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Rampage Fall to Defending Champion Rush, 75-54

April 21, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush showed why they're serious contenders for the top prize this season, scoring 34 straight second half points in a come-from-behind 75-54 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage tonight.

A sold-out Van Andel Arena crowd left disappointed tonight, as Rush receiver and Arena Football League scoring leader Bobby Sippio amassed a team record 252 receiving yards while scoring five times in Chicago's victory.

Meanwhile, Rampage quarterback Chad Salisbury (Perryopolis, Pa.), who entered the game having thrown no interceptions all season long, tossed three picks in the defeat. Chicago, which led the AFL with a plus-10 turnover differential, finished plus-two on the game, recovering a Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) fumble as well.

Grand Rapids set a fast pace to start the game, putting seven points on the board following a brief two-play drive. Marshall capped the two-play drive with a 17-yard grab in the corner of the end zone. The AFL's leader in all-purpose yards per game (220.7) entering the contest totaled a team-high 83 receiving yards and 159 return yards in the loss.

Just two plays later, the Rampage's Johnnie Balous (Carthage, Texas) tripped up Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio in his own end zone for a safety, making the score 9-0. On Grand Rapids following drive, kicker Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.) pushed the lead to 12 with a short 19-yard field goal.

The Rush scored their first points of the game on a Bob McMillan 12-yard touchdown sweep, cutting the Rampage lead to five. But Salisbury tossed his second touchdown on the next drive, finding a wide open Ronney Daniels (Lake Wales, Fla.) on a crossing route to give the home team a 19-7 lead at the end of one quarter.

D'Orazio used trickery to score the Rush's next touchdown. After faking a quick out to the right side, the Chicago quarterback scrambled to his left for 11 yards and a score. The Rush then took their first lead of the game on a seven-yard Sippio touchdown reception.

Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.) returned the lead to Grand Rapids with a hard-fought one-yard plunge into the end zone. The rushing score marked his sixth of the season, doubling his total through only seven games. Chicago answered with a long 43-yard bomb to Sippio, but their two-point conversion attempt came up short, holding the Rush to a slim one point, 27-26.

A pair of back-to-back interceptions led to an odd lead change, as the Rampage moved ahead by six. Inside of one minute remaining in the first half, Salisbury tossed his first interception of the season on a long bomb intended for Scotty Anderson (Jonesboro, La.). Grand Rapids' Jerome Riley (Los Angeles, Calif.) turned the tables on the Rush on the next play, however. Under pressure from defensive lineman Bryan Henderson (Cincinnati, Ohio), Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio dumped a pass over the middle right into the waiting arms of Riley. The jack linebacker tiptoed six yards into the end zone to make the score 33-27. Dan Frantz's missed field goal at the end of the half kept the Rampage ahead by six midway through the contest.

Chicago regained the lead on the opening drive of the second half when rookie receiver Rob Mager scored his first career touchdown. But Riley's leaping touchdown grab put Grand Rapids back on top, 40-34. Riley earned the Ironman of the Game award after scoring on both sides of the ball.

On the Rush's following drive, Rampage defensive back Chuck Wesley (East Orange, N.J.) ripped the ball way from Mager, marking Chicago's second turnover of the game. Ryan converted with a two-yard touchdown rush, giving the home team a 47-34 lead, it's largest of the night.

Then, Chicago went on a rush. Sippio continued his strong game with a hard individual effort, fighting for a 42-yard touchdown strike to cut the Rampage lead to six. Then, following a Marshall fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Sippio scored once again, knotting the score at 47-47 at the end of three quarters.

A key play early in the fourth quarter turned the tide of the game completely. The Rush stopped Grand Rapids on fourth down at the Rampage 19-yard line, giving Chicago a chance to take the lead. Mager's four-yard rush made the score 54-47 in favor of the visitors.

The Rush opened up a 14 point edge on another long run-after-catch by Sippio. Mager's second rushing score of the night completed Chicago's scoring barrage, giving the visitors an insurmountable 68-47 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Daniels would score once more on his second touchdown catch of the night, but it was too little, too late for the Rampage. Grand Rapids fell to 2-5 on the season, with a trip to Los Angeles on the horizon for next Saturday (April 28). Meanwhile, Chicago improved to 6-1 on the young season, its fastest start in franchise history. The Rush will return home to welcome the Philadelphia Soul next Monday (April 30).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 21, 2007


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