Rampage Extinguish Firebirds, 56-49

Published on April 5, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - After leading by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter, the Grand Rapids Rampage had to rally late to defeat the Indiana Firebirds, 56-49, in front of 13,023 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

Trailing 28-27 at the half, Grand Rapids (7-3) turned two second half Jose Davis interceptions into a commanding 48-28 lead with 10:48 remaining in the game. The Firebirds (4-6) then inserted quarterback Raymond Philyaw, who missed the past five weeks due to injury, to rally the troops. And rally he did, as the veteran quarterback led the Firebirds to three straight scores and a 49-48 lead. Down by one with less than a minute remaining in the game, the Rampage earned their fourth road victory of the season with Clint Dolezel's third touchdown pass of the night to Terrill Shaw, followed by a Dolezel to Willis Marshall two-point conversion.

With the win, Grand Rapids improves to 7-3 on the season and 3-0 in the Central Division. The win guarantees the Rampage at least a one-game division lead over the Dallas Desperados, who host the ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats on Sunday. Dolezel completed 28-of-43 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns on his way to being named the game's MVP. Shaw led all receivers with nine catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall added a rushing touchdown and seven catches for 68 yards and a score.

Davis completed 7-of-18 passes for 73 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. In his relief appearance, Philyaw completed 4-of-8 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score. Rich Young, who rushed for three touchdowns on offense and recorded 2.5 tackles on defense, was named the game's Ironman. The Rampage opened scoring on their first possession of the game with a 29-yard Brian Gowins field goal. Indiana quickly answered with a 21-yard TD from Davis to Eddie Brown, giving the Firebirds an early 7-3 lead. Grand Rapids closed out the quarter with a 7-yard TD pass from Dolezel to Marshall. At the end of one, the Rampage led 10-7.

Indiana began the second frame by regaining the lead, 14-7, with Young's first TD run of the night. Four plays later, Grand Rapids jumped back on top with a Dolezel to Terrill Shaw TD pass and catch four minutes into the second. The back-and-forth play continued as Indiana countered with Young's second TD run of the quarter, giving the Firebirds a 21-17 lead. The Rampage quickly responded with another Dolezel TD pass, this time to Damon Hodge from 38 yards out. Indiana continued to go to the running game as Leroy Thompson got into the mix with a 19-yard TD run. Down 28-24 with 1:48 remaining in the half, the Rampage drove the ball down to the Indiana 15-yard line, but were forced to settle for Gowins' second field goal (30 yards) of the night.

Heading into lockerroom, Grand Rapids trailed Indiana 28-27. Grand Rapids began the second half with a crucial defensive stop, forcing the Firebirds into a 51-yard field goal attempt that missed wide left. The Rampage offense wasted no time to take advantage of the defensive's first stop of the game, capitalizing six plays later with a 1-yard TD run by Marshall at the 8:41 mark of the third quarter. The next two possessions by the two teams seemed like a case of déjà vu as Grand Rapids' defense once again stopped Indiana (Cecil Doggette interception), and the Rampage offense again took advantage of the turnover with a Dolezel TD pass to Shaw, giving Grand Rapids a 41-28 lead at the end of three quarters.

The fourth quarter began just as the third quarter ended. Indiana's first offensive possession of the final frame resulted in Davis' second interception of the game (Mark Ricks), and Grand Rapids first offensive possession of the quarter was capped off with Chris Avery's fifth rushing TD of the season. Down 48-28 with less than 11 minutes to go in the game, Indiana brought in Philyaw to replace Davis. The move turned out to be a good one as Philyaw rallied the Firebirds to three straight scores, giving Indiana a 49-48 lead. Down but not out, Grand Rapids relied on the combination of Dolezel and Shaw to regain the lead. Grand Rapids added the Dolezel to Marshall two-point conversion to push their lead to seven, 56-49.

With 18 seconds remaining on the clock, Indiana got one last offensive possession, but were unable to put the ball in the end zone. Grand Rapids returns to the friendly confines of Van Andel Arena next Sunday to play host to the Las Vegas Gladiators. The game, which kicks off at 3 p.m., is scheduled to be the Rampage's second home game of the season on NBC Sports.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 5, 2003


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