Sports stats



Rampage Game Notes

April 17, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Detroit Fury
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Site: Van Andel Arena (10,454)
Officials: Bill McCabe (Referee), Doug Wilson (Umpire), Royce Cooley (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge).
Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson & Bret Bakita
TV: WXSP-TV 18, Bill Simonson & Tom Sullivan
Series Record: Rampage lead 1-1
Last Meeting: Detroit 75, Grand Rapids 63 (Saturday, June 30, 2001 in Detroit, MI)
Coaches: Grand Rapids Rampage, Michael Trigg (54-52 overall, 9th Year).
Detroit Fury, Darrel "Mouse" Davis (7-7 overall, 2nd Year.)

THE STAKES: The Rampage are looking to start the season on a good note, and a win over Detroit gives Grand Rapids an early edge in what should become a heated race for the Central Division Championship.

THE SERIES: Grand Rapids and Detroit split the 2001 season at one game apiece. The Rampage narrowly defeated Detroit 45-41 in Grand Rapids on June 2nd. Detroit got revenge at the Palace by upending Grand Rapids, 75-63. That was the last loss of the 2001 season for the Rampage.

THE IFs:
If Grand Rapids defeats Detroit, it would ...
* Give the Rampage a 2-1 series record with Detroit
* Give the Rampage a 1-0 home record in 2002
* Give Michael Trigg a 55-52 record as a coach
* Give the Rampage 7 wins in last 7 games (including playoffs)

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (54-52, 8th Year): Michael Trigg enters his fifth season with the Rampage, boasting a history of achievement both on the sidelines and on the field. That history reached new heights on August 19, 2001 when the AFL's smallest market team won ArenaBowl XV in front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena and a national television audience on ABC. Last season, Trigg not only guided the Rampage to the team's third consecutive playoff berth and first championship, but he also led the team to a league-best 11-3 record. For his efforts last season, Trigg was named the 2001 AFL Coach of the Year. He is just the sixth coach in AFL history to reach the 50-win plateau and now ranks as the fifth winningest coach in AFL history.

DARREL "MOUSE" DAVIS, Detroit Fury (7-7, 2nd Year): Mouse Davis returns as the head coach of the second-year Fury. Last season, Davis guided Detroit to a 7-7 regular season record and an appearance in the ArenaBowl playoffs. Davis is no stranger to Detroit or the AFL, having spent time with the Lions (NFL) in the early nineties and also serving as the AFL's director of football operations from 1986-88. He brings over 40 years of football coaching experience to the Fury. The Western Oregon State graduate has coached in four professional leagues (NFL, CFL, USFL, WLAF) as well as the NCAA. Prior to joining the Fury, Davis most recently served as the quarterback coach for the Atlanta Falcons (1994-95), where he helped Jeff George realize career highs in touchdown passes, passing yards, completions, attempts and QB rating. The Falcons also ranked seventh in the league in overall offense and had the fifth best passing attack that season.

RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: Grand Rapids ended their 2002 preseason schedule with a 48-51 loss at Buffalo. The Destroyers, who scored on every possession but two, got great first half performances from Fred McNair and Lamont Cooper. McNair finished 10 of 12 for 191 yards and four touchdowns, while Cooper earned game MVP honors by catching three passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Clint Dolezel led the Rampage back in the second half, before coming up short, with 10 of 13 passing for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage finish out their two-game home stand against Central Division foe Indiana. Last season, Grand Rapids went 3-0 against the Firebirds, winning twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs.

2001 REVIEW:

* In just their fourth Arena Football League season, the Grand Rapids Rampage won their first ArenaBowl championship, defeating the Nashville Kats 64-42 in front of an overflow crowd at Van Andel Arena and a national television audience on ABC.

* The Rampage's finished the regular season with a league best 11-3 record, winning their first Central Division title.

* The Rampage began the season with records of 5-0 and 7-1, marking the best starts in franchise history. In addition, the team's five consecutive wins to start the season set a record for the longest winning streak in franchise history.

* QB Clint Dolezel enjoyed the most prolific season ever for a Rampage hurler, breaking his own AFL record with 574 attempts while establishing team marks for touchdown passes (80), passing yards (3,952) and completions (364). The 80-TD threshold has been eclipsed just seven times in AFL history, and Dolezel became the only man to do it three times (81 in 1998, 80 in 2001 and 1999).

* Two Rampage players added their names to the AFL's all-time greats. In a 41-38 win vs. Carolina on May 11, WR/LB Michael Baker became the fifth player in league history to accumulate 5,000 receiving and 5,000 return yards for his career. Then, in a 79-58 win vs. Chicago on July 7, QB Clint Dolezel became just the seventh player in AFL history to record 300 passing touchdowns and the tenth player to record 2,000 passing attempts.

* Five members of the Rampage were honored by the AFL. After leading the Rampage to the league's best regular season record, coach Michael Trigg was chosen as the AFL's Coach of the Year. In addition to Trigg, K Brian Gowins was named AFL Kicker of the Year and DS JoJo Polk was presented with the league's Most Inspirational Award, following his miraculous recovery from a broken neck. QB Clint Dolezel, WR/LB Michael Baker, and Gowins are also named to the All-Arena Second Team. Polk was also named to the All-Rookie Team.

LAST MEETING: DETROIT 75, Grand Rapids 63 (6/30/01) - The Fury took advantage of three Grand Rapids' interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown to defeat the Rampage 75-63. Game MVP Scott Semptimphelter connected on 17 of 25 for 275 yards and seven touchdowns in the 12-point victory. Chuck Levy opened the scoring for the Fury after he pulled in an 11-yard scoring strike from Semptimphelter, to give Detroit an early 7-0 lead. The Rampage answered on the first possession after Chris Avery lunged into the end zone from a yard out to knot the game at seven. On Detroit's next drive Semptimphelter hit Tommie Boyd with a 39-yard touchdown bomb, while Grand Rapids answered on their next possession with a 36-yard scoring strike from Clint Dolezel to Terrill Shaw. J.R. Jenkins nailed a 52-yard field goal late in the first quarter to give the Fury a 17-14 advantage after one quarter of play.

In the second quarter Detroit built a twelve point lead after recording a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a safety. Detroit fullback/linebacker Andy Chilcote scored on a two yard run,Kevin Winter's recorded a 53-yard kick off return for a touchdown, Boyd pulled in his second score of the evening on a 30-yard strike from Semptimphelter, and lineman R-Kal Truluck notched a safety late in the first half. Grand Rapids' pair of touchdowns were scored after Dolezel connected with Michael Baker and Ricky Ross, on 17 and seven-yard strikes. After 30 minutes of play Detroit owned a 40-28 advantage over the Rampage.

The Rampage stormed back in the third quarter tallying three touchdowns, Baker's second of the night on a three-yard pass from Dolezel, Avery's second rushing score of the game, and a seven yard strike from Dolezel to Willis Marshall. The Rampage defense held the Fury to just one score in the third, a 22-yard pass from Semptimphelter that found Robert Gordon. After three quarters of action Grand Rapids hung onto 49-47 edge over Detroit.

Early in the fourth quarter the Fury and Rampage traded touchdowns after a 34-yard catch by Gordon and a six-yard reception by Shaw. On Grand Rapids' second possession of the quarter Dolezel had the ball forced loose by Truluck and Voncellies Allen bounced on the ball in the end zone, giving the Detroit a 12-point lead at 68 to 56. Grand Rapids would not die as Dolezel connected with Shaw for his third touchdown reception of the night, to pull the Rampage to within five with 57 seconds left to play. Detroit would ice the victory on their final possession of the game when Semptimphelter hooked up with Gordon for his third touchdown of the evening, extending the Fury win streak to four games.

SERIES NOTABLES: Rampage QB Clint Dolezel is 56 of 85 for 567 and 11 TDs/4 INTs in two games vs. Detroit (1-1 record)...Rampage OS Terrill Shaw has racked up 17 catches for 233 yards and five TDs in two games vs. the Fury...Detroit OS Robert Gordon has caught 11 passes for 159 yards and five touchdowns in the two-game series.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match-up who rank among the AFL's career statistical leaders:

RAMPAGE
Player Rank Category Stat
Clint Dolezel 9th Passing Yards 16,117
9th Attempts 2,104
7th Completions 1,359
6th Passing TDs 314
Michael Baker 10th Receptions 512

FURY
Player Rank Category Stat
Rickey Foggie 10th Passing Yards 15,664
8th Attempts 2,235
10th Completions 1,264
10th Passing TDs 279

TEAM NOTES:

Smile for the Camera: Saturday's game will be one of four Rampage home games that will be televised locally and/or nationally. WXSP-TV 18 will televise games this weekend, next weekend (April 27) and the June 15 game against Los Angeles. The National Network (TNN) will air the Sunday, June 23 game against the Georgia Force nationally.

Adding Seats: Due to the overwhelming response for tickets, the Rampage have added seats in the south end of Van Andel Arena to accommodate the fans. The only tickets that remain for this Saturday's game are season and mini-plan packages.

To the Rafters: Grand Rapids will raise the ArenaBowl XV Championship banner to the rafters just prior to kickoff. It will join the Rampage's 2001 Central Division Championship banner, which was raised during the playoffs last season.

Home Sweet Home: On their way to the league's best record and an ArenaBowl championship, the Rampage finished the 2001 season with a league-best 9-1 record (regular season + playoffs) at the friendly confines of Van Andel Arena.

Familiar Faces: The new and improved 2002 version of the Rampage looks a lot like the team that won it all in 2001. 16 out of the 24 players on the current 24-man roster have returned to defend their championship.

Knowing the Game: Only two players from the current 24-man roster entered this season having never played the game of Arena Football. The two players, FB/LB Michael Blair and lineman Israel Raybon, make up for their lack of Arena knowledge with National Football League game experience. Prior to joining the Rampage, both players spent time in the NFL.

Youth Prevails: The battle for the back-up quarterback position between Nick Browder and Todd Hammel was won this past weekend by the younger Browder. The former Valparaiso standout finished the preseason 11 for 21 for 162 yards and four touchdowns.

Championship Staff: For the first time in five years, the Rampage returned all of their assistant coaches from the previous season. Robert Smith (asst. head coach), Sparky McEwen (offensive coordinator) and Marshall Foreman (defensive coordinator) are all back for the 2002 season.

RETURNING RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Clint Dolezel: Dolezel, who just recently signed a two-year contract extension, returns for his second season with the Rampage after setting Rampage single-season records in passing yards (3,952), pass attempts (574), pass completions (364) and touchdowns (80). He also broke Rampage single-game records in passing yards (402), pass attempts (50), pass completions (35) and touchdowns (8).

WR/LB Michael Baker : Baker returns for his fifth season with the Rampage. He is the only holdover from the 1998 inaugural team. Last season, Baker led the Rampage in catches (77), kick returns (37) and return yardage (697). He also added 721 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.

WR/DB Ricky Ross: Ross, who returns for his second season with the Rampage, looks like he is ready for a break-out season based on his performance in training camp and the two preseason games. A multi-dimensional athlete, Ross is perfect for the Arena game. In his short career he has played as a receiver, defensive back, linebacker and kick returner. Ross finished the preseason as the Rampage's leading receiver with 10 catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns.

WR/DB Willis Marshall: Maybe no other offensive player, other than Ross, had a better camp than Willis Marshall. The second-year player from Youngstown State showed glimpses of what he was capable of last season, finishing the playoffs as the Rampage's second leading receiver. Due to a knee injury, Marshall only played in seven regular season games, but still finished with 35 catches for 440 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 17 tackles and five pass deflections on defense. During the preseason, Marshall played in both games, finishing with seven catches for 80 yards.

NEW RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

OS Steve Smith: Smith could be the one sleeper of the 2002 Rampage roster. Sparingly used last season in Buffalo, the 5-8, 170-pound offensive specialist adds another deep threat to the already quick Grand Rapids receiving corps. Smith finished the preseason as one of the Rampage's top receivers with four catches for 98 yards and three TDs.

OL/DL Terry Grooms: Once healthy, lineman Terry Grooms could be the perfect addition to an already solid line. The 292-pound lineman sat out almost all of training camp rehabbing a previous knee injury, and was just recently activated from the physically unable to perform list. In his two previous seasons with the Milwaukee Mustangs, Grooms always performed well against Grand Rapids, prompting coach Trigg to bring him across the big lake. Before sitting out last season, Grooms finished first and second on the team in sacks in 1999 and 2000 respectively.

FURY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

OS Robert Gordon: Gordon enters his second season with the Fury and his third in the AFL. Last season, the University of Nebraska-Omaha product led Detroit in virtually every category, totaling 125 catches for 1,630 yards and 42 touchdowns. In the season series against the Rampage, Gordon caught 11 balls for 159 yards and five touchdowns. He also return eight kicks for 149 yards, including a long of 33 yards.

OL/DL R-Kal Truluck: The 2001 Rookie of the Year is definitely a player to keep an eye on. In his rookie campaign, Truluck recorded a league second-best 8.5 sacks, forced four fumbles and added nine quarterback hurries. His play against Grand Rapids was no different. Truluck recorded five tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble in the two game series.

QB Rickey Foggie: Signed by the Fury on March 13, 2002, Rickey Foggie enters the season as Detroit's number one signal caller. The former Minnesota Gopher played nine seasons in the CFL before making his AFL debut with the Minnesota Fighting Pike in 1996. He currently ranks eighth all-time in passes attempted, sixth all-time in passes completed and eleventh all-time in most yards gained in a career.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 17, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Grand Rapids Rampage Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central