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Rampage Fall To 3-7 Overall On The Season

May 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus defense came up with two key second quarter red zone stops and made a key third-quarter net recovery, as the Destroyers held off the Grand Rapids Rampage, 59-56, at Nationwide Arena tonight. Rampage receiver Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) was named the Offensive Player of the Game after making 13 receptions - five for touchdowns - but could not lead his team to a late comeback win.

The Rampage struggled to convert inside of Columbus' 10-yard line, failing to score once and settling for another field goal in the second quarter. An unfortunate bounce on a Destroyers kickoff sealed Grand Rapids' fate, as West Michigan's very own Arena Football League team fell to 3-7 on the season. Grand Rapids outscored Columbus, 21-3, in the fourth quarter, but could not overcome an early deficit.

The Destroyers began the game with a methodical six-play drive that culminated in a Nagy touchdown pass to B.J. Barre. Nagy completed all six of his passes on the drive, and finished the first quarter perfect on 10 pass attempts.

Grand Rapids answered on its first drive when quarterback Chad Salisbury (Perryopolis, Pa.) found Marshall open in the corner of the end zone with a floating five-yard pass. Kicker Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.) missed the extra point, making the score 7-6 in favor of the Destroyers.

Nagy connected on his second touchdown of the night when he hit fullback Harold Wells from 20 yards out. The Rampage matched the Destroyers once again, however, as Marshall's second touchdown catch of the game made the score 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.

After Nagy found his third different receiver (Marcus Knight) for a touchdown, the Destroyers defense stepped up. Columbus tightened up in its own red zone, forcing Grand Rapids to attempt a 23-yard field goal. Gowins missed the kick, keeping the score 20-13 in favor of the home team.

Columbus extended its lead to 14 points on a one-yard plunge by Wells. On their next drive, the Rampage failed to score another red zone touchdown, settling for a Gowins 21-yard field goal that cut the Destroyers lead to 11 points with less than one minute remaining in the half.

Destroyers leading receiver Damien Groce took Gowins' next kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown, marking the first time all season the Rampage allowed a kickoff return for a score. Grand Rapids hung around at the end of the half, however, cashing in on a Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.) one-yard touchdown rush. The Rampage failed on a two-point conversion, making the score 34-22 midway through the contest.

Columbus extended its lead in the second half thanks to a fortunate bounce. Ryan started the third quarter off right for Grand Rapids, scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game. Momentum turned definitively in the Destroyers favor at this point, however. After a failed onside kick attempt by the Rampage, Barre's two-yard rush off the right side made the score 41-29 in favor of the home side. Columbus' ensuing kickoff then clanged off of the left upright and eventually into the awaiting arms of Jason Shelley, giving the Destroyers yet another possession. They cashed in, as Nagy took a quarterback sneak for another score.

In the fourth quarter, Salisbury found Marshall twice more for touchdowns. The AFL's all-purpose yards leader logged his second straight 10-plus reception night and second consecutive game with five touchdown catches. Columbus kept up with Grand Rapids, however, using Wells' second touchdown catch and a Peter Martinez field goal to take a 59-49 lead late in the game.

Gowins gave the Rampage a breath of life with less than four minutes remaining, however, recovering his own onside kick. Salisbury cut the Destroyers lead to just three points with a touchdown strike to Jermaine Lewis (Waukegan, Ill.). The 6-6, 240-pound quarterback tied a career high with 49 pass attempts while setting a career mark with 32 completions. The Rampage failed to convert on a second onside kick, however, and could not complete the comeback.

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