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Rampage Fall to Sabercats in Heartbreaker, 56-55

May 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The showdown between the last two ArenaBowl champions was all it was billed to be as the San Jose Sabercats eked out a last second 56-55 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage in front of 13,406 at the HP Pavillion.

San Jose secured the late win on a two-point conversion by Game MVP Mark Grieb with just four seconds remaining. The Rampage held a 55-48 lead with 34 seconds remaining following a 3-yard scoring strike by Clint Dolezel to Terrill Shaw. However, San Jose's Kevin McKenzie returned the ensuing kickoff to Grand Rapids' 9-yard line and three plays later Grieb found James Hundon in the back of the end zone for his fourth touchdown reception of the game. The Sabercats then opted to go for the win and Grieb executed a perfect run fake and scampered to the improbable victory.

Grand Rapids had one final chance to steal the win, but Brian Gowins missed a desperation 53-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

The loss dropped the Rampage to 8-6 on the season and 0-5 in their all-time series against San Jose, who improved to 10-4 on the year. Grand Rapids currently stands one-half game behind the Dallas Desperados in the Central Division title race entering Sunday's action. San Jose was led by Grieb, who completed 21-of-31 passes for 251 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Along with his four TDs, Hundon caught seven passes for 64 yards, while James Roe reeled in eight catches for 115 yards. Barry Wagner garnered Ironman of the Game honors, scoring two rushing TDs to go along with five tackles on defense.

In the loss, Dolezel completed 19-of-30 passes for 249 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Shaw hauled in three TD passes on the night, while Steve Smith and Willis Marshall added two scores each. San Jose got off to a quick start in the first quarter as Grieb connected on a 22-yard TD pass to Hundon on just the second play of the game to give San Jose an early 7-0 advantage. Dolezel quickly responded with a 23-yard scoring strike to Shaw. The two quarterbacks then traded touchdown tosses to complete the first quarter in a 14-14 tie. Grand Rapids was able to stop the high-octane San Jose offense for the first time in the opening minutes of the second quarter on a fourth down pass breakup by defensive specialist Cecil Doggette. Two plays later, Dolezel found Marshall across the middle for a 9-yard TD completion to give the Rampage a 21-14 advantage. The Rampage defense scored another defensive stop on the Sabercats' ensuing drive, however Grand Rapids could not capitalize as San Jose's Clevan Thomas grabbed his league leading 11th interception of the season in the Rampage end zone. Minutes later, Grieb found Hundon for a 6-yard score to even up the game at 21-21 heading into the lockerroom.

The two teams continued to trade scores in the third frame as Chris Avery scored on a 4-yard dive for Grand Rapids and Dolezel found Shaw for a 28-yard TD. For San Jose, Grieb connected with Hundon for the third time on the night and Wagner registered a 1-yard TD plunge to knot the game at 35-35 entering the final quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Marshall hauled in his second touchdown pass of the game to give Grand Rapids a 42-35 edge. San Jose responded with an extended scoring drive, capped by Wagner's second scoring run of the night. The Sabercats' Daren Alcorn missed the following PAT attempt and the Rampage clung to a 42-41 lead. After Dolezel hit Smith for an 18-yard TD catch, the Sabercats broke up the quarterback's two-point pass attempt, leaving the score at 48-41. Grieb tied up the game once again on an 18-yard strike to Roe with just under a minute remaining in the game.

Grand Rapids completes the 2003 regular season with one final homestand as they host the Indiana Firebirds and Dallas Desperados in Central Division action. The Rampage faces the Firebirds in a Mother's Day matinee on Sunday, May 11 before Dallas comes to town on May 18 in a contest that could decide the division title. Sunday's kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (ET) at Van Andel Arena.

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