Sports stats



Rampage outscored 18-7 in fourth quarter, lose 45-42 to Indiana

March 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - The Grand Rapids Rampage were on the cusp of that elusive first victory Friday night as they entered the fourth quarter ahead 35-27 to the home-standing Indiana Firebirds. That was until offensive specialist Steve Smith was replaced as OS for the fourth quarter - he left the game with a knee injury that originally he suffered in the final minute of the first half. Indiana would outscore Grand Rapids 18-7 in the final period en route to a 45-42 win thanks to a 29-yard field goal by Clay Rush with two seconds left. The Firebirds won their third straight, while the Rampage dropped their seventh straight.

The game started with Smith nabbing the first of two first quarter touchdowns that would give the Rampage a 7-0 lead - a lead they would not relinquish until 6:03 left in the game. Offensive Player of the Game Adrian McPherson would tie it at seven when he hit game Ironman Evan Hlavacek for a 33-yard touchdown strike. Jeremy Dutcher would then score the first of his two touchdown grabs from Buich to put Grand Rapids ahead 14-7, then with Smith's second score, the Rampage were up 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Grand Rapids was shutout in the second quarter, but had two scoring opportunities deep in Firebirds territory. The first came from Indiana's 12 after Rush missed a 36-yard field goal when Hlavacek snagged an interception in the end zone that would come back to haunt the Rampage. Twelve plays later, McPherson hit Anthony Hines for a four-yard touchdown - the lone points scored in the second quarter for either team.

The Rampage's next and last drive of the quarter started fine as Buich marched the Rampage down to the Indiana six (Smith was hurt on the kickoff that started this drive). There was enough time for just one more play and Nick Gatto trotted on for a 21-yard field goal attempt - it hit the uprights and out of bounds, but the Rampage still led 21-13 as the first half ended.

After Indiana pulled to 28-27 late in the third quarter, the Rampage were pinned at their own one-yard line when Buich hit rookie WR/DB Josh Bush who bolted down the sidelines for an AFL-record tying and new team record 49-yard touchdown reception to give the Grand Rapids a 35-27 lead as the third quarter concluded.

Indiana tied the game after McPherson and Brett Bech connected for a 13-yard touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion. A touchback on the following kickoff put the Rampage at their own five. Buich, without his favorite target in Smith, missed three straight passes and Grand Rapids was forced to kick to attempt a 61-yard field goal that fell short. The Firebirds were powered by Hines in the fourth quarter as he nabbed five grabs for 81 yards and the go-ahead 12-yard touchdown in the final period of play - he finished with nine catches for 146 yards and two TDs.

Trailing for the first time all night, the Rampage were behind that proverbial eight ball as they faced a third and 10 at their own six. Recently activated and new OS Carlos Johnson (in for Smith) cradled a 24-yard pass from Buich to keep the drive alive. Johnson then grabbed a nine-yarder to the Firebirds eleven. After two incompletions, the Rampage faced a fourth and one at the one-minute mark. Buich got the first down to the nine with a two-yard a QB keeper then three plays later found a wide-open Rickie Simpkins, who walked into the end zone to tie it at 42 with 35 seconds left.

Gatto's following kickoff bounced off the bottom of the net structure and Bush almost got to it before the ball went out of bounds. Indiana took over at their own eight with 33 seconds left. McPherson, the 20-year old rookie, looked like an AFL veteran as he took the Firebirds down to the Rampage's 13 to set up Rush's game-winning field goal.

The Rampage return to Van Andel Arena on Sunday, April 4 as the Arizona Rattlers slither into town for a 3:00pm kickoff. NFL hopefuls Jeff Smoker from Michigan State and Chris Perry from Michigan will be signing free autographs for an hour prior to kickoff. Groups of 10 or more can attend a special reception with the duo. In addition, anyone wearing either Michigan or Michigan State apparel will receive a coupon for a free Pepsi. Group tickets can be purchased through the Rampage office by dialing toll-free 1.888.595.4878. Individual tickets are available through Star Tickets PLUS (1-800-585-3737), Michigan Meijer locations, StarTicketsPlus.com, the Rampage Web site, and at The Zone, located on the west side of Van Andel Arena.

Other Notes from the game
* the Rampage defense allowed a season-low 13 points in the first half (previous:21 vs. LA, 3/14)
* for the first time all season, the Rampage led at the end of the third quarter
* the Buich-to-Bush 49-yard TD ties the longest in AFL history and sets a new team record (previous: 46)
* Buich completed passes to six different receivers
* Steve Smith and Jeremy Dutcher both caught two TDs
* Smith totaled 163 all-purpose yards in the three quarters he played
* Rod Manuel and Chris Avery shared on the game's only sack
* Both teams were penalized just twice each (both season-lows for each team)

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

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 27, 2004


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