Rampage Face San Jose Saturday in Conference Championship

Published on July 11, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Grand Rapids Rampage, winners of their last five games including the last four on the road, will face the San Jose SaberCats Saturday (July 12) afternoon at HP Pavilion in the Arena Football League's American Conference Championship. The game's winner will advance to ArenaBowl XXII, to be played in New Orleans on July 27.

The Rampage punched their ticket to tomorrow night's semifinal matchup after knocking off the American Conference's top-seeded Chicago Rush, 58-41, last Sunday (July 6). Grand Rapids is looking to win its sixth straight game for the first time since 2001, when the Rampage accomplished the feat by beating the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.

Last week, the Rampage avenged a pair of regular-season losses to the Rush and broke a six-game losing streak to Chicago in commanding fashion. Grand Rapids' offense scored on nine of 11 possessions including a clock-killing throwaway at the end of the game, while its defense forced four stops.

Rampage quarterback James MacPherson (Tucson, Ariz.) was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week after setting an AFL playoff record by completing 84.6% of his passes (33-of-39) against Chicago. Meanwhile, the Grand Rapids defense, which allowed 60.5 points per game during the regular season, held its opponent to only 41 points for the second consecutive game.

Grand Rapids' task will not get easier on Saturday, as they travel once again to face the Western Division champion SaberCats. The Rampage have never won at San Jose in team history (0-6), and have only won once in ten overall meetings between the two clubs. The SaberCats defeated Grand Rapids, 66-58, at Van Andel Arena in the Rampage's season opener on March 10.

Rampage fans can hear every snap of Saturday's game with play-by-play voice Joe Parson on WBBL 1340 AM beginning at 3:25 p.m. (EDT). Kickoff is slated for 3:45 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live nationally on ESPN. For additional information including updated schedules, rosters, and ticket options, visit RampageFootball.com.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 11, 2008


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