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Rampage fall to Brigade, 41-52

April 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -The Brigade forced three fumbles en route to a gritty 52-41 victory over the Rampage at the Kemper Arena tonight. Grand Rapids fullback/linebacker Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.) rushed a career-high 10 times and scored twice, but failed to propel his team to the Central Division road victory.

Rampage quarterback Chad Salisbury (Perryopolis, Pa.) put together his second straight solid outing, completing 16 of his first 17 passes and finishing the night with 223 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. But turnovers kept Grand Rapids from maintaining momentum in the game, allowing the Brigade to hold on to the lead from start to finish.

"You can't turn the ball over in this game," said Salisbury. "We lost by 11 points, and we turned the ball over three times. When you do the math, you see we could have won this game if we held on to the ball."

Kansas City jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of nine-yard touchdown receptions from Boo Williams. Jerome Riley (Los Angeles, Calif) fumbled at his own 12-yard line on Grand Rapids' first drive, allowing the Brigade to build the early two-score lead.

Rampage receiver Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) put Grand Rapids on the board on the team's second drive, hauling in a quick eight-yard pass from Salisbury to cut the Brigade lead to 13-7. But Kansas City answered with an Ira Gooch 31-yard touchdown reception at the end of the first quarter.

Ryan's second-quarter one-yard touchdown rush pulled the Rampage to within seven. Kansas City blocked the extra point try, however, and Kenny McEntyre's conversion return made the score 22-13 early in the second. Another 30-yard touchdown pass from Brigade quarterback Raymond Philyaw to Williams put the home team ahead, 29-13.

Both teams utilized the rushing attack throughout the night. Ryan logged his second rushing score from three yards out, cutting the Brigade lead to 10 midway through the second quarter. Then Kansas City rushed to its largest lead of the game when Williams plunged into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play.

But Marshall brought Grand Rapids back to within 10 at the half with his third kickoff return for a touchdown on the season. The Ironman of the Game and current Arena Football League leader in kick return yards logged 231 all-purpose yards including 212 on returns.

Grand Rapids opened the second half with a bang, as Marshall returned the kickoff all the way to Kansas City's 18-yard line. Salisbury then hit Scotty Anderson (Jonesboro, La.) in the corner of the end zone to bring the Rampage to within three points.

On the very next play, Rampage defensive back Trey Bell (Racine, Wis.) forced a Gooch fumble that Chuck Wesley (East Orange, N.J.) fell on the Grand Rapids end zone, giving the visitors a chance to take their first lead of the night. But Anderson fumbled the ball right back as he fought for a first down in Kansas City territory, halting the Rampage's momentum.

Cecil Moore's leaping seven-yard touchdown grab restored Kansas City's two-score lead, 42-33. The Brigade then created another turnover when Ronney Daniels (Lake Wales, Fla.) coughed the ball up as he tried to cross the plane of the end zone on a hard rush.

After a Gooch 12-yard touchdown put the Brigade ahead, 49-33, Salisbury continued his accurate aerial assault, finding a wide open Anderson for six points. A two-point conversion pass to offensive lineman Terrell McGill (Miami, Fla.) cut the Kansas City lead to eight late in the fourth quarter.

The Rampage defense held strong on Kansas City's next possession, forcing the Brigade to settle for a field goal. But Grand Rapids failed to score again, sending Kansas City to a 4-2 record while falling to 2-4 on the season. The Rampage will return home next week to face the defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush on April 21.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 14, 2007


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