Rampage Game Notes

Published on May 29, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage @ Arizona Rattlers
Date: Friday, May 31, 2002
Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. (EST)
Site: America West Arena (16,321)
Officials: Joe Rider (Referee), Nels Strickland (Umpire), Rusty Spindel (Head Linesman), Gary Cavaletto (Line Judge), Rich Wilborn (Back Judge)
Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan Coverage begins at 9:40 p.m. (EST)
TV: None
Series Record: Arizona leads 1-0
Last Meeting: GRAND RAPIDS 27, Arizona 69 (7/2/98)
Coaches: Grand Rapids Rampage, Michael Trigg (58-54 overall, 9th Year). Arizona Rattlers, Danny White (94-42 overall, 11th Year).

THE STAKES: The stakes in this game are simple: Grand Rapids wants to stay atop the Central Division, while Arizona wants to keep pace in the Western Division with the undefeated San Jose Sabercats. Enough said.

THE SERIES: In the teams' first and only meeting, Arizona snapped Grand Rapids' only winning streak (2) of their inaugural season, defeating the Rampage 69-27 on July 2, 1998 at Van Andel Arena.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats Arizona, it would ...
· Give the Rampage a 1-1 series record with Arizona
· Give the Rampage a 2-1 road record in 2002
· Give the Rampage a 5-2 overall record
· Give the Rampage a 2-2 record against the American Conference
· Give the Rampage a 1-0 record against the Western Division
· Give Michael Trigg a 59-54 record as a coach

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (58-54, 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.

DANNY WHITE, Arizona Rattlers (94-42, 11th Year): The Rattlers' first and only head coach and general manager, Danny White is a living legend in Arizona. In the past ten seasons, White has brought two World Championships to the state of Arizona, been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and had his Arizona State University jersey (#11) retired. Hired October 10, 1991, White took three seasons to build the Rattlers franchise from existence to a world champion in 1994. White earned AFL Coach of the Year honors in his second season (1993), and is the second winningest coach in AFL history with 107 wins. His .680 career winning percentage is fourth on the AFL chart, while his .650 career playoff percentage is sixth. In addition, his 13 playoff wins rank him second behind Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum.

RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: Steve Smith's third consecutive MVP performance led the Grand Rapids Rampage to its third consecutive win, defeating the Buffalo Destroyers, 47-45, before a crowd of 9,782 fans at Van Andel Arena. Smith, who was released by the Destroyers during the off-season, caught seven passes for 75 yards and a game-high four touchdowns. Clint Dolezel completed 24-of-32 passes for 281 yards and six touchdowns for the Rampage. He also had two interceptions, extending his interception streak to six games. Smith's final TD catch of the night, which came with only 56 seconds remaining on the clock, ended up being the game winner, as the Rampage were able to hold on for the two-point win.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: Grand Rapids will finish out its two-game road swing at New Jersey on Saturday, June 8. It will be only the second regular season meeting between these two teams, and the first at the Continental Airlines Arena. New Jersey won the first meeting 59-52 at Van Andel Arena on June 3, 2000.

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: GRAND RAPIDS 27, Arizona 69 (7/2/98) – The Rampage saw their two-game winning streak come to an end with a 69-27 loss to the defending AFL champion Rattlers. Grand Rapids fought back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to tie the game by the end of the period, but 21 second quarter points sent Arizona on its way to the 42-point victory. Rampage QB Jason Martin completed 11-of-28 passes for 144 yards and two TDs in his first start. Michael Baker grabbed four passes for 40 yards and a score, while Raphael Ball led all Rampage defenders with 3.5 tackles. Thomas Bailey added a team-high four kickoffs for 70 yards.

SERIES NOTABLES: Rampage OS Michael Baker, who will miss Friday's game, has four catches for 40 yards and one touchdown...Lineman Joe Wylie added a tackle in the teams' only meeting...Rattlers' QB Sherdrick Bonner passed for 113 yards and three TDs on 10-of-13 passing in the one-game series...He also threw one INT...WR/LB Hunkie Cooper added an 11-yard TD catch and three kickoff returns for 73 yards...He also scored on a four-yard net recovery in game one. FAMILIAR FACES: Rampage QB Clint Dolezel and Rattlers' FB/LB Bo Kelly were teammates at Cisco Junior College and East Texas State University...Rampage WR/LB Michael Baker and Rattlers' DS Cecil Doggette were teammates at West Virginia University...Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald and lineman Demetrius Crowder were teammates with Rattlers' WR/LB Bobby McGowens while with the Oklahoma Wranglers...McDonald and McGowens were also together with the Portland Forrest Dragons the season (1999) before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City...Rampage WR/LB Curtis Ceaser and lineman Madison Johnson were teammates with Rattlers' DS Jerrick Bledsoe while with the Florida Bobcats.

MILESTONES & UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· Rampage QB Clint Dolezel recently moved up the AFL all-time charts in pass completions. Dolezel passed John Kaleo for fifth place in completions (1,513) and will pass Kaleo for seventh place in career passing yards with 47 more yards. He also just moved past Mike Perez for fifth place in career passing touchdowns (347).

· Rampage WR/LB Gary Compton is just four receiving touchdowns away from moving past Calvin Schexnayder for fourth place all-time in that category.

· Rampage coach Michael Trigg is just two wins away from career regular season victory number 60. Only four other coaches (John Gregory, Tim Marcum, Perry Moss and Danny White) have reached the 60-win plateau.

TEAM NOTES:

First Timer: Friday's game will be Grand Rapids' first trip to Arizona's America West Arena. It will also be the second of four new stops for the franchise this season. Other first time venue visits include Carolina's Entertainment & Sports Arena, New Jersey's Continental Airlines Arena and New York's Nassau Coliseum.

Road Update: Dating back to last season, the Rampage have won six of their last nine road games. In two road contests this season, Grand Rapids sports a 1-1 record, winning at Carolina, but losing at Chicago.

All-Rookie Streak: Every year since 1998, the team's inaugural year, Grand Rapids has had at least one player on the league's All-Rookie Team. So far the front runners to keep the streak alive are FB/LB Michael Blair, OL/DL Israel Raybon and DS Jason Waters.

Coaching Match-up: Players win championships, but coaches have a little something to do with success, especially when your talking about Michael Trigg and Danny White, two of the winningest coaches in AFL history. When these two teams face-off on Friday, there will be 167 combined wins, two Coach of the Year Awards and three ArenaBowl Championships roaming the sidelines.

Outright Leaders: Thanks to a three-game winning streak and losses by Chicago and Indiana, the Rampage find themselves all alone atop the Central Division for the first time this season.

Rattlers on a Roll: Since losing at San Jose in week one, Arizona has "rattled" off five straight victories, outscoring their opponents 277-217 during the undefeated stretch.

Offensive Clinic: Expect to see a few points put on the board when these two teams meet. Grand Rapids' 55.2 points per game ranks second in the league, while Arizona's 54.7 sits only two spots below at fourth. The major difference is that the Rattlers are only giving up 44.8, compared to the Rampage's 51.7 points per game.

Second-Year Sensations: Two of the most exciting offensive specialists of the 2002 season have been Grand Rapids' OS Steve Smith and Arizona's OS Chris Horn. The two second-year surprises currently rank second and third in receptions respectively. In addition, both players have scored over 30% of their teams' touchdowns. Smith has caught 17 TDs, while Horn has 15 TDs on the season.

Protect & Serve: One reason that Grand Rapids and Arizona have combined for only three losses is their ability to protect the quarterback and get after the opposing teams' signal caller. Grand Rapids is currently tied for first in the sacks by category with nine and sacks against category with one given up in six games. The Rattlers are not far behind as they are tied with the Rampage in sacks against and have gotten to the quarterback one less time with eight.

Mistake Free...Almost: Penalties ¾ or mistakes as coaches' like to call them ¾ play a big part in the outcome of a game. The Rampage and Rattlers have limited those mistakes and therefore have been on the positive side of most of the outcomes this season. The two teams currently rank one and two respectively in penalty yards per game.

RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Clint Dolezel: Although he has thrown an interception in each of the Rampage's six games this season, Clint Dolezel remains one of the best quarterbacks in the Arena Football League. So far this season, the former East Texas standout has completed 70% (154 of 219) of his passes, while throwing for 1,705 yards and 33 TDs. He currently ranks among the league leaders in passing yards (2nd), completions (2nd), attempts (4th) and passing TDs (T-3rd).

OS Steve Smith: A virtual unknown before a month ago, Steve Smith has burst onto the scene as one of the best receivers in 2002. The second-year standout from Utah State went from catching six passes in one game for Buffalo last season to catching 50 passes in six games for Grand Rapids this season. In the last three game ¾ all Rampage wins ¾ Smith has 31 catches for 385 yards, 12 TDs and three consecutive game MVP awards.

WR/DB Willis Marshall: Willis Marshall has established himself as one of the Rampage's most versatile athletes. The second-year player out of Youngstown State currently ranks second on the team in catches (40) and receiving yards (460). He also leads the team in kickoff returns (19) and return yardage (385), which includes a 54-yard return for a touchdown vs. Orlando (5/11). In addition, his 142.7 all-purpose yards per game ranks sixth best in the AFL. WR/LB Gary Compton: After losing Michael Baker to injury for possibly the rest of the regular season, all Rampage head coach Mike Trigg did was merely replace him with one of the greatest wide receiver/linebackers to play the game. Compton, who ranks among the league leaders in receptions (3rd), receiving yards (3rd) and receiving touchdowns (5th), was signed by the Rampage after being released by Indiana. In his debut last week in red, black and pewter, the ten-year veteran caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also added two tackles on defense.

FB/LB Travis McDonald: Besides Steve Smith, Travis McDonald has been one of Grand Rapids' biggest off-season acquisitions. With Michael Baker out with an ankle injury, the fifth-year player from Missouri has taken over the Rampage's "Ironman" moniker. He has garnered Ironman of the Game honors twice this season and currently is second on the team in rushing yards (55) and rushing TDs (3). McDonald has also added three sacks and 7.5 tackles on defense.

OL/DL Israel Raybon: Making a push to continue the Rampage's All-Rookie Team streak is lineman Israel Raybon. The first-year player out of North Alabama is making an impact on both sides of the ball, but defensively the past two weeks he has shown streaks of dominance. Last week against Buffalo, Raybon manhandled the Destroyers' line, racking up 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. He will have his work cut out for his this week, as he will face an Arizona line that has given up only one sack in six games.

RATTLERS TO WATCH:

QB Sherdrick Bonner: A healthy Sherdrick Bonner, who missed four games due to injury last season, has guided Arizona to five straight wins after a season-opening loss at San Jose. The Rattlers' all-time leading passer has completed 63% (125 of 199) of his passes for 1,605 and 36 touchdowns, which ties him for the league-lead with San Jose's Mark Grieb. Besides ranking as Arizona's all-time passing leader, Bonner also ranks in the top five of virtually every career passing record in AFL history.

OS Chris Horn: One of last season's top rookies, Chris Horn has emerged as Bonner's go-to-guy this season. Through six games, the 2001 All-Rookie Team selection ranks fourth in the AFL in catches (46), second in receiving yards (629) and third in receiving TDs (15). He also ranks third in all-purpose yards, adding 14 kick returns for 305 yards.

WR/LB Hunkie Cooper: Regarded as one of, if not the best two-way players in Arena Football League history, Hernandez "Hunkie" Cooper ranks among the league leaders in almost every offensive category. He is one of only two players to earn both AFL MVP and Ironman Awards in his career. He also is one of two men to earn Ironman of the Year honors twice. In his tenth season, Cooper hasn't played as big of a role as in seasons past, but he has been able to catch 18 passes for 179 yards and two TDs. He has also added 17 tackles and recovered two fumbles on defense.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 29, 2002


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