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Rampage Contain the Cobras, 68-34

February 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage ended a three-game streak of last second thrillers by defeating the Carolina Cobras, 68-34, in front of a sold out Van Andel Arena crowd (10,594).

Steve Smith's opening kickoff return of 55 yards for a score set the tone for the Rampage's second largest victory in team history. The 34-point blowout was two points shy of tying the team record of 36, which was set on May 7, 1999 at Milwaukee. The team's second sellout crowd of the season witnessed the Rampage jump out to a 21-6 lead, a lead that they would never relinquish. From the opening kickoff to the very end Grand Rapids dominated the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season.

Clint Dolezel had another stellar performance, completing 19-of-27 passes for 222 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He gave way in the fourth quarter to backup Nick Browder, who completed 3-of-4 passes for 25 yards and ran for a score in his only regular season action as a quarterback in a Rampage uniform.

Game MVP Terrill Shaw led all receivers with four touchdowns on six catches. Smith, who registered a team-high seven catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and recorded two tackles, was named the game's Ironman.

Cecil Doggette, DeAuntae Brown and Lamar Grant, all of which registered their first interceptions of the season, led a Rampage defensive unit that racked up a season-high seven stops. In his first AFL start, Carolina quarterback completed 21-of-45 passes for 182 yards and four touchdowns. He also was picked off three times.

Offensive specialist Ben Bronson led all Cobras' receivers with seven catches for 65 yards and a score. The Rampage got off to the best start possible as Smith's kickoff return for a touchdown gave them a very early 7-0 lead. Carolina answered right back when Gauntt found Bronson from 28 yards out. When the ensuing extra point try was botched, the Rampage remained on top, 7-6. Grand Rapids finished out the quarter with a Chris Avery touchdown run, Shaw's first touchdown catch of the night and the team's first defensive stop of the game, pushing their lead to 21-6 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was more of the same as Grand Rapids outscored Carolina 21-7. Dolezel threw touchdown passes to Willis Marshall and Shaw to open the quarter. With 1:26 remaining in the half, Carolina scored their second touchdown of the game on a Gauntt to WR/DB Jamaal Garman touchdown toss and catch. The Rampage ended the half with another Dolezel to Shaw touchdown, giving Grand Rapids a 42-13 lead, the team's largest halftime lead in franchise history.

The third quarter began just as the second quarter ended as Dolezel found Shaw for the pair's fourth and final touchdown connection, pushing the Grand Rapids' lead to 48-13. The two teams then traded interceptions and touchdowns to end the quarter. Carolina posted points when Gauntt hit WR/DB Van Johnson from nine yards out, while the Rampage finished out the quarter with Smith's first touchdown grab of the night. At the end of three, Grand Rapids led 55-20.

The only quarter that Carolina outscored Grand Rapids was the fourth and final frame, but the one point advantage proved to be not enough. The Cobras opened scoring in the fourth on a six-yard touchdown run from Gauntt.

One play after the ensuing kickoff, Grand Rapids answered with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Dolezel to Smith. The Rampage defense then held the Carolina offense for a seventh time in the game, giving the good guys the ball right back. Five plays later, minus Dolezel, the Rampage offense capped off a five-play drive with a three-yard Browder touchdown run.

Carolina finished the game with one last score on Garman's second touchdown catch of the night, a 16-yard reception from Gauntt.

Grand Rapids now hits the road for three straight games, starting with a Sunday afternoon NBC affair against the Georgia Force at 12 p.m.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 28, 2003


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