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Rampage win 66-57 over Columbus

February 27, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


The AFL's #2 offense was limited to 200 yards, but they kept on scoring and the defense made just enough stops to lift the Grand Rapids Rampage to a 66-57 victory over the Columbus Destroyers. Grand Rapids won their first home game since April 13, 2003 and snapped a 14-game home losing streak (including playoffs), which was the second longest in AFL history.

Michael Bishop was named the Offensive Player of the Game for the second consecutive game after tossing for 171 yards on 12-of-21 passing with five passing scores and two more on the ground. He finished with 19 rushing yards, which in just three games gives him a Rampage team single-season record of 194 - one more yard than Chris Avery ran for all of 2003.

Speaking of Avery, he had a strong two-way game as he ran for two scores and had a sack. Dennison Robinson was named the Defensive Player & Ironman of the Game. He had a crucial interception, 2.0 stops, three pass breakups and caught a 16-yard score off the nets.

Both teams traded field goals to start off the game and the destroyers led 10-3 late in the first quarter before Bishop connected with Anthony Hines on a 27-yard score that bobbled around twice before Hines hauled it in to close to 10-9. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball ricocheted off the net structure into Travis Reece's hands at the Columbus nine. Two plays later, Avery scored the first of his two rushing scores to give Grand Rapids their first lead of the game 16-10. The Rampage went up 23-10 after a defensive stop on fourth and one and Clarence Coleman grabbed his first AFL pass - a 19-yard touchdown strike from Bishop.

The teams traded scores before the Destroyers used a safety and an onside kick to shoot Columbus to a 36-29 halftime lead. In the second half, the Rampage outscored Columbus 37-21 thanks to an interception by Robinson and the Grand Rapids defense stopping the Destroyers twice on fourth down attempts.

Columbus outgained the Rampage 261-200; however, Grand Rapids had five of their 13 possessions start in Columbus territory. The Destroyers were penalized 16 times for 97 yards, while the Rampage maintained their low number of penalty flags with five for 32 yards. They are AFL's least penalized team in number of penalties and yards.

The AFL's top rushing team utilized their run game late in the game to seal the victory when Chris Avery burst into the endzone with 2:42 to give the Rampage a 63-50 lead. That lasted mere seconds as Damien Groce returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Grand Rapids closed the scoring on Peter Martinez's 33-yard field goal with seven seconds left on the clock.

Grand Rapids heads south to Tampa, Florida this upcoming Sunday, March 6 to take on the five-time ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (2-2) at 1pm. They will then return home to Van Andel Arena for their lone game on NBC at home when the Chicago Rush (2-3) come into town on Sunday, March 13. Tickets for that game and the remaining Rampage home games 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. 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 February 27, 2005


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