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Rampage out of tune in Music City, lose 54-33

May 8, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Damon Mason and Chris Avery set AFL tackle marks on defense, but three interceptions and missed opportunities on offense led to the Grand Rapids Rampage's demise as they lost 54-33 to the Nashville Kats Saturday night.

Rampage quarterback Michael Bishop completed 20-of-30 for 181 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of his three picks were deflected into the hands of Kats defenders and he was sacked four times. Bishop came into the game 16 yards away from the league's single-season rushing record and exited the Kats game with three attempts for -1 yard and no TDs.

Mason's 9.5 stops helped him pass San Jose's Barry Wagner (698.0) for the AFL's all-time record for career stops (703.0) and became the first player to surpass the 700-tackle mark. Avery's 6.0 tackles gave him 49.0 on the season, which is the most ever in a single-season by a FB/LB in AFL history.

The Rampage opened the scoring when Bishop hit Avery on a short pass, then the All-Arena candidate took it the distance on a 45-yard receiving touchdown. That would be Grand Rapids' lone lead of the game. On Grand Rapids' second possession, Bishop had a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage that Ironman of the Game Jarrick Hillery intercepted. Soon the Rampage were down 20-7. Avery scored his second TD of the game on a one-yard plunge early in the second quarter to pull within 20-14.

Penalties once again negated positive yardage and stalled drives for the Rampage. The first happened on a holding call in the team's third drive that negated a 14-yard gain in a drive that ended with a missed field goal. Another drive in the first half died with two penalties on Teto Simpson after the Rampage forced one of their two fumbles on defense. Both drives from fumbles the defense caused resulted in no points scored by the offense.

In the final 17 seconds of the first half, the Rampage scored 12 points to pull with in one point at halftime (Kats 27-26). Josh Bush took a shuffle pass from Bishop in from 11 yards, and then Colin Bryant sacked Offensive Player of the Game Leon Murray for a safety with ten seconds left. After Bush had a 38-yard return on the ensuing free kick, Peter Martinez nailed a 33-yard field goal to end the first half. Martinez missed field goals of 34, 41, 60 and 63 yards.

Grand Rapids was outscored 27-7 in the second half with Dialleo Burks' eight-yard touchdown catch from Bishop as the lone Rampage score in the final 30 minutes. Two interceptions, two missed field goals and a turnover on downs at the Rampage goal line were the results of the team's other five second-half drives.

The Rampage conclude their 2005 road schedule with a short bus ride to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Rush (8-6) at Allstate Arena. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm EDT.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 8, 2005


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