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Rampage Game Notes

May 6, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Orlando Predators
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Site: Van Andel Arena (10,454)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), Rich Grube (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (Line Judge), Jim Anderson (Back Judge)
Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson, Tom Sullivan & Bret Bakita
TV: None
Series Record: Grand Rapids leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Orlando 34, Grand Rapids 46 (Fri., Jun. 9, 2000 at Orlando)
Coaches: Grand Rapids Rampage, Michael Trigg (55-54 overall, 9th Year).
Orlando Predators, Fran Papasedero (1-2 overall, 1st Year)

THE STAKES: Although Grand Rapids and Orlando currently sit below .500, both teams still remain only a game out of their respective divisional race. A win on Saturday puts the winner back where they want to be.

THE SERIES: Saturday's game will be the fourth meeting between these two clubs. Before last season, the Predators and Rampage had met at least once every year since Grand Rapids inaugural year in 1998. Orlando won the first meeting in 1998, but Grand Rapids won home and away contests the next two seasons to take a 2-1 series lead.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats Orlando, it would ...
* Give the Rampage a 3-1 series record with Orlando
* Give the Rampage a 2-1 home record in 2002
* Give the Rampage a 2-2 overall record
* Give Michael Trigg a 56-54 record as a coach

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (55-54, 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.

FRAN PAPASEDERO, Orlando Predators (1-2, 1st Year): After four seasons of serving as an assistant under Jay Gruden, Fran Papasedero became the third coach in Predators history on August 21, 2001. Papasedero began his AFL career as a lineman for the Albany Firebirds I n 1993. He would play five seasons, making stops at Massachusetts, St. Louis and Nashville. After retiring as a player with Nashville in 1997, Papasedero began his coaching career in Orlando as Gruden's line coach. In four seasons on the staff, the former Springfield College standout helped the Predators to a 43-23 record, four trips to the AFL playoffs, three ArenaBowl appearances and a pair of championships (1998 & 2000).

RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: The Chicago Rush forced four Grand Rapids Rampage turnovers in their home opener to earn their first victory over the defending champs, 71-59. Rush QB Billy Dicken threw for 254 yards and six touchdowns in the win. Dicken, who had thrown more TD passes against Grand Rapids than any other AFL team, connected with Dameon Porter and Cornelius Bonner on two scores apiece for Chicago (2-1), which won its home opener for the second straight year. Andy Chilicothe and Jaime Bowers each rushed in a score for the Rush, who scored on their first seven possessions. Clint Dolezel paced Grand Rapids (1-2) with 25 completions for 321 yards and seven TDs, but committed three turnovers. Steve Smith and Terrill Shaw combined for 17 receptions for 258 yards and seven TDs for the Rampage, who dropped their second in a row after winning eight straight going into last season.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: Grand Rapids hits the road to take on their second consecutive non-division opponent, the Carolina Cobras. This will be the first meeting between these two teams since Bjorn Nittmo's 31-yard field goal sailed wide right with no time left on the clock to give the Rampage a 41-38 victory.

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: Orlando 34, Grand Rapids 46 (6/9/00) - Craig Kusick passed for 200 yards and Michael Baker had 76 yards receiving, as the Grand Rapids Rampage upset the previously undefeated Orlando Predators 46-34.

In the first quarter, Thomas Bailey got things going for the Rampage, as he pulled in a 46-yard pass from Kusick at 14:22. Brian Gowins added to the lead on the next possession, as he drilled a 22-yard field goal through the uprights at 7:59. Orlando's Rick Hamilton ran one in from the 1-yard line, pulling the Predators within three points at 6:48.

During the second quarter, Kusick ran one in from the one-yard line at 7:27, before Bailey would strike again at 6:15, off a two-yard pass. B.J. Cohen scored off a 15-yard pass from Conell Maynor at 3:07 to keep Orlando within striking distance.

In the third quarter, Hamilton hustled his way past the defense at 11:18, pulling the Predators even closer. Gowins nailed a 32-yard field goal at 2:21, to close out a low-scoring third.

In the final quarter, Baker scored off a 27-yard pass from Kusick at 7:51, before Maynor would run in a 28-yard score at 5:59 to keep things interesting. At 2:05, Marcellus Mostella ran in a 7-yarder to give GR a lead they would not let go. Ty Law pulled in a 38-yard pass from Maynor with just 42 ticks on the clock remaining. Patrick Scott ran in the 10-yard onsides kickoff straight in the endzone with 40 seconds remaining, sealing the victory for the Rampage.

SERIES NOTABLES: Rampage WR/LB Michael Baker, who will miss Saturday's game, has 20 catches for 252 yards and three TDs in the three games against the Predators...He also has seven tackles and a fumble recovery in the series...Predators DS Kenny McEntyre has 15.5 tackles and two pass deflections in two games against Grand Rapids.

MILESTONES: Rampage QB Clint Dolezel recently moved up the AFL all-time charts in completions and passing yards. Dolezel passed Mike Perez for sixth place in completions (1,441) and Mike Pawlawski for eighth place in passing yards (17,012).

TEAM NOTES:

Clash of the Champions: Three out of the last four ArenaBowls were won by either Grand Rapids or Orlando. The Rampage of course won ArenaBowl XV last summer, and Orlando won championships under Jay Gruden in 1998 and 2000.

Ticket Update: In hopes for their third consecutive sell-out, the Rampage began the week with less than 2,000 tickets for Saturday's game.

Sunshine State Connections: Rampage OS Steve Smith was born and raised in Belle Glades, Florida...He was a three-sport athlete at Glades Central High School...Lineman Madison Johnson was born in Quincy, Florida...He also played three seasons (1999-2001) for the Florida Bobcats...Lineman Corey Mayfield appeared in 16 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.

Injury Bug Bites Again: First it was JoJo Polk (knee) and Raphael Ball (abdomen), then it was Michael Baker (ankle), and now Ricky Ross (knee) looks like he will be the next Rampage player to go on injured reserve. Ross, who is schedule for a MRI on Wednesday, went down in the second quarter against Chicago last week and wasn't able to return.

New Addition? With Baker and Ross sidelined for at least this weekend, expect Grand Rapids to bring in a receiver or two.

Slow Start: Though they remain only a game out in the Central Division, the Rampage have matched their worst three-game start in franchise history. Their other 1-2 start came in the team's inaugural season in 1998.

Difference in Turnovers: Usually the team that wins the turnover battle, wins the game. That adage holds true for the Rampage, but not for the Predators. Grand Rapids currently ranks last in the league in the give-away/take-away column, while Orlando, who also has only won one game, is tied for second with a +5 turnover margin.

Home Cooking: In their past nine home games, the Rampage have only lost two contests. Week two of this season, Indiana left GR with a 49-43 victory, and Tampa Bay won the battle of the unbeatens on Sunday, May 27 of last season.

RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Clint Dolezel: Dolezel, who signed a two-year contract extension during training camp, 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). The 2002 season hasn't been as kind to the former East Texas State star, but look for Dolezel to pick things up this week against a Predators defense that is allowing 50 points per game. OS Terrill Shaw: Despite battling nagging foot and calf injuries, Terrill Shaw continues to put up big numbers. Last week against Chicago, the former ArenaBowl MVP caught five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. He currently ranks among the league leaders in catches (T-5th), receiving yards (6th) and receiving TDs (T-5th). This will be his first encounter with the Predators defense.

WR/DB Willis Marshall: Looking to make a name for himself in the AFL, Willis Marshall has become one of the Rampage's most versatile players. The second-year player out of Youngstown State currently ranks second on the team in catches (20) and receiving yards (245). He also has returned seven kicks for 129 yards, and added 6.5 tackles and three pass break-ups on defense.

OS Steve Smith: Speaking of making a name for himself, Steve Smith definitely did just that in last week's loss at Chicago. The speedy offensive specialist had career-highs in catches (12), receiving yards (146) and touchdowns (4). With Ricky Ross sidelined due to a knee injury, Smith could be the one player that picks up the slack.

DS Joseph Todd: Another second-year player that is looking to add his name to the league's elite is defensive specialist Joseph Todd. Todd currently leads the league in defended passes with 10 and is among the league leaders in tackles (16) and interceptions (1). PREDATORS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Jay Gruden: Arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game of Arena Football, Jay Gruden returns to the field after spending the last five years on the sidelines as a coach. Before retiring in 1996, Gruden led the Tampa Bay Storm to four ArenaBowl championships (1991, 1993, 1995, 1996). He currently ranks among the league's all-time leaders in virtually every passing category. Through three games this season, the 35-year-old signal caller has thrown for over 700 yards and 13 touchdowns.

OS Siaha Burley: One of the AFL's most electrifying rookies last season, Siaha Burley returns for his second campaign in Orlando. The former Central Florida standout earned AFL All-Rookie honors after finishing first in the league in kickoff return yardage, ninth in return average, second in TD returns on kickoffs, and fifth in scoring. Thus far, Burley has picked up where he left off last season, leading the Preds in catches (20), receiving yards (227), kick returns (13) and return yardage (229).

DS Kenny McEntyre: In just three full seasons, Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre has established himself as one of the top defensive players in AFL history. The 5-11, 185-pound defensive specialist currently is tied for fifth on the league's all-time list in interceptions with 32. Named the AFL's Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons, McEntyre is well on his way to make it a three-peat. Through the Predators first three games, McEntyre already has a league leading four interceptions and five pass deflections.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Head Coach Michael Trigg, on the loss to Chicago, "Turnover the ball four times to anyone in the AFL and you can't win. There is too much parity in the league to overcome four turnovers. We are not playing four quarters of quality play. For the past two weeks we have been forced to rally from three scores down. We haven't won either contest, so the moral to the story is to not be down by three scores."

On the difference between last year and this year: "The difference between the two is that last year we were 3-0 and this year we are 1-2. Last year is over. It is now the 2002 season and we are one game out of first place in our division."

On this week's game against Orlando: "Jay Gruden brings an interesting story line to this week's game. It will be a great quarterback showcase for the fans. Both teams are struggling to get on track and play consistently. Orlando is traditionally a physical team with intensity and plays with reckless abandon. Three of the last four ArenaBowl championships will be playing each other with below par records. Neither of us wants to face the prospects of playing with a 1-3 mark, and it should be a dog fight."



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 6, 2002


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