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Rampage Use Defense to Rush Past Chicago, 48-34

March 30, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage (6-3) are known for a potent offensive attack, but it was an impressive defensive performance that led to the team's 48-34 victory over the Chicago Rush (3-6) at Van Andel Arena on Saturday night.

The team's third sellout crowd (10,594) of the season witnessed the Rampage defense tie a team record for interceptions with its four picks of Rush quarterback Billy Dicken. Game co-MVP and Rampage newcomer Mark Ricks led all defenders with six tackles and two interceptions, becoming only the second player in Rampage history to record multiple interceptions in a game (Darius Hadley - 7/8/00). Cecil Doggette and Willis Marshall added the other interceptions. Marshall, who was named the game's Ironman, also contributed on offense with three catches for 47 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Clint Dolezel, the game's other co-MVP, completed 22-of-30 passes for a season-high 317 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Terrill Shaw led all receivers with nine catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

In defeat, Dicken threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-38 passing. Antonio Chatman paced the Rush with eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned four kickoffs for 112 yards, including a 54-yard return for a touchdown.

Saturday night's win over Chicago, coupled with Dallas' 62-55 loss to Indiana at home, gives the Rampage sole possession of the Central Division lead with seven games remaining in the 2003 season.

The first quarter saw the two teams trade touchdowns and failed extra points. Chicago opened scoring on a 30-yard TD pass from Dicken to Lindsay Fleshman at the 10:47 mark. The game took a sloppy turn as the next two possessions for both teams resulted in turnovers. Grand Rapids' turnover came at the 8:16 mark when Chris Avery's fumble was recovered by Rush lineman Riley Kleinhesselink, while Dicken threw his first interception of the night on the very next play to Cecil Doggette. Five plays later, the Rampage tied the score at six apiece when Dolezel connected with Shaw from 16 yards out.

Continued sloppy play in the second quarter once again resulted in the two teams posting only a score apiece. Chicago took its only lead of the game, 13-6, less than two minutes into the quarter on a 4-yard TD pass from Dicken to Cornelius Bonner. Four plays later, Grand Rapids knotted the score at 13-13 with Dolezel's second TD pass of the night to Shaw. The games next three possessions resulted in turnovers for the two teams. Dicken threw back-to-back interceptions to Ricks, while Chicago's Dameon Porter ripped a pass out of the hands of Grand Rapids' DeAuntae Brown at the Rush 15-yard line. The Rampage had one last opportunity to put points on the board before the half, but a high snap on a 21-yard field goal attempt resulted in a Brian Gowins incomplete pass rather than three points.

Scoring picked up for the Rampage in the third quarter, but not for the Rush. Grand Rapids used two Dolezel TD passes to Steve Smith to take a 27-20 lead at the end of three. Chicago's lone score of the quarter came on an 11-yard TD pass from Dicken to Chatman with 8:11 remaining in quarter. After a 30-yard field goal by Chicago's Keith Gispert to start the fourth quarter, the Rampage opened their biggest lead of the game, 34-20, when Marshall capped off a four-play drive with his first TD run of the night.

Chicago answered right back as Chatman returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for a score, cutting the Rampage lead to 34-27. Grand Rapids then used up over five minutes of clock before Dolezel once again found Shaw in the end zone, capping off a rare 10-play drive. Three plays later, Dicken got the Rush back to within seven, 41-34, by hitting a streaking Chatman for a 32-yard TD. Eight seconds after the Gispert extra point, Marshall scored his second rushing TD of the night to push the Rampage lead back up to 14, 48-34. Chicago's hopes of a comeback were ended just three short plays later when Marshall picked off Dicken with 35 seconds remaining in the game.

Grand Rapids returns to the road to face another division foe in the Indiana Firebirds next Saturday night. The game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., can be heard live on WBBL 1340 AM.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 30, 2003


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