Rampage stop Rush, 51-40

Published on May 15, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Three of Damon Mason's four pass breakups prevented Rush touchdowns and an interception stopped a fourth that led to a early Rampage 38-12 led that helped propel Grand Rapids to a 51-40 victory of the Chicago Rush in front of 15,198 at Allstate Arena. Mason finished with game-high 7.5 stops, four pass breakups and an interception en route to being named ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

On his 29th birthday, Michael Bishop completed 15-of-26 passes for 169 yards and four touchdowns. Five Rush onside kicks shortened the field for the Rampage resulting in the yardage advantage for Chicago (312-192). Grand Rapids dominated the first 45 minutes of the game and led 38-12 before a Rush comeback in the fourth quarter.

Mason began his defensive domination on fourth & 13 when he deflected a long would-be reception that gave the Rampage the ball at the Rush 22. A player later, Bishop hit Dialleo Burks on a 22-yard strike in the right corner of the endzone. The pass put Bishop over 3,000 yards passing on the year - he is the first play in AFL history to record at least 3,000 passing at 300 rushing yards in the same season.

Tied at seven, Chicago attempted their first of five onside kicks, however, Clarence Coleman recovered and Peter Martinez connected on the first of three field goals made on the day to put Grand Rapids up 10-7. A mishandled snap by Rush quarterback Raymond Philyaw was recovered by Dennison Robinson in the endzone and Grand Rapids jumped out to a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

After a Chicago field goal and a safety off a blocked Martinez field goal, the Rampage would score on three Bishop TD tosses (two to Hines, one to Burks) to take the Grand Rapids advantage to 38-12 entering the final period. The 26-point lead was the biggest for the Rampage since the 2003 season. Chicago offensive specialist C.J. Johnson scored three touchdowns in the final stanza and was named Offensive Player of the Game after finishing with nine receptions for 174 yards and four scores. However, it was too late for the Rush as they could not over come the early Rampage lead. The win is the Rampage's first in Chicago since the 2001 season when they beat the then expansion Rush 54-52.

Grand Rapids returns home this Saturday, May 21 to host the Western Division champion Los Angeles Avengers at Van Andel Arena at 7:30pm. The game is expected to have a large crowd, so please get you tickets early. Tickets may be purchased through StarTicketsPLUS (1.800.585.3737), all Michigan Meijer locations, starticketsplus.net and at The Zone, located on the west side of Van Andel Arena. Single-game ticket prices are $17 for any upper bowl seat, $25 for lower bowl end zones, $35 for lower bowl sidelines, $55 for VIP II seats (2nd & 3rd rows), and $85 for front row seats. 2006 full season, mini-plan and group ticket packages, all of which are discounted off the single-game price, are currently available through the Rampage front office by calling 616.559.1871 or toll-free at 1.888.595.4878.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 15, 2005


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