notes:

-In his last three games, Rampage OS Steve Smith has 36 catches for 456 yards and 12 TDs.

-Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald's 30-yard TD run broke Basil Proctor's four-year-old longest rush record (21 yards).

-Rampage lineman Rickie Simpkins injured his knee in the first half, but was able to return to game.

-Carolina attempted three on-side kicks, all of which failed.

-With his 49-yard TD run, Carolina FB/LB Andre Bowden broke Tommy Dorsey's three-year old AFL record (45 yards).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 17, 2002


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