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Rampage Fall to SaberCats, 69-44

May 20, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose SaberCats held their opponents scoreless in the first quarter for the third straight game, as the Grand Rapids Rampage lost at HP Pavilion, 69-44. The Rampage fell behind, 13-0, after one quarter and faced a 41-24 halftime deficit that they could not overcome.

The SaberCats jumped out to the early lead thanks to two first-quarter defensive stops. San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb completed touchdown passes to receiver Jason Geathers and offensive lineman Julius Gant to give the home team the 13-0 edge at the end of the first stanza. San Jose moved to 8-0 on the season when leading after one quarter.

Grand Rapids got on the board in the second quarter when receiver Timon Marshall (Kingston, Jamaica) recovered a Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.) fumble in the San Jose end zone. After a Cleannord Saintil 47-yard touchdown for the SaberCats, the Rampage scored 10 straight points thanks to a Cornelius Bonner (Gaffney, S.C.) touchdown catch and a Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.) 20-yard field goal. Bonner's touchdown reception marked his first with Grand Rapids after the team signed the seven-year veteran last week.

After a Geathers touchdown for San Jose, Bonner brought in his second score of the night on a 29-yard touch pass from Chad Salisbury (Perryopolis, Pa.). Saintil and the SaberCats responded with a late flurry to end the half, however. After Saintil's second touchdown catch, San Jose's James Roe recovered an onside kick with less than a minute remaining in the half to give the SaberCats a chance to extend their lead to three scores. On the last play of the half, Saintil turned a two-yard screen pass into a 24-yard scoring play, giving San Jose a 41-24 halftime lead.

Grand Rapids cut into the San Jose lead in the third quarter, using scores from Marshall and Ryan to come within 10 points at the end of three quarters. But the SaberCats ran away from the Rampage in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 straight points. Roe, who led San Jose with 152 receiving yards, caught his only touchdown of the night with 12 minutes remaining. Then, following a turnover on downs, Geathers brought in his third touchdown of the night on a five-yard play. Finally, lineman Dan Loney recovered his teammate's fumble in the Rampage end zone to give the SaberCats an insurmountable 69-38 advantage.

Ryan's second touchdown rush of the night, a three yard plunge, marked the final score of the contest. Salisbury finished the night 15-of-31 for 202 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Newly acquired backup quarterback Adrian McPherson (Bradenton, Fla.) completed both passes he attempted in limited action for 13 yards. Meanwhile, Grieb connected on 21 of 38 passes for 311 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception into the hands of Rampage defensive back Chuck Wesley (East Orange, N.J.)

The Rampage return home next Saturday (May 26) against their Central Division rivals, the Colorado Crush. Grand Rapids defeated Colorado, 44-42, in their season-opening tilt in Denver.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 20, 2007


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