Rampage Handed First Road Loss of Season, 70-54

Published on March 9, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


DULUTH, Ga. - The Georgia Force handed the Grand Rapids Rampage their first road loss of the season, 70-54, in front of 9,166 fans at the Gwinnett Center on Sunday afternoon. Grand Rapids only trailed by one point at the half, but three second half turnovers led to Georgia's largest offensive output in franchise history and fourth win of the season.

With the loss, Grand Rapids dropped to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 on the road. While winning consecutive games for the first time this season, Georgia improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 at home.

The Force were led by quarterback Donnie Davis, who finished the game 19-of-24 for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Force offensive specialist Markeith Cooper, who earned game MVP honors, caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 57 yards for a score.

Fullback/linebacker Dan Curran, who rushed for a franchise-high three touchdowns, was named the game's Ironman. In defeat, Clint Dolezel completed 22-of-36 passes for 284 yards and seven touchdowns. He also was picked off twice and fumbled once. Terrill Shaw led the Rampage charge with nine catches for 162 yards and five touchdowns, which tied a franchise record. Steve Smith contributed nine catches for 87 yards, two touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown.

The first quarter saw the two teams trade passing and rushing TDs. Dolezel hit Shaw for TDs of 16 and 19 yards, while Georgia's scoring came by way of ground from Tommy Dorsey and Curran. Georgia kicker Steve McLaughlin missed the team's first extra point attempt, but the Force knotted the score at 14-14 at the end of the first when Davis hit Cooper for a two-point conversion.

The second quarter was more of the same as both teams once again traded TDs. Less than two minutes into the quarter, Dolezel hooked up with Shaw for a third time to give the Rampage a 20-14 lead. The score remained 20-14 when Brian Gowins missed the ensuing extra point. Georgia answered with a Davis to Cooper TD, giving the Force their first lead of the game, 21-20. Grand Rapids regained the lead when Dolezel threw a 9-yard TD pass to Smith, his fourth of the half and his first to a receiver other than Shaw. First half scoring ended with Curran's second TD run, giving the Force a 28-27 advantage at the end of two.

Georgia got the ball first in the second half and quickly took advantage as Cooper return the kickoff 57 yards for a TD, putting the Force up 35-27. On their ensuing possession, Grand Rapids drove the ball all the way down to Georgia's 4-yard line before a Dolezel fumble gave the ball right back to the Force. Two plays later, Georgia turned the turnover into points as Davis hit Scott Thomas for a 43-yard TD. Down 42-27, Grand Rapids needed a quick score and a defensive stop to get back into the game. They received both as Dolezel cut the Force lead to eight with his fourth TD pass to Shaw, followed by a Willis Marshall fumble recovery on Georgia's 5-yard line. On the very next play, Dolezel once again hit Shaw for a TD, cutting the Force lead to 42-40 at the end of third quarter.

The Force opened scoring in the fourth quarter with Curran's team-record breaking third TD run of the game. Grand Rapids quickly answered as Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for a TD. From that point on, Georgia would outscore Grand Rapids 21-8. Two plays after the Smith return, Davis put the Force up ten points, 56-46, when he connected with Cooper for a 28-yard TD. The Rampage were held scoreless on their next two possessions as Dolezel threw interceptions to Jarrick Hillery and Jermaine Smith. In between and after the picks, Georgia pushed their lead to 70-46, thanks to TD catches from Thomas and Darryl Hammond. Grand Rapids wrapped up scoring with a Dolezel to Smith TD, followed by a Dolezel to Smith two-point conversion.

Grand Rapids opens division play against the Dallas Desperados next Sunday at 4 p.m. The game, which marks the Rampage's first trip to Big-D, can be heard live on WBBL 1340 AM.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 9, 2003


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